UPDATED-4/3/18-------I never really noticed how scratched my slabs were...............
Until I started to take photos of them, can the scratches really be 'lessened'
? ![]()
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Bad transactions with : nobody to date
Comments
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Certainly. There are probably dozens of threads on plastic polish. It works very well on PCGS slabs.
Manual focus and a good macro lens will shoot past very minor scratches. Auto focus tends to zero-in on them, not the coin (which appears to be the case with the OP coin).
Lance.Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #2133 -
Thanks @lkeigwin
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
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I recently got in the worst scratched (PCGS) slab that I have ever seen.
I decided to try something new.
Took out the new Dremel with polishing compound and went at it. Was working petty good until I up the speed and barely melted the plastic. Oh, Chit. now what.
Then I remember a thread here on using sandpaper on a slab and said wtf, why not try that.
So, I sanded a bit with 400 wet dry sandpaper and said wow, I really messed this one up.
Then I sanded it with1500 wet dry and it still looked effed up.
So I then took back out the Dremel with a ton of polishing compound and used the tool at low speed. Back and forth in different directions.
Came out like glass

Thank you to whoever wrote the tip here years ago.
Here is the finished slab, no B4 shots .....
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@ErrorsOnCoins said:
I recently got in the worst scratched (PCGS) slab that I have ever seen.I decided to try something new.
Took out the new Dremel with polishing compound and went at it. Was working petty good until I up the speed and barely melted the plastic. Oh, Chit. now what.
Then I remember a thread here on using sandpaper on a slab and said wtf, why not try that.
So, I sanded a bit with 400 wet dry sandpaper and said wow, I really messed this one up.
Then I sanded it with1500 wet dry and it still looked effed up.
So I then took back out the Dremel with a ton of polishing compound and used the tool at low speed. Back and forth in different directions.
Came out like glass

Now you can poke a Q-tip through it.
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Never burned thru, but a sharp piece of pine might work better?
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@ErrorsOnCoins said:
I recently got in the worst scratched (PCGS) slab that I have ever seen.Came out like glass

Thank you to whoever wrote the tip here years ago.
I think that was @bolivarshagnasty. He had great images to go along with the story. I remember he started by grinding the slab under his shoe, on concrete. It was painful to watch but the restoration was incredible.
A couple of years ago I picked up some "Zona 37-948 3M Wet/Dry Polishing Paper, 8-1/2-Inch X 11-Inch, Assortment Pack One Each 1, 2, 3, 9, 15, and 30 Micron" from here:
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B001BHGC7G/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1This stuff is perfect for the job when scratches are too deep for Meguiar's PlastX polish. It's a little unnerving when you start with the grittiest paper and can no longer see the coin...just grey, opaque plastic. But the follow-up sanding (wet or dry) with the finer grit papers gets fabulous results.
Lance.Coin Photography Services / Everyman Registry set / BHNC #2133 -
BEFORE
'
Got some Plastx..............................
and used Manual focus...thanks @lkeigwin
AFTER
?

Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
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@1630Boston .... Great job, thanks for showing us.....and a really nice coin. Cheers, RickO
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For light scratches you want more of a transparent filler/polish, @1630Boston mentions one.
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I may have to take out the Dremel again today.
Or Oil.
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You have to be exceedingly careful using any tool that is electric. If any heat is created (even in a small spot the plastic will melt.
On a severely scratched PCGS slab 400 grit, 1000 grit, 2000 grit then PlastX.
NGC slabs have a far greater area to polish but the same process works.Light scratches, just try PlastX.
If you do what you always did, you get what you always got.0
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