Reply With QuoteAssuming it's a mineral glass crystal, you make a paste of glass polishing powder (Cerium Oxide c. 3micron, also sold as Diamontine by watch material houses).
Apologies if this has been asked before, but how can I get rid
of a hairline scratch, about a quarter of an inch long, from
the glass of one of my watches, please...?
Assuming it's a mineral glass crystal, you make a paste of glass polishing powder (Cerium Oxide c. 3micron, also sold as Diamontine by watch material houses).
I never realised that this was possible. You learn something new every day!
Yup the glass industry have been using Ce02 for years you can also use rouge, tin oxide and colloidal silica for final polishing. Always use plenty of water when polishing glass, glass doesn't like lots of heat, to hot and it CRACKS :lol:
BEWARE Tin oxide is nasty stuff, tin also known as Stannium is very bad for the lungs, if you use Cerium wear a mask and gloves it contains Thorium!
Regs
Bry
Thanks for the suggestions, I have come across something
I think is called "Polywatch", it's on the Bay at £3.99,
does anyone know if this is any good...?
Polywatch is excellent...Originally Posted by JOHNG
...for acrylic crystals.
Surprisingly Autosol also works on acrylic xtal. Many claim better results than Polywatch. I have only tried Polywatch so have no point of comparison, but a quick google search will find a site that has. :wink:
The biggest thing with acrylic and any glass polishing is you need to develop some heat but not to much!
Dumb question, but how can I tell if it's Acrylic, or whatever else
watch 'Glass' is made from... :? ?
Acrylic often known as PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylate) can be easily scratched with a screwdriver, a mineral glass(basically window glass or soda-lime glass) is much harder tho it can still be scratched with a hardened steel screwdriver, sapphire is difficult to scratch!
That sounds drastic, I don't want to take a screwdriver to test what
they are made of, make it worse. I tap it with my fingernail, if it
sounds 'hollow' I assume it's acrylic, if a 'solid' sound, it's glass,
Am I right with those assumptions, or is there a better way...?
:D you can probably mark the acrylic with a wooden cocktail stick, and is easily removed with toothpaste.
you can probably mark the acrylic with a wooden cocktail stick, and is easily removed with toothpaste.[/quote]
Toothpaste...! Is that for real...?
:shock: Yes, it's the hydrated slilica basically fine sand that cleans your teeth.
Thanks for that.
"You learn something new every day..."
I've bookmarked this page! It's great. Thanks
anyone tried T-Cut ?
Usually works OK on plastics (but I've never tried it on a watch)
Yes! any of the fine polishing pastes or liquids for car bodywork can rid watch acrylics of fine scratches. :)
Every day is a school day!!!!
Thanks for this post.
Do you polish the glass with watch body attached or seperately?
The reason for the question is that I am not sure I have the confidence to disassemble the watch yet.
I've just tried using toothpaste on an old watch from ebay, and it worked amazingly well. Thanks for the tip.
The scratches are usualy on the outside of the 'glass', soDo you polish the glass with watch body attached or seperately?
The reason for the question is that I am not sure I have the confidence to disassemble the watch yet.
there's no need to take your watch apart... :wink:
excellent info - just joined here and i did not know glass could ever be recovered
Using toothpaste on acrylic, what sort of cloth should you use? Anything?
Cotton wool. Or makup removal pads.
Well you learn something new every day! I guess the side effect of toothpaste use for scratch removal is a minty smelling watch :lol:
And no plaque.... :D
I've used tooth paste before, works great if you've got the patience.
+1 I have also used toothpastePolywatch is excellent...
...for acrylic crystals.
Don't try the reverse, however.+1 I have also used toothpastePolywatch is excellent...
...for acrylic crystals.
Polywatch tastes worse than it smells.
Brasso on a damp rag for acrylic with a final polish with Tcut.
Can we extend this thread to tidying up the metal as well? I have a few scratches on a steel bracelet I would like to get rid of!
Bracelet is a mixture of polished steel and brushed, any ideas?
Use polywatch. If it works it is acrylic, if it doesn't it is glass (you'll see an improvement almost immediately with acrylic). For £3.99 got to be worth finding out this way rather than putting a hardened screwdriver near your watch.
Touch it to your upper lip. If it feels cold it is glass, if it feels warm it is acrylic.Use polywatch. If it works it is acrylic, if it doesn't it is glass (you'll see an improvement almost immediately with acrylic). For £3.99 got to be worth finding out this way rather than putting a hardened screwdriver near your watch.
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