big scratch removal - how?

[frogeye]

Hi folks

can anyone recommend an easy method of removing a nasty surface scratch to a couple of tiles. I was just raking out a bit of grout with one of those grout removal tools, when I slipped and put a 12" curved black scratch over 2 cream tiles - I can't be the only one who has done it?

Without going out and spending a fortune on some polishing paste can anyone suggest how I make good?

I did make some progress by using grout on a cloth which acted as a fine paste but it is hard going. Vim any good? Any hints gratefully received. What did you do?

frogeye (more suited to gardening now)

[andy-p]

you could try a bath rubber, but got a sneaky feeling you are gonna have to replace the tiles ..

[frogeye]

Cheers Andy

not the news I was hoping for but as a last resort I will bear it in mind.
I was grouting a small area in my kitchen when I wondered if the grout paste would have an effect. It did remove some of the line - it's more like a dotted line in places now - or was I just lucky.

As I said I can't be the first or only person to make this blunder.

frogeye

[Dave]

Try some vim ( or wot ever its called now ) and furniture polish mixed.....if they are a matt finish then you might have just knacked them but worth a go......

[salmonfisher]

try t-cut only £5 from halfords

[frogeye]

Ahh T cut - never thought of that. I think my trusty AH frogeye can spare me some.

I will try all suggestions but will get the trusty dremel out with a buffing pad on it. Consider myself the test dummy for tile scratch removal, I will report back my in depth findings. Luckily it's under the sink so I shouldn't cause too much damage
That is definitely the last time I use one of those plasplug grout removal tools. It just skipped over the grout marking the tiles - left the grout unmarked. Dremel plus cutting disc in future.

frogeye (ex tiler)

[sibs]

I wonder if nano scrub would work.... kev from tilinglogistics might have a majic remedy

[frogeye]

nano scrub and a bath rubber - what are they?
Am I really the first person to do this? (surely not)

frogeye

[sibs]

nano scrub and a bath rubber - what are they?
Am I really the first person to do this? (surely not)

frogeye

Nano scrub is a product made by aqua mix its a deep cleaner... has a reputation for getting stuff off tiles where most other products fail. Never used it but have heard anacdotal evidence and also seen before and after photos. Tilinglogistics will know if its likely to work. Its between £10-15 for a bottle (I think 750mm)

[Dave]

I would try the t-cut first before trying these expensive products from aquamix....plus there are better and cheaper products about as well.......

[frogeye]

Cheers peeps

I will be trying the vim or what ever my mom has in her cupboard - barkeepers friend or something - I told her I was the bar keepers friend - t cut next. I will report back my findings as promised - will try a before and after photo if I remember - cos I know this site loves photos!

frogeye - serial tile slasher

[sibs]

I would try the t-cut first before trying these expensive products from aquamix....plus there are better and cheaper products about as well.......

Fair comment Dave..... just thought I'd throw it into the mix.... it may help frogeye to have a few options up his sleeve before he resorts to taking the tiles up. good luck frogeye hope you sort it without too much expense and will look fwd to yous experimental findings

[mojoammo]

No Frogeye, you are not the first, nor to be the last to suffer the injustices of the grout removal tool. If the glaze is damaged the you are screwed and the tilies come out. But this sounds like a mark left from the steel edge of the tool. I use a paint restorer, similar to t-cut, on a soft cloth. Can be tight going but it'll shift the mark if you persist.
Last week laying polished porcelain, before leaving the job I marked the tiles which were yet to set with my red pencil. Next day it took over an hour to wipe the marks off (or rather out off) the tiles, using the restorer and grout dust as a grinding compound. This illustrates the actual porousity of polished porcelain and the need for sealers and stain guards

[TilingLogistics]

Frogeye you are obviously talking about ceramic tiles here I assume? If so the only perfect way is to replace the tiles. However if you want to try and hide the scratches i would try to buy a box of Jumbo wax crayons and choose the colour closest. Another method is quite often you can buy multicoloured bars of soap in £ shops and get a colour close to the tile and rub it in to the scratches to hide it

Kev

[TilingLogistics]

Nano scrub is a product made by aqua mix its a deep cleaner... has a reputation for getting stuff off tiles where most other products fail. Never used it but have heard anacdotal evidence and also seen before and after photos. Tilinglogistics will know if its likely to work. Its between £10-15 for a bottle (I think 750mm)

Sorry Sibs even Nano Scrub technology will not work in this situation. Nice thought though

Kev

[TilingLogistics]

I would try the t-cut first before trying these expensive products from aquamix....plus there are better and cheaper products about as well.......

Dave,

Can you let me know what they are or PM me if you are not allowed to say as I don't want to keep wasting my money on Aquamix if there are better things out there because i spend about £400 a month on the stuff Thanks

Kev

[wetdec]

If you are on about a metal mark rather than an actual scratch then T-cut and wire wool m8


tiler

[frogeye]

Hi tiler

yes you are right - it was a metal mark from slipping with a grout removal tool. So if I confused anyone with the 'scratch' description then sorry about that. It looked like a big scratch to me.

I had tried wire wool on an old tile and the results were disasterous - an even bigger mess.

As promised I tried as many ways of removing my 'scratch' as cheap as possible. Tried bath cleaner, toothpaste and t cut and car polish

The clear winner, beings none of the others appeared to work was by using a product I bought for cleaning the chrome bits on my frogeye. Similar to solvol autosol - I used 'Peek' - it says it cleans, polishes protects all metals, fibreglass and ceramics.

I used my dremel with a small buffer pad soaked in Peek set to a medium speed and after about 10 mins half the job is done. Well impressed.

Hope this info helps

frogeye

[andy-p]

nano scrub and a bath rubber - what are they?
Am I really the first person to do this? (surely not)

frogeye

a bath rubber is what a plumber uses to take marks out of baths and other pottery and has saved my life on one or two occasions,

[frogeye]

Cheers Andy
I will keep my eye out for one of those


frogeye

[wetdec]

Cheers Andy
I will keep my eye out for one of those


frogeye

They are like rocking horse ****

[frogeye]

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about going into my local dealer and asking for a large rubber.

But like most of these pro bits of kit - they are worth having - so I will keep both eyes open

[Dave]

Should you require one!! , then here you go....... http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;js...ch=bath+rubber

[Pawelzik]

The clear winner, beings none of the others appeared to work was by using a product I bought for cleaning the chrome bits on my frogeye. Similar to solvol autosol - I used 'Peek' - it says it cleans, polishes protects all metals, fibreglass and ceramics.

I used my dremel with a small buffer pad soaked in Peek set to a medium speed and after about 10 mins half the job is done. Well impressed.

Take my thanks for this idea, Martin