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Scratched Surface On Holder

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Slider23's Avatar
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 Posted 05/13/2016  12:58 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Slider23 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I have this 1883 dime in a NGC holder that has distracting holder scratches. In the photo the black lines are shadows from holder scratches. I have tried about 5 applications of PlastX without making any impact on the scratches. Any one have any other solution to remove the scratches short of getting the holder replaced?

Scratched-Surface-On-Holder

Scratched-Surface-On-Holder
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MontCollector's Avatar
United States
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 Posted 05/13/2016  1:15 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add MontCollector to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I picked up this stuff called Z Clear for my glasses. Says is safely removes scratches and cleans any lens. It works great for my glasses and I sometimes use it on my Air tites.

I picked mine up at Street Vibrations (Huge Biker Rally) in Reno last year. They do have a website. http://www.z-clear.com. There is a spray and a gel. Get the gel.

If the scratches are too deep nothing will fix except new slab.
Edited by MontCollector
05/13/2016 1:16 pm
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moxking's Avatar
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 Posted 05/13/2016  2:10 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add moxking to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I've had some luck with car window scratch filler, but it takes 3 or 4 applications on the NGC.
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bpoc1's Avatar
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 Posted 05/13/2016  3:05 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add bpoc1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Great question Slider23.
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jbuck's Avatar
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 Posted 05/13/2016  5:22 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Ouch.

My solution is to just free the coin, but I know that does not help you.

Whatever you try, it might be best to test it on something less important first.
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Steele's Avatar
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 Posted 05/14/2016  01:07 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Steele to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Try a kit made for car headlights or very fine grit sand paper. Start with 800 or 1000 move to finer grit and wet sanding as you progress. finish with a buffing compound and high speed buffe in a cordless drill. be very very VERY careful not to let grit get inside the holder. maybe tape the seam before you begin
Edited by Steele
05/14/2016 01:08 am
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sel_69l's Avatar
Australia
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 Posted 05/14/2016  01:19 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Experiment with toothpaste or car paint cutting compound on a less conspicuous area.
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Slider23's Avatar
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 Posted 05/14/2016  08:33 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Slider23 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I am going to try using Meguiar's PlastX (headlight cleaner) as a buffing compound with a high speed drill. I wll let you know how it goes.
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 Posted 05/14/2016  08:51 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
I am going to try using Meguiar's PlastX (headlight cleaner) as a buffing compound with a high speed drill. I wll let you know how it goes.

Great stuff. I use it all the time on plastics. Let us know how it works.
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Conder101's Avatar
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 Posted 05/14/2016  10:29 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Conder101 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I don't know about a high speed drill. Generate too much friction/heat and it could just make matters worse.
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BStrauss3's Avatar
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 Posted 05/14/2016  10:39 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add BStrauss3 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
At coin club last year one of the local dealers did a preso using PlastX but said he only uses it on PCGS holders. No drill, just hand polishing.

He said he doesn't touch NGC however as it will more likely do more damage.

? the melting point of the holders is lower ?
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Slider23's Avatar
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 Posted 05/14/2016  5:59 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Slider23 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
This holder looked like someone had taken it and rub it across asphalt on both sides. I bought the coin knowing what I was getting into.

I will give you my lessons learned from using PlastX. I did about 7 or 8 application by hand until my fingers were sore. There was some improvement, but I could still see distracting holder scratches.

Today I use a cotton buffer attached to a high speed drill and using the PlastX as a buffing compound. I again made some more improvement as I am no longer getting shadows onto the coin from the scratches. I still have some fine hairline scratches on the holder. Buffing the holder with the drill did no damage to the plastic, but I did touch the NGC sticker and rubed off a section as shown in the photo below.

My conclusion is if the holder has deep scratches, do not buy the coin unless you are willing to change the holder or are OK with some scratches. I improved the coin about 90%, but the method that I used still left some hairline scratches. I had better success using the drill with the cotton buffer, than the hand method.

If the holder has light scratches, the PlastX works great and can remove these scratches close to 100%.


Here is the photo of damage I did to the NGC sticker when buffing:
Scratched-Surface-On-Holder


Here is the cotton buffer I used attached to a drill. The blue substance on the buffer is the PlastX:
Scratched-Surface-On-Holder


Here is a photo of the coin after buffing and there are still some holder hairline white scratches showing:




Scratched-Surface-On-Holder

Scratched-Surface-On-Holder
Edited by Slider23
05/14/2016 6:02 pm
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Bud250r's Avatar
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 Posted 05/14/2016  6:38 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bud250r to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Is that called whizzing the holder?
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sel_69l's Avatar
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 Posted 05/15/2016  12:11 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add sel_69l to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Don't use high speed buff; use LOW speed, it is possible to overheat the plastic.
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edweather's Avatar
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 Posted 05/15/2016  10:01 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add edweather to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
You are on the right track. Use low speed, and if possible don't let it dry out. Keep it wet and the scratches will come out. In my noob insanity, I used a rotary tool on a holder with a 1909 S VDB MS63 inside. My ignorance was bliss though, and took my time, and the scratches came out and the holder is nice and clear.
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Wizzy1's Avatar
United States
430 Posts
 Posted 05/15/2016  1:05 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Wizzy1 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I use something called NOVUS Plastic Polish. Its available on Amazon for $17. It is a 3 step scratch remover. First use the heavy scratch remover, then fine then cleaner. Elbow grease and a fine gauze. I usually don't even need the heavy step. I'll try a buffer on low speed though. This stuff helps a lot. I think the abrasive in it gets finer the more you work it.
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