4/16/2021 How To Remove Scratches From Acrylic | The Plastic People

How To Remove Scratches From Acrylic

Written by The Plastic People
13/02/2018 16:11:05

How To Remove Scratches From Acrylic - Step

by Step Instructions
If you want to learn how to remove scratches from acrylic, acrylic sheets or acrylic products, also commonly known as
Plexiglass or Perspex, read this step by step guidance from the team of plastic experts at The Plastic People. The
methods are tried and tested.

It’s important to check the plastic scratched before you start is actually acrylic. Acrylic is a popular, plastic-based
alternative to glass. It is an extremely versatile plastic, used widely around the home in furniture (such as coffee tables
and side tables) fish tanks, picture frames, splashbacks and mirrors. It is both decorative and functional. If your
scratched plastic is clear it is likely to be either acrylic or polycarbonate which are the two most popular clear plastics.
Scratches can be removed more successfully from acrylic than polycarbonate. Once polycarbonate is scratched it is
not really possible to remove scratches. If it is a coloured plastic, check if it is coloured acrylic. If it is either clear or
coloured acrylic the scratch can probably be removed.

Follow these handy tips from plastic product providers The Plastic People, and your acrylic or products made from it will
continue to shine. Light scratches, as you can imagine, are much easier to combat than deep ones.

How to remove light scratches from acrylic

You will need:

Acrylic/plastic polish (We have tried and tested Xerapol which is a specialist acrylic scratch remover originally
designed for industrial use)
800 and 1200 grit sandpaper
Water for soaking the sandpaper

Instructions:

1. Wet one piece of 800 grit sandpaper - run it over the scratch in a circular motion and repeat with a dry piece of 800
grit sandpaper. Alternate between the dry and wet sandpaper, rubbing for 2 to 3 minutes. Don’t worry if your acrylic
begins to look more frosty or appear to have more little scratch marks on it - this will go away during the process.
2. Next, move onto grade 1200 and do the same. Keep rubbing until all the scratches have disappeared.
3. Finally, dry the area with a soft, dry and clean cotton cloth. Then apply the acrylic polish and the acrylic should look
like it has never been scratched! The polish should restore your acrylic to a high level of shine.

Deeper scratches

Unfortunately, deeper scratches on acrylic products require a little more effort to remove. To check whether a scratch is
deep or not, rub over it with your fingernail. If you can feel it catch, consider it deep and follow this method to try and
remove it. The process is similar to removing light scratches but beginning with 600 grit sandpaper. If the scratch is
deeper than about 5mm though, it is probably not worth doing.

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4/16/2021 How To Remove Scratches From Acrylic | The Plastic People

You will need:

Acrylic/plastic polish (We have tried and tested Xerapol which is a specialist acrylic scratch remover originally
designed for industrial use)
600, 800 and 1200 grit sandpaper
Water for soaking the sandpaper

Instructions:

1. Wet one piece of 600 grit sandpaper - run it over the scratched area in a circular motion and repeat with a dry piece
of 600 grit sandpaper too. Rub with both wet and dry sandpapers for around 3 to 3 minutes. Don't worry if your acrylic
looks more frosty or scratched - this will go away during the process.
2. Next, move onto grade 800 and do the same for a further few minutes.
3. Then, move on to 1200 grit paper and keep rubbing until all the scratches have disappeared.
4. Finally, dry the area with a soft, dry and clean cotton cloth, applying the acrylic polish and the acrylic should look like it
has never been scratched! The polish should restore your acrylic to a high level of shine.

Restoring shine to acrylic

You can restore the glossy look of your acrylic by flame polishing thin sheets of acrylic (4mm thick and under) and
sanding/buffing thicker acrylic sheets.

For those who want a less labour-intensive way, try VuPlex polish which we have tried and tested on acrylic to the
satisfaction of our plastic experts. It’s great for at home use because in minutes one use of VuPlex provides safe
cleaning and protection from break down of clarity as well as restoring that high shine.

Our friendly experts at The Plastic People are happy to help. Contact them here for advice about plastic.

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