Scratch Removal

Scratches are among the most common defects affecting card grades. From hairline swirls caused by sleeve insertion to deep gouges from mishandling, scratches come in many forms - each requiring different treatment approaches.

This guide focuses specifically on identifying scratch types and applying appropriate treatment strategies.

Key Principle: You're not removing scratches - you're filling and masking them. Understanding this changes how you approach treatment.

Also on this page
  • Overview
  • Scratch Classification
  • Scratch Types by Severity
  • The Fingernail Test
  • Location Impact
  • Treatment by Scratch Type
  • Hairline Scratches / Swirls
  • Light Surface Scratches
  • Medium Scratches
  • Deep Scratches
  • Special Scratch Scenarios
  • Cluster Scratches
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This page is part of the Card Conservation Wiki member library — the working reference behind The Cardboard Alchemists. Technique pages with tested settings, the Card Sensitivity Database, logged incidents with the exact parameters that caused them, and community experiments you will not find written down anywhere else.
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