Acrylic Buffing Suggestions?

[Brian Prestwood]

My new tank has a lot of fine scratches and a few deep ones. I'm getting ready to buff it out.

I've got...
Wet Sanding Paper: 600, 1200 & 2500 grit.
Novus Liquid Grid: #3 and #2

That's the order I plan on proceeding in. The sand paper is only for visible scratches.

I'm hoping I can borrow a direct drive buffer.

My tank is empty so I'll be able to rinse between grits.

I've got lots of soft old towels around for the liquid grit.

I've read a couple of articles and watched a few videos.

Any suggestions.

 

[Jacob D]

I used a Micromesh kit to polish mine out (paper up to 6000 grit), all by hand except the final step with a random orbit buffer. Lots of work but excellent results. Alternate directions with the paper so the patterns are perpendicular, otherwise it's very difficult to tell if you have removed all of the scratches from the previous step.

A soft rubber squeegee is handy.

You might want to consider using a typical random orbit buffer... if you generate any heat in the process crazing sometime down the road is likely.

Drink lots of fluid and take breaks so you don't kill yourself I will never buff out a large tank again!


oh, and once you have it restored... James from Envision sent me some uhmw scrapers that are less prone to causing scratches. For the most part though I just use my hand (without ring) to clean the film algae. Since putting in all that work I have been very paranoid about new scratches!

 

[Paulca916]

Brian first off all get rid of the 600 it will cause you more work in the long run.
I start off with 2000 then go 2500 then 3000 then buff with Novus #2 the #3 I find useless.
Now the #1 Novus is a must have for any acrylic tank owner for cleaning.
If you need a 8"x11" sheet of 3000 w/d I have one for you just give me a ring I cut them into 3 pieces.
Home Depot has a Ryobi 10 inch car buffer for around $30 I just havent got over there to pick it up.
I'm in the process of doing my son's 100 gallon you returned and then a 300 gallon (lucky me)
Just did a 36"x15'x16" TruVu acrylic last week came out pretty good

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Hey Jacob

Thanks for the tip about alternating directions. That seems to be a universal technique. I saw Micro Mesh as one of the alternatives. I was at Tap plastics so I went with Novus.

Hey Paul

Thanks for the warning about the 600 grit sand paper and the Novus #3. Should I use the 1200 grit sandpaper?

 

[Paulca916]

Hey Jacob

Thanks for the tip about alternating directions. That seems to be a universal technique. I saw Micro Mesh as one of the alternatives. I was at Tap plastics so I went with Novus.

Hey Paul

Thanks for the warning about the 600 grit sand paper and the Novus #3. Should I use the 1200 grit sandpaper?

You can use the 1200 for really deep scratches.
The way the process work's is......
You start with a courser sand paper then work to a finer grit ie:1200-1800-2000-2500-3000 ect.
then you use the Novus #2 with a buffer or by hand to get rid of the haze from sanding.
Now you see why I wouldn't use the 600 it make's more levels of sand paper to deal with since it's going to leave scratches problly worse than the one's your trying to take out.
Again patience is the key.
I know you have scrap acrylic laying around so take a piece and scratch it then practice on it till you get the feel for it.
it's just time consuming.
I did my 300 the first time all by hand took for ever but came out good enough to sell for $800. (tank only)
My son's 100 gallon I'm doing now and the 40 gallon of Jeff's I used a drill motor with a buffing pad work's ok but only turn's 1150 RPM not enough IMHO so I'm buying a car buffer.
Brian if you have any question's or need a hand don't hesitate to give me a call :beer:

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Good Results

Good Results

One side (2.5' X 8' sheet) is complete with good results.

I wanted to see what I was working with so I buffed (electric) with Novus #3 and #2. That worked for really fine scrathes but didn't remove much else.

I tried 600 grit wet sandpaper on the deep scratches but that didn't work so I ended up starting with...

220 grit for deep scratches
600 grit for medium scratches
1200 grit on the whole pane
2500 grit on the whole pane
#2 Novus on the whole pane with buffer

This 2nd process took about two hrs.

For the other side I'm going to replace the 2500 grit sandpaper with Novus #3...
200 grit for deep (1/64") scratches
600 grit for medium scratches
1200 grit on the whole pane
#3 Novus on the whole pane with buffer
#2 Novus on the whole pane with buffer

Tips...
You have to get the surface clean between passes. A cleaning cloth for each grit is a minimum. Cloth diapers are great for this.

I was dipping my sanding block while sanding. If you do that then that water has to be replaced between grits.

When the buffing compound started to dry I poored a little water on.

My tank has some impact damage. When something heavy and pointed hits acrylic fine shallow (1/32) cracks form at the impack point. Buffing them out would cause too much optical distortion so I'm living with them.

 

[KYBA]

Definitely works easier if u have a sander, ive never buffed a tank before but plenty of headlights on cars, i start with 400 then 600-800, on a DA sander then 1200-1500 wet by hand, then when u buff i stay at around 1400-1600 rpm lots of peple go to fast but it dries the compound to fast.