cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/54746362

I was burning a cone incense and left it on the sink, and this stain won't come off. I tried baking soda, water, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide. I tried letting them sit for multiple interations, and it made no difference.

all 4 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 7 points 1 year ago

Acrylic is plastic, you likely burned the plastic with hot ashes. You can try wet sanding it down using very fine grit sandpaper, followed by polishing, but YMMV.

  • source
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    rubbing alcohol might help but your probably going to have to buff it out with a Dremel

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • 21 comments in c/diy@slrpnk.net view that post
    [–] 10 points 1 year ago (12 children)

    First you need to determine what the sink is actually made out of.

  • source
  • hideshow 12 child comments
  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago (11 children)
  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (10 children)

    Most people can tell by touch. Knock on it and you'll feel and hear if its porcelain or enameled steel/iron like most are. If its dead sounding, like knocking on a coffee cup its porcelaine, if it rings a bit, enameled steel.

    As long as its one of those two, you can try scrubbing 000 or 0000 steel wool. If its soft plastic, don't as you'll scratch it.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 10 child comments
  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago (9 children)

    If it's soft plastic (acrylic), what could I do instead?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 9 child comments
  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (7 children)

    The burn would be IN the platic not on it. Best solution would be to replace it. If you really can't do that, you can consider some combination of bleaching it to lighten the colour, or gently polishing it away (like a dremel and rouge) then clear coating.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Go find a discount building material store.. most larger metropolitan areas I've been in have them. You can find a replacement sink for pennies on the dollar because contractors screwed up the order, or the owner changed their mind.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] [S] 3 points 1 year ago (3 children)
  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago* (2 children)

    Very fine polishing compound. Often called jeweller's rouge because they use it to polish fine jewelry. Find it at home depot, some craft stores, comes with a dremel kit etc...

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago*

    If it's acrylic, you can use an acrylic tub/sink repair kit but you need to use the right kind of kit so make sure you know which it is before you try. Based on what it looks like, it appears to be some sort of plastic.

    Tap on it: Does it sound plastic? Metal/ceramic maybe? Do magnets stick? If so, it's probably some sort of enamel over steel.

    Does it flex at all? If so, probably plastic.

    Alternately, you could replace it entirely. If money is tight, hit up surplus stores or used item stores for a decent deal (Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, flea markets, Craigslist, thrift store, etc.).

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] [S] 5 points 1 year ago

    This is an after-picture after using 800 grit sandpaper.

  • source
  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    If nothing else works, maybe make the best out of it, grab a lighter (or soldering iron) and just burn a cool pattern on it?

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    Try rubbing with mild abrasive such as toothpaste - it'll take a while if it's going to work though and you might be left with a dull spot.

  • source
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    I'd be tempted to try sandpaper, and find some matching acrylic paint to reseal it.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

    I would likely try the methods of car headlight repair:

    • fine sandpaper (e.g. 600)
    • followed by ultra fine sandpaper (e.g. 1000)
    • followed by polishing sandpaper (e.g. 2000 or even more)
    • followed by polishing paste (e.g. cerium oxide) on a felt pad

    However, since I see that the sink has a glossy surface... I would be deterred by that. The method I mention may reach a layer which isn't burnt, but will wear off glossy finish and there's no certainty of it returning in the same tone after polishing is done.

    What paint to use - sorry, no idea.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    Mr Clean magic eraser with some isopropyl alcohol, give it a scrub?

  • source
  • 8 comments in c/fixing@slrpnk.net view that post
    [–] 11 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    You can not.

    This is not just a surface stain, but it has literally changed the material underneath the burn.

    Amy attempted fix will just be an obscene amount of work for what will still be an obvious repair job.

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] [S] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Should I lightly sandpaper it with a very fine sandpaper?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Your nice list doesn't seem to have non polar solvents in case it's greasy. Something like soap, alcohol, (turpentine, acetone, xylene).

    But yeah, might not be a surface stain as the other comments suggest.

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] [S] 1 point 1 year ago (2 children)

    Any suggestions if it's not a surface stain?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments