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Revision as of 19:00, 1 August 2026

Welcome to Card Conservation Wiki

Founded by The Cardboard Alchemists, this wiki is a living knowledge base built by Patreon members who document and refine the latest cutting-edge restoration methods. Looking for free tutorials? Start at PokéMasterCenter.com. Ready to go deeper? Join the Patreon for full access to 120+ guides and the ability to contribute your own techniques.

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Not everything here is members-only. Read these right now, no account needed:

🧭 Start Here ⚠️ Safety Guidelines 🧰 Essential Tools 💧 Hydration & Drying 📋 Service Agreement

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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

Structural Repair

Crease Removal | Indent Removal

WARNING: Advanced techniques - practice first

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

By Era

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

By Manufacturer

Vintage & Non-Sports

Tobacco Era (1880s-1940s)

Gum Card Era (1930s-1970s)

Non-Sports

Special Card Types

Special Surface Cards

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

Complete guide with sizing, brands & buying links

Long-Term Storage

Display Options

Grading & Authentication

Professional Services

Grading Companies

Grading Preparation

Pre-Submission Inspection
Slab Cracking Guide - How to safely crack PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC, and TAG slabs
Cleaning for Grading
What Graders Look For
Grade Expectations
Pokemon Grading Guide (external)

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
Restoration Community - Industry figures and interviews
Glossary - Terms and definitions

Getting Started

Free Resources - Everything on this wiki that's free to read
Start Here - Complete beginner's guide
Essential Tools - Build your restoration kit
Hydration and Drying - The science behind moisture and heat
Finding Restoration Candidates - Source projects wisely
Want to contribute? - Share your knowledge

eBay Guides

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

Card Shows

Las Vegas Card Shows - Upcoming shows, dates & venues

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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Card Conservation Wiki - A project by The Cardboard Alchemists

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 <div style="color:white; font-size:1.6em; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:10px; text-shadow:0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);">🎬 Watch Card Conservation Convention 2026</div>
 <div style="display:inline-block; background:#fff; font-weight:bold; font-size:1.2em; padding:12px 35px; border-radius:30px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.2);">[https://www.pokemastercenter.com/ccc/ <span style="color:#b21f1f;">Watch Now →</span>]</div>
+</div>
+<div style="background: linear-gradient(135deg, #28a745 0%, #20c997 100%); border-radius:12px; padding:25px; margin-bottom:25px; text-align:center; box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(40,167,69,0.25);">
+<div style="color:white; font-size:1.5em; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:10px;">🔓 Free — No Login Required</div>
+<div style="color:rgba(255,255,255,0.95); font-size:1.1em; margin-bottom:15px;">Not everything here is members-only. Read these right now, no account needed:</div>
+<div style="display:flex; flex-wrap:wrap; gap:10px; justify-content:center; margin-bottom:15px;">
+<span style="background:rgba(255,255,255,0.95); padding:8px 18px; border-radius:20px; font-weight:bold;">[[Start Here|<span style="color:#1a7a3a;">🧭 Start Here</span>]]</span>
+<span style="background:rgba(255,255,255,0.95); padding:8px 18px; border-radius:20px; font-weight:bold;">[[Safety Guidelines|<span style="color:#1a7a3a;">⚠️ Safety Guidelines</span>]]</span>
+<span style="background:rgba(255,255,255,0.95); padding:8px 18px; border-radius:20px; font-weight:bold;">[[Essential Tools|<span style="color:#1a7a3a;">🧰 Essential Tools</span>]]</span>
+<span style="background:rgba(255,255,255,0.95); padding:8px 18px; border-radius:20px; font-weight:bold;">[[Hydration and Drying|<span style="color:#1a7a3a;">💧 Hydration &amp; Drying</span>]]</span>
+<span style="background:rgba(255,255,255,0.95); padding:8px 18px; border-radius:20px; font-weight:bold;">[[Restoration Service Agreement Template|<span style="color:#1a7a3a;">📋 Service Agreement</span>]]</span>
+</div>
+<div style="display:inline-block; background:#fff; font-weight:bold; font-size:1.15em; padding:12px 35px; border-radius:30px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);">[[Free Resources|<span style="color:#1a7a3a;">See All Free Resources →</span>]]</div>
 </div>
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 <div style="flex:1; min-width:280px; border:1px solid #a2a9b1; padding:15px; background:#fff;">
 === Getting Started ===
+* [[Free Resources]] - Everything on this wiki that's free to read
 * [[Start Here]] - Complete beginner's guide
 * [[Essential Tools]] - Build your restoration kit
+* [[Hydration and Drying]] - The science behind moisture and heat
 * [[Finding Restoration Candidates]] - Source projects wisely
 * [[How to Contribute|Want to contribute?]] - Share your knowledge