Slab Scratch Remover...I Think I Tried Everything...Help!

RichR

I just landed a few large multicoin slabs housing beautiful PR68 proof sets from the late 50s and 60s...and unfortunately they have some fine scratches dead center that are "clouding" things up...and annoying my need for perfection!

So far, I've used Novus #2; Maguiar's PlastX, and Kleenmaster...and they look a bit better...but still not great.

Am I missing anything or is there really no way to "fix" this?

Or should I just keep rubbing and rubbing and rubbing...and things might improve?

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

PS...I know Novus has higher numbers for more significant scratches...has anyone used them successfully???

streeter

You need to do progressive polishing. First determine how deep the imperfections are.

Practice on a slab that doesn't matter.

If you go to archives, there are plenty of threads with good suggestions.
Good luck.

Pedzola

I would say first that you need to be working on pcgs slabs. I have had zero luck with ngc slabs.

Using plastx I have had some luck repeating the polishing process 2 or 3 times for progressively better results. For deep scratches it's not going to work. But for cloudiness or shallow hairlines, this should work.

Step 1, a generous gloop, rubbed vigorously in a circular motion using a clean cotton cloth like an old t-shirt. 30 seconds with good pressure should yield results.

Step 2, move to a clean segment of cloth and keep going for a few more seconds.

Step 3, move to another clean segment of cloth and wipe away any excess. The slab should be squeaky clean.

If you use a section of cloth with old plastx dried onto it you are going to create new scratches insead of fixing them.

mark_dak

I would offer the same opinion as above by Pedzola. Works great on PCGS slabs unless scratching is ultra deep.

Good luck,

Mark

coinbuf

I use the PlastX product with great results on just about every slab, including NGC. However, I speed the process up by using a dremel with a soft buffing wheel on low speeds, works great.

RichR

So...since I just happen to be working on a large multicoin NGC slab...should I just shoot my self in the head now?

MFeld

@RichR said:
So...since I just happen to be working on a large multicoin NGC slab...should I just shoot my self in the head now?

No.

I recommend your foot, instead.😉

ponderit

I've used Slab-Renew on dozens of plastic tombs and recommend it. It's inexpensive and worth a try IMO.
slabrenew.com

RichR

From the Slab-Renew site...

Slab-Renew® was developed to insure a safe and effective way to restore your PCGS™, ANACS™, ICG™, PSA™, or CGC™ holders to like new condition.

Q. Your website does not mention NGC. Does your product work on NGC holders?
A. NGC holders are made from very different material than the other certification companies. They tend to scratch less but also as a result they tend to respond less to treatment. We do not guarantee stellar results on NGC holders.

ironmanl63

I use Simichrome Polish with some success.

Namvet69

Plastx has worked for me, on light scratches. Several applications. Good luck.

johnny010

3M compound and a buffer 🤣

JohnThePainter

First let me say that I don’t have any slabbed coins and only come here to learn from the experts.

Are there any good car detailing shops in your area? Those guys can work magic on plastic. I restored my ‘68 Pontiac a few years ago (was my first car and I’ve had it for 40 years now!) and while it was all apart I took the instrument cluster to a detailer. It had 50 years worth of fine scratches and looked a bit cloudy when I dropped it off, picked it up just a few hours later and I mean to tell ya it looked brand spanking new. If you slip the guy some lunch money you can probably get him to do it while you wait.

Just a thought from a guy that knows a lot more about Hot Wheels than he does coins 😉

Downtown1974

I have never had luck with removing scratches from NGC slabs. PCGS slabs can come out good, but NGG….no good.

1630Boston

My success with Plastix
sorry I can't find my post on this subject from 2018
.
BEFORE and AFTER

1630Boston

@Namvet69 said:
Plastx has worked for me, on light scratches. Several applications. Good luck.

I agree
and
take your time, be patient, don't rush it
just my agreement with @Namvet69

OAKSTAR

@RichR- It would have been helpful if you had posted before pictures first.

jmlanzaf

This is easy to do with PCGS holders. It is very hard to do with NGC holders.

Cameonut

I have experienced the same frustration with several types of scratch removal products already mentioned.

What I have always wanted to try on a test slab was one of those headlight restoration kits. More designed for deeper scratches. Something like this:

Goldminers

I use a small bottle of scratch remover for music cd's that I have had for probably 20 years, and it works quite well.

ChrisH821

Before using a polish you will need to remove the scratches with fine grit wet sandpaper. You can progressively work up from 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, then polish. Depending on how bad the scratches are you can start at a higher grit.

JimTyler

I just gave up on a NGC slab using PlastX and spent $85 (postage is the killer) to get it reslabbed. I can’t take looking at my coins through a mess of scratches and sometimes you just have to throw in the towel. It was CAC and at least it shows up on CAC verification if anyone in the future cares about those things.

OAKSTAR

Members should show pictures of the slabs in question "so we can see how severe the damage is" BEFORE they make an attempt to fix it with tools or products. This will help to assist them with the best advise.

RichR

For whatever it's worth...I was in Home Depot today looking for an extremely gentle rotating buffing tool that can be mounted on the head of a drill...and when I said it was for plastic, the guy actually snorted and said, "Good luck with that...that's worse than buffing the paint on a car! It's practically impossible to get scratches out of most plastics!"

I almost asked him if he secretly worked at NGC!

So anyhow...I ordered a drill mounted buffing set specifically marketed by Novus for buffing scratches out of "optical" plastics, including eyeglass lenses. It comes with 3 types of soft pads.

So wish me luck!

OAKSTAR

Just my opinion. No drills, buffers, bench grinders, sandpaper, blowtorches or heavy equipment! Just elbow grease.

Before:

After:

slider23

I apply PlastX to the slab, then, I use a cotton buffing wheel in a drill for deep scratches. The final touch is by hand with PlastX and a micro fiber cloth.

BryceM

I did a thread on this a while back. I also did one on the NGC forum for their slabs. NGC plastic is much more difficult to work with, but possible.

Here it is. I think the NGC link is in the thread.

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/947337/restoring-scratched-slabs-version-2-1-new-improved

jmlanzaf

@OAKSTAR said:
Just my opinion. No drills, buffers, bench grinders, sandpaper, blowtorches or heavy equipment! Just elbow grease.

Before:

None of those are NGC slabs.

OAKSTAR

That's true @jmlanzaf, none are NGC slabs. Maybe the link @BryceM posted works for NGC slabs.

I would like to see before and after results of a severely scratched NGC slab and the method of how they fixed it.

mr1931S

Slabs wouldn't get scratches if handled properly. I never could understand dealers at shows pushing slabs at one another across the table like they are playing cards.

RichR

<<Slabs wouldn't get scratches if handled properly. I never could understand dealers at shows pushing slabs at one another across the table like they are playing cards.>>

Agreed...and slabs with outright cracks are a total non starter for me...my brain totally eliminates those from any purchase consideration!

ifthevamzarockin

I did a NGC slab for this thread.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1024115/how-to-fix-a-scratched-slab#pagetop

Desert Moon

@BryceM said:
I did a thread on this a while back. I also did one on the NGC forum for their slabs. NGC plastic is much more difficult to work with, but possible.

Here it is. I think the NGC link is in the thread.

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/947337/restoring-scratched-slabs-version-2-1-new-improved

Nope, link to NGC thread was adandoned by NGC...............

lilolme

@mr1874 said:
Slabs wouldn't get scratches if handled properly. I never could understand dealers at shows pushing slabs at one another across the table like they are playing cards.

True. However, the dealers (and sometimes collectors) pushing slabs across a table (often glass case) is only part of the problem. The slabs get put into boxes (and not pcgs type boxes where they are separated) and transported by hand, car, roller luggage, airplane and on. Then consider a similar situation at auction lot viewing or dealer boxes where the slabs are pulled out for viewing and back into the boxes and repeat over and over. I am sure others can think of more slab handling examples.

fiftysevener

@RichR said:
So...since I just happen to be working on a large multicoin NGC slab...should I just shoot my self in the head now?

No it's gonna hurt

MasonG

@mr1874 said:
Slabs wouldn't get scratches if handled properly. I never could understand dealers at shows pushing slabs at one another across the table like they are playing cards.

I checked a half dozen slabs and all the ones I looked at have alignment ridges for stacking that extend beyond the face of the slab. Pushing them across a table won't cause any scratches on the slab face.