September 10, 2026
A collector's checklist before mailing cards to Kingston
Photos, a written plan, packing, tracking, and insurance. Work through this list before a parcel leaves your house.
Slabworks studio notes
Card repair notes from the studio
Practical writing for Canadian collectors on damage, packing, buying, and when it is worth sending photos for a free assessment.
September 3, 2026
Surface grime, fingerprints, and safe cleaning limits
What dirt a collector can leave alone, what a microscope clean is for, and why rubbing a holo usually makes the next photo worse.
August 27, 2026
Return packaging after repair
How cards come back from Kingston, what to do when the parcel arrives, and how to store the card so the trip home is not wasted.
August 13, 2026
How to ship a high-value card without adding damage
One card, one sandwich, a rigid box, and coverage that matches replacement cost. This is the extra care chase cards need in the mail.
July 30, 2026
When a repair attempt is worth it
Use value, damage type, and your goal to decide between a clean, a repair attempt, or leaving the card alone.
July 16, 2026
Buying sealed product, humidity, and first-open damage
Crushed boxes, wet packs, and opening accidents are different problems. Inspect sealed product before you rip, then sleeve the hits.
July 2, 2026
Shipping cards across Canada: tracking and insurance
How to mail cards to Kingston without cheap envelopes, missing tracking, or coverage that does not match the card.
June 18, 2026
How to photograph card damage for a free assessment
Soft light, a flat background, and a short shot list are enough for Slabworks to tell you whether a repair attempt is worth a plan.
June 4, 2026
Foil curling and warping: what to expect
Modern foils curl. Books, rice, and dashboards are poor fixes. Here is what a studio can attempt and what will likely stay.
May 21, 2026
Sticker and tape residue on cards
Shop stickers, tape, and old collector labels are a residue problem. Peeling them at home is how the paper comes off with the adhesive.
May 7, 2026
When repair makes financial sense
Compare the written quote to the card's value, the risk, and whether you are fixing a display piece or chasing a grade.
April 23, 2026
Corner dings and edge wear: prevention and reality
Most corner and edge damage is lost paper. You can prevent the next ding. Recolouring the last one is not something we will do.
April 9, 2026
Dents and creases: what a repair attempt can change
Minor binder bends and pressure dents are common. Deep folds through the print are a different problem, and home flattening usually makes them worse.
March 26, 2026
Grading vs restoration: pick the path before you ship
A cleaner card is not the same as a higher grade. Read the grader's rules before you approve cleaning or a repair attempt.
March 12, 2026
What a card restoration attempt actually includes
Cleaning, polish, and a repair attempt are different jobs. Here is what Slabworks will and will not do on a mail-in card.
February 26, 2026
Home remedies that damage trading cards
Why irons, hair dryers, magic erasers, toothpaste, and solvents show up in repair photos, and what is actually safe at home.
February 12, 2026
How to pack trading cards for mail-in repair
Wait for a written plan, then pack with a sleeve, top loader, cardboard, and tracked Canada Post service that matches the card value.
January 29, 2026
Penny sleeves and top loaders, and why the order matters
The standard sleeve-then-loader stack that keeps cards from picking up scratches and dings in a binder, a box, or the mail.
January 15, 2026
Buying used singles: what to inspect before you pay
A practical checklist for marketplace and shop singles, including the photos that reveal creases, residue, and edge wear.
January 1, 2026
Ripping packs without wrecking the chase card
How pack opening creates dings, creases, and foil scratches, and what to do the moment a chase card hits the table.
Send photos before you ship
A free photo assessment is the first step. We will tell you what may improve, what is likely permanent, and whether a mail-in repair is worth discussing.