Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: GamingGreg on August 09, 2003, 05:54:12 am
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Does anyone know of a way to remove or diminish scratches in plexiglass? I accidently scratched mine while removing a few burrs. (That's what I get for being a perffectionist).
Would something with a clear filler work? (i.e. wax furniture polish?)
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There are a few scratch remover products, try your local auto parts store or a place specializing in windshields, or try the local harley shop some are commonly sold there for the bike front shields.
Also see this link:
http://www.acrylic-designs.com/plastic_FAQ's.htm#Polishing%20Scratches (http://www.acrylic-designs.com/plastic_FAQ's.htm#Polishing%20Scratches)
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The biggest key to maintaining acrylic sheet products is to clean them properly. Never use papertowels or windex or anything with ammonia in it. Go to a local glass shop and ask them to get you a plastic cleaning rag and plastic polish and then always use just those for your plexi or lexan. The special cloth and the spray polish will remove minor scratches.
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The best thing for larger scratches is to use a heat tool (like a mini butane torch) to heat the area. The idea is to partially liquefy the plastic in the scratch so it flows back together, and to melt any bits of whitened plastic that are at the scratch site, so they become transparent again.
It takes some patience and technique, keep the heat moving back and forth, and make sure the flame never touches the plexi to avoid burning or melting it so much that the plastic sags or warps. Usually this will diminish the scratch enough that it won't be easily noticable, but If you're lucky, sometimes the scratch will close up and disappear completely!
I had a couple major scratches on my lexan from where I scored it with my utility knife and it went off track, and after heating them, I can hardly see them anymore.
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Get something called Novus to remove scratches... it works very well, I have removed pretty good scratches with it. Here is a link to a place that sells it although you may be able to get it at a local auto supply store. The auto store may not have all 3 types though.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=Acrylic&product%5Fid=Novus+Plastic+Polish+1%2D2%2D3
There are 3 types if the scratch is real heavy you may need all 3.
(from the sites description) Novus 1 gently cleans all plastic without scratching. It leaves a lustrous shine that resists fogging, repels dust, and eliminates static. Novus 2 removes fine scratches, haziness, and abrasion from most plastics. With repeated use, it restores faded and discolored plastics. Novux 3 removes heavy scratches and abrasions from most plastics. Requires use of Novus 2 for final finish.
It really is pretty easy to use if you have some patience. You can also use these products to give you nice clear edges to the acrylic after you cut it. I had some project that I had a few pieces that were glued together and i accidentally got a big hunk of acrylic cement in the middle of it... some wet sanding and then application of these 3 products made it completly like new again.
You can try to apply heat to remove the scratches but be careful as acrylic is flamable and you can also make it look worse by burning or bubbling the acrylic. Good luck.
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Thanks all for your help. I might try a heat source first (on some scrap) to see if that works. I don't have a torch, but maybe a hairdryer will provide enough heat if up close. If not I'll try the Novus route. Thanks again.
Just a side thought, would that Novus stuff work on CD/DVD sctratches? Wouldn't want to use a heat source and warp them, but something like Novus might work. I don't know what kind of plastic CDs are made from, but if Novus is compatible with that then in may serve another purpose as well.
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Novus is great stuff for almost any kind of plastic.
I would not try it on a CD od DVD. Get a CD Doctor or simular device.
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This thread couldn't be more of a help to me today. Yesterday I had a block party and had a bunch of people playing my cab. I just took a look at it and there are a bunch of scratches in one area, looks like someone was wearing a watch or barclet of some sort and had it rubbing around on the lexan as they were playing. I'll kill them if I find out who it was!! :-[ Anyway, going to try and get some of that Novis stuff....
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Here are some Novus links:
http://www.novuspolish.com/ (http://www.novuspolish.com/)
http://www.woodworker.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?search=plastic%20polish&go=294 (http://www.woodworker.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?search=plastic%20polish&go=294)
http://pinballresource.virtualave.net/catalog5.htm (http://pinballresource.virtualave.net/catalog5.htm)