scratches on TV glass

[Akuma]

Hey everyone. I must have made something wrong transporting the TV for my new project and now I got some scratches on the tv's curved glass  front. The scratches are not really deep (less than half a milimeter, I guess) but I am asking anyways:

Would it be dangerous to power on the TV now? Any possible dangers? Possibility of an implosion?

That's the safety questions - next the technical questions:

Can the glass front be replaced or is this part of the cathode (or how it is called)? Would this be economical or should I start looking for another TV?

I want to test first, if you can tell the scratches when the TV is on - maybe they are not visible. As long as it is safe it wouldn't bother me now I think.

Looking forward to replys.

Regars,
Alex

[grantspain]

it should perfectly safe to power up the monitor
i  have seen info on removing scratches using buffer and cutting paste but i have never tried it

[SavannahLion]

Umm.... from what I can tell. Those scratches are there to stay. They're not coming out. Something to do with the coatings the place onto the glass. Buffing would happily remove them making the problem worse.

Someone here even went so far as to try brasso with dissappointing results. 

If this intended for an arcade cabinet, I think once you place the tinted plexi over the glass, the problem is going to be moot.

If you're really jonesing to get those scratches out, then I recommend waiting until garbage day and driving around your neighborhood until you find a dead TV. Try whatever technique you're going to want to try on that first and see if it works to your satisfaction. Don't try whatever on plain plate glass, they're treated differently with different coatings (if any at all).

[Akuma]

Thanks for the swift reply - first of all I will power it on and then see if the scratches can be seen when iluminated. : )

EDIT: Luckily you absolutely NOT see any of those scratches when the TV is on, so: I'm glad. Just the picture quality when I hooked up my Dreamcast wasn't as good as I expected. Somehow it looks odd when things move on the TV. Still pictures are okay though. Dunno - I feel kinda frustrated since today was one of those crap days somehow...

[Rickn]

100% safe.
Here are a few conditions not safe:
- there is a white "seal" that can only be seen if the it is in an open frame monitor. It is located close to the mounting ears, goes right around the tube. This is the "Frit seal and bonds the front faceplate to the Funnel of the tube. Chipped or damaged there will likely end in an air tube.

- Similarly if the tube has a chip out of it, use a magnifying lupe (10X) if there is a rainbow effect the chip is likely to spread.

- Your scratch is likely repairable but you would have to remove the tube and be able to get some special polishing compound (Pumice) use a high speed polisher ....

Bottom line I suggest you live with it.

Rick Nieman
Rick@Niemandisplays.com
www.niemandisplays.com