Hello fellow members. I recently bought an acrylic tank that has 2 5 inch long deep scratches on the front and the rest of the tank have light scratches that can be buffed out. My question is do I have to sand the whole front or can I just sand the area where the deep scratches are located?
Buffing/ sanding acrylic tank question
- Thread starter Tonelocs
- Start date
I'd re-sand the entire tank anyways but, I suppose, you could start on the deeper ones first and see how it goes.
I had a couple deep scratches on a 300 that I recently redid. Most of my sanding was with 1000 & 2000 grit wet sand paper however I need something much coarser for my deep spot. For that, I used 400 grit. You could try wet sanding with 400 grit working it down to the scratch feather out to help avoid a bowed appearance when complete. Then wet sand with some 1000 grit a little further out than you did with the 400 and then wet sand the other direction with 2000 grit and feather out a little bit more than the 1000 grit.
Depending on how severe the scratch is, you may have to make a choice between a permanent scratch of a slightly bowed appearance.
Good luck!
Russ
I had a couple deep scratches on a 300 that I recently redid. Most of my sanding was with 1000 & 2000 grit wet sand paper however I need something much coarser for my deep spot. For that, I used 400 grit. You could try wet sanding with 400 grit working it down to the scratch feather out to help avoid a bowed appearance when complete. Then wet sand with some 1000 grit a little further out than you did with the 400 and then wet sand the other direction with 2000 grit and feather out a little bit more than the 1000 grit.
Depending on how severe the scratch is, you may have to make a choice between a permanent scratch of a slightly bowed appearance.
Good luck!
Russ
Thanks Russ for the info. That's what I'm afraid I was going to do.. Did you use a sander or you sanded it by hand? If you used a sander how much pressure?
I did not use a power sander. I wet sanded by hand with a palm sander (no electric). I think sanding the entire tank is preferrable as you will most likely find some scratches that won't buff out and you will have wasted several buffing attempts just top learn you need to sand. Once you get confidence in your procedure, it will go quickly.
I would wet sand those deep scratches first (400, 1000, & 2000 grit).
I would then wet sand an entire surface area with 1000 grit - put some elbow grease into it.
Then repeat with 2000 grit in the opposite direction - again, put some elbow grease into it (the acrylic will look awful at this point - that's OK and good at this point in the process).
After each sand paper use where you change grit - wipe down with a clean microfiber cloth.
I used the novus 1-2-3 buffing compound. Next time I would skip #3 (I was not impressed) - sand out deeper scratches with sand paper as previously mentioned.
I liked novus #2 - use that after your done sanding. Novus has a buffing kit for drills.
I liked novus #2 better than that stuff you get at the auto supply store (Pastix???).
You can order novus on line or most Harley Davidosn stores will have #1 & #2 (again, I really don't think #3 is needed). The novus website will help locate a local place to buy it.
I used the Novus buffing kit but next time I would just buy the buffer from the autoparts store (you can use a larger buffing pad that the small novus kit pads).
Apply the buffing compound (novus #2) with a wool applicator pad and buff with another wool pad.
You may end up buffing each surface a couple times. That novus #2 buffing compound is a chemical sand paper for "fine" scratches. After you have sanded with the 1000 & 2000 grit, fine scratches are all that should remain and novus #2 will work well.
This was not obvious to me at first - you can flip your tank on its side to allow easier access to buff/polish the inside (you don't need to bend over into it from the top).
Hope that helps
Russ
I would wet sand those deep scratches first (400, 1000, & 2000 grit).
I would then wet sand an entire surface area with 1000 grit - put some elbow grease into it.
Then repeat with 2000 grit in the opposite direction - again, put some elbow grease into it (the acrylic will look awful at this point - that's OK and good at this point in the process).
After each sand paper use where you change grit - wipe down with a clean microfiber cloth.
I used the novus 1-2-3 buffing compound. Next time I would skip #3 (I was not impressed) - sand out deeper scratches with sand paper as previously mentioned.
I liked novus #2 - use that after your done sanding. Novus has a buffing kit for drills.
I liked novus #2 better than that stuff you get at the auto supply store (Pastix???).
You can order novus on line or most Harley Davidosn stores will have #1 & #2 (again, I really don't think #3 is needed). The novus website will help locate a local place to buy it.
I used the Novus buffing kit but next time I would just buy the buffer from the autoparts store (you can use a larger buffing pad that the small novus kit pads).
Apply the buffing compound (novus #2) with a wool applicator pad and buff with another wool pad.
You may end up buffing each surface a couple times. That novus #2 buffing compound is a chemical sand paper for "fine" scratches. After you have sanded with the 1000 & 2000 grit, fine scratches are all that should remain and novus #2 will work well.
This was not obvious to me at first - you can flip your tank on its side to allow easier access to buff/polish the inside (you don't need to bend over into it from the top).
Hope that helps
Russ
Thank you Russ, I did everything you said and I just finished polishing with novus#2. Scratches are gone but some of the area are hazy. How do I remove this?
Im happy with the results so far.
Im happy with the results so far.
I noticed the same thing. After buffing/polishing, I used novus-1 to clean and it looked hazy!!??!! I even called novus and left a message
I think the haze will disappear during your rinse stage. Try completely filling the tank and wiping the inside with a clean microfiber towel/rag. In my situation, the haze dissappeared. Mine was a moisture issue and not an acrylic issue.
Make sure you go overboard and rinse well (and then rise again ).
Russ
I think the haze will disappear during your rinse stage. Try completely filling the tank and wiping the inside with a clean microfiber towel/rag. In my situation, the haze dissappeared. Mine was a moisture issue and not an acrylic issue.
Make sure you go overboard and rinse well (and then rise again
).Russ
I Just finished polishing. Went over twice and the last one I used very little novus2. Majority of the haze went away. I'm really happy how it came out... Thank you again Russ for your informative reply.
Now gotta start working on closing the stand and hopefully move my petros early next week.
Now gotta start working on closing the stand and hopefully move my petros early next week.
I did not use a power sander. I wet sanded by hand with a palm sander (no electric). I think sanding the entire tank is preferrable as you will most likely find some scratches that won't buff out and you will have wasted several buffing attempts just top learn you need to sand. Once you get confidence in your procedure, it will go quickly.
I would wet sand those deep scratches first (400, 1000, & 2000 grit).
I would then wet sand an entire surface area with 1000 grit - put some elbow grease into it.
Then repeat with 2000 grit in the opposite direction - again, put some elbow grease into it (the acrylic will look awful at this point - that's OK and good at this point in the process).
After each sand paper use where you change grit - wipe down with a clean microfiber cloth.
I used the novus 1-2-3 buffing compound. Next time I would skip #3 (I was not impressed) - sand out deeper scratches with sand paper as previously mentioned.
I liked novus #2 - use that after your done sanding. Novus has a buffing kit for drills.
I liked novus #2 better than that stuff you get at the auto supply store (Pastix???).
You can order novus on line or most Harley Davidosn stores will have #1 & #2 (again, I really don't think #3 is needed). The novus website will help locate a local place to buy it.
I used the Novus buffing kit but next time I would just buy the buffer from the autoparts store (you can use a larger buffing pad that the small novus kit pads).
Apply the buffing compound (novus #2) with a wool applicator pad and buff with another wool pad.
You may end up buffing each surface a couple times. That novus #2 buffing compound is a chemical sand paper for "fine" scratches. After you have sanded with the 1000 & 2000 grit, fine scratches are all that should remain and novus #2 will work well.
This was not obvious to me at first - you can flip your tank on its side to allow easier access to buff/polish the inside (you don't need to bend over into it from the top).
Hope that helps
Russ
When do you use the novus #1?
That's just to clean not a polish
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