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chbix

Cleaning reflectors

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by
chbix
, 09-26-2010 at 02:04 PM (1213 Views)
So if you read my tank post you know that I got a used set of power compact lights. The reflectors that came with it are nasty.

Click image for larger version Name: reflectors.jpg Views: 372 Size: 94.1 KB ID: 2777

I soaked in CLR and nothing, soaked in vinegar and its still pretty hard. I was thinking of using the plastic brush attachment on my dremel to get the saltcreep off and then use the buffing wheel to bring it back to a shine.

Any input on a good way to clean these up?

any input on where to get another set cheap? The best I have found is $30 each and i need 2. Considering I spent less than $50 on the set I dont want to drop another 60 on reflectors. I would almost rather try and resell this set and spend a little more to get a new set of lights... maybe t5's? But then im looking at 2-300

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Comments

  1. NightShade's Avatar
    To me it looks like the reflectors are galvanized steel rather than aluminum. But it is just flat material so I would think about something like this if I were in your shoes, http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant...915&top_cat=60 then polish it up a bit and cut to fit your needs. If it does have a couple angles put into it they can be made by clamping the piece to a table and clamping a piece of wood to the sheet that hangs off the side of a table to make a rudimentary break, it should allow you to get pretty close to the original angles.
  2. chbix's Avatar
    regular aluminum? I was looking at polished aluminum but it was so expensive. Do you think i can polish the aluminum good enough ?
  3. MitchReef's Avatar
    Yup, way easy...I know folks who polish their own for homemade MH reflectors.
  4. NightShade's Avatar
    Enough for a cheap used light to work better I am sure. And you can polish aluminum on your own easily just take a little time and elbow grease. Even a white painted surface would probably work better than what you have now.
  5. Alaska_Phil's Avatar
    The best reflectors I've found for PC lights are from www.ahsupply.com
    They're 4" wide per lamp though, so make sure you have enough space.