Glass Scratch Removal/Restoration

[reefhunter]

Hey Guys!

 

I am thinking about adding glass restoration to our list of services and wanted to see if anyone has scratches in glass tanks that they would be willing to pay to remove?

 

We want to start marketing the service and buy the equipment to do work on office buildings, hotels, home windows, car windows, etc and I would also be able to provide this service on fish tanks.

So, who has scratches on the tank they need removed? Or windows with scratching/etching at home?

 

Here is a link that shows the process and machines. http://www.srpglassrestoration.com/srp_video.cfm

[zygote2k]

Can you do it with water still in the tank?

[reefhunter]

if the scratches are on the outside...

[L8 2 RISE]

I have scratches on the outside that I would love removed.

[gmubeach]

Would the process hurt the fish you were eventually going to put into an empty tank?

[wfoxfox]

I am thinking ( like most service industries) it will be 50 to 75 to show up Plus the time to do the fix. So, in all reality, is it worth 100 to fix the scratch on the tank? Maybe it is, but I don't see the aquarium market being great. Of course, I don't know jack about service businesses :-(

[reefhunter]

It would be about $50/hour if you bring the tank here and $75/hour at your house. I would imagine it would take 1-3 hours depending on the number of scratches and the depth of the scratches. I am just seeing if this is possible at the moment, I haven't officially started doing this.

[gmubeach]

So it would cost 150 dollars to fix a tank? Maybe for some of us with bigger tanks... but my 46g bowfront cost me 100$ hahha anyway I know your a good businessmen see if you can make it work Troy

[gmubeach]

I can see one of your techs getting into a 4 or 5 foot tank to fix it! Anyway Reefhunter does a great job at what his company does ... I used to work for him and I would hire him! Honestly if you figure a new tank cost 300$ and a used cost like 100$ this could have a market.. The question is can you do it cheep enough to make it worth it...

[reefhunter]

Thanks Troy, if I do get the equipment I will do yours for free! lol... maybe you can do the fish tank repairs for me?

 

I wouldn't make much off of the tanks but if you imagine the amount of glass out there and how much of it gets etched or scratched... traditionally you have to replace the glass... now you can polish the scratches out!

 

The fish tanks would just be one of many markets... but obviously the smaller tanks would be cheaper to replace... but what if you got a new $1500 starphire tank and scratched is when putting it on the stand? Then $150 is a very small price.

[gmubeach]

I would love to learn to do this! I think its a great idea... The video shows the tech doing larger tvs... can you imagine if you child took a nail to your tv... I guess it would come in useful... Anyway I know some of you have larger tanks that could use a buff... and honestly I see real potetial here... because I'd say 1/20 surfaces in the home are glass.... anyway It looks fairly easy to do with the equipment and people can't afford the equipment making the service industry usefull... anyway let me know...

[gmubeach]

One thing I noticed though is the size of the equipment its fairly large... would it even fit into a standard fish tank... anyway I'm excited. I've lost 200 dollars on tanks because of scratches!

[mchippo]

Thanks Troy, if I do get the equipment I will do yours for free! lol... maybe you can do the fish tank repairs for me?

 

I wouldn't make much off of the tanks but if you imagine the amount of glass out there and how much of it gets etched or scratched... traditionally you have to replace the glass... now you can polish the scratches out!

 

The fish tanks would just be one of many markets... but obviously the smaller tanks would be cheaper to replace... but what if you got a new $1500 starphire tank and scratched is when putting it on the stand? Then $150 is a very small price.

 

I would be interested in the service...I have what you describe...an expensive starphire tank. It has two small scratches that have bugged me to no end. Most people wouldn't see them. My eyes go to them every time I look at the tank. I would gladly pay to have them removed. However, this seems impossible with a fully stocked up and running tank. Nice idea...I wish...

[ctenophore]

I think that the recent trend towards low iron glass tanks vs. acrylic might allow for this service, particularly on used tanks. If someone picks up a (large) used starphire tank for $500 and $200 to get it looking like new, that beats $1500 new anyday. You might also extend your service to include full cleaning/reconditioning, i.e., get rid of all coralline algae deposits on used tanks. Sell it as, bring it in used, get it back like new.

[Origami]

Hunter, you just have to be careful with setting expectations. Deep scratches, when you grind them away, can lead to optical distortion as the glass is reshaped by the grinding and polishing process. The equipment is pretty cool, though. I've tried polishing small micro-scratches/micro-pits and the like off of an old car windshield before (using cerium oxide and a a felt bob) and it was a long, arduous process for the shallowest of micro-pits. These tools look much more suited to the job, have greater speed, and recycle the cerium oxide slurry. This should make the job go faster and keep the cost of supplies down. Knowing what kind of outcome to expect will come with experience, I suppose.

[reefhunter]

Thanks Tom!

 

yes with deep scratches they may be impossible to remove, or cause a "pooling" on the area where it was. But on light scratches, you wont notice anything. Very similar to marble floors. With marble floors we always recommend polishing the entire floor, because it is very difficult to match the finish. I dont know how it will work on glass (looking at an angle, looking at corals through the repaired surface.

 

if I did get this stuff I would do a few test runs on crappy tanks (doh, I just gave away one) and see what the results are.

 

It wouldn't be cool to remove a scratch but then have a "pool". It also wouldn't be cool for the glass to have a higher polish or lower polish than the rest of the glass. I wouldn't be doing the work, I would use a highly trained technician that does this work on marble floors, granite countertops, etc.

 

again, just seeing if there is a need for this. I wouldn't be buying this just to help you guys, I would be marketing to existing clients we have!

Edited February 10, 2010 by reefhunter

[m3fan8ic]

I would be interested, my little nephew was visiting us last summer and while I was at work he was playing with mag float and managed to scratch the glass on couple of places by grabbing sand particles between the magnet.

Hunter IF you do get into this business do let me know