Removing scratches from a dome port

[davehicks 89]

Bite the bullet and get the MicroMesh.  It will make the dome look like new again!  It only looks scary, it's really pretty satisfying to see the results after the initial shock of the frosted dome on the first pass.

Edited August 11, 2019 by davehicks

[Henrik 0]

I can only chime in and recommend this product. It takes some work, but the result is extremely good.

Best regards,

Henrik

[MikkelNoe 1]

I can't count the times I've used MicroMesh and the result is always outstanding. For scratches on my macro port I've created a velcropad for my Dremel and cut small round pieces to fit - that makes scratch removal SOOO much faster :-D

[jmbelloteau 0]

Hello,

What do you think about this guy technic to remove scratches from a dome port?

Seems very scary to me !

[Xterra 10]

On 6/16/2005 at 10:00 AM, Alex_Mustard said:

....
Now we need something that will work on glass domes too!

 

Alex

GP14004 Fine Grade Glass Polishing Compound, Glass Polishing Solution 3.4oz buff the glass on my Zen dome: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AF8KE0S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I used these in a drill press: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JIK72X0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It would take a long time to polish a real scratch, but I think a lot of times, it's just the coating that gets nicked, and this stuff cleaned it right up.

Edited October 9, 2020 by Xterra

[CUR-Diver 1]

So I decided to try out the technique used by the guy on youtube a couple of posts before this one.

I have a pretty scratched Meikon dome which I was going to discard to purchase a new one. Since all the items used are readily available in our hardware store (I live on an island in the Caribbean) I decided to give it a go.

In short: DO NOT ATEMPT TO DO THIS! IT DOES NOT WORK!

Sure maybe I did something wrong but I can assure you I did exactly what he did and the end result is horrendous.

Here my scratched dome before doing anything:

Here is what I used: 3M wetordry 400, 600 and 1500 sandpaper and Brasso.... 

Here is the dome after the 400 sandpaper:

Here after the final 1500 sand paper:

And here after applying Brasso multiple times (not pretty at all):

I even tried the 1500 again for a couple of minutes and the Brasso again, no use. You can even see the difference on the lower edge where I could not really get to. There it is still OK:

So there you have it. Do it the proper way. This was just an inexpensive scratched dome so all is good, but you do not want to ruin an expensive dome with this technique!

Edited January 8, 2021 by CUR-Diver

[hyp 104]

Yours looks like my first attempt with micromesh. It turned out, that it really takes a long long time to sand the scratches out. Second attempt worked for me. Of course I cannot vouch for this particular product or method, but it’s important to do it correctly too. 

[CUR-Diver 1]

4 hours ago, hyp said:

Yours looks like my first attempt with micromesh. It turned out, that it really takes a long long time to sand the scratches out. Second attempt worked for me. Of course I cannot vouch for this particular product or method, but it’s important to do it correctly too. 

Thanks for your input. The initial scratches are gone. The surface looks very smooth and scratch free. Yet after the 1500 and the brasso the surface looks pale and mirky. I seriously doubt that it will improve with longer sanding and more brasso. Any suggestions or additional comments are welcome. Since the dome is at this stage I am willing to test further. 

[davehicks 89]

Get some actual micro mesh.  It's nine grades from 1500 - 12,000.  And why in the world are you using brasso?  Also take off the Hood so you can access the whole dome.

Sit down with a bowl of water, a few towels, and watch a movie for TWO hours while you go through the nine grades.  It seems like you took a short cut with just three.  And get rid of the brasso, you don't need that.

 

https://www.amazon.com/SANDING-SHEETS-INTRODUCTORY-Peachtree-Woodworking/dp/B000H6HIK2/ref=asc_df_B000H6HIK2/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584345024990910&psc=1

[Isaac Szabo 86]

Though I certainly had better results than yours, I was never fully satisfied with my results using things like micromesh, brasso, etc. My domes were usable afterwards but not perfect (still a tad hazy). More recently I purchased an inexpensive ($70) benchtop buffer and got near-perfect results (and with so much less effort). Just be sure to use a soft buffing wheel and a compound made for plastics if you go this route, and obviously keep the dome moving (buffing the same spot too long could lead to problems).

[CUR-Diver 1]

1 hour ago, davehicks said:

Get some actual micro mesh.  It's nine grades from 1500 - 12,000.  And why in the world are you using brasso?  Also take off the Hood so you can access the whole dome.

Sit down with a bowl of water, a few towels, and watch a movie for TWO hours while you go through the nine grades.  It seems like you took a short cut with just three.  And get rid of the brasso, you don't need that.

 

https://www.amazon.com/SANDING-SHEETS-INTRODUCTORY-Peachtree-Woodworking/dp/B000H6HIK2/ref=asc_df_B000H6HIK2/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584345024990910&psc=1

Read my post. I wanted to see if the technique (used by the guy in the youtube video) worked.

[CUR-Diver 1]

1 hour ago, Isaac Szabo said:

Though I certainly had better results than yours, I was never fully satisfied with my results using things like micromesh, brasso, etc. My domes were usable afterwards but not perfect (still a tad hazy). More recently I purchased an inexpensive ($70) benchtop buffer and got near-perfect results (and with so much less effort). Just be sure to use a soft buffing wheel and a compound made for plastics if you go this route, and obviously keep the dome moving (buffing the same spot too long could lead to problems).

Worth a try. Thanks for your input!

[davehicks 89]

9 minutes ago, CUR-Diver said:

Read my post. I wanted to see if the technique (used by the guy in the youtube video) worked.

But why? There are 7 pages here over several years with people explaining how to do it properly.  Why follow some youtube bozo?

[Aquatic Images 49]

In case anyone reading this still needs help, I did a short video on how to use Novus to remove scratches;

Sent from my Redmi Note 5 using Tapatalk

[Arellano 1]

With acrylic, i have found the 3 steps chemical, a great solution, glass is another whole thing though

[canislupus 7]

Hi,

Does anyone know where to find the MICROMESH NC-78-1 KIT ACRYLIC RESTORE KIT in any country excluding UK?

I contacted the distributor for Europe but is located in UK, and with Brexit the shipping and customs cost is twice the cost of the kit itself, it make nonsense for me to be honest.

I would appreciate somewhere to buy the kit in an EU country. It seems I cannot find it using Google.

I also tried some links on this topic but they don’t work anymore.

Thank you very much.

[Cerianthus 55]

https://www.thomann.de/nl/micro_mesh_soft_pads_set.htm?sid=abd485653787c84ffc239970c448a03b

(in Germany)

https://www.labshop.nl/micro-mesh-soft-pads/

not the set, but per pad, in Netherlands

https://www.guitarsupplies.nl/nl/schuurpapier-staalwol-micromesh

 

 

 

[canislupus 7]

20 hours ago, Cerianthus said:

https://www.thomann.de/nl/micro_mesh_soft_pads_set.htm?sid=abd485653787c84ffc239970c448a03b

(in Germany)

https://www.labshop.nl/micro-mesh-soft-pads/

not the set, but per pad, in Netherlands

https://www.guitarsupplies.nl/nl/schuurpapier-staalwol-micromesh

 

 

 

Thank you very much for the links, I will have a look.

 

Any idea how to find the other components of the kit:

Bottle Micro-Gloss Liquid Abrasive

Bottle Anti-Static Cream

Bottle Detergent: I suppose any detergent will do.

Instructions?

 

Thanks again.

 

[jefdriesen 4]

https://www.aquacam.nl/nl/flip-snoots/307-micro-mesh-dome-polish.html

Edited August 29, 2021 by jefdriesen

[canislupus 7]

4 hours ago, jefdriesen said:

https://www.aquacam.nl/nl/flip-snoots/307-micro-mesh-dome-polish.html

Thank you.
I will have a look.

[Stoo 42]

The stiff drink prior to beginning with MicroMesh is critical.

Someone else may have mentioned this, but there are a couple of videos of someone doing this on YouTube. It's a reassuring when you watch one of those first.

[stillviking 5]

I've tried to rub toothpaste in circular moves. Never worked, I'm doing any good?

[Davide DB 418]

Acrylic?

I use Novus and it works.

Deep scratches will be visible to your eyes but will be invisible to your lens underwater.

[joncroweucl 9]

DP-100 glass minidome. Scratch removed with toothpaste and a microfiber cloth.

[Hans Tobrocke 1]

I did the same to my Back Scatter wet dome.  I contacted Back Scatter and they were able to replace the dome portion only for me for a reasonable price.