acrylic buffing

[Jetsetter57]

Had a past member give me a 125 acrylic, only issue is its scratched like a 4yr old took care of it. I'd rather have glass ( I have a 4yr old too) but does anyone have a contact who knows how to buff it out? Happy to pay or trade some equipment or maybe a quick click and paste of how to do it with that 3 step scratch remover? I have a few vibrating sanders if that's what's used nowadays.

 

[bakbay]

Contact Chris @ Acrylics Pro - they’re not cheap but worth it though. +1 (562) 566-0150

 

[bakbay]

He buff’ed mine 2 months ago…

 

[Jetsetter57]

He buff’ed mine 2 months ago…

Super sweet peninsula. I’ll hit him up. But what’s not cheap?

 

[bakbay]

Super sweet peninsula. I’ll hit him up. But what’s not cheap?

Thanks — I would txt him the pic of your tank and he can give you a quote. Depending on the level of effort (scratches), figure 2 people buffing/cleaning for 4-6hrs + material. For perspective, I paid $900 for mine — 360g, buffed 3 sides. Perhaps I’ve overpaid? lol

 

[jeejee]

Save yourself the hassle and don't try to DIY it. For perspective, I tried to DIY a 20x20x12 frag tank and ended up spending $150 on supplies/equipment, about 6-7 hours of work, and still had to purchase a new tank and clean up the milky mess left from wet sanding splatters.

 

[Reeferkcp]

I have done it myself and it was not worth it. It was much cheaper for me to work a little OT and pay for it. And it was not fun.

second tank had Chris did it before covid on my 600 gallon front panel 96x30 in and out. It was only $400. Recent got a quote for a fresh look. $700 . Prices has gone up a lot…

 

[bakbay]

I have done it myself and it was not worth it. It was much cheaper for me to work a little OT and pay for it. And it was not fun.

second tank had Chris did it before covid on my 600 gallon front panel 96x30 in and out. It was only $400. Recent got a quote for a fresh look. $700 . Prices has gone up a lot…

I was expecting $400-500max as well but surprised to hear $900. Also, I got another quote from another acrylic tank maker — same price. Like everything else, price has gone up, except wage. I’m still perplexed as to how people can make ends meet nowadays. Inflation is real and it’s not what the Fed reported.

 

[Jimbo327]

At least it looks like brand new! Buffing acrylic is definitely not as easy as you see on youtube, I think they edited out the hours of work. Haha.

 

[Reeferkcp]

I was expecting $400-500max as well but surprised to hear $900. Also, I got another quote from another acrylic tank maker — same price. Like everything else, price has gone up, except wage. I’m still perplexed as to how people can make ends meet nowadays. Inflation is real and it’s not what the Fed reported.

Im surprised the whole 360 cost only $900. I thought it would be more. For only one panel, he quoted me $700 haha

Probably not worth his trip to go out for 400-500. Be prepared to pay a premium for 125 gallons. It wont be a linear price reduction from a 360

 

[bakbay]

Im surprised the whole 360 cost only $900. I thought it would be more. For only one panel, he quoted me $700 haha

Probably not worth his trip to go out for 400-500. Be prepared to pay a premium for 125 gallons. It wont be a linear price reduction from a 360

lol - then I got a steal…deal! Ha

Anyway, it’s outrageously expensive though. Regardless, having owned glass tanks for many years, nothing can beat the clarity of acrylics. Yes, they do scratch easily but you can buff it out. The only reason I’m upgrading (once I have free time) is because I scratched my glass tank!

 

[Reeferkcp]

lol - then I got a steal…deal! Ha

Anyway, it’s outrageously expensive though. Regardless, having owned glass tanks for many years, nothing can beat the clarity of acrylics. Yes, they do scratch easily but you can buff it out. The only reason I’m upgrading (once I have free time) is because I scratched my glass tank!

Buffing is ridiculously expensive. I bet he spent less than 3 hours for that tank with 2 men? Material is negligible. Still probably $200/hour?

Its all relative though. A brand new 360 starphire tank is gonna be much more than that. I bet your used acrylic tank is gonna outlive any new glass tank. Acrylic seam is awesome assuming u dont abuse it. Mine lasted 10 years so far. I bought used. Im guessing its 30 years old probably…still going strong. Also much easier to move it around.

 

[Jetsetter57]

Buffing is ridiculously expensive. I bet he spent less than 3 hours for that tank with 2 men? Material is negligible. Still probably $200/

Yeah I’m gonna have to give it a go myself. Again since the tank was a gift I don’t mind giving it a try. I’ll post a thread for those who are interested and have to put some more research into some past threads of anyone else who did it successfully.

 

[JohnBRZ]

I've done it once on a 60g. got the Novus polish kit, hook it up to a power tool and polish at slow speed. take a day and about 90% of the scratches removed. some of the deep scratch were still visible but I was too tie to care. I would do it again if I buy a used acrylic tank. I recommend you get it professional done if you have deep scratches and want the tank to be like new again or just buy a new one.

 

[laverda]

I did my 300 when i picked it up used. It is time consuming but not that hard. A lot depends on how bad the scratches are. Materisls are not that expensive. You can geat a small kit for around $40.

 

[T-tank]

Time consuming …. Yes.
And once you started, you have to finish it down to the last sanding grit and finish it out.

(there will be a time you just want to go …..ah Fff the last step….)

 

[Reeferkcp]

Yeah I’m gonna have to give it a go myself. Again since the tank was a gift I don’t mind giving it a try. I’ll post a thread for those who are interested and have to put some more research into some past threads of anyone else who did it successfully.

I hope Im not misleading you. Expensive yes. But doing it yourself if the scratches are deep are not worth it. If u only need to buff with a power drill and novus then go for it. If u need a lot of sand paper grit, dont do it!

 

[Jimbo327]

I tried sanding by hand for like 20 minutes, and barely making a different....that's when I threw in the towel. LOL. It's just too time consuming.

 

[GG_reefer]

I bought a used 180g acrylic tank with scratches. Spend a full day buffing with 300 grid sand for deep scratch and 1000 for minor scratches. Fished with nuvo 1,2 and 3. It is doable. Make sure you wet sand it with rodi water.