top down box has scratches

[Bolo Tran]

I recently picked up a top down box this weekend and being the numbskull that I am, inadvertantly placed it down with the viewing area to the ground and long story short, scratches that inhibit focusing were a result. I should really kick myself in the arse for this. Is there anything I can get at a hardware store to buff out the scratches? ThAnks for your input

 

[FishyBiz]

You need to sand it with really fine wet sand paper. 6000-12000 grit.

 

[Bolo Tran]

Thanks forbthe reply. I vaguely recall a kit that is made specifically for acrylic scratch repair. Is there one that I can purchase from Home Depot or Lowes or do you think the fine sandpaper works better? Would it leave swirl marks?

 

[BeachBumm]

Novus makes a good kit for acrylic scratch repair .

 

[strayvoltage]

Wet sand it with 2000 grit sand paper, then use a final glaze compound and hand rub it. Will look like new. If you have deep scratches use a series of paper and work your way to 2000.

A few drops of dish soap in the water you use for the paper, helps also.

 

[Bolo Tran]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14910044#post14910044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by strayvoltage
Wet sand it with 2000 grit sand paper, then use a final glaze compound and hand rub it. Will look like new. If you have deep scratches use a series of paper and work your way to 2000.

A few drops of dish soap in the water you use for the paper, helps also.

Thanks for the reply. Would you happen to know the name of the "final glaze compound"? Sorry but Im not literate in DIY stuff. Thanks

 

[woz9683]

Novus 2 is a fine finishing compound. Novus 3 is a coarser compound that you could use in lieu of paper as long as the scratches are not too deep. And don't be confused, Novus 1 is more of a cleaner, not a finer compound, it's similar to Windex I guess.

 

[woz9683]

Oh, and some of the scratch repair kits also come with a compound you can use for finishing a polish.

 

[strayvoltage]

The compound I am talking about is an automotive finishing compound. It is called final glaze, there are many different makers of it. There is also one called Finesse that is an excellent product.

There are some really cool little attachments made to be used on a drill that hold the different pads for the different stages of polishing and finishing compounds that you can buy. One is a nice foam pad that you can use for the final finish that works great.

I have never used the Novus so I can't comment on it, but I do hear of a lot of ppl using it that like the results.
Go to an automotive store that sells paint and talk with the guy that mixes the paint and tell him what you want and he will know what to fix you up with.
I don't know how much a top down box costs, it could be cheaper to replace it rather than polish it.