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Welcome to Card Conservation Wiki

Your comprehensive guide to trading card restoration and conservation founded by The Cardboard Alchemists for the sole purpose of open sourcing Trading Card Conservation Techniques.

Join our Patreon for unlimited access to the full wiki and exclusive conservation guides.

Getting Started

Safety First

Safety Guidelines

Before starting any conservation work, understand the risks and proper precautions.

Essential Equipment

Essential Tools

The right tools make all the difference. Build your conservation kit.

Starters Guide

Start Here

If you're new to card restoration, read the beginners guide.

Techniques

Conservation Techniques

Cleaning

Cleaning Techniques

Safe: Start here - the foundation of all conservation

• Dry cleaning methods
• Wet cleaning (when appropriate)
• Stain removal basics
• Surface debris removal

Pressing & Flattening

Pressing and Flattening

Caution: Requires patience and proper technique

• Humidity treatment
• Book press method
• Heat press techniques
• When NOT to press

Surface Repair

Surface Repair | Polishing | Scratch Removal

• Polish techniques ("wet look")
• Scratch treatment by severity
• Layer separation repair
• When to stop

Structural Repair

Crease Removal | Indent Removal

WARNING: Advanced techniques - practice first

• IPA vapor crease treatment
• Localized humidity method
• Heat press acceleration
• Humidity storm technique

Edge & Corner Work

Edge and Corner Work

• Edge whitening treatment
• Corner repair techniques
• Pen tool methods
• Delamination repair

Finding Projects

Finding Restoration Candidates

• What makes a good candidate
• Where to source cards
• eBay buying strategies
• ROI calculations

Card Types

Browse by Card Type

Trading Card Games

• Magic: The Gathering (1993)
• Pokemon TCG (1996)
• Yu-Gi-Oh! (1999)
• Weiss Schwarz (2008)
• Cardfight!! Vanguard (2011)
• Final Fantasy TCG (2016)
• Dragon Ball Super (2017)
• Flesh and Blood (2019)
• Digimon (2020)
• One Piece TCG (2022)
• Disney Lorcana (2023)
• Star Wars Unlimited (2024)

Sports Cards

By Sport

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Football
• Hockey
• Soccer
• UFC/Boxing
• Racing
• Wrestling

By Era

• Vintage (Pre-1980)
• Junk Wax Era (1987-1993)
• Insert Era (1993-2005)
• Ultra Modern (2017+)

By Manufacturer

• Topps
• Panini
• Upper Deck
• Bowman
• Donruss
• Fleer

Vintage & Non-Sports

Tobacco Era (1880s-1940s)

• T206
• Tobacco Conservation
• Pre-War Care

Gum Card Era (1930s-1970s)

• Goudey
• Bowman Vintage
• Early Topps

Non-Sports

• Movie & TV
• Garbage Pail Kids
• Marvel/DC
• Historical
• War

Special Card Types

Special Surface Cards

• Foil & Holographic
• Textured & Embossed
• Acetate & Clear
• Metal

Autographed Cards

• Ink preservation, authentication, grading

Relic & Patch Cards

• Jersey, patch, bat, ball memorabilia

Grading Guide

• Prep | Slab Care | Reholder

Damage Restoration

• Water | Smoke | Mold | Sun

Storage & Protection

Preserve Your Collection

Sleeves & Holders

Penny Sleeves | Perfect Fits | Top Loaders | Card Savers | One-Touch | Team Bags

Complete guide with sizing, brands & buying links

Long-Term Storage

• Storage Boxes
• Climate Control
• UV Protection
• Humidity Management
• Archival Materials

Display Options

• Display Cases
• Framing Cards
• Binders and Albums
• Wall Mounts
• UV-Protective Display

Grading & Authentication

Professional Services

Grading Companies

• PSA Grading
• BGS Grading
• CGC Grading
• SGC Grading
• Comparing Grading Companies

Grading Preparation

• Pre-Submission Inspection
• Cleaning for Grading
• What Graders Look For
• Grade Expectations

Authentication

• Counterfeit Detection
• Autograph Authentication
• Fake vs Real Guide
• Red Flags to Watch
• Altered Flags - How alterations are detected

Reference

Additional Resources

Technical Reference

• Altered Flags - Detection methods and warning signs
• Card Related Patents - Manufacturing and restoration patents
• Glossary - Terms and definitions

Getting Started

• Start Here - Complete beginner's guide
• Essential Tools - Build your restoration kit
• Finding Restoration Candidates - Source projects wisely

eBay Guides

• Buying on eBay - Find restoration candidates
• Selling on eBay - Run a profitable card store
• Tips for fees, promotion, and optimization

Quick Reference

Safety Indicators Used in This Wiki
Safe: Green boxes indicate safe techniques for most cards Caution: Yellow boxes indicate techniques requiring care Unsafe: Red boxes indicate methods to avoid WARNING: Red bordered boxes indicate serious risks Tip: Blue boxes provide helpful tips

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Join our Patreon for unlimited access to the full wiki and exclusive conservation guides.

Card Conservation Wiki - A project by The Cardboard Alchemists