Scratched slabs, how do you make them new again?

kingmatt

Has anyone even come across this problem? A beautiful proof coin in a scratched or otherwise blemished holder. Can the slab be cleaned or buffed? Any ideas? Thanks, Matt

Clankeye

Matt---
There have been a number of threads which have addressed this. Go to "search" and put in a few phrases like "scratches on slabs" or "cleaning slabs" etc. You should find something. A quick answer is you can use a tiny bit of Brasso applied with a rag, let it dry, then buff it gently. I have used it with some success, but there are those who don't like the idea, or use other products. Try to find one of the old threads.

wingedliberty

PCGS and NGC will reholder for a nominal fee. If the coin is worth it, do it.


Brian.

DanC

Meguiars Mirror Glaze 10 Clear Plastic Polish.

Works like a charm.

dorkkarl

turtle wax does wonders for scratched cd's, & i'd guess it would help slabs as well.

of course, i never have the problem of scratched slabs....

K S

kingmatt

Thanks for all the advice. I tried to clean some adhesive off a slab with acetone. Don't try it! It turned the surface hazy. Therein lies my problem. Thanks all. Matt

lordmarcovan

Hmm. Both of their suggestions sound interesting. I heard about toothpaste, too- that's something everybody's got around the house. Try it and let me know if it works or not. I never have done it, though I use toothpaste to clean blackened low-value silver (like some of the Mercuries I find with my detector). It is lightly abrasive but that may be what you need on the plastic?

Of course, if a holder is really badly scuffed up, or cracked, you'll have to get the coin reholdered. I think most services charge about five bucks to do this. I've done it a few times.

Acetone is a big no-no on plastic- I could have told you that, having made the same dumb mistake myself, for the same reason. Use rubbing alcohol to remove adhesive. It hasn't hazed any of my slabs yet.

izzy452

Rub a little toothpaste on it. It will take out some of the scratches.


Walt

Twowood

I believe ANACS charges about $15. for a new holder.PCGS and NGC are probably in the same ballpark.

lordmarcovan

Fifteen bucks? Surely not!

That's a submission!

I think reholdering is five bucks!?

One service I sent to reholdered my coin for five bucks, but I can't remember who it was. PCI, I believe. That means a looong time ago. I quit using them years ago. So maybe I'm behind the times.

Conder101

Reholdering is $5 at PCGS, I believe it is $4 at NGC. The other services should be similar.

newbiecollector

I have posted an answer to this question before. I am not, a slab collector so I have not tried this on a slab.

In my mis-spent times I was a collector of gem stones and like everyone used tumblers and polishers. You use differnt grades (roughness) of additives to provide the abrasive polishing. The very last step, to get a mirror finish is copper silcate....... this is available at most hobby shops that sell "rock polishing" supplies.

Copper silicate is also used by professionals that polish glass and in particular reading glasses. I personnaly have used it on my own glasses (glass not plastice)........ it worked perfectly.

Just a wet finger, a dip in the copper silicate and gentle rubbing.

Of course, the reholdering sounds like the most reasonable thing to do unless you would like to keep the coin in the present slab.

kingmatt

I finally solved my slab problem. Thanks to all the great suggestions here, I remembered something I used to clean the plastic windows on my jeep. It's called Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #17 Professional Plastic Cleaner. It works great!. Thanks again all, Matt