GAI cleaning the big window

SShindell · 03-24-2006, 05:31 AM

http://www.11alive.com/video/player.aspx?aid=51119&bw=

Casey · 03-24-2006, 05:41 AM

Thanks for that video now everyone knows acrylic can be polished back to new.

What a job

Loverotties · 03-24-2006, 06:10 AM

That's some job!

c9miles · 03-24-2006, 07:57 AM

I have a question. I was at the aquarium last weekend and saw them polishing the acrylic. Why is it necessary to polish it when it's pretty close to brand new? Did it get scatched during installation or some other way?

Thanks,

Chad

Jeff_edge540 · 03-24-2006, 08:01 AM

The Whalesharks are scratching it pretty badly with their pecs as they swim next to it. No one thought this would happen and it is a real problem. It is getting scratched faster than they can fix it.
Here is a photo of them trying to fix it. I would hate to have that job.

MattTVI · 03-24-2006, 08:05 AM

Beauty!

great shot jeff!

GLXTRIX · 03-24-2006, 11:09 AM

wow, that is a great shot! hmmmmm scratch.....crack.....SPLASH!!! Pretty intersting, so are they going to have to polish that thing every 4-6 months? and I wonder how bad it actually is, like I know some are just scuff marks, but are there any gouges>?

Jeff_edge540 · 03-24-2006, 11:19 AM

??? It looks like someone ran 200grit sandpaper horizontally across the plexi about a thousand times in the upper half of the window. It's not really that noticeable unless the light hits it just right. Then you see it and as an aquariest say to yourself "holy crap - that sucks".

GeorgeW · 03-24-2006, 11:35 AM

On a sunny day, the scratches are pretty noticable (at least 4 weeks ago they were).

Fortunately, that gave me a nice topic of discussion with the lovely lady on the mic that day.

MsReeReee · 03-25-2006, 03:07 AM

Yes i was there about then and boy i thought what is wrong with the glass
it was pretty bad..........

chriswkbrd · 03-25-2006, 11:45 AM

I have a question. From what I understand is that they are having to buff out the scratches pretty often. Now when they buff it doesn't it take a very small amount of the surface of the acrylic off? If so then over time (years) it is going to weaken the acrylic. I know that it's almost two feet thick, but that still could be a problem down the road. Has anyone working at the Georgia Aquarium heard any concerns about that?

JT · 03-25-2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriswkbrd

I have a question. From what I understand is that they are having to buff out the scratches pretty often. Now when they buff it doesn't it take a very small amount of the surface of the acrylic off? If so then over time (years) it is going to weaken the acrylic. I know that it's almost two feet thick, but that still could be a problem down the road. Has anyone working at the Georgia Aquarium heard any concerns about that?

They are experimenting with a few things to discourage the whale sharks from swimming so close to the panels. Some things include:

Running large bubble walls along the length of the front panel at night.
Building up rock formations at the edges of the panels.

They are taking the problem quite seriously.

SShindell · 03-25-2006, 01:27 PM

They are going with the bubble wall at night, cutting down the buffing to once a year or so, which is about what they had originally planned before Ralph and Norton decided to rub against the acrylic.

The team is making good progress, and are about 1/3 done.

Steve

washowi · 03-25-2006, 02:14 PM

I was talking with the guy and they are using 16000 grit and he is way behind schedule. He is from California. Bigger job than expected.. Was asking me to help locate a machine shop so they can modify the tool a bit it's rocking in some fashion.

RobinsonFam1 · 03-25-2006, 02:42 PM

they are probably looking to modify the tool in the manner of making it about 4'x4' ! LOL.

it seems like the buffer has some sort of attachment on the end that draws out the sanding waste. I wonder if that water is filtered then put right back in or how it works?