Hazy Slabs????
historydigger
Posts: 30 ✭✭
I had a slightly roughed up holder recently that I was tired of looking at so I decided to try plastic polish I bought online.Worked out great.I can see the coin again! Just wanted to share this.
3
Comments
Do you have before and after photos?
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
PCGS does not recommend the use of any polishes, cleaners, or abrasive pads/sponges on our slabs.
Heather Boyd
PCGS Senior Director of Marketing
I did not take before photos unfortunately but I'm sure I'll acquire another rough one along the way and I will post pictures.I was considering reslabbing so I felt I had nothing to lose.The stuff I bought was a 3 part polish.Not sure if I can mention the name here??
I can say it wasn't a pcgs slab.Im not trying to step on anyone's toes here. Just sharing the experience.
I’ve got some older holders I would like to restore that’d why I asked. How deep of a scratch did it remove? I’m paranoid about trying it and messing up a decent rattler slab!
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
Thanks heather glad I didn’t try it.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
I dont think I'd try it on a decent slab.Mine was more overall hazy on the front like someone used it as a coaster.😂 I had nothing to lose trying it.
Nevertheless, sometimes it's required, and it's always more convenient than a reholder and sometimes more desirable.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
I use Meguiar's PlastX on every one of the slabs that need to be cleaned up a bit before photography. PCGS Rattlers and NGC No Line Fatties are my favorite as they clean up really easily and are crystal clear when you are done. The newer NGC slabs are probably the worst at trying to polish up and the newer PCGS slabs are not too bad. Deeper scratches are impossible to remove with polish alone. If you search the forums here, there are many very experienced users with great tutorials on how to remove deep scratches.
I prefer hazy IPAs.
Dave
Like Justin, it is exceptionally rare that I don’t polish a slab at least a little before photographing a coin. This is sometimes necessary even on coins that arrive fresh from grading. The really bad ones get progressively finer sandpaper and polishing with a buffing wheel on an electric drill. There’s some risk of course, but if you’re careful it is less risky than shipping both ways for reholdering, in my estimation.
And yes, the new NGC slabs are the devil to polish.
Thanks for your post @jtlee321.I bought a 3part by NOVUS-3.Heavy scratch remover 2.fine scratch remover 1.Plastic clean and shine.Use 3 first(if needed) Then 2 then 1.Worked great for me.$10 on ebay
🍻 @Dave99B
This happens mostly with San Francisco Mint coins. It's caused by fog rolling up the bay.
Caution don't assume you can reholder any coin. NGC will refuse any reholder it feels may not meet grade or color designated on the holder. This is especially true for coppers.
I dont assume.we all know what that does! 😊
I have yet to polish a slab....or get one reholdered.... and I have a cent with a crack in front of the coin...I know what it is...
Cheers, RickO
It cuts into their profit margin.
Before
After
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
A little PlastX polish and a clean soft cloth is all it takes.
Easy to buy.
Deep scratches are permanent, of course. But even then, polishing smoothens their edges so light does not catch them as much.
I've never had much luck with NGC slabs which use a softer, more flexible plastic.
Lance.
Deep scratches are a piece of cake!
I gouged a slab with a framing nail and polished it perfectly smooth again. Just takes a little effort.
I documented it all in this thread.
I repeated the experiment and documented the results ATS, but it's MUCH more difficult to get them cleaned up.
Yup.
I am glad the Op had success... It is funny I just had this happen... Brand newp came to me in a brandy new holder and in shipping the slab became extremely scratched... You could not see the entire left field through the scratches so I had bought a popular 3 step kit sometime ago and decided what did I have to loose so I tried it... It took some of the scratches out but it dulled the appearance of the coin dramatically... Enough so that I would not enjoy it... So with that said on it`s way back to PCGS... As a note I have submitted a bunch of coins last year and a few this year that were in older holders and it was amazing to see them come back in the new PCGS plastic... Especially toners! The luster and color just popped! Like night and day! AB
Anyone ever see a slab cleaned with acetone?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Yes ... now I have a really neat raw coin.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
On an early PCI slab I accidentally used 'Goof-Off' instead of 'Goo-Gone' to remove some strongly adherent sticker residue.* And, you guessed it, the plastic started to melt! I quickly removed the foul chemical and the sticky residue. I then spent way too much time polishing the plastic to remove the 'wavy' appearance. Luckily the plastic PCI used at the time was soft enough that the plastic polish worked and there is no longer a trace of the 'melt.'
*I previously tested various chemicals on slabs to see which caused damage.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Meguiar's PlastX works well. If you want to get a little fancier ... Meguiar's Clear Plastic Polish #10 for fine scratches or Clear Plastic Cleaner #17 for more significant scratches. These are also great products for your car or bike ... right, Lance?
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
I've used Brasso on scratched slabs with success. The label even says that it can be used to remove scratches from acrylic watch crystals. Tooth paste can be used but I wouldn't recommend it since it leaves a gooey mess although it will leave your slab minty fresh.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Good old Windex works great to remove residue... Spray a liberal amount onto a Q-tip and roll it around on the residue, let sit for a minute, then wipe off with a soft cloth on your finger tip... Gone and no damage to the slab
If you are going to try something the first time, I recommend trying a small section in a corner of a slab before over the coin. I used acetone on a lab once, and the plastic become so cloudy, I no longer could see the coin. Also do not leave slabs inside a vehicle on a hot day.
@1630Boston
Which polish did you use in this instance?