Local source of acrylic polishing sandpaper?

[capman]

I'm trying to get an acrylic 180 that was formerly a reef going as an African cichlid tank. When it was a reef, the former owner allowed a LOT of coraline algae to grow on about the lower third of all 4 sides of the tank. I dissolved the mineral material away with vinegar, but I am left with big white opaque patches over most of this area. I'm assuming the acrylic was damaged. Alternatively, maybe this is some sort of organic adhesive material that algae used to adhere to the acrylic? Either way, all I can think to do is try to polish this out.

This is working (though it leaves the surface just a bit wavy looking if you look at it from certain angles), but boy this is a LOT of work that I was not bargaining for. This tank will be fine for our purposes, but it could never be a nice display tank if you cared a whole lot about appearance.

Anyway, my polishing kit consists of a set of insanely fine sandpapers in increasingly fine grades. The finest grade is something like 6000 grit I think (don't quote me on that...it is not in front of me at the moment).

I'm starting with 600 grit, which is available from most hardware stores, but I'm not sure where to get more of the finer grit sandpapers.

Does anyone know if there is anyplace I can buy more of the really fine grades locally? (WOF and SF do not have acrylic polishing kits, but I have not tried other LFS's yet).

Or, barring that, how about a good online source?

Thanks.

[goetzc]

I don't know about the sandpapers... but any decent acrylic source should sell the novus brand polishing products.

[otolith]

Bill, talk to Jeffie about this. He's a pro at polishing out acrylic tanks, as he has to do it all the time at work.

[mtfatwork]

Bill you can get the kits online at www.championlighting.com

also, that icecap should be here by next Tuesday

[Havre]

Bill, go to any major hobby shop. Hub Hobby in Little Canada is probably your closest. They sell polishing kits for rubbing out the finishes on models. One is called Millenium and the other is LMG, these kits include 1800,2400,3200,3600,4000,6000,8000 and 100000 grit sandpaper. Also they sell Novus polish # 1, 2 and 3. Follow the directions included.

[Brandon L]

Bill,

Try an automotive store. I have some ranging up to 2000 grit and then a rubbing compound that has taken a majority of some imperfections out of my acrylic.

Edit: Or maybe a hobby shop.

[capman]

Thanks everyone.

I am continually impressed by the wealth of knowledge and helpfulness of the people here.

[David Grigor]

I ended up decided it was too much work so I never ended up attempting but this is the mailorder place that was recommended. They have lots of different packages, the aquarium package is cheap ( $17 ) but depending on the project may need one of the more expensive ones:


https://www.micro-surface.com/defaul...page_id=175#17

The instructions for the kit:

https://www.micro-surface.com/doc_li...estoration.doc

[wags]

Originally Posted by otolith

Bill, talk to Jeffie about this. He's a pro at polishing out acrylic tanks, as he has to do it all the time at work.

D - Did Jeffie already show you how to do this on your tank? I am interested in learning how its done.

[the_colonel]

Bill, I got my kit from Dirk. Worked great...... Kind of scary at first, as you seem to make the problem worse, but as you get down to the finer, and finer grits, it clears right up.