How to Remove scratches of a Ruby Red LED watch crystal

[zzz123q]

Any tips?
Thanks

[retroleds]

Glass or plastic? Makes a big difference.

And welcome!

[zzz123q]

Glass or plastic? Makes a big difference.

And welcome!

Hi Thanks, it is Plastic the watch is Torino Quartz dot matrix display.

[retroleds]

http://www.thedigitalwatch.com/Archives ... ip_003.htm

[Wade]

The tips you provided are great! Definitely using the automotive waterproof sandpaper, with water, really speeds up the results!

[coconutman351]

I recently restored a Pulsar P2 SS model. Watch mineral red crystal had varying scratches from light surface to deep where it would catch your fingernail if rubbed across. Here's how I completely restored it.

1) purchase automotive wet sandpapers 600, 1000 and 2000. Remove watchband, batter and watch module and store in a safe place away from the work area. Reassemble the empty case.
2) used a hard flat (i.e. marble counter top or similar) sanding surface to for the wet sandpaper and wet both sides to prevent the paper from moving.
3) this is where it takes a lot of time and patience to ensure proper results, start sanding in a circular fashion and apply pressure, but add enough water so the watch does not stick to the sandpaper and cause uneven wear and possibly scratching other areas of the watch. Use the 600 grit to remove all scratches. Use several sandpapers as it quickly wears down and looses its sanding strength.
4) after all scratches have been removed you should see a flat dull surface with no signs of scratches or pits.
5) use the 1000 grit wet sandpaper to remove the rough sanding marks, pause and check to ensure proper finishing. Change sandpapers if needed if it wears down.
6) use the 2000 grit wet sandpaper to remove the finer scratches. You should now see a well polished reflective surface. Change sandpapers if needed.
7) I used a stove flat top cleaner with a slight abrasive property to remove the light scratches.
8) I followed up with car polish to remove more of the fine scratches. Final results should a nice flat surface with micro scratches that I need to follow up with jewelers rouge or a similar glass polish.

This whole process too about 4-5 hours to complete but was well worth it as my P2 now has a flawless crystal and displays the LED brightly now. Key is to take your time to achieve superior results. I'm very satisfied with how it came out. Hope this helps others!

[retroleds]

2000 Grit sandpaper is 12-14 microns. Even 3 micro lapping film is unable to leave what would be considered a flawless piece of glass, in bright light and clear vision(20/20). You'll need to switch to .5 or 1 micron lapping film and then cerium oxide, to get a really close to factory finish.

Not to knock your efforts, but I could have sold you a piece of NOS glass for $65.

[coconutman351]

thanks for the offer and advise! this forum rocks!