Emergency Port Help - 2 Days To Go!!!

[Hammerhead]

Dear all,

I'm an idiot and a trusting idiot at that.

Idiot Part

Coming back from my last dive trip, to save space I slipped a lens cloth over the front of my 100mm lens and put it inside the flat port before packing it away.

Needless to say with carrying movement, the cloth slipped off and the lens cap scratched the inside of the port.:11:

Trusting Part 1

With two week before my next trip, I contacted my LDS (3 calls, 2 emails) and asked them to get onto Ikelite to get me a replacement & DHL it over. I agreed to pay all costs + a nice tip if I could get it before this trip.

I also needed an additional port for another lens as well.

I fly out on Thursday night, so I called to make sure everything was still OK (as of Friday last week, the ports were supposed to arrive today). Salesman informs me that the ports have not been shipped as he's been on holiday and I can expect them "some time in May".

Interlude

The reason this is so important is that my little girl is doing her bubblemaker course on this upcoming holiday and I desperately want to be able to capture the moments forever. I'll buy a whole new camera and housing if I need to.

Trusting Part 2

I'm universally crap at DIY, but given the circumstances, I'm going to have to try: -

The scratches themselves are pretty small and form a semi-circular scuff mark, how would I go about trying to polish them out?

Someone at work has suggested toothpaste, but given that he's popularly regarded as the office's premier cretin, I'm loath to try any suggestion he offers. That said I'll buy him a lot of beers if it turns out to be right.

I'm not bothered about minor distortion as a result of me polishing one part too hard as I'm probably going to replace it anyway.



As you're all aware, I think you lot are fantastic:blinking: , and I know that you know that I love you all with every fibre of my being...:nod:


....so...


...can anyone help me?

 

[Gudge]

If your port is acrylic and not glass check out this thread on Wetpixel about polishing scratched ports:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8698

Novus Plastic Polish No.1 and No.2 are what you need if it's only light scratches.

 

[tc]

WARNING- I have not tried this and have no idea if it will really work!

WARNING 2- I have never spoken to anyone who actually tried this and have no idea if it will actually work!

But I've heard a couple of times 3rd or 4th hand rumors that furniture polish can be used to conceal a scratch on a plastic lens.

Do a search on "lens scratch repair", lots of results.

 

[Hammerhead]

If your port is acrylic and not glass check out this thread on Wetpixel about polishing scratched ports:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8698

Novus Plastic Polish No.1 and No.2 are what you need if it's only light scratches.

Should have clarified - it is an acrylic port. Anyone know of something that would be available in Asia?

 

[Hammerhead]

If your port is acrylic and not glass check out this thread on Wetpixel about polishing scratched ports:

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8698

Novus Plastic Polish No.1 and No.2 are what you need if it's only light scratches.

OK, they're talking about dome ports but I imagine it will work. I won't be able to get hold of the specialist stuff in time, but someone mentions using Brasso: -

http://www.stanleylondon.com/brasso.htm

I can get hold of this pretty easily, but I'm going to hold on until tomorrow just in case one of you darlings comes up with a tried alternative...

 

[Gudge]

They're talking about dome ports because dome ports are the most likely to get scratched because they poke out the front with no protection. Whatever works on a dome port will work on a flat port.

The Novus products are readily available here in Australia, you may be able to pick them up in Asia as well.

 

[Warren_L]

I know this may be too late to get, but I've used a product called micro-mesh, which does wonders on acrylic ports.

http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/acrylic_plastic_hand_kits.htm

You might be able to find it on ebay as well. I know you're leaving soon, so this may be too late, but it could save you your old port.

 

[MarkH]

I use toothpaste for minor scratches. Just rub it around with your finger. It takes awhile.

 

[Hammerhead]

Warren, Gudge, TC and Swank,

Thanks to all of you for the help. If and when our paths pass, the beers are on me.

 

[victor]

If you are looking for a polish that is only very slightly abrasive silver polish could be an option. It is not as abrasive as brasso and is readily available in Asia.
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/ACRYLIC_REMOVING_SCRATCHES.htm