Any Good Techniques To Buff Scratches Off A Slab?

I have also tried the headlight stuff and didn't get very good results with it but I have seen people use the stuff BadThad is referring to (Slab Renew) and it looked like it did a better job. I have also used car "polish" (not wax) with a buffing wheel on a dremel and it did an alright job as well but you have to be careful not to keep it in the same spot at to fast of a speed because I am sure it will start to melt the plastic, so I always keep it moving

If someone could come up with a home scratch removal/repair kit for slabs there would probably be some very nice pay days in their future

Not sure which ones you tried but I've fantastic results with some of them. At Walmart they have about 5 or more different ones. I use one that starts with a M but can't remember the entire name. No second or third steps, just put on, rub, wipe off. I've also had some luck with Rain-X. It is great for cleaning but not restoring plastic. My house is sort of lite up with well over 100 Solar Lights, front and back. People keep giving them to me because they stop working. In about 90% of the time the solar collector is completely dirty. I've used that lens cleaner and poof, one new solar light. I've used that stuff on headlights, tail lights, plastic sun glasses, etc. Never tried on a coin slab since I don't have any.
If you do try the lens cleaners at places like Walmart, do not buy the multiple step stuff. Yes that stuff is worthless. The one step stuff works the best or at least for everything plastic I've tried it on. Just can't remember the name but I know it is in a black plastic container and starts with M.

devilsbite: The cerium oxise I used would have been around 10,000 grade. It cost me $35 for a pound, which is more than adequate.

About a 1/2 gramme of cerium oxide powder is mixed into a smooth watery paste in an eggcup. I used a hard rubber slab about 4mm thick 3" x 4" with a sharpened edge, as backing, over which I wrapped a piece of corrugated cardboard. The cardboard is charged with the watery paste and rubbed longitudinally along the score marks.

It is a long slow process, that takes hours. I would suggest that you have your radio going to avoid boredom while doing this job. It is a messy job, but can be hosed down easily.

A small water cooled buffing wheel can be used, to speed the job up, and to avoid localised heating of the glass, to avoid cracking it. Such a specialised tool is very difficult to find.

The 10,000 grade cerium oxide, used with a soft rag would have been perfectly useful for removing fine scratches from a coin slab, but it IS messy, and you need to know that the slab is sealed properly.

I agree. Rotary tools are for cutting slabs, not cleaning them.

I've had pretty amazing results removing significant scratches from plastic watch crystals using toothpaste. I now use a polish made especially for watch crystals, though. Didn't care for the minty fresh wristwatch odor.

I can't think of the name right now, but can find the tube if you want.

Another one of my antique tricks is Liquid Brasso. I've buffed old plastic watch crystals, polished Coca Cola porcelain signs, tin lithograph toys and many ( I feel so old saying this) many years ago when I was a paramedic, we polished our plastic light bar with Liquid Brasso too. It will NOT remove deep scratches but will buff out small scuffs and spider web appearances. I would not recommend using an electric buffer. Try by hand first. Clean cloth and not that old can of Brasso that belonged to your great grandfather.

I've never had to clean scratches off of a slab, but if I had to I would use a CD/DVD repair kit, used for removing scratches from CD's and DVD's and restoring them to playable condition. I bought my kit at Radio Shack, and I'm sure that it would be available at Walmart or any electronics store. The kit is simply two sandpapers (I'm guessing 600 and 1000 weight) along with a polishing compound and cloth. Basically you sand the scratches out by hand with the sandpapers, and buff and polish with the compound and cloth. I have used it not only for CD's and DVD's but also watch crystals and other plastic items and have had excellent results.