I'm in deep PLEASE HELP!!!!!
- Thread starter Gundo5000
- Start date
I spent a couple summers working in a body shop when I was younger. 2000 grit sand paper was the last grit we used before buffing out the paint. I wouldn't think acyrilic wouldn't be too far from that, in that you would need to buff it with a rubbing compound after sanding it. Atleast if you wanted it ti come out lokking like new. I don't see how that could be done with water in the tank.
I would personally recommend emptying out the tanks into some rubbermaid containers (you should have these or some equivalent if you are into tank maintenance) and then sand and buff. Most all sandpaper has aluminum oxide or some metal in it. I won't even put my hands in the water if it hasn't been long enough since I had soap on them, I'm for sure not putting sand paper in there.
I am however a newby to SW so, what the hell do I know.
Good luck!
I would personally recommend emptying out the tanks into some rubbermaid containers (you should have these or some equivalent if you are into tank maintenance) and then sand and buff. Most all sandpaper has aluminum oxide or some metal in it. I won't even put my hands in the water if it hasn't been long enough since I had soap on them, I'm for sure not putting sand paper in there.
I am however a newby to SW so, what the hell do I know.
Good luck!
Can you please explain to me how sanding acyrilic with 2000 grit sandpaper does not leave scatches? You are providing this guy with direction and no factual information to back it up.
Just trying to understand here thats all.
Maybe it has to do with sanding in salwater or sanding underwater? I don't think it would be much different than wet sanding which requires buffing.
Please provide some explanation on how this works. I might like to try it if I get an acrylic tank some day.
Just trying to understand here thats all.
Maybe it has to do with sanding in salwater or sanding underwater? I don't think it would be much different than wet sanding which requires buffing.
Please provide some explanation on how this works. I might like to try it if I get an acrylic tank some day.
Freed
It's what it's
No factual information? I have done this several times and learned about it years ago from garf.org I don't understand why you are being so judgemental. Sanding acrylic with anything will leave scratches depending on how fine the sandpaper is. 2000 grit leaves hardly an inkling of ever being scratched. Finer results in less noticeable scratches still. Try it and then repost your findings please and let us know the factual information you come across.
Maybe this is because water fills in the scratches left by the sandpaper and makes them unnoticable? Kind of blending everything togather?
I have an extra piece of acyrilic left over from my DIY sump project, Im going to give this a try.
Calm down there buddy, just curious.
I have an extra piece of acyrilic left over from my DIY sump project, Im going to give this a try.
Calm down there buddy, just curious.
If I am banned from Reef Central for any of the comments I have made, I will kindly ask for my donation back and never return. I have been nothing but friendly. Sorry you have gotten so upset, would it make you feel better if I delete the post where I was asking the questions? It would be no problem. Cheer up. Everything is going to be ok!
Gundo5000
New member
Alright guys, no need for a flame war. We can all get along like one big happy family.
Freed- The acrylic tanks are very soft and scratches aren't deep at all. Would gong stright to 200 micron sp work or do I need to start with the others and work my way up. Should I have test spot first? I will try this method if it has worked for you. I really dont want to drain these tanks!
Rick James- let me know how the testing goes.
Freed- The acrylic tanks are very soft and scratches aren't deep at all. Would gong stright to 200 micron sp work or do I need to start with the others and work my way up. Should I have test spot first? I will try this method if it has worked for you. I really dont want to drain these tanks!
Rick James- let me know how the testing goes.
Glove
New member
This reminds me of a saying I like to use....
"you have to break some eggs to make a cake"
Acrylic is soft and it scratches easily. This is why sanding WILL work -By starting with a corse grit and working to a fine grit sanding media, you are basically removing the edges of the scratches by removing SOME small amount of material until the deepest part of the scartch is equal to the area around it.
being that this is your first rodeo, I would get some sanding sheets and try it on an area that isnt noticable- or even on a diffferent (scrap) piece of acrylic.
You will see the scratches will come out, its just a matter of time and elbo grease.
Good luck!
"you have to break some eggs to make a cake"
Acrylic is soft and it scratches easily. This is why sanding WILL work -By starting with a corse grit and working to a fine grit sanding media, you are basically removing the edges of the scratches by removing SOME small amount of material until the deepest part of the scartch is equal to the area around it.
being that this is your first rodeo, I would get some sanding sheets and try it on an area that isnt noticable- or even on a diffferent (scrap) piece of acrylic.
You will see the scratches will come out, its just a matter of time and elbo grease.
Good luck!
latazyo
New member
everyone asks for factual information on reefcentral, but as if there are legitimate scientific analyses performed by legitimate scientists for everything (if anything) out there...99% of what we have here is based on experience
as for scratching the acrylic, didn't you have acrylic safe algae removers? do those even work?
is there any hard in attempting to remove the scratches with water in the tank and if that is not satisfactory, then draining the tank partially?
as for scratching the acrylic, didn't you have acrylic safe algae removers? do those even work?
is there any hard in attempting to remove the scratches with water in the tank and if that is not satisfactory, then draining the tank partially?
mcegelsk
New member
algundo-
I would get a scrap piece of acrylic, put a similar scratch in it...and put the acrylic piece in a bucket of saltwater and then try and fix the scratch the way Freed has described. It will allow you to practice the method and see how it works. As well as make you able to feel more confident about repairing the big tanks that you work on. And when the guy calls you can say, yup I was waiting for you to get back and tell him your plan. As long as you are upfront and honest with the guy and have a way to correct the situation I think things will turn out alright.
~Matt
I would get a scrap piece of acrylic, put a similar scratch in it...and put the acrylic piece in a bucket of saltwater and then try and fix the scratch the way Freed has described. It will allow you to practice the method and see how it works. As well as make you able to feel more confident about repairing the big tanks that you work on. And when the guy calls you can say, yup I was waiting for you to get back and tell him your plan. As long as you are upfront and honest with the guy and have a way to correct the situation I think things will turn out alright.
~Matt
Gundo5000
New member
Good stuff guy, I think I will take mcgelsk's advice and try this method on a scrap piece of acrylic. This will allow me to test the technique and also give me more confidence when doing it on the club tanks. I plan to be completely honest with the owner. His reaction is questionable though. He really isn't the easiest guy to reason with.
If anyone else tests this method of scratch removal, please give ous a report on what worked and what didn't . I actually have an old cracked acrylic tank sitting around. I wll fill it and test this method sometime this weekend.
If anyone else tests this method of scratch removal, please give ous a report on what worked and what didn't . I actually have an old cracked acrylic tank sitting around. I wll fill it and test this method sometime this weekend.
