From: <carrera206@comcast.net>
Reply-To: gsas-member@thekrib.com
To: <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
Subject: Re: Acylic tank scratches and spot algae removal
Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2004 15:51:46 -0800
Maybe, but to do a polishing without using any rubbing compound, I ended up
having to use the finest micro-mesh grit size avail 12000 (this is not US
standard grit measurement BTW). A conversion chart is available below:
http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/conversion.htm
The acrylic needs to be especially smooth else it will show up as haze and
the micro-mesh paper has a special backing that allows the abrasive to
"give" a bit.
Alfred Shiga
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Winchester" <bravo454@hotmail.com>
To: <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 12:51 PM
Subject: RE: Acylic tank scratches and spot algae removal
> If you want some really fine grit sandpaper go to an auto body supply
store
> or auto paint shop.
>
> They normally carry wet/dry sandpaper up through 2400 grit which nearly
as
> smooth as paper.
>
> I would think 1200 or 1800 should be fine enough to hide any sandpaper
> marks.
>
> Paul
>
>
> >From: <carrera206@comcast.net>
> >Reply-To: gsas-member@thekrib.com
> >To: <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> >Subject: Acylic tank scratches and spot algae removal
> >Date: Wed, 24 Mar 2004 11:53:23 -0800
> >
> >Now I have a question, does anyone have a good solution for removing
green
> >spot algae from a very deep tank?
> >
> >My tank is 240 gals or so, 72x24x30 and sits on a 36" high stand and it
is
> >very difficult to remove the spot algae that grows near the gravel as
my
> >magnetic cleaner will tend to want to pick up the gravel and long
handled
> >scrapers have never worked well for me.
> >
> >Is there any other solution that anyone have used? I want to keep the
fish
> >in place during the procedure.
> >
> >RE: Acrylic Scratch Removal
> >
> >The links below should give everyone a start at figuring out how to
polish
> >/
> >remove scratches from acrylic aquariums. One can also look at the
various
> >products available for removing scratches, haze and crazing from
acrylic
> >aircraft windows and motorcycle fairings.
> >
> >Here is the method that I used on my 240 gal tank.
> >
> >In summary, think of the scratches as grooves in the acrylic that need
to
> >be
> >smoothed out in order for them not to distort light and appear as
> >scratches.
> >Buffing out the scratches is not difficult to do. It just takes a bit
of
> >elbow grease.
> >
> >Start off with a grit rough enough to remove traces of the scratches
> >without
> >taking too long but not so rough that it gouges the heck out of your
tank.
> >Start sanding in a horizontal pattern and work your way through
> >progressively smoother grits.
> >
> >Each time you switch grits you cross the previously sanded pattern (ex.
> >horizontal pattern - back and forth, switch grits then sand in a
> >vertical --up and down pattern, and so on) each time sanding until the
> >previously sanded pattern cannot be seen anymore. As you get up to the
> >finest grits the sanding pattern will be gradually replaced by clear
> >acrylic.
> >
> >Do not use a circular pattern as the cris cross is easier to control
and
> >you
> >could get optical distortions in the plastic otherwise. Remember you
are
> >actually removing the acrylic in order to get it smooth, so make sure
that
> >you judge if the scratch removal would result in weakening the tank too
> >much.
> >
> >Finally use an acrylic polishing compound if necessary (depending on
the
> >grits that you have available) and if the tank is empty (and you are
doing
> >the tank interior.
> >
> >BTW, I bought my stuff through sisweb and I do not know about the other
> >sites. The Micro-mesh products are definitely the way to go and I have
also
> >heard good things about the Novus line of plastic polishes.
> >
> >Good Luck,
> >
> >Alfred Shiga
> >
> >http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/
> >http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/reference/kr70_kit.htm
> >http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/acrylic_plastic_hand_kits.htm
>
>https://www.micro-surface.com/doc_library%5Ctechnical%5CClear_Seas_Acrylic_
Kit_Instructions.doc
> >http://pages.restorersupplies.com/5943/InventoryPage/1316051/1.html
> >http://www.ss-sci.com/micromesh.htm
> >http://www.sculpt.com/catalog_98/abrasives/micromesh.htm
>
>http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_miscellaneous_scratch_removal_kit_penta
ir_aquatics_rainbow-lifegard.asp
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Hess, Clay A" <clay.a.hess@boeing.com>
> >To: <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> >Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 11:03 AM
> >Subject: RE: Acrylic tank scratches and neighbors with good intentions
> >
> >
> > > Soooo, I have a similar problem with a tank of mine....had the
Christmas
> >tree fall on it this year. Left some nice scratches in it. What is
the
> >best product to remove the scratches and will it look as polished as
the
> >rest of the tank when I am done? I don't want to make a bad situation
> >worse.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: carrera206@comcast.net [mailto:carrera206@comcast.net]
> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 8:35 AM
> > > To: gsas-member@thekrib.com
> > > Subject: Re: Acrylic tank scratches and neighbors with good
intentions
> > >
> > >
> > > You really want to use the micro -mesh stuff. Its quite expensive
but
it
> >is the only product that can polish acrylic without removing the water
or
> >even taking out the fish. Plain or even wet/dry sandpaper is not
usually
> >fine enough to remove the scratches without having to buff the acrylic
> >afterwards with polishing compound. You will need several different
grits
> >of
> >the stuff and if you are doing it while the tank has occupants than you
> >will
> >need some of the finest grit stuff they have.
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Sanford, Dave LHS-STAFF" <Sanfordd@issaquah.wednet.edu>
> > > To: <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 7:35 AM
> > > Subject: RE: Acrylic tank scratches and neighbors with good
intentions
> > >
> > >
> > > > I have experience in repair of a 180 gal tank. I bought it with
> > > > gouges, scratches, haze etc. It was in bad shape. I worked on the
> > > > entire front
> > > inner
> > > > and outer surface. It is possible to get it looking good again,
and
> > > remember
> > > > that with water it will look much better than when dry. Good luck.
The
> > > > products at the website look good to me. What a bummer to have
> > > > happened. dave
> > > > ------------------
> > > > To unsubscribe from this list, please send mail to
> > > > majordomo@thekrib.com with "Unsubscribe gsas-member" in the body
of
> > > > the message. Archives of this list can be found at
> > > > http://lists.thekrib.com/gsas-member/
> > > >
> > >
> > > ------------------
> > > To unsubscribe from this list, please send mail to
> >majordomo@thekrib.com
> >with "Unsubscribe gsas-member" in the body of the message. Archives of
> >this list can be found at http://lists.thekrib.com/gsas-member/
> > >
> > >
> > > ------------------
> > > To unsubscribe from this list, please send mail to
> >majordomo@thekrib.com
> > > with "Unsubscribe gsas-member" in the body of the message.
Archives
of
> > > this list can be found at http://lists.thekrib.com/gsas-member/
> > >
> >
> > ------------------
> > To unsubscribe from this list, please send mail to
majordomo@thekrib.com
> > with "Unsubscribe gsas-member" in the body of the message. Archives
of
> > this list can be found at http://lists.thekrib.com/gsas-member/
> >
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get tax tips, tools and access to IRS forms - all in one place at MSN
Money!
> http://moneycentral.msn.com/tax/home.asp
>
> ------------------
> To unsubscribe from this list, please send mail to
majordomo@thekrib.com
> with "Unsubscribe gsas-member" in the body of the message. Archives of
> this list can be found at http://lists.thekrib.com/gsas-member/
>
------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, please send mail to majordomo@thekrib.com
with "Unsubscribe gsas-member" in the body of the message. Archives of
this list can be found at http://lists.thekrib.com/gsas-member/