Refinish acrylic tank

[ryewalk84]

I am wanting to refinish my acrylic tank and clean up all of the scratches while it’s empty. I’ve been reading, researching and watching videos. Wondering if anyone can provide and forums, videos or links that they have found to be the best. Would like to make sure I don’t miss anything important.

Thanks

 

[9secv6]

Best thing you can do is wet sand it. Start at like 400 or 600 depending on how bad the scratches are. Go all the way up to 2000 and then polish it out with all three steps of the Novus polish

 

[ryewalk84]

That’s the general consensus that I have been finding. Did you do it by hand or use an random orbital sander? The tank is quite large so I don’t think hand sanding will cut it.

 

[GThompson]

A sander will work just use a light pressure and don’t try to rush it. Your polishing can be done with a car buffer done in steps of the grit polish your using but you will still have to do a little by hand. Good luck with it

 

[ryewalk84]

Anyone have any thoughts on how to get the cloudiness out? I sanded up to 2000 grit and have tried the novus 1 and McGuire’s plastx. This is about as good as I can get it. Looking for other ideas. Thanks.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Novus is fantastic stuff

 

[bluprntguy]

Novus 3 then 2 then 1. That’s the only way.

 

[Feet4Fish]

After you sand at your finest grit start with 3 and move up to 1. 1 is basically a cleaner and some would argue polisher. 3,2 will work out the scratches.

 

[ryewalk84]

Scratches are all out. It is purely a residue/haze left. I’ve tried buffing by hand and using a random orbital. When I put the novus 1 on it is making the acrylic even cloudier.

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Do you have novus#3 and #2?

 

[lapin]

Number 3 will scratch. Number 2 will scratch less. Number 1 should get rid of the minor scratches left by number 2. Wash all the left over #2 off with water. Be sure to use a clean cotton bonnet or pad. If using microfiber, rinse it often as it will trap the fine dirt in its fibers. You want your pad to be wet. Dry polish will cause more haze. Do not apply any pressure when polishing. Let the buffer float. If you still have issues you might try some soapy water with the polish to act as a lubricant.

 

[amfreefer]

I wet sanded and used all three of the novus polish starting with #3 and it didn't work for me. I did it all by hand though.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I used a 4” orbiter with no issues . Clarity 0-10, I’d say 8.8

 

[lapin]

I wet sanded and used all three of the novus polish starting with #3 and it didn't work for me. I did it all by hand though.

If you want to try something else here is something from Floyd posted a while back
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/acrylic-fabrication-q-a.224773/page-27#post-3080277

 

[z28reefer]

I've had goodluck with headlight polish getting the haze out. It usually comes with a foam polishing pad that fits any drill.

 

[jozer1]

I'm having the same issue with the haze, not sure if maybe I'm just not polishing enough. I've been doing it by hand and also got an attachment for my drill. I just ordered some car waxing foam pads and I'm going to give another go as soon as I get a chance. In the mean time I just left it in my shed because I got tired of looking at it.

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

A mechanical polisher and the novus will def get rid of the cloudiness.

 

[BrandonS]

Scratches are all out. It is purely a residue/haze left. I’ve tried buffing by hand and using a random orbital. When I put the novus 1 on it is making the acrylic even cloudier.

You can also go to a higher grit. Stepping up to 10k grit and no polish required. That's what they do at some public aquariums.

 

[9secv6]

I started with 600 wet then went to 800, 1000, 1200, and finally 1500. All wet paper picked right up from Advanced Auto Parts. Then go to the Novus 3, then 2 and then down to 1. Your tank will be crystal clear