Air powered acrylic polisher

[Tampa Aquarium Service]

I remember finding a link somewhere around here that showed an air powered orbital sander that was fully waterproof. It had no chance of leaking oils into the system during polishing of large aquariums that you could not take the time to drain. Any help on this will be greatly appreciated.

I know someone will ask:

The tank is over 12 feet long and 36" high. A real pain to work on due to the fact that it it has 4 access tops that are not all that large and the two outermost ones are far from the ends because of the side overflows. But the biggest problem is that it was made with acrylic that is thicker than 1.25". I have tried every jumbo magnet out there ( including the largest Magnivore) and none are strong enough to clean the tank, let alone hold the Micro mesh to remove a scratch.

This system was not my design, but a refugee of a now out of business local store.

 

[Untamed12]

http://etr-inc.com/index.php

 

[Tampa Aquarium Service]

Thanks, I have looked at the site before. No sander listed so I sent them an e-mail to ask if they can send me to a source for it.

 

[danskim]

Sorry, I don't know about the sander.

The Magnavore 10 is rated to 1.5". The acrylic is thicker than that?
Tunze also makes one rated to 1.5".

 

[Tampa Aquarium Service]

I have a magnivore 10 and it cames apart quite easily in this tank. I actually purchased it for the client and it continually seperated and would then fall into the sand. He didn't clean it well enough and that's why the tank is pretty badly scratched. I see that Everclear has some really large mags for 2" acrylic. But we are going to polish out the scratches and stay away magnets. Everclear got back to me and pointed me toward an orbital sander they use on large systems.

 

[PhatPhish-91387]

Orbital Sander

Orbital Sander

Hey, so what sander did they recommend?

 

[Tampa Aquarium Service]

This one. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200305263_200305263

I also did my own modification. I removed the exhaust silencer and threaded in a male airline nipple. I then attached a 8' air hose with the end cut off. I wrap a shop towel around the end and secure it with a few rubberbands. Now when I'm polishing there is not nearly as many air bubbles released into the tank or the vegetable oil used to lube the sander. It now will go through the hose and wind up in the towel. Works great. I have used it many times on tanks without removing livestock. Just do a good size waterchange and your finished.

 

[PhatPhish-91387]

You mentioned in a previous posted "Everclear got back to me and pointed me toward an orbital sander".
What orbital sander did they recommend?

 

[porthios]

cool idea. what size micro meshes are you using and where can i find it?