How to Remove Scratches from Plexiglass
There are different procedures to remove scratches from plexiglass depending on how deep the scratch.
09/07/2019
Plexiglass, also known as acrylic plastic, is a synthetic material can be used to make many important items. These items include windshields, window panes, rear windows, helmet visors, headlight coverings, skylights, shower doors, and even furniture. It comes in several different colors, textures, and tints. Plexiglass is flexible and provides strong resistance to abrasion, thus, making itself a known option for applying like storm doors and greenhouses where the regular glass is considered impractical to use.
The major benefits of using this material are that it is lighter, stronger than glass, and safer to use around children. However, most of the plexiglass varieties get scratches over the period of time. Unlike glass which only gets scratched by harsh objects, the sheets of plexiglass have a comparatively delicate surface that may easily get affected.
Replacing plexiglass can become highly expensive so it is always better to try to fix the scratches first of your own. There are different procedures to remove scratches from plexiglass depending on how much a scratch is deeper.
How to Get Scratches out of Plexiglass?
In this blog post, we’ll discuss different methods to remove the different nature of scratches on plexiglass. Let’s begin:
1. Removing Light Scratches
In order to get light scratches out of plexiglass, you will need:
• 800 and 1200
Grit Sandpaper
• Clean Warm Water
•
Acrylic Polish
First of all, clean the surface around the scratched area to get rid of any dirt or grease. Soak 800 grit sandpaper in warm water to get it damp. Shake and wring out any excess water off the sandpaper so that it does not drip. Setting up your work station near a sink would be better because you will need to re-wet the sandpaper during the process. Rub the sandpaper in circular motions against the plexiglass. Keep doing it for 1 minute by applying gentle pressure to the scratches with the help of the sandpaper. During this process, your plexiglass may take a frosted appearance or feel cloudy as it has experienced several small scratches. Don’t worry this is the part of the process and all such scratches will vanish in the upcoming steps.
Now, sock a 1200 grit sandpaper in warm water and repeat the circular motion process until all the scratches are gone. The next step is to apply a little amount of polish onto a clean cloth and apply it on the plexiglass surface in a circular motion. You might need to take a few applications to get back the desired shine of plexiglass so be patient. Take short breaks in between coats to give your arm some rest.
2. Removing Moderate Scratches
In order to find out if the scratch is too deep for the above method, run your finger across the plexiglass to determine its depth. If your fingers can feel the scratch, you’ll have to add another step to the above process for ensuring proper shine and smoothness.
Instead of starting with 800 grit sandpaper, start with 600 grit sandpaper. Soak it in the warm water as you did for 800 and 1200 grit sandpaper. Rub it on the surface of plexiglass for two to three minutes in a circular motion. After that, follow the above-mentioned method for light scratches.
3. Removing Deep Scratches
While conducting the depthless check for the plexiglass scratch, if your finger gets caught in the scratch, it shows the scratch is too deep. Thus, you will need specialized equipment to repair that scratch. If you do not possess the right equipment, it would be better to just leave the scratch alone and avoid unnecessary experiments. But, if you have access to the right tools, you can repair the damaged plexiglass of your own.
The tool you will need for repairing the deep scratches is a heat gun. Plug in your heat gun and do the temperature settings with the help of buttons on the side. If you do not have a heat gun, you can buy it from your nearest local hardware store. Such guns are easily available these days. Make sure to set the heat gun to the lowest available heat setting. Most of the heat guns are already set to the lowest heat settings when turned on.
To start the process, follow the entire procedure described for moderate scratches. After that, position the heat gun three to four inches away from the plexiglass scratches. Move the heat gun over the scratches in a continuous back and forth motion. This will soften the surface of plexiglass allowing it to fill the gap created by the scratches thus making them disappear. Be careful not to keep the gun too close to the surface or only at one spot because this will cause the plexiglass to warp or blister.
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How to Clean Plexiglass
Plexiglass is a very sensitive material and scratch-prone too. That is why you have to handle it very carefully while cleaning. Here are the steps listed down to clean plexiglass in the best possible way:
1. Use Air to Clean the Surface
Do not use your hands or a cloth to remove dust particles from the surface of the plexiglass. Making direct contact with the surface can grind the dust particles into the material itself. Instead, use air to clean the surface.
You may either blow across the surface or use a blow dryer (set at its lowest, coolest setting) for this purpose. If you are using a blow dryer, place it several inches away from the surface and move it side-to-side down the surface.
2. Spray with Acrylic Cleaner
Once the excessive dirt is removed, spray a good quality nonabrasive acrylic cleaner on the surface of plexiglass. Another cheap alternative is to use dish soap and water instead of a branded spray.
After applying the cleaner, take a soft microfiber cloth to gently wipe the surface down. Repeat this process until you have finished cleaning the whole plexiglass surface.
3. Run Clean Water Over the Surface
This is an extra step if you are in a mood of deep cleaning. Soak the microfiber cloth in plain water and clean the plexiglass surface once more. This will help you to clean anything extra left on the surface. You may also use a shower nozzle (low pressure) to ensure a brighter shine.
Polish Plexiglass:
In order to polish plexiglass, you should:
1. Soak Clean Cloth in Warm Water
Take a clean and soft cloth and soak in warm water. Wring it out so you there’s no excessive water dripping it out.
2. Take out Little Polish onto the Wet cloth
Squeeze a little amount of good quality polish onto the wet cloth and then rub it into the cloth to spread it.
3. Apply the Polish on the Scratch
Use the wet cloth with polish and move it in a circular motion for good 30 seconds over the scratch. Coat the scratch as evenly as you can so that you can fill the gap and blend it with the rest of the plexiglass surface. Keep repeating the process until the scratch is gone.
4. Clean the Surface with a Dry Cloth
Once you have applied the polish on the plexiglass and the scratches are gone, the next step is to clean the surface with a dry cloth to get rid of any excess material. Take a dry cloth and move it in circular motions over the plexiglass until it looks clean. Hold the plexiglass up to a light to see if there are any more scratches there. In case you find more scratches, buff another coat of polish on the plexiglass surface.
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How to Drill Plexiglass without Cracking
Drilling plexiglass needs a lot of care and focus. You cannot just go and drill a hole anywhere because it will simply crack the surface. So, if you want to drill plexiglass like a pro, follow the below mentioned steps carefully:
1. Use Safety Goggles
Your safety comes first. Wear safety goggles before drilling the plexiglass because little chips fly off during drilling and can be a health hazard.
2. Get Your Plexiglass Drill Ready
It is better to use plexiglass drill bits with a regular drill because they make plexiglass puncturing easily due to their design. These drill bits have a geometric structure and are less likely to melt plexiglass.
3. Use a Scrap Piece of Plexiglass for Practice
Before attempting to drill into a large piece of plexiglass, practice with some smaller piece first to avoid any accidents.
4. Place Your Plexiglass Sheet on top of a Board
In order to avoid chipping the back of a surface or scratching it when the drill goes through, place the plexiglass sheet on a piece of fiberboard.
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5. Use Clamps to Secure Plexiglass Sheet
Take as many clamps as required to secure the plexiglass sheet.
6. Do not Drill a Hole Near the Edge
When you drill a hole near the edge of plexiglass, it cracks. Always keep a safe distance and make sure you are not drilling the hole near the edge of the sheet.
7. Turn the Drill On
Switch on the drill machine or place a charged battery inside to turn it on.
8. Start Drilling into the Plexiglass
Turn on the drill machine and start drilling it slowly into the plexiglass sheet.
9. Maintain a Slow and Stable Pace
Go for a feed rate of about 89 mm (3.5 inches) per minute. Keep drilling the sheet with a slow and steady pace and keep a better view of what you are doing.
10. Successfully Put the Drill a Hole
Once you have done with the drilling, safely
remove out the drill machine from the hole and
place it aside to cool.
This was all about
cleaning, polishing, drilling, and getting rid
of plexiglass scratches. If you need further
information on this topic, feel free to let us
know in comments.