Polishing Acrylic Tank

[jdamon]

2000 in most cases is plenty, your technique is way off.

Da Maui Life,

Can you please give some tips on proper technique? I am having a hard time with the novus polishes after sanding with 2000 grit. I can still see tiny scratches from the sand paper after buffing with both novus 3 and 2 for 10 mins each one... I am using foam pads and my cordless drill. How much pressure (if any) should I be applying? And how long should I be polishing with each compound? And what is the best way to remove the compound after each step? Seems that a previous poster had better results if he let the novus 2 dry for 45 mins before removing? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[ptreef]

jdamon....did you try to add water yet to the tank.

Often the tanks will still have super tiny swirls/scratches etc....that disappear once tank is filled.

 

[jdamon]

I wet the surface, there are still scratches from the 2000 grit... All the videos and pictures I have seen the finished surface is scratch free. I am going to go polish it with the novus 3 and 2 again now for a while and see what happens.

 

[jdamon]

Ok, I think I got a better handle on the polishing...

1. The palm sander with 2000 grit makes a ton of squiggly line type scratches that are difficult to remove, hand sanding seems to be the way to go

2. I applied a lot more pressure when buffing with the drill/ buff wheel and #3 compound

3. It takes so much more time than anticipated, almost not worth it, we are talking hours for just the end panel so far, 24" x 24"

Ugh... time lapse videos make everything look so easy!

 

[Da Maui life]

Da Maui Life,

Can you please give some tips on proper technique? I am having a hard time with the novus polishes after sanding with 2000 grit. I can still see tiny scratches from the sand paper after buffing with both novus 3 and 2 for 10 mins each one... I am using foam pads and my cordless drill. How much pressure (if any) should I be applying? And how long should I be polishing with each compound? And what is the best way to remove the compound after each step? Seems that a previous poster had better results if he let the novus 2 dry for 45 mins before removing? Thanks in advance for your help!

Sorry I can't really help you with Nova products, I don't use them. IMO they don't cut the muster.

 

[bfin3]

Use only #2. #3 is for 600 grit scratches #2 is for 1200 or finer the#3 is probably what is throwing you off.

 

[salmon alley]

I recently removed some minor scratches from sand and typical micro swirl marks from normal cleaning on the out side of my acrylic tank. All the products used was from Meguiars, 3M and recommended by "˜Floyd' One of the acrylic gurus on RC the job turned out flawless. As for sanding I used the pre-cut 3M assorted pack, wet or dry sandpapers with Meguiars E 7200 backing pad.

IMO you have more control (removal of acrylic) wet sanding scratches by hand then with any orbital sanders as your not dealing with deep scratches or gouges, most of the time. For my needs, medium-light scratches I started out with 800 stepped up 1000, 1500, 2000 feathering out as you go then polished with M105 Ultra-Cut Compound and cut pad, once sanding haze is removed finish off with M9 Mirror Glaze Swirl Remover and polishing pad, you"˜ll need a 3"stitch wheel for the inside corners, bottom/top corners.
Micro swirl marks on the outside was simply polished with compounds, no sanding. Clean the Meguiars pads with an old tooth brush in-between applications of compound (spin buffer and apply bristle across pad) and when your finished. That way they will last and can be reused down the road. It cost me about hundred buck for the products but I ended up with a professional looking job, like new out of the box. No haze, swirl marks or blims worth every dollar.
I also maintain the outside of the tank with Brillianize and a micro fiber cloth. Gently tack with damp(water) micro fiber cloth to remove dust, ext. let dry then apply Brillianize. Changing the way I now clean and maintain my tank has made a world of difference in the optical quality of the acrylic.
.


You can look up products I used below on Amazon.

Meguiar's Self-Centering 8-Inch Rotary Buffer Backing Plate
Meguiar's 8-Inch Soft Buff Foam Cutting Pad (Red Pad)
Meguiar's 8-Inch Soft Buff Foam Polishing Pad
Woodstock D2509 Buffing Wheel, Soft Muslin 3-Inch by 40 Ply by 1/4-Inch Hole (The stitch wheel is for the inside corners)
Meguiar's M105 Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound - 32 oz.
Meguiar's M9 Mirror Glaze Swirl Remover - 16 oz.

Meguiar's Hi-Tech Sanding Backing Pad
3M(TM) Wetordry(TM) Sandpaper, 03006, 3-2/3 in x 9 in, Assorted, 5 sheets per pack
3M 03022 Imperial Wetordry 3-2/3" x 9" P800 Grit Sandpaper, (Pack of 5)
3M 03018 Imperial Wetordry 3-2/3" x 9" P400 Grit Automotive Sandpaper, (Pack of 5)

Great info, thanks.
What type of buffer are you using? There are quite a few 7" rotary buffers available on Amazon. Any recommendations?

 

[Soolaimon]

I just got done refinishing a 60g hex back acrylic tank. I used 1000 grit, then 2000 and then PlastX headlight restoration polish.

After the 1000 and 2000 sandings I thought omg I made it worse. But the polish stage did take those out.

I used a round foam drill bit gadget that I bought at the auto store to buff the PlastX. The directions stated to wipe before it was dry but after going over the whole tank once it seemed cloudy. I went over it with PlastX again but this time I kept the drill with the buffer bit on a lot longer and kept buffing until I couldn't see the PlastX. After this I wiped off the dry residue and it looked fantastic.

The main points I learned was to buff, buff and buff some more. Also, work in sections. I was doing about a 12"x12" area at a time. I did both the inside and outside of the tank.

It's a lot of work and elbow grease even with power tools. Good luck!

 

[dupree]

Hello. Da Maui Life... I saw ur post with buffing your acrylic tank
Can you please tell me what you used because I'm refinishing my tank as well and you did a super job.
What equipment and compounds used.
Please help.
Thank you.

 

[Da Maui life]

Hello. Da Maui Life... I saw ur post with buffing your acrylic tank
Can you please tell me what you used because I'm refinishing my tank as well and you did a super job.
What equipment and compounds used.
Please help.
Thank you.

I know this this thread is a bit old, but I've been asked a few times about what polisher I used. So a little up-date. For the out side I used my Dewalt dwp849 7 Inch 9Inch Variable Speed Polisher and for the inside I used my Flex 6" variable speed it's much more compact then the Dewalt.

I use both of these polishers just about everyday and they are not cheap especially Flex but you can buy a low cost variable speed polisher, I would recommend a compact 6" and use the Meguiar's 6.5-Inch Soft Buff Foam Cutting Pad and Meguiar's 6.5-Inch Soft Buff Foam Polishing, your need one Meguiar's Self-Centering Rotary 5" Backing Plate for 6.5" Pads
The compounds used are in the above post.

 

[Saundeag]

Local Services

Local Services

I know this thread is more for DIY but I am in process of moving and setting up a new tank and do not have time. I am purchasing a used 300 gallon and was wondering if anyone in the Cincinnati, OH area polished tanks. Thanks for any info that you may have.

 

[jcac812]

buffer suggestions

buffer suggestions

Nevermind. Saw the post above

 

[btucker7587]

Use this exclusively for my acrylic polishing.
http://www.novuspolish.com/

I use a random sander and a drill head buffing pad.

Sand affected surface with 400grain sand paper, then 800, then 1000, then 2000. Apply polish as prescribed (3, 2, 1 respectively) and polish with buffing pad.

 

[kenneth wolfe]

tools of the trade

 

[kenneth wolfe]

this tank is bad this is a quick sand and buff to see what I am up against ..

 

[kenneth wolfe]

notice the ac?? this is going to be a lot of work ..

 

[jcac812]

Help Buffing the corners

Help Buffing the corners

Hey guys I bought a 10ft acrylic tank off craigslist that has it's fair share of scratches. This is a long post to tell you what I've tried but my questions are at the bottom.

Here's what I started out buying:
"¢ Novus 1. 2. 3.
"¢ Sandpaper 800 grit, 1200 grit, 2000 grit.
"¢ Mothers Polish Ball
"¢ Mothers Power Cone
"¢ Mothers Polish Ball Mini
"¢ Meguiar's Headlight Restoration Plus Kit.

I have power drill that goes up to 1200 RPMs.
A palm sander as well.

1. I tried to stay vertical and horizontal with a palm sander. Kept it wet and wiped in-between each grit.
2. Applied Novus 3. Used Headlight Restoration attachment on power drill.
3. Used Novus 1 to clean. Applied Novus 2 and Used Mothers Polish Ball on Power drill

Results were subpar. I felt like the power drill wasn't going that fast with the attachments. So I bought a Pneumatic "dremel" tool for $30 at Lowes. It was a better but I had troubles controlling the speed. That's what lead me to this site. I went and bought everything Da Maui Life listed.

Meguiar's Self-Centering 8-Inch Rotary Buffer Backing Plate
Meguiar's 8-Inch Soft Buff Foam Cutting Pad (Red Pad)
Meguiar's 8-Inch Soft Buff Foam Polishing Pad
Woodstock D2509 Buffing Wheel, Soft Muslin 3-Inch by 40 Ply by 1/4-Inch Hole (The stitch wheel is for the inside corners) Had one of these I bought at Home Depot.
Meguiar's M105 Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound - 32 oz.
Meguiar's M9 Mirror Glaze Swirl Remover - 16 oz.

Meguiar's Hi-Tech Sanding Backing Pad (Did not buy this)
3M(TM) Wetordry(TM) Sandpaper, 03006, 3-2/3 in x 9 in, Assorted, 5 sheets per pack
3M 03022 Imperial Wetordry 3-2/3" x 9" P800 Grit Sandpaper, (Pack of 5)
3M 03018 Imperial Wetordry 3-2/3" x 9" P400 Grit Automotive Sandpaper, (Pack of 5)

The buffing wheel that I bought has a screw that goes through the top so it was really hard to get in the corners with a power drill with hitting the acrylic on the other panel.

The results are a lot better but I'm still seeing marks. I wouldn't say it's even scratches anymore more of a haze in some spots, maybe some unevenness.

I went over this process 3 times and still not the way I want it. Any tips would be appreciated. I have yet to do the front of this 10 foot tank. I've only done the sides of it.

Here is the latest process. I sprayed with water and wiped with different microfiber cloth between every step.

1. spot sand by hand with 320 grit.
2. spot sand by hand with 400 grit. Bigger spot.
Step one and step 2 I did not pay attention to what direction I was going. I didn't go in a circular motion but went back and forth and diagonal until heavy scratches were removed.
3. Palm sander the whole section with 600 grit. (side is 24"x18")
4. Palm sander the whole section with 1200 grit.
5. Palm sander the whole section with 2000 grit.
6. Apply Meguiar's M105 Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound and use Meguiar's 8-Inch Soft Buff Foam Cutting Pad (Red Pad).
7. Use power drill and tried everything from mothers mini power ball to Mothers Power Cone to Soft Muslin 3-Inch with screw on top so couldn't get too close. (borrowed my dad's electric drill that goes up to 2000 rpm)
8. Apply Meguiar's M9 Mirror Glaze Swirl Remover and use Meguiar's 8-Inch Soft Buff Foam Polishing Pad.
9. Same as #7 but used a different attachments so it didn't have the cut compound on it.

I also bought Dico 50-4 Facer Buff, Kit 4-Piece off of amazon but they don't get the corners that well either.

I guess I'm just looking for help on technique or a better process


When you put Meguiar's M105 Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound or Meguiar's M9 Mirror Glaze Swirl Remover on do you put a lot of it on or just enough to cover? Do you buffer it right away or do you let it dry?

How do you get the corners to look the same? Mine look hazy still.

Do I need to buy Meguiar's Hi-Tech Sanding Backing Pad? Anything I did by hand I would just press with one finger and go over the areas needed but usually used the palm sander.

I can attach pictures when I get home if that helps. Thanks in advance.

 

[jcac812]

___

 

[jcac812]

I recently removed some minor scratches from sand and typical micro swirl marks from normal cleaning on the out side of my acrylic tank. All the products used was from Meguiars, 3M and recommended by ‘Floyd’ One of the acrylic gurus on RC the job turned out flawless. As for sanding I used the pre-cut 3M assorted pack, wet or dry sandpapers with Meguiars E 7200 backing pad.

IMO you have more control (removal of acrylic) wet sanding scratches by hand then with any orbital sanders as your not dealing with deep scratches or gouges, most of the time. For my needs, medium-light scratches I started out with 800 stepped up 1000, 1500, 2000 feathering out as you go then polished with M105 Ultra-Cut Compound and cut pad, once sanding haze is removed finish off with M9 Mirror Glaze Swirl Remover and polishing pad, you‘ll need a 3”stitch wheel for the inside corners, bottom/top corners.
Micro swirl marks on the outside was simply polished with compounds, no sanding. Clean the Meguiars pads with an old tooth brush in-between applications of compound (spin buffer and apply bristle across pad) and when your finished. That way they will last and can be reused down the road. It cost me about hundred buck for the products but I ended up with a professional looking job, like new out of the box. No haze, swirl marks or blims worth every dollar.
I also maintain the outside of the tank with Brillianize and a micro fiber cloth. Gently tack with damp(water) micro fiber cloth to remove dust, ext. let dry then apply Brillianize. Changing the way I now clean and maintain my tank has made a world of difference in the optical quality of the acrylic.
.


You can look up products I used below on Amazon.

Meguiar's Self-Centering 8-Inch Rotary Buffer Backing Plate
Meguiar's 8-Inch Soft Buff Foam Cutting Pad (Red Pad)
Meguiar's 8-Inch Soft Buff Foam Polishing Pad
Woodstock D2509 Buffing Wheel, Soft Muslin 3-Inch by 40 Ply by 1/4-Inch Hole (The stitch wheel is for the inside corners)
Meguiar's M105 Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound - 32 oz.
Meguiar's M9 Mirror Glaze Swirl Remover - 16 oz.

Meguiar's Hi-Tech Sanding Backing Pad
3M(TM) Wetordry(TM) Sandpaper, 03006, 3-2/3 in x 9 in, Assorted, 5 sheets per pack
3M 03022 Imperial Wetordry 3-2/3" x 9" P800 Grit Sandpaper, (Pack of 5)
3M 03018 Imperial Wetordry 3-2/3" x 9" P400 Grit Automotive Sandpaper, (Pack of 5)

If you could look at my last post and give any advice I'd appreciate it. Thanks!