I only really care if a card looks nice rather than its actual condition so I think I’d be all for it. I don’t plan on selling and have no interest in grading so don’t see any harm in someone fixing up their own cards for collection purposes. I have a couple exs on my shelf with creases or bends and if I knew a way to flatten those out without making things worse I’d do it in a heartbeat.
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There’s a reason why I buy older cert vintage that’s all 
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There wouldn’t even be a conversation around “cleaning” or “restoring” cards if grading companies’ opinions weren’t valued, its the elephant in the room. How many people would risk destroying expensive cards otherwise? A card with a light surface scratch, a bit of a messed up edge on the back does not matter when its inside a card sleeve inside a binder. You won’t even notice it. The whole thing is a cope to call anything most moogs are doing as “restoration” is a cope to make themselves feel less like scum. But at this point its held enough sway as okay for enough people that many are just brazen and admit they are just doing it for money. If a few cards get destroyed, its fine. Its worth the risk to get the magical two digit number that makes them 5x the money for no logical reason.
What do I do to make a card nice? I make sure I blow any little debris off the surface with air. Use a clean finger to carefully feel the surface for anything that is stuck, and get it disloged. Use a fresh card sleeve, make sure its clear of debris, and put it in the sleeve, stick it in the binder, or a box if its a duplicate. That is basically it. Nobody knows what is in these polishes that are being applied, or really has any idea about what effect its having or the long term implications.
The moment this stops is the moment that the masses reject the card grading racket.
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I think this is a common and valid sentiment but ultimately some percentage of cards altered this way are going to end up in the market due to financial distress or other reasons and could then be purchased by unsuspecting collectors.
Hopefully as time goes by more knowledge and research is available to help collectors identify cards that have been altered. I know how to spot a fake but I have no idea how to check for signs of restoration.
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even if grading didnt have an opinion you could easily turn an lp card to nm or mp to lp by restoration
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I’m generally against it - but damn, these restoration YouTube shorts are crazy satisfying to watch.
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I view any restorative procedure as altering the card and immoral if not disclosed.
Cleaning [- i.e., the integrity of the card is not changed and chemicals are not added]
- Using small amounts of water to clean a card
- De-warping a humidity-induced cupped card
Altering [- i.e., restorative procedures]
- Adding substances to the card’s surface for polishing
- Buffing out scratches
- Flattening cards to remove indentations
- Recoloring
- Removing ink from a signature
- Restoring cardstock
- Trimming edges/corners
Detection is another issue worth exploring as well. If something is done to a card, but it is not detectable by grading companies, has it been altered? I would say yes.
Let’s say that you purchased a shiny collector coin. It was cleaned with a special laser so that abrasions, chemical residue, or any signs of restoration were not detectable. Would it not be considered altered? Most coin collectors would consider it an important alteration, even if the current technology could not identify it as being altered.
In other words, limitations of current technology do not ameliorate the restoration. It happened, the collectible was altered, but we are none the wiser. That does not make the restoration acceptable, it makes us (the consumer; the grading company) woefully incompetent.
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i only buy new certs because they got kurt juice on them
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Oh wow, same argument but different forum.
Polish vintage bottles?, or maybe full body off resto 1939 Chev or 1971 Holden GTS?. What about grandads 1931 BSA? It doesn’t matter… (here’s the proviso) if you know its been done.
For a binder, sure why not. It really isn’t as tho the card has developed leprosy due to some creepy guy rubbing Squirtle with baby oil 
So long as it isn’t mis-represented mate, an individual can make up their own mind to buy; and what if its done on his own cards? for his own collection? Surely those of us who don’t like this so called re-finishing , can just walk away.
Please… no hate mail.
This is after all ‘click bait’, wanting to generate interest amongst the purists here.
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An important reason why art restoration is widely accepted is that there’s education and research behind proper techniques and archival-grade materials. Everything done can be removed or reworked in the future.
That’s not the case with cards; testing hasn’t been done on proper techniques or materials to guarantee the card won’t be damaged in the future. It’s why I’m very iffy about older cards being graded with new certs, there’s too high a probability the card was in contact with harsh chemicals in cleaning products.
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Sure understand all that, and have to respect an opinion, but… there’s a world of difference between a Picasso and a 151 shiny or other. Its a card, not the holy Grail, or one of the Holy Relics from Topkapi palace. No offence meant, just saying.
That wasn’t a reply to you, it was me answering the QotD
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What can I say… apologies! (I am after all, an idiot)
^
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I think for one-of-a-kind items, like historic paintings, etc. Restoration is fine. These are NOT that. If restoration takes place, it needs to be fully disclosed, and then it’s NOT mint, but effectively altered. Ungradable, or at least gradable as “Auth altered”.
Restoration is intended to preserve, not deceive.
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OMG … exactly. As I said. So long as you know! It seems there’s a lot of distrust across the board in this hobby, cant trust the vendor, cant trust the grading expertise, cant trust the packaging. Perhaps at my insignificant level of collecting I can still retain the enjoyment. Maybe when we lose the grounding of perspective it stops being fun, and becomes a OCD trap?
Anyway people, that’s my last reply. Enjoy.
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Man i’ve had this conversation too many times. In my opinion people that alter cards without disclosing it to buyers are just coping with guilt by making excuses about it being okay. If it wasnt an issue sellers would just tell buyers they altered it before hand. But no, none of them do that because they know people wouldnt want it if it was altered.
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I’ve been doing this to every single card I own and I’ll keep resubmitting everything under as many different people and by any means until I get the profit I want. Just out of spite. I’ll be sure to pass on what I know and continue to help everyone else out that wants to do the same thing 
This hobby is on the path to be ruined for all of you. Touch grass.
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Welcome to the fourum!
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