How to remove scratches from slabs

Sometime trying to photograph ( or even use a good loupe) through a scratched slab is hopeless. I have read the suggestions of using a plastic polisher such as an automotive product. So I went to Walmart and purchased such a product ( around $2 as I remember).



Then I took a OGH PCGS MS64 slab I have had "forever" and had been mistreated by others and maybe some by me and followed the directions, putting a little on a microfiber rag and using a circular motion polish until just a film remains. Leave to dry and then polish off with a dry soft rag. Paper towel would probably work just as well as it doesn't cut deep.

Here is the before/after of the entire coin, focused on the slab to show scratches. The lighting setup stayed exactly the same. Coin on left before, the one on right after.



and the same,before/after, with a close up of the deepest scratch near the date.




You can still see a remnant of the deep scratch, but I am sure if I repeated a couple of times, it would eventually disappear also.

Hope this might help. Your mileage may vary.

Jim

 

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Very nice Jim, thanks for the info. I'm going to have to buy some of that, I've got a few slabs that look like a dog got at them.

 

Jim,

Thanks for giving us the heads-up on this product and the before and after pics! I am sure that the stuff will come in handy for many of us.


Frank

 

wow, excellent

 

Thanks for the comparison. I've heard this rumor for a long time, but never bothered to try it; despite some pretty bad slabs.

I am now willing to give it a try.

 

NICE! I never understood why anyone would buy that expensive "slab cleaner"....as I recall it was like $25 for 1 oz. It's probably the same stuff that you used, just repackaged. LOL

 

i hope it doesnt creep in on the coins somehow but otherwise it looks good

 

Thanks Jim!!!!!! Off to Walmart today!

 

That's the first thing I thought of. Chemicals around coins makes me nervous.

 

It should stay in the area of the coin if you just put the "sauce" on the cloth, just a small spot. It is very viscous and won't creep around the edge unless you dunk it. I should have mentioned that a power polisher would not be recommended for this purpose.

Jim

 

when i first read the topic.. all i could think of were all those 'gimmicks' to get scratches out of cd's... what jokes they were... so i went into this thread with that though.. but with your before and after images... i must admit... i am surprised!

So.. if i ever get any slabbs.. and if they ever get scratched for whatever reason.. i will revist this thread.. if i remember lol

 

Wow....what a difference!! Thanks Jim for sharing the info!! I'll be getting myself a bottle of that stuff.

 

I have a much better idea of how to get rid of thoes scratches. Take the coins out of the slab, put the coin(s) in albums, 2x2's, etc and throw the plastic slab in the garbage. The $2 + tax could be used for a coin.
However, I do thank you because I will buy some. Not for slabs though since I don't have and and never will. I will try that on solar lights. I have a yard full of those Solar Lights and some have a plastic cover over the Solar Cell that turns dark. I'll try that stuff on them. Of course around here those Solar lights sell for about $1 to $3 each so I guess a $2 bottle of that may save a few dollar light from the garbage. Worth a try.
As to slabs. Take the coins out of them and no need for that cleaner. Unless you have eye glasses that have scratches.

 

The fact of the matter is, coins are safer in slabs.

 

Carl, it works great on Headlight lens also. With the desert sandstorms, the light gets somewhat diffused. Be careful with eyeglasses or optics as there is usually a coating you don't want to polish off. I tired it on some whitman hard plastic holders I have some nice coins in, and it worked there also. Probably for capitol plexiglass type of holders too. Maybe I shouldn't have titled it for slabs, but hard plastic holders.

Jim

 

WOW! Great job. You might have just saved us a couple of re-slabbing fees. G's PCGS Fugio has terrible scratches all over the front. We'll try it and if it works I'll post before/after pictures. If it doesn't work, we'll stick with plan A and sent it back for a new slab. :whistle: I might even already have that in the garage. The same day I bought my new Acura I backed into the long row of shopping carts some poor kid was pushing in the parking lot at Costco and bought something to try and get the scratches out of my tail light.

 

Even if it is a different product, if it is for that purpose, it should work. If the scratches are really deep, similar to a knife cut or pin scratch, it might not take it out without a world of work. But I think it will. love to see photos!

Jim

 

Jim,

scratches dont just disappear it takes some of the thing with it. what i was worried about was that it will seep in through the front and not the cracks. it might be just paranoia but i would not put that thing on the slab of expensive coins till i was 100% sure that it stays on the slab

 

Spock , if you have a cracked slab. then don't use it. A crack would go through the plastic, and would be letting environmental problems go through it.

A scratch ( what I am talking about does not penetrate through. It is a surface effect.

Like the difference between a dent in your car door and a bullet hole through it.

Cheers,
Jim

 

what is a slab? here in scotland "slabs" are blocks of concrete for gardens :headbang: