FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hey i got some really annoying scratches on my 8yo tank and was just wondering if anyone has any experiences with removing scratches on the glass.

btw I ve heard that you can use a fine powder called cerium oxcide or hydrochloric acid

Hi,
The light scratches can be rubbed out with a fine
powder, the name escapes me at this time. Go to a
store that sells glass or a large hardware store, and
get some glass polishing compound. Follow the instructions
and you should eliminate all but the deeper ones.

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) will not affect glass, It's kept
in glass carboys.

Hydroflouric acid (HF), will eat glass up.

See this site....FIRST....:

http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/EHSRM/LAB/labHF.html

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

i found this information on glass and i just want your opinion on this guys article.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/acrylic_vs_glass.php

BTW i did try calling all the glass company around my area, but they were extremely unhelpful-instead they said to bring my 4 x 2 x 2 10mm tank to them so they can "change" the glass *sighs*.
I called a few local hardware stores and they said they have no such things.
Well the fine powder which is cerium oxide cannot be found or i have found them throught the yellow pages but they only sell them in really large quantities which i cannot afford.

So my option appears to be with the acid in which is avaliable is hardware stores

Last edited by friedrice at 28-Oct-2004 04:38

Hi,
I went to the site you suggested and read it.
Since HCl is stored in glass, brown tinted glass
specifically, I cannot believe that it will
"smooth out" the scratches in glass.

I think you have found an error in that site.

However, being curious, I will take a piece of glass,
scratch it with a sharp object, and then see for myself
if I can eliminate the scratch with HCl.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I doubt it too.


The only way I know is to use something like jewellers rouge or some fine abrasive and "polish" out the scratch.

Depends on how deep it is.

If it's more than about .1mm deep you'll be polishing forever.

IMO Deep scratches weaken the glass as they create a stress point in the glass which is where it will fail if it ever does.

Just my 2.2c inc GST

The thickness of my 4ft tank is 10mm so i think i should be pretty safe from any weak points. Also its just the shallow scratches that iam trying to remove.

It depends on where the scratch is.

central scratches on the long side a 1/4 of the way from the bottom are under the most stress as they have the pressure of the water and is isn't supported.

Anywhere else I can't see it being that bad.

anyone got any ideas or experience on this?