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 Replies: 12 / Views: 8,671 |
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
Hi,
I recently bought a coin in a case and a hard time getting it out. So when I finally did, I left two extremely small scratches on the plastic case. Does anyone know the best safe way to remove scratches from the plastic cases? Thanks for your help!
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
1844 Posts |
To be quite honest , once you scratch plastic it is impossible to remove it..Any thing you try would have to be abrasive which would only make it worse.....The other thing would be to put it in a new holder.. Now comes the question..Why would you remove it in the first place?
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Valued Member
United States
106 Posts |
It is possible to remove scratches in plastic. But you have to be insane to do it. You begin with sandpaper of grit a little less than the scratch. Then keep switching to finer grit. Eventually you will get to the highest grit your local hardware store will sell, maybe 430 or 600 grit. After that you will have to buy sandpaper from an automobile parts store; they use them for finishing paint jobs. They should supply you with up to around 3000 grit. From there, you have to go to polishing compounds. There's a series of these, of finer grits. Finally, for your last step, you will use plastic polishing compound.
If you're truly insane with your attention to detail, you will get to a condition which is as good or better than the as shipped condition. The primary problem is making sure you've got all the grit from the previous stage cleaned off before you start the next grit.
I wouldn't recommend this, unless, like, there's some TV program you like to watch.
I used to own juke boxes that ran CDs and they were of an inferior type that tended to scratch the most popular CDs. So eventually I either had to buy new ones or polish the ones I had. I used to polish them, but I didn't have to do as nice a job as you will because I just needed to get them good enough to play. On the other hand, the damage to the CDs was not deep scratches, but instead was like a surface cloudiness.
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Valued Member
United States
436 Posts |
First off, welcome to the forum!  What kind of plastic holder was it? It might just be easier to get an airtight to put it back into. They're not real expensive, and it sounds like the time to remove a scratch might not be worth it! |
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Pillar of the Community
Philippines
1156 Posts |
For plastic scratches Brannenworks has got it right, I use 1,600 grit. Yes, the scratches would go away but you'll have an area better than the original and that would still get the attention of anyone looking. So better just leave it alone. Welcome to the forum! |
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Valued Member
United States
266 Posts |
Acetone melts many plastics, using a cotton swab moistened with it, lightly swipe the scratch. this will not remove the scratch but it may dull the appearance and make it less noticeable. Try this first on an test area, like the edge of the holder. Use a minimum of acetone and very light pressure and do not touch the area with anything until it has had a chance to dry totally and resolidify
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Valued Member
United States
266 Posts |
BTW, I am assuming the scratch is across the coins face, if it is not then just leave it alone.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Pending the depth of the scratch, there is a simple method to possibly remove or almost remove that. If you go to Walmart, Kmart, etc and go to the automotive section you will find several products used to remove or almost remove scrathes from the covers of auto headlights. One is called KIT Scratch Out. Another is Maguiars PlastX. There are a few others but on the expensive side so I never tried those. I used them on numerous plastic objects and they work great. One of the places I used them on was naturally a really poor looking headlight cover. The place I use them mostly is on the Solar Light collectors. Those get really ugly after a few years outside and these products make them look new. I've never tried it on a slabbed coin since I just open them up and throw away those plastic things. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
974 Posts |
Quote:
Another is Maguiars PlastX. You got it right Carl. This is what I use and had good success for hairlines scratches and some elbow grease! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
You got it right Carl. This is what I use and had good success for hairlines scratches and some elbow grease!
I first tried the Kit scratch out and was sort of happy with that. Not the greatest results but really cheap to buy. Then when I tried the PlastX I was amazed at how it even removed the discoloration on plastics. |
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Valued Member
United States
206 Posts |
A bench grinder with cloth buffing wheel will do it. On the PCGS chat site a member who posts a lot 4000+ showed what he did with photo before and after very impressive.
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Valued Member
United States
369 Posts |
Well, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who is bothered by a scratched holder. My 7070 has a few holes with scratches on the plastic slides. It's especially annoying in front of a proof.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 8,671 |
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Posted 09/23/2009 6:59 pm
