removing scratches from glass

[the lion who ate the sun]

Has anyone successfully removed scratches from a tank using cerium oxide? There is a good 8x12 area on my 300g that has several streaking scratchesas if the previous owner tried to clean that little section of glass with a damned rock.

I would like to remove them. They don't look too terrible, and I doubt guests would notice. Problem is, I feel like I'm going spend more time looking at that section than my fish.

Help!

 

[joe jaskot]

You can remove very minor scratches, but any deep scratches will remain. Not really worth the time and effort it takes.

 

[windsor]

As above; if you can feel the scratches with your fingernail then cerum oxide will not remove them. Sometimes attempting to do so can actually make them appear more noticeable.

 

[the lion who ate the sun]

Most of them cannot be felt with a fingernail. There are two big 5" scratches, and a bunch of smaller ones that are tougher to notice.

It would be worth the time to me if it actually works. Any success stories? Really interested in hearing about your technique.

 

[qguy]

You would need a buffing machine to remove scratches.... Car forums is another place you can search for advise on removing scratches.

 

[the lion who ate the sun]

Right on. Thanks for the advice.

 

[windsor]

If you do give it a try I would first use it on an old piece of scratched glass to see if it's effective before trying it on the main tank, otherwise you may end up like I did, making the scratches appear more noticeable.

 

[sushiboy]

My bro in law works for an auto body shop. I think it's time for me to bug and borrow some gears from him.

 

[DN328]

Typically in auto body, if you can feel the scratch in the paint, most likely you cannot buff out. Not sure what they can do for window scratches though, if anything.

 

[bradleyagregg]

Go to youtube and look up "the King of DIY" he has some videos on polishing scratches out of glass.