ACRYLIC TANK and scratch removal (DOING IT ALL AND DOING IT RIGHT)

[snowmansnow]

the kit does come with a spray bottle and a timer. the owner also said to use a 5" drill pad for the final buffing compound. I believe you go though about 7 or 8 grits before you get to the "buffing part"

The instructions were to try it out on a spare acrylic part, then do the entire pane. The reason is because if you were to finnish only 1 square foot and then start the next, it would be impossible to keep from scuffing the "finished" area with your low starting grit pad.

Makes sense.. but I agree.. the whole concept is scary

B

 

[ricksconnected]

snow

can ya link us up to the kit that you are getting?
i just want to see the kit. im wondering if theres a difference between it and my headlight restore kit i use at work.

 

[james s_]

ricksconnected;404910 wrote: snow

can ya link us up to the kit that you are getting?
i just want to see the kit. im wondering if theres a difference between it and my headlight restore kit i use at work.

Check out the first post in this thread....

 

[ricksconnected]

thanks james. im sick as a dog right now and forgot there was actually a link up. i have been following this thread as close as possible though.
this kit is very close to what we use to restore headlight lens's.
the suggestion of the porter cable has put me on guard. i wonder if the company sells them? porter cable is a great tool indeed but there are several other vaqried speed DA sanders on the market.
to do the lens at work we use a 90deg grinder with polishing and buffing pads. no big deal. im very interested in seeing the finished product too.
please take plent of pics. you do have the opertunity to do the site a justice and do a step by step as you go. want to do it for the glass aquarium im about to do too. lots of work and lots of pics involved though.
would be nice to see.

 

[stevhan]

Ive buffed out about 10 tanks using the everclear drill kit. Higher speed is definatly a plus and makes for a better overall appearance.
The magnet pads are just annoying but you get a great workout. I have the ones that velcro to a set of magnavores. It shouldnt take anywhere near 10 hours. I did a 500 gallon tank in two sets of 3-4 hours each inside and out.

 

[ricksconnected]

what is the active ingred. in these kits you folks are using? anybody know? is it sand or almond shells, whats doing the actual cutting?

 

[snowmansnow]

ricksconnected;404982 wrote: what is the active ingred. in these kits you folks are using? anybody know? is it sand or almond shells, whats doing the actual cutting?

Not sure actually.

And no the company doesn't sell porter cable. He said he has used other sanders, but the PC was his favorite.

Good to know that it can be done in less time than i have thought.. so it will be possible to start early in the morning on an off day.. work untill supper and be done (hopefully much earlier) and have a nice job.

B

 

[ricksconnected]

good deal, hes being honest with you about the porter cable.
sounds like you are soon to be well on your way.
i hope you keep us posted on your adventure here. this sounds like its going to be some work, but worth it.
several kits have been mentioned above. will be interesting on which on works out the best over all. below is a link to the route im taking.


http://www.bostonaquariumsociety.org/html/faqs/scratches.htm">http://www.bostonaquariumsociety.org/html/faqs/scratches.htm</a>

if anybody knows about this product, comments of pro's or con's
are welcome.

 

[snowmansnow]

thanks rick. i'm going to make a video of this project so everyone can hopefully glean SOMETHING of use from it.

btw hope you feel better

B

 

[ricksconnected]

thank you. man i feel like a mess bro. ive never felt like this before.

 

[stevhan]

ricksconnected;404982 wrote: what is the active ingred. in these kits you folks are using? anybody know? is it sand or almond shells, whats doing the actual cutting?

Im not exactly sure either but I did find it odd when we ordered extra pads for my magnet kit they were a rust color instead of gray as they were in the past. Now I see some of them in other shades. I dont know if they are dying them for some reason or if they have switched materials.

 

[snowmansnow]

Hopefully, I'll be able to start with some higher grit pads... I don't really have any huge massive gouges in the tank.

The laser security system that I set up around the perimeter normally keeps that sort of thing from happening.

B

 

[son of adam]

SnowManSnow;405249 wrote:
The laser security system that I set up around the perimeter normally keeps that sort of thing from happening.

B

I need that set up ASAP! My 3 yr old is running hot wheels on my tank!

 

[snowmansnow]

Ha! That was a MAJOR consideration as to why I went acrylic. I can deal w scratches... Breaks.... Not so much

 

[snowmansnow]

Btw... Also why I have no knobs, handles, or traditional doors on my stand

 

[snowmansnow]

Oops.. Don't have any... Instead of don't have no haha.... Sorry