getting scratches out of glass

drywall_guy87 · 06/11/2011, 10:24 PM

the tank is a perfecto 90 with corner flow. its not to bad but is there a way to polish it to remove most of the scratches? my cuzin got a deal on it and filled it up turned the lights on and saw them and he is very anal. so he went and bought a new tank. he is willing to give it to me for free. i have my 20g up and running so im going to take my time and build it the way i want.

dublo8 · 06/12/2011, 12:11 AM

I have worked in the auto glass industry for a couple years and I have seen people use a polishing compound on glass to get scratches out. It's illegal to use on a car as it's a safety item but on a reef tank it should work pretty good. You will have to get a high quality polish and use various grades to get it back to looking good instead of looking like somebody took sandpaper to it. HTH and GL

Stumped · 06/12/2011, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drywall_guy87

the tank is a perfecto 90 with corner flow. its not to bad but is there a way to polish it to remove most of the scratches? my cuzin got a deal on it and filled it up turned the lights on and saw them and he is very anal. so he went and bought a new tank. he is willing to give it to me for free. i have my 20g up and running so im going to take my time and build it the way i want.

You should re-post or have this moved to the DIY section. Also do a quick search there. Generally speaking it is possible to remove scratches from glass, but IMO it isn't worth the hassle at all based on the amount of time it would take.

Realistically you can only remove very shallow scratches (ones you can't feel when you run your fingernail over, but can see). If they are deeper and you try and remove them you will likely end up with distortion in that area (which will likely be more of a distraction than the scratch ever was). If you have a lot of scratches I definitely wouldn't bother trying at all.

Ultimately if they aren't bothersome I wouldn't worry about them at all. You're going to end up slightly scratching a glass tank over time, regardless of how careful you are.

Lynnmw1208 · 06/12/2011, 08:57 AM

Where are the scratches at? I has scratches on mine but it was towards the bottom where the substrate was so I just left them. you don't notice them that much unless you are on your knees with your face pressed up against the tank peering in at something lol. Depends on how OCD you are I guess

drywall_guy87 · 06/12/2011, 05:48 PM

i dont mind the work the scracthes arent deep there in the front left side i think.

i dont know how to get my post moved

disc1 · 06/12/2011, 07:58 PM

Click the little triangle under your avatar and ask the mod to move it or just go in DIY and start a new thread (probably easiest)

drywall_guy87 · 06/12/2011, 09:47 PM

O ok thanks

streak · 06/12/2011, 10:22 PM

Look into a product called cerium oxide and some type of power tool and lots of elbow grease. Just thought I would throught that in there I used it on an old old 70g tank to buff it out a bit but it only had light scratchs.

06/11/2011, 10:24 PM	#1
drywall_guy87 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: tampa,fl Posts: 136	getting scratches out of glass the tank is a perfecto 90 with corner flow. its not to bad but is there a way to polish it to remove most of the scratches? my cuzin got a deal on it and filled it up turned the lights on and saw them and he is very anal. so he went and bought a new tank. he is willing to give it to me for free. i have my 20g up and running so im going to take my time and build it the way i want.

06/12/2011, 12:11 AM	#2
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	I have worked in the auto glass industry for a couple years and I have seen people use a polishing compound on glass to get scratches out. It's illegal to use on a car as it's a safety item but on a reef tank it should work pretty good. You will have to get a high quality polish and use various grades to get it back to looking good instead of looking like somebody took sandpaper to it. HTH and GL __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

06/12/2011, 08:57 AM	#4
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	Where are the scratches at? I has scratches on mine but it was towards the bottom where the substrate was so I just left them. you don't notice them that much unless you are on your knees with your face pressed up against the tank peering in at something lol. Depends on how OCD you are I guess __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

06/12/2011, 07:58 PM	#6
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	Click the little triangle under your avatar and ask the mod to move it or just go in DIY and start a new thread (probably easiest) __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

06/12/2011, 10:22 PM	#8
streak Reef Madness! Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Perryville, Missouri Posts: 616	Look into a product called cerium oxide and some type of power tool and lots of elbow grease. Just thought I would throught that in there I used it on an old old 70g tank to buff it out a bit but it only had light scratchs. __________________ The Shoe String Budget Reef Aquarium. Possible?? Compared to 7 55 breeding Discus days well we see and try! :P Current Tank Info: 10g nano with 2 clowns 1 Royal Gorama 1 RBTA!

06/12/2011, 05:48 PM	#5
drywall_guy87 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: tampa,fl Posts: 136	i dont mind the work the scracthes arent deep there in the front left side i think. i dont know how to get my post moved

06/12/2011, 09:47 PM	#7
drywall_guy87 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: tampa,fl Posts: 136	O ok thanks

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