Anyone who has more than a few foils pass through their hands knows very well about the 'clouding' issue foils encounter. It's kind of like a film that appears over all of the foiled surface. In order to see it clearly, find an old foil (like original frame), or one that has been stored in a box without sleeve for a bit, and compare it to a fresh one you pulled recently. You'll be able to spot the difference immediately. The one with clouding will be more dull, and the entire card looks like it's kind of dirty.
My question to you, the MTGS community, is such: Has anyone found an effective way to clean the clouding off and return a foil card to it's formerly illustrious days?
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but my understanding is that the clouding is caused by micro-abrasions or the degradation of the plastic the foil is made of. As such there is no way to remove it.
If there is dirt on the foil, I have had good experience with a moist q-tip.
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It's probably oxidation affecting some material in the foiling process. Unfortunately I doubt a solvent exists that could clean it off without ruining the ink on the card itself.
The clouding of certain foils, only occurs from certain sets that use the "foil paper" method of foiling. Shadowmoor is a good example of this.
Cleaning foils you get in trades, that look grubby is easy.
TBH i just lick the card and use my t-shirt.
Using the right amount of force is key. To light, no effect. To hard, can potenially bend the card if your not careful.
It takes a bit of practice to get the right amount of force to make it nice.
But im a huge foil nut, and this is what i do.
Germaphobes can just dap cotten cloth (t-shirt like fabric) into a bowl of warm water and do that.
Use the dry side of the cloth to ensure its dry. And the card should look nice.
If it's actually scratched, not much you can do. However, for the dullness I have found that a semi-dry baby wipe and then a tissue to dry works great. Leaves no residue. Not quite back to pack fresh but cleans and shines.
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My question to you, the MTGS community, is such: Has anyone found an effective way to clean the clouding off and return a foil card to it's formerly illustrious days?
If there is dirt on the foil, I have had good experience with a moist q-tip.
Every English card ever printed: 99.02%
Arabian Nights through Lorwyn: Complete
Alpha: 94.2% Beta: 95.0%
Unlimited through M10: Complete
Cleaning foils you get in trades, that look grubby is easy.
TBH i just lick the card and use my t-shirt.
Using the right amount of force is key. To light, no effect. To hard, can potenially bend the card if your not careful.
It takes a bit of practice to get the right amount of force to make it nice.
But im a huge foil nut, and this is what i do.
Germaphobes can just dap cotten cloth (t-shirt like fabric) into a bowl of warm water and do that.
Use the dry side of the cloth to ensure its dry. And the card should look nice.
Big thanks to Rivenor for the sig!!