Removing scratches from monitors

[Parris]

I can't find the original thread relating to this, but I think it mentioned a few products by name. However, I'm in the UK and couldn't find the particular products mentioned.

In order to clean off and remove scratches from the monitor you need to use either Ceria (cerium oxide) or Jeweller's rouge (iron oxide - basically rust lol), which as very fine abrasives. You apply them with a dry, lint free cloth and just keep rubbing until the screen surface improves. Don't be tempted to use anything else. Also don't try car windscreen kits!

Ceria can be purchased in craft shops as it is used to polish jem stones in those jem tumblers. Not sure whether you've ever seen one, but it was all the rage back in the 1970s to go out, find some semi precious stones and stick them in a rotating tumbler. Once finished, make into thousands of pieces of jewelry or decorate the house with them glued into little jem people! Yep, my mother did that!

I did read that Whitening Tooth paste has a similar effect on monitors due to it's fine abrasive action, but I am not going to attempt it!

Anyone got any tried and trusted products I can obtain in the UK?

[cools]

You can't find rouge?!?!

First search in google UK "jewellers rouge"

http://www.quicktest.co.uk/acatalog/Jew ... overs.html

[Parris]

No, I found it, but I was wondering whether anyone had a specific brand name, product that is tried and tested as I believe there are different grades that can be purchased. I don't want to start messing around with a Tosh 29" without being confident the product I have is correct

eBay is fine for some products, but other times it's good to walk into a store and SEE what you are getting prior to purchasing it to be 100% confident. I am not going through the hassle of mounting a 29" monitor again because I scratched the **** out of a perfectly decent screen lol

I.e. If someone said 'Can you recommend a decent furniture polish?' I would say 'Pledge'.

[tetsujin]

have you seen this thread??


http://www.arcadeotaku.com/forum/viewto ... f=4&t=1251

[Parris]

have you seen this thread??


viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1251

Hi, yes, but neither of these products appear to be available, at least not locally Hence me wondering whether anyone in the UK knew of anything similar. When I went to Halfords they mentioned windscreen repair kits, but I have been informed that they are not suitable. B&Q had nothing similar and looked at me like I was from Mars '...you want to clean a CRT monitor Sir? You unable to afford an LCD Sir? I highly recommend LCD TVs they are much better Sir... arcades Sir? Can you not afford a PS3 or 360 Sir?' etc! (Well not really, they were pretty polite but as soon as I mentioned CRT they seemed to back off all slightly lol

[cools]

Rouge is rouge is rouge. If it's red and labelled rouge, it's the right stuff

Any other colours are not rouge, but are the different grades you're referring to.

[Parris]

Rouge is rouge is rouge. If it's red and labelled rouge, it's the right stuff

Any other colours are not rouge, but are the different grades you're referring to.

Hmmmm, thanks! I like the idea of a liquid like the ones on the previous thread rather than a block of wax. Just applying a product I don't know terribly well to a CRT monitor and hoping it'll do the job isn't an option for me. I've spent almost a year with a terrible monitor in this cabinet and replaced it with a far better one, but it's got light scratches on it, which I can't live with!

I don't think many other people with similar issues would simply take the risk either. So, if someone can actually say 'I have tried product A, brand name B and got result C' I'd be happier!

[cools]

Yeah, I get what you're saying

Fine scratches on CRTs don't bother me, they're invisible when it's on. My GBA has two not insignificant scratches on its screen which annoy me, but it's simply down to the delicacy of the screen and amount of effort it'd take that I've not attempted to get it sorted. It'd be rouge I'd be using though

[Parris]

Yeah, I get what you're saying

Fine scratches on CRTs don't bother me, they're invisible when it's on. My GBA has two not insignificant scratches on its screen which annoy me, but it's simply down to the delicacy of the screen and amount of effort it'd take that I've not attempted to get it sorted. It'd be rouge I'd be using though

Fair enough! I wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't right bang in the centre of the screen. There is one particular line that is visible when switched on - looks like the pixels shift slightly as they pass under it. Bugs the crap out of me lol

[markedkiller78]

Yeah, I get what you're saying

Fine scratches on CRTs don't bother me, they're invisible when it's on. My GBA has two not insignificant scratches on its screen which annoy me, but it's simply down to the delicacy of the screen and amount of effort it'd take that I've not attempted to get it sorted. It'd be rouge I'd be using though

Fair enough! I wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't right bang in the centre of the screen. There is one particular line that is visible when switched on - looks like the pixels shift slightly as they pass under it. Bugs the crap out of me lol

Not that I’m being overly constructive, but why not try it on your not so good screen first?

I would not be keen on applying it to the centre of a screen either, so I can see where you are coming from.

[Parris]

Yeah, I get what you're saying

Fine scratches on CRTs don't bother me, they're invisible when it's on. My GBA has two not insignificant scratches on its screen which annoy me, but it's simply down to the delicacy of the screen and amount of effort it'd take that I've not attempted to get it sorted. It'd be rouge I'd be using though

Fair enough! I wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't right bang in the centre of the screen. There is one particular line that is visible when switched on - looks like the pixels shift slightly as they pass under it. Bugs the crap out of me lol

Not that I’m being overly constructive, but why not try it on your not so good screen first?

I would not be keen on applying it to the centre of a screen either, so I can see where you are coming from.

The not so great screen was dumped yesterday

That said, I am sure I can obtain a crappy monitor (old PC one) from somewhere and try on that first.

[tetsujin]

or do a VERY small test area to the far corners of the screen which the monitor surround hides??


Id be interetd in finding something too as my Astro has a maker on the screen thats annoying but not bad

[Parris]

Found at last a product that suggests it might do the trick. It's off the shelf, a reliable company and even their website suggests it can be used 'around the home', so not just on windscreens!

T-Cut Glass Polish / Restorer.
http://www.carplan.co.uk/index.cfm?product=66

Now to find somewhere local that sells CarPlan products

[jonny5]

novus 3

even if you have to order it...it is what you want.....i have used it...brendz has used it....dmauro has used it(pretty sure).....it works.....no worries

[Parris]

novus 3

even if you have to order it...it is what you want.....i have used it...brendz has used it....dmauro has used it(pretty sure).....it works.....no worries

Okay, I have seen this now: http://www.modernplastics.com/novisplasticpolish.html

I'll take your word for it, but it only mentions plastic windows rather than glass, is this the stuff you meant?

[dmauro]

dmauro has used it(pretty sure)

Yup, worked like a charm for me as well.

[jonny5]

it is actually meant for taking scratches out of plastic but works a dream on the anti static coatings used on CRT's....which im going to go out on a limb and assume is some kind of plastic based coating anyway

i also found its awesome for its intended purpose....took some major scuffs off one of my astro's bezel.....it looks brand new now......

but bear in mind we all used it to completely remove the coating, not to buff out a scratch.....it will give you a much brighter picture with more vibrant colors as well.....and once the antistatic coating is gone the surface of the monitor looks brand new.....

i cant recommend this enough...especially considering you sound as nutty about details as me.....i did mine because of some scratches that were driving me nuts...that other people couldnt see unless i pointed them out you will be very pleased with the results, im sure of it

just make sure you get some of the microfiber clothes to go with the novus 3 for wiping the screen off afterwards

[Parris]

i cant recommend this enough...you sound as nutty about details as me.....i did mine because of some scratches that were driving me nuts...that other people couldnt see unless i pointed them out

just make sure you get some of the microfiber clothes to go with the novus 3 for wiping the screen off afterwards

Too true lol - right, thank you very much for that I'll see whether I can obtain this stuff in the UK! Thanks!

[Ordyne]

I've not seen a product yet that will remove the scratches from glass unless they are extremely light.. if you can feel them with your finger nail I think you've blow it.. If you find something to remove them let me know!!

[Parris]

I've not seen a product yet that will remove the scratches from glass unless they are extremely light.. if you can feel them with your finger nail I think you've blow it.. If you find something to remove them let me know!!

Will do - I'll report back the results. Keep 1 x 29" Tosh tube aside for me Craig lol