Polishing scratches off of slabs

mr1931S · March 17, 2015 3:52AM

Is there anything available to polish scratches and not-to-deep gouges off of PCGS slabs?

I would be looking for results that make the slab look "good as new."

BustCuds · March 17, 2015 4:03AM

PlastX and a soft cloth works well.

PerryHall · March 17, 2015 4:10AM

Brasso works well. The label even says that it can be used to remove scratches from acrylic watch crystals.

JeffMTampa · March 17, 2015 6:02AM

I use a 3 step plastic auto headlight restorer solution purchased at an auto supply store. It takes a little "elbow grease" but works great!

By the way, does anyone know where to purchase elbow grease?

Barbercoin · March 17, 2015 7:24AM

I wondered about possibly removing those scratches.

Brasso, huh? A flashback from my old Army days. I'll give it a try!

LindeDad · March 17, 2015 7:26AM

Got the drill at Lowes and it supplies the elbow grease.

okiedude · March 17, 2015 7:41AM

Black & Decker Elbow Grease!

DollarAfterDollar · March 17, 2015 7:45AM

Headlight polishes do good work. Just don't get carried away creating heat. Plastic melts with too much speed.

Been there.

mr1931S · March 17, 2015 10:57AM

Got ahold of some of the recommended PLASTX at the Walmart.I've got a chip in the plastic right in the center of the coin.It's deep enough to cause a shadow to be cast onto the coin. My Dremel is being put to work to do the actual buffing work.The goal is to completely eliminate this shadow.

Goldbully · March 17, 2015 11:10AM

eBay Link

Works great!

edited to add: Appears to have gone up in price from when I bought my jar.

PerryHall · March 17, 2015 11:32AM

Whatever you do, don't use acetone to clean your slabs.

JazzmanJAB · March 17, 2015 12:06PM

I have used Slab-Renew. It works great.

lkeigwin · March 17, 2015 2:39PM

PlastX is the best I've found. Tried Novus. Slab-Renew is nothing more than Novus repackaged at a higher price.
Lance.

bigjpst · March 17, 2015 2:51PM

<< <i>Got ahold of some of the recommended PLASTX at the Walmart.I've got a chip in the plastic right in the center of the coin.It's deep enough to cause a shadow to be cast onto the coin. My Dremel is being put to work to do the actual buffing work.The goal is to completely eliminate this shadow. >>

Be careful with the Dremel. If you are not careful you can do more damage with the little polishing bits. I like the 3 step headlight renew kits. Had a slab not too long ago that was melted(probably from acetone) and you could barely see the coin. Sanded and polished by hand and the slab was crystal clear.

OldIndianNutKase · March 17, 2015 3:36PM

<< <i>

eBay Link

Works great!

edited to add: Appears to have gone up in price from when I bought my jar. >>

Thanks GB,

I just ordered a bottle off your eBay link.

OINK

astrorat · March 17, 2015 9:28PM

From the car detailing box ...

Meguiar's #10 Clear Plastic Polish
Meguiar's #17 Clear Plastic Cleaner

Both work well. #17 is more aggressive and #10 is for light scratches or just to provide a bit of a gloss.

Meguiar's PlastX works well and is easier to find and less expensive.

Hand cleaning and polishing with a soft cloth works well. I have not been brave enough to try mechanical assistance with a Dremel or drill.

LindeDad · March 18, 2015 12:43AM

Using the drill the key is keep it wet and slow, just a little at a time so you never build up heat which softens the plastic. Have polished several hundred slabs and never damaged any.
I never used my Dremel as I felt the speed was too high. Mine was one of the older ones without a speed control.

ricko · March 18, 2015 12:52AM

Cheers, RickO

Stuart · March 18, 2015 12:55AM

<< Meguiar's PlastX works well and is easier to find and less expensive. >>

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions on removing scratches from Coin Slabs. -- I plan to purchase some Meguiar's PlastX and give it a try on this and other scratched slabs...

ms70 · March 18, 2015 1:08AM

PlastX. Rub rub rub.

BryceM · March 18, 2015 1:58AM

I'd recommend buying some cheap modern slabbed widgets to practice on if you're going to use a Dremel. One trick with the plastX that I've used is to heat up the slab (just a little) under some Halogens before going to work on it. I discovered this by accident when doing photos. It seems to go a little faster than when working on cold plastic.

For very deep gouges, there's nothing wrong with starting with a very fine sandpaper. The slab will be completely opaque after this step, but you can start with some rough grit and finish up with a light grit & fine polish. It isn't hard to get it perfectly clear again. It sure beats the trouble of the shipping, re-slab, shipping, re-sticker, shipping dance.

deefree49 · February 7, 2016 8:30AM

actually was doing some polishing today with SLAB-RENEW. It works very well on PCGS holders.

WildIdea · February 7, 2016 9:03AM

My buddies and I have been using our rotary machine silver jewelry polish wheels on them. Mirrors then out in a few seconds.

BAJJERFAN · February 7, 2016 10:55AM

Originally posted by: ms70

PlastX. Rub rub rub.

Rubba dub dub

There aint no sub

stitute!

Polishing scratches off of slabs

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