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 Replies: 16 / Views: 4,253 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
887 Posts |
Let's face it - part of the advantage to a slab is that it protects the coin from improper handling, scratches, etc. But the slabs themselves are very prone to scratching, so much so that it can be a detriment.
I just picked up a beautiful coin in a PCGS slab, and the slab has small scratches and cloudiness (scuffs?) that it is really takes away from the coin itself.
This got me thinking about screen protector for phones/tablets. Does anyone use them on their slabs as added protection for the slab? They're crystal clear, and you can replace them if necessary. I don't think the adhesive used on the screen protectors would be harmful to the slab material, but there is that possibility.
Has anyone used them for this purpose?
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
12 pocket album pages, specifically designed for slabs, are available.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
Beefer, Before I finished reading the first paragraph, something popped into my head: Gorilla Glass Then, I read the rest.  New market maybe? I agree that slabs are very susceptible to abrasion and scratches that detract from the coin inside. A "slab protector" may be viable solution. I know there are many options for "cut to size" plastic protectors and I think that would work very well and not damage anything. I don't know of a way to cut glass screen protectors to fit.  As an example, I recently had to get a new phone. Because of available monthly payments, I decided to go big and got a phone that's nearly $800 retail. Even though it already has a Gorilla Glass 3 display, my first order of business was to buy a glass screen protector. Protecting my investment. So, if you buy an $800 coin, then pay to get it graded/slabbed (fresh slab), why not have something replaceable to protect the slab surfaces. It doesn't have to be glass. Even the "old" plastic ones would help a lot in avoiding permanent scratches. Interesting idea. There are, as sel mentioned, binder pages that hold 9 slabs. That's good if you store them in a binder. But, it doesn't address other storage methods or handling outside of the protective page. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
Edited by spru
09/22/2017 01:39 am
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
I keep mine in the blue PCGS boxes and don't have any issues. Stacking them doesn't really cause any issues either, most get scratched being handled by an auction house or slopping around in dealer cases. There are little plastic baggies you can put over them if you wanted, but the boxes or just having them stacked I doubt you would ever do any damage to them yourself without dropping one.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
There are polishes out there that are good for removing fine scratches and rubs.
I use the three-system from Novus (heavy, fine and clean).
A slab has to be a bit on the nasty side for me not to be able to clean it up.
If an adhesive is involved (from gummed labels) DO NOT use stuff like acetone to remove it.
That will cause more problems; they tend to "melt" the plastic.
Even isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) will do that.
Use straight ol' elbow grease and a cloth to do that job.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
^ This. Novus Plastic Polish is amazing. It will take that cloudy stuff right off.
As far as protecting them, go to a card and comic store and get "penny sleeves", creatively named as they are 100 for $1. They are soft polyethylene and NGC holders slip snuggly into them. They are designed for Pokemon cards, but whatever.
Edited by Andrew99
09/22/2017 10:01 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
This has been a concern by some people for years. One of the common solutions that has been used for years has been polyethylene ball card sleeves. Slabs fit in them nicely, they are inert, cheap. and they do a pretty fair job of protecting the slab from scuffs and minor marks. Oops just saw that Andrew already mentioned them.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
887 Posts |
Well, I found my 2-pack of Toshiba tablet screen protectors, and tried it out. One word - BUBBLES! Some came out ok, but I think I'll get the baseball card sleeves. Is there a certain size to get, or will the standard 2-5/8" x 3-5/8" fit?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
Good suggestions! I actually recently bought some of those baseball card sleeves for raw coins before transitioning them to 2x2s. I didn't think about them fitting slabs.  Quote:
If an adhesive is involved (from gummed labels) DO NOT use stuff like acetone to remove it.
That will cause more problems; they tend to "melt" the plastic.
Even isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) will do that.
Use straight ol' elbow grease and a cloth to do that job.  Never use acetone to clean plastic. I have never had a problem with using isopropyl alcohol to remove gunk from different plastics but, I've never tried it on a slab. Also, never use an ammonia-based cleaner (like Windex) on plastic! In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
United States
655 Posts |
Quote:
kanga:
There are polishes out there that are good for removing fine scratches and rubs. I use the three-system from Novus (heavy, fine and clean). A slab has to be a bit on the nasty side for me not to be able to clean it up. Thanks for posting this info about the Novus polishes. I'm going to order some. Do you think there's any chance any chemical vapors might go inside the holder and cause damage to the coin? I have multiple holders with scratch damage, some so bad you can't really see the coin too well. I'm pretty careful with my stuff but they came to me already like that. One time, I took some to a local shop and the man went in the back and said he put them on a buffing machine (maybe he just use Novus). Anyway, he charged me $43 to, more or less, clean 3 slabs. Pretty pricey, for sure. (He actually wanted to charge even more.) Also, the idea that Novus mentions in their ad of getting rid of that haze on my headlight shields is what really sells me. That's so dingy to always be looking at, besides which, my old lights need all the help they can get. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
Quote:
I have never had a problem with using isopropyl alcohol to remove gunk from different plastics but, I've never tried it on a slab. Isopropyl alcohol is sneaky. The stuff you buy at the drug store is 70%. It's only strong enough to fog a slab IF it remains too long on a slab. There's 95% stuff out there that will do damage quite quickly. Best to just avoid using isopropyl alcohol, period. Edited by kanga
10/26/2017 5:15 pm
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
The best slab polish, in my experience and on the advice of a bunch of people I trust, is Meguiar's PlastX. Keep in mind, though, plastic compositions differ between TPG's and even slab generations. These slabs don't pick up all this damage while they're in your possession. You're not juggling them three or four at a time, are you? The damage happens during commerce, when they're lugged from show to show and handled by a hundred prospective customers. Frankly, I don't see the allfired importance of protecting them with bulletproof enclosures while you own them, unless you're afraid of yourself.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5029 Posts |
I am afraid of myself quite frequently  |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
Quote:
Thanks for posting this info about the Novus polishes. I'm going to order some. Do you think there's any chance any chemical vapors might go inside the holder and cause damage to the coin?
I have multiple holders with scratch damage, some so bad you can't really see the coin too well. I'm pretty careful with my stuff but they came to me already like that. One time, I took some to a local shop and the man went in the back and said he put them on a buffing machine (maybe he just use Novus). Anyway, he charged me $43 to, more or less, clean 3 slabs. Pretty pricey, for sure. (He actually wanted to charge even more.)
Also, the idea that Novus mentions in their ad of getting rid of that haze on my headlight shields is what really sells me. That's so dingy to always be looking at, besides which, my old lights need all the help they can get. They have no organic vapors that I can detect. They have different levels of grit in what I think is an aqueous base. #3 is like toothpaste, #1 is close to water, #2 is in between. $43 for 3 slabs? Gee, I should setup at a show and clean slabs for $5 a piece. |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
Quote:
I am afraid of myself quite frequently Speaking of slab polishing and being scared of yourself.... I managed to Dremel a pretty good gouge into a slab, with a felt wheel and polish:  That's a thousand-dollar coin in the slab.... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2023 Posts |
 At least you polished an area away from the coin! I have a couple of slabs that could use some de-scuffing (one much more than the other/s) but I'm hesitant to try, even for the relatively minimal cost of Novus. They live in boxes in storage -- it's not like I want to look at them every day. But when I do pull them out, I can't really see them. "No scuffs, blame the camera", indeed. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 4,253 |
Posted 09/22/2017 01:33 am
