Scratched glass - devastated

BigJPDC · 11/02/2006, 10:17 AM

Hello - I realized too late that my mag float had attracted a small metal burr from somewhere and I now have a few hairline scratches on my display tank. I am pretty bummed about this.

Does anyone have a success story or link to something that can help with those scratches? Fortunately they are on the outside.

thanks,
jp

Randall_James · 11/02/2006, 10:21 AM

If you can see the scratch, Cerium oxide polish will remove it. If you can "Feel" the scratch with your fingernail, forget it....

A scratch that deep must be "ground" out

BigJPDC · 11/02/2006, 10:24 AM

thanks Randall, I still can't believe it. I don't know if I'll use a mag float again now.

My freaking live rock comes in today.

Where can I purchase the cerium oxide polish?

jp

Randall_James · 11/02/2006, 10:28 AM

Many custom glass shops have it or you can order online from a number of vendors... (tell them what you are trying to do, not sure of the brand names)

Do a bit of research before trying this and also "CLEAN" is really important during the polish process.

Randall_James · 11/02/2006, 10:31 AM

Found this for you:
http://www.facetingmachines.com/polishing_glass.shtml

michaeldaly · 11/02/2006, 11:11 AM

YOu could grind it out with ultra fine sandpaper and the polish mentioned above, but it is going to be alot of work.

BigJPDC · 11/02/2006, 11:17 AM

wow what a bummer. Thanks for the info.
jp

Shagsbeard · 11/02/2006, 11:34 AM

Call a local glass guy and he'll buff out the scratches for you for what ever the going rate is. If you try to do it yourself and cause more scratches, you'll be really ****ed at yourself. When he does buff them off, make sure he uses as low a volume level as he can get because buffing a tank with fish in it can really stress out the fish.

Sorry for using that word that I've never considered a bad word. Dunno why some of these forums maintain the lists they do. If it were up to me "work" would be "****" before the word I chose would be.

BigJPDC · 11/02/2006, 11:57 AM

thank you Shags - that is great advice. I'll report back when I get some quotes.

dippin61 · 11/03/2006, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigJPDC
thanks Randall, I still can't believe it. I don't know if I'll use a mag float again now.

My freaking live rock comes in today.

Where can I purchase the cerium oxide polish?

jp

its not technically the mag floats fault. i always pull my mag float apart before i use it again, to check for such things.

11/02/2006, 10:17 AM	#1
BigJPDC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 959	Scratched glass - devastated Hello - I realized too late that my mag float had attracted a small metal burr from somewhere and I now have a few hairline scratches on my display tank. I am pretty bummed about this. Does anyone have a success story or link to something that can help with those scratches? Fortunately they are on the outside. thanks, jp

11/02/2006, 10:21 AM	#2
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	If you can see the scratch, Cerium oxide polish will remove it. If you can "Feel" the scratch with your fingernail, forget it.... A scratch that deep must be "ground" out __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

11/02/2006, 10:24 AM	#3
BigJPDC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 959	thanks Randall, I still can't believe it. I don't know if I'll use a mag float again now. My freaking live rock comes in today. Where can I purchase the cerium oxide polish? jp __________________ Rock in the tank is money not in my bank. Current Tank Info: 65 RR AGA

11/02/2006, 10:28 AM	#4
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Many custom glass shops have it or you can order online from a number of vendors... (tell them what you are trying to do, not sure of the brand names) Do a bit of research before trying this and also "CLEAN" is really important during the polish process. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

11/02/2006, 10:31 AM	#5
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Found this for you: http://www.facetingmachines.com/polishing_glass.shtml __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

11/02/2006, 11:11 AM	#6
michaeldaly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 2,009	YOu could grind it out with ultra fine sandpaper and the polish mentioned above, but it is going to be alot of work.

11/02/2006, 11:17 AM	#7
BigJPDC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 959	wow what a bummer. Thanks for the info. jp __________________ Rock in the tank is money not in my bank. Current Tank Info: 65 RR AGA

11/02/2006, 11:34 AM	#8
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Call a local glass guy and he'll buff out the scratches for you for what ever the going rate is. If you try to do it yourself and cause more scratches, you'll be really **ed at yourself. When he does buff them off, make sure he uses as low a volume level as he can get because buffing a tank with fish in it can really stress out the fish. Sorry for using that word that I've never considered a bad word. Dunno why some of these forums maintain the lists they do. If it were up to me "work" would be "**" before the word I chose would be.

11/02/2006, 11:57 AM	#9
BigJPDC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 959	thank you Shags - that is great advice. I'll report back when I get some quotes. __________________ Rock in the tank is money not in my bank. Current Tank Info: 65 RR AGA