Any one polish empty acrylic tank??

110galreef · 12-09-2005, 02:10 PM

I have these from tenecor: It comes with there micro mesh scratch removal kit w/ various levels of sandpaper plus these different levels of liquid polishing compounds. I have an electric polisher and random orbital polisher as well, that I use on my cars. Any input on this process.

VWD · 12-09-2005, 08:17 PM

tagging along here

110galreef · 12-10-2005, 03:52 PM

No one???

well I am going to attempt this first thing tomorrow morning as the tank has now been dismantled!

wharyat · 12-10-2005, 04:40 PM

Keep us updated; I've never done it, but may in the future.

rangerfan · 12-10-2005, 05:46 PM

wharyat i must say your dog is beutiful is it a weimeriner(sp?) how could you ever get mad at those eyes?

TimmyG · 12-11-2005, 08:43 AM

A friend and I polished a 50 gal tenecor corner tank and used an air polisher and compound that we use to to polish aircraft windows.
I would say take it slow till you get the feel for what it will take to get the results you are looking for.
The area we were working on is where the sand line was and we had to wet sand it lightly with 1500 grit then work our way up to 3000 grit.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

Brent Cone · 12-11-2005, 09:20 AM

PLease keep us posted, i bought my son a 6 gallon all in one mini bow front for xmas
and i know in the future i will be trying to get scratches out, so let us know thanks
Brent,

110galreef · 12-11-2005, 10:57 AM

Well from what I have gathered the inside is simply all wet sanding only necassary. The outside is done by using the liquid polishes. I have thus far took out all of the scrathes with 1800 grit. Go in straight lines. Switch directions and went to 2400, switched again and now finished with 3200. I will continue like this with next 4,000 then, 6,000 then lastly 8,000. I will see how it looks then. Since my tank is empty, I may thoughoughly dry it and then try to polish it with # 1 and my buffer.

Alice · 12-11-2005, 12:23 PM

The process you describe is pretty much what I went through when I buffed out a tank. When I bought the tank, the bottom 5" or so was almost opaque with scratches plus there were random scratches all over. After about 12 hours of labor and some aching shoulders, it looked like a brand new tank.

I didn't buy a kit though; I went to an auto parts store that had car painting supplies. I can't remember what grit I started with, but I only did 3 grades of grit - the lowest one I used, then 4000 and 8000 - and finished with a product called "Machine Cut Glaze." Worked great. I didn't use an orbital sander until I buffed it with the glaze because I was afraid of swirl marks, but now I know others who have used a buffer/sander on the higher grades without ill effects but I'd test a small area I think, before I tried it.

Good Luck!

110galreef · 12-11-2005, 12:48 PM

Do the scratches ever really disappear? I know that when the water is in the it seems that the very very fine scratches will diapear.

Or should it look brand new when done?

110galreef · 12-11-2005, 12:53 PM

Never mind it appears they are!!

Kevin1000 · 12-11-2005, 04:27 PM

Sounds like Miller Time .... bet your glad thats behind you.

110galreef · 12-11-2005, 04:39 PM

I have some water and a little sand in the tank so far. I the next hour I will be adding the rest. Trying to figure out who to put where?

110galreef · 12-11-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin1000

Sounds like Miller Time .... bet your glad thats behind you.

Actually Wendy's as we SPEAK!