The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 31 July 2009, 05:53 AM   #1
sdwtchlvr
"TRF" Member
 
sdwtchlvr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SoCal
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 1,308
What is the best way to polish acrylic crystals?

My acrylic datejust crystal has some scuffs, what is the best way to polish it? Cape cod or dremel with rouge? Any suggestions?
sdwtchlvr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 06:06 AM   #2
PHPuser
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Real Name: John
Location: River City Ky
Watch: none anymore
Posts: 249
check this out I don't has the cajones to do it but here it is.
http://www.oysterworld.de/crystal.htm
PHPuser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 06:41 AM   #3
Welshwatchman
"TRF" Member
 
Welshwatchman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Real Name: Paul
Location: Wales, UK
Posts: 14,578
The link describes it nicely.

Ensure that you do it by hand (no power tools) and that you use a solid sandpaper block to keep the sandpaper flat on the crystal.

I use 400 grit to take any nasties off, 1200 for smoothing and then duraglit padding (same stuff as brasso / polywatch) to finalise.

Also make sure that you use masking tape on any area of the watch (bezel etc) that you wouldn't want accidently sanding.
__________________
..33
Welshwatchman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 06:58 AM   #4
allmatch
"TRF" Member
 
allmatch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Real Name: Morten
Location: Denmark
Posts: 414
I've have some very nice results with Polywatch, but toothpaste or Brasso will do some fine results too.
__________________
Best regards,
Morten
allmatch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 02:10 PM   #5
v1.1
"TRF" Member
 
v1.1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Land Down Under
Posts: 4
Quote:
Originally Posted by allmatch View Post
I've have some very nice results with Polywatch, but toothpaste or Brasso will do some fine results too.
+1

both work well on my speedy. although brasso is easier for me to get at the local hardware store, polywatch on the other hand i have to order in and it comes in a very small tube..
v1.1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 07:40 AM   #6
Clay
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Up a tree
Posts: 4,001
Polywatch and a piece of toilet paper is all you need......Don't over think it....
Clay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 08:28 AM   #7
Tools
TRF Moderator & 2024 Patron
 
Tools's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Real Name: Larry
Location: Mojave Desert
Watch: GMT's
Posts: 42,990
Power tools, especially a Dremel, will likely generate too much heat inn too small a spot and burn ripples or a hole in the crystal.........

best to stick to hand power or a large power buffing wheel if you have the access......
__________________
(Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....)
NAWCC Member
Tools is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 08:36 AM   #8
zak98
"TRF" Member
 
zak98's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: TN
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 2,166
polywatch and patience.. work great.
__________________
Z- Submariner; P- Airking; R- DateJust; M- GMTII; C0 - Milgauss GV
Breitling SuperOcean Heritage 46
Omega Speedmaster Racing
Panerai PAM390
zak98 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 12:34 PM   #9
Wildwing
"TRF" Member
 
Wildwing's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 593
I've had plenty of success with Brasso on scratches on plastic crystals.
Wildwing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 12:41 PM   #10
kyle L
"TRF" Member
 
kyle L's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Watch: Rolex Explorer I
Posts: 10,278
Just tried brasso, looks good!
kyle L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 31 July 2009, 12:47 PM   #11
The GMT Kid
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: S.F. Peninsula
Watch: what you say!
Posts: 815
Put a dab of toothpaste on your thumb and rub it.

The GMT Kid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9 August 2009, 10:39 AM   #12
Rikki
TechXpert
 
Rikki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Real Name: Rik Dietel
Location: Seminole Fla
Watch: 5512 s/s Sub
Posts: 1,818
You guys really need to get some better info the best and only correct way to buff an acrylic crystal is with a high speed buffing machine witha cotton wheel and crystal rouge. Ican take out deep scratches in seconds with no damage from heat to the crystal and it WILL look like new. Do not use a dremel to high speed the cotton wheel is too small concentrating to much heat on one small spot and melting your crystal or distorting the optics. There's the right way then there's the wrong way have it done the right way please. Rik the watchmaker
Rikki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9 August 2009, 10:56 AM   #13
DadsWatch72
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Watch: DRSD 1665 #3551XXX
Posts: 2,401
I went to the mall once and tried about 2 or 3 jewlery shops to see if anyone could buff out scratches. This was years ago and I can't remember if it was the old crystal or the new one I got in 95'. Two of them said no and one said no problem. He came back in a few minutes with the crystal looking great. I don't know what he did but it didn't take any time at all.
DadsWatch72 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9 August 2009, 11:05 AM   #14
Rikki
TechXpert
 
Rikki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Real Name: Rik Dietel
Location: Seminole Fla
Watch: 5512 s/s Sub
Posts: 1,818
He was using the correct method like I described. It takes only a few minutes if you know what you're doing if you don't well bye bye crystal. You can buff a cry up to 5 or 6 times before it has to be replaced so once a year get it buffed then at your 5 year service it will get replaced and you can start again. Rik the watchmaker
Rikki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9 August 2009, 11:19 AM   #15
shaggy
"TRF" Member
 
shaggy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Real Name: Brett
Location: leeds,uk
Watch: BLUE ARAB DAYTONA
Posts: 691
just wondering how it should be done when a cyclops is on the crystal?
shaggy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9 August 2009, 11:32 AM   #16
Rikki
TechXpert
 
Rikki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Real Name: Rik Dietel
Location: Seminole Fla
Watch: 5512 s/s Sub
Posts: 1,818
Same way as i described the cyclops usually has dings on it as well and is plastic it will polish out to a degree, too much will change the optics Rik,
Rikki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 9 August 2009, 01:53 PM   #17
pz93c
"TRF" Member
 
pz93c's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Real Name: Brian
Location: Republic of Texas
Posts: 2,776
I use a plastic polish that I picked up at the auto parts store for plastic back windows.

Works like a champ.
pz93c is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Takuya Watches

Bobs Watches

Asset Appeal

My Watch LLC

OCWatches

DavidSW Watches

Coronet


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.