How to Remove Scuffs and Scratches From Your Graded Card Slab

[RiceBondsMntna2Young]

This may be common knowledge already but if not, I read on another forum that you can use Meguiar’s Plastx car headlight cleaner to buff out scratched up or cloudy slabs.

I tried it the other night and lo and behold it worked like a charm. Just put a dab directly on the plastic and rub with a cloth! It does leave kind of a chemically smell though...

Before:

After:

The improvement was even more stark in person, as I was able to actually see the card for the first time since I got it the better part of a decade ago. Hope this helps someone!

 

[sharkaholic707]

Being both a “car guy” and a “card guy” i have done this before. Any swirl/scratch/polish remover made for plastics/headlights can and does work. I’ve even done toploaders and one touches with this with varying success. The Meguiars brand isn’t even the best at removing scratches/swirls (just the most available) so it would be interesting to see if higher end brands had better results.

 

[C55]

Good to know - thanks!

 

[Triple B]

Baseball card guys use Meguiar's Wax on Bowman Chrome and Topps Chrome cards to "remove" surface scratches before submitting to BGS. Amazing that it works on slabs.

 

[RiceBondsMntna2Young]

Baseball card guys use Meguiar's Wax on Bowman Chrome and Topps Chrome cards to "remove" surface scratches before submitting to BGS. Amazing that it works on slabs.

Yes you’re one of the few hockey guys I recognize on the baseball card forums. I’m moving to baseball but strictly 80s and 90s stuff, and really only for one player, so even if I ever wanted the new Chromey stuff, I wouldn’t now lol. Do you think it works on acetate cards too?

Sharkaholic707, I understand the technology to be microabrasions, which I take to mean that the scratches get sanded down slightly and then filled in? If that’s the case, I wonder what magnification you would need to see the alterations. To the naked eye, even I tried rubbing alcohol on the surface, the surface looks like clean, clear plastic. Amazing.

 

[Triple B]

Yes you’re one of the few hockey guys I recognize on the baseball card forums. I’m moving to baseball but strictly 80s and 90s stuff, and really only for one player, so even if I ever wanted the new Chromey stuff, I wouldn’t now lol. Do you think it works on acetate cards too?

I would get some Ice commons and try it out first. If you can get surface grade up to a 9.5 or 10, you’re set with a Pristine 10.

 

[junyab]

Awesome info guys. Thanks for sharing. I definitely want to try it on a few Ice cards to see how it works.

 

[FRhockey28]

Do you think this tactic would work with scuffed one-touch cases?

 

[RiceBondsMntna2Young]

I absolutely think it would. If you test it, post before and after pictures...if I don’t beat you to it.

Junyab, lmk what happens when you use it on an actual acetate card. I will try it too and post my results.

Do you think this tactic would work with scuffed one-touch cases?

 

[FRhockey28]

I have to purchase the Plastx first so if you are going to try it on one-touches do you mind posting your results before I purchase it?? Would love to see the results, would be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a whole slew of new one-touches!

 

[gobuffalo2331]

This is not old news to me lol that is helpful thank you

 

[Nick2317]

if you are in a pinch you can also use toothpaste ....

 

[RiceBondsMntna2Young]

Unfortunately it didn’t have nearly the same effect on a one touch, and come to think of it, it kinda makes sense since one is completely rigid plastic whereas slabs and acetate are somewhat malleable. Most of the difference is in the nearly microscopic scratches.

Before:

After:

I also picked as messed up a one touch as I could find and I would note that Plastx doesn’t remove deep scratches on any surface.

Looking forward to the report on ice cards...

I have to purchase the Plastx first so if you are going to try it on one-touches do you mind posting your results before I purchase it?? Would love to see the results, would be a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a whole slew of new one-touches!

 

[solt0131]

Baseball card guys use Meguiar's Wax on Bowman Chrome and Topps Chrome cards to "remove" surface scratches before submitting to BGS. Amazing that it works on slabs.

This is 100% true. It's also best to use what is called a "cheese cloth"

You can buy them at Target for a cheap price.

:yess:

 

[Triple B]

This is 100% true. It's also best to use what is called a "cheese cloth"

You can buy them at Target for a cheap price.

:yess:

I tried it on one of my chrome autos that had (HAD) a scratch on it. I used a microfibre cloth and it worked like a charm.

 

[zackmak]

This is really neat! Do you think there is any long- term effect by using this cleaner? By that, I mean what if you clean it today, but in a few months/years, it turns the plastic foggy, etc. As an example. Would hate to put it on one of my encased memorabilia cards, only to have the plastic faded down the road.

 

[SNobles]

Pretty happy that this information was shared.

I bought a Yzerman BGS that was pretty scuffed up. Here is my result:

Untitled by Scott Nobles, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott Nobles, on Flickr

 

[FRhockey28]

Thanks for trying out the one-touch. Now I know! Very helpful and if I get scuffs on my graded cards now I know what to do

 

[trekrun]

I wonder if it would work on showcases!
I'll have to try it on one of mine.

 

[creasecollector]

That looks good! Thanks for sharing this info.