Thoughts about Card Polishing?

70ToppsFanatic

Yesterday I was looking at some raw cards (in person). While I was looking them over, the guy I was
considering buying them from was a few feet away from me and he took out a small, soft cloth and started
rubbing the glossy surface of another card.

When I asked him what he was up to (I had a pretty good idea) he confirmed that he was trying to "polish"
some surface wax off of the card and remove a bit of surface dirt.

My question for the forum is what do people here think about this practice? Unless one does a meticulous job
my experience is that there are still miniscule streaks of wax and dirt on the surface of the card, and these are
easily seen through a 10x loupe. Also, I've seen examples where rubbing to hard actually causes some surface
discoloration/fading.

From a grading perspective, I would think that a majority of cards that were treated this way would be easy to
spot at PSA. I am curious if they would consider polishing an "alteration" of some kind?

For people who focus on raw cards I can see some merit in doing this to make your cards look better. From the
perspective of someone who is more focused on slabbed cards I found myself a bit "torn" by what I witnessed.

Any thoughts/comments?

lawnmowerman

I don't look at it as alteration in the least bit.

In my mind, removing something that is not supposed to be there (fingerprints, dust or grime) is fine.

I actually use car wax on my refractors and mirror cards prior to grading. I submit to PSA and BGS and have never had a card returned ungraded because of it.

thedutymon

Morniong,

I've used a Nylon to "Polish" Wax off of cards thousands of times and see no problem with it and if done thoroughly there is no way PSA can tell! And don't see a thing wrong with the practice !!!

YeeHah

Neil

EagleEyeKid

I actually use car wax on my refractors and mirror cards prior to grading.

hahahahahahaha

Not to get off the subject, but I had a moron send me a card that had surface scratches
on it, but he sprayed the surface with wood polish....the kind you use to wipe dust off.
The stuff hardened or whatever and looked like candlewax over the scratches.

DavidPuddy

<< <i>I actually use car wax on my refractors and mirror cards prior to grading.

hahahahahahaha

Not to get off the subject, but I had a moron send me a card that had surface scratches
on it, but he sprayed the surface with wood polish....the kind you use to wipe dust off.
The stuff hardened or whatever and looked like candlewax over the scratches. >>



What about that idiot that sent you a sweet Andre Dawson in a group sub that had wax all over the front?
What a dumb a$$.


To stay on topic.
I doubt anyone on this forum will have a problem with taking wax off the front of a card.

Dboneesq

<< <i>To stay on topic. I doubt anyone on this forum will have a problem with taking wax off the front of a card. >>

itzagoner

if a substance which was not intended to be on the card surface can be easily removed, then it should be.

i've seen plenty of examples of cards which did not originally have wax removed and became much more presentable afterwards.

the wax from the interior of a pack is fairly easy if it's on the front surface. that's not altering.

i've also seen examples of cards which had some kind of substance added to improve the gloss of a front surface. PSA would detect and flat-out reject any card under that suspicion.

Meatloaf

<< <i>Morniong,

I've used a Nylon to "Polish" Wax off of cards thousands of times and see no problem with it and if done thoroughly there is no way PSA can tell! And don't see a thing wrong with the practice !!!

YeeHah

Neil >>



I have several 1986-87 Fleer MJ Stickers I always wanted to send in for grading, but never did due to wax stains on the reverse side. I also never wanted to damage the cards in an attempt to remove the wax. How is is the wax removing process done with a Nylon? Is it effective? How do you avoid damage to other parts of the card, like bends, scratches, etc.? Meatloaf

thedutymon

<< <i>

<< <i>Morniong,

I've used a Nylon to "Polish" Wax off of cards thousands of times and see no problem with it and if done thoroughly there is no way PSA can tell! And don't see a thing wrong with the practice !!!

YeeHah

Neil >>



I have several 1986-87 Fleer MJ Stickers I always wanted to send in for grading, but never did due to wax stains on the reverse side. I also never wanted to damage the cards in an attempt to remove the wax. How is is the wax removing process done with a Nylon? Is it effective? How do you avoid damage to other parts of the card, like bends, scratches, etc.? Meatloaf >>



Morning,

First remove your Pants, Put Nylon on one Leg at a Time...............................

YeeHah

Neil

Meatloaf

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Morniong,

I've used a Nylon to "Polish" Wax off of cards thousands of times and see no problem with it and if done thoroughly there is no way PSA can tell! And don't see a thing wrong with the practice !!!

YeeHah

Neil >>



I have several 1986-87 Fleer MJ Stickers I always wanted to send in for grading, but never did due to wax stains on the reverse side. I also never wanted to damage the cards in an attempt to remove the wax. How is is the wax removing process done with a Nylon? Is it effective? How do you avoid damage to other parts of the card, like bends, scratches, etc.? Meatloaf >>



Morning,

First remove your Pants, Put Nylon on one Leg at a Time...............................

YeeHah

Neil >>



Nice.

thedutymon

<< <i> >>



I have several 1986-87 Fleer MJ Stickers I always wanted to send in for grading, but never did due to wax stains on the reverse side. I also never wanted to damage the cards in an attempt to remove the wax. How is is the wax removing process done with a Nylon? Is it effective? How do you avoid damage to other parts of the card, like bends, scratches, etc.? Meatloaf >>



Morning,

First remove your Pants, Put Nylon on one Leg at a Time...............................

YeeHah

Neil >>



Nice. >>



Oh Come On, you think that's the First time that comeback has been used here, I was just the First in this thread !!Get a sense of Humor!!

Take the Nylon and stretch it across a finger and gently rub it back and forth across the Way buildup. It will come off easily and make sure you check the Card at an angle several times during the process so you know you got it all!!

Better ??!!!

YeeHah

Neil

Meatloaf

I have a sense of humor...

You and I both put our nylons on the same way: one leg at a time. However, when I do, I make gold records...

Meatloaf

TonyC

I routinely rub wax off of the fronts of cards that have wax stains; I don't look at it as alteration, it is just part of the packaging for the card that was left on the card and it is easy to remove without damaging the card in any way.

georgebailey2

<< <i>I have a sense of humor...

You and I both put our nylons on the same way: one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records...

Meatloaf >>



Bruce Dickinson: Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription.. is more cowbell!

Also, +1 that doesn't think that removing wax is an alteration.

jeffcbay

These types of cards could use a good polish...

georgebailey2

<< <i>These types of cards could use a good polish...



>>



So you're saying you'd like to polish BJ Upton's knob?

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

jeffcbay

<< <i>So you're saying you'd like to polish BJ Upton's knob?

Not that htere's anything wrong with that.
>>



Well, you know, not saying "I" want to polish the knob, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if "someone" would polish it for him every once and a while. Just sayin'.

thedutymon

And here I thought I couldn't take it any lower with my Man wearing Nylons, but there's always somebody comes along and outdoes Ya!!!

YeeHah

Neil

gameusedhoop

<< <i>You and I both put our nylons on the same way: one leg at a time >>



How else would you put on thigh highs?? Thought that was the only way?

royalbrett

<< <i>I actually use car wax on my refractors and mirror cards prior to grading.

hahahahahahaha

Not to get off the subject, but I had a moron send me a card that had surface scratches
on it, but he sprayed the surface with wood polish....the kind you use to wipe dust off.
The stuff hardened or whatever and looked like candlewax over the scratches. >>



But isn't that what you are supposed to do with 62 Topps baseball?

RonBurgundy

Plenty of men like panty hose.

SidePocket

I think Meatloaf is asking about removing wax on the reverse side of the card. Nylons don't work on wax on the reverse, only on the glossy side of the card.

itzagoner

unless that reverse is the 86-87 Fleer stickers he was asking about, therefore the wax is removable per the previous suggestions.

gemint

I have no problem with removing wax from the front of a card as long as you don't damage the surface. If you're careful, you won't. I submitted a 1969 Phil Niekro and didn't realize it had wax on the front. I got an 8 (ST). I cracked the card out, rubbed off the wax and resubmitted it. It now sits in an unqualified 9 holder and is part of my set. I have no problems having that card in my set. It's factory fresh and should have been a 9 (ST) on the first submission.

vladguerrero

i like my cards dirt-ay.

Toro

I've seen wax stains that can't be removed with nylon which are typically on the back of a card. Any ideas on the removal of that type of stain or no hope? Staying on topic, there is nothing wrong with removing the stain. It's not supposed to be there.

thenavarro

<< <i>I've seen wax stains that can't be removed with nylon which are typically on the back of a card. Any ideas on the removal of that type of stain or no hope? Staying on topic, there is nothing wrong with removing the stain. It's not supposed to be there. >>



See if Dick Towle can remove them for you. You can find his contact info on the web. He used to advertise that he could remove stains, ink, etc from cards.

Mike