Magic: The Gathering Card Restoration in Canada
Cleaning and repair for vintage Magic cards, played collection staples, and modern showcase foils. We tailor treatment to the card’s paper, finish, and damage, from surface residue to foil curl. We provide a treatment recommendation and quote before you ship to our Kingston studio.
Magic cards age in two different ways
Early paper and modern foils require different treatment methods. We review the stock, finish, and wear before selecting a cleaning or repair approach.
ABU and early-edition paper
Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, and Revised-era cards need treatment suited to their older paper stock. We assess surface wear and moisture damage before recommending cleaning or flattening, including the risk of pressure marks.
Played deck copies
Commander, Legacy, and cube cards often combine surface grime with shuffle wear. Cleaning addresses removable residue; it does not replace material lost to whitening or rounded corners, or remove ink embedded in the paper.
Modern foils
Showcase and special treatments curl because the foil and paper move at different rates. Some curves relax. A hard heat warp usually does not become perfectly planar.
Marks and stamps
We distinguish surface adhesive from ink or stamps embedded in the paper. We do not remove judge stamps or marks that have stained the card.
Magic: The Gathering card damage we assess
We review the damage and recommend the appropriate cleaning or repair. Your treatment plan explains the expected results and any permanent wear.
- Foil curl on showcase, extended-art, and other special treatments
- Shuffle rounding on Commander, cube, and kitchen-table staples
- Shop or collection stickers on Reserved List and older English cards
- Soft corners on Revised, Fourth Edition, and heavily played duals
- Surface haze on older non-foil paper after years in a deck box
- Ink, stamps, or play marks that may be permanent
- Humidity warp from basement or summer storage
- Light dents from loaders that were too tight or too empty
Why restore your Magic: The Gathering cards?
- Get a professional cleaning recommendation for a Reserved List or vintage card.
- Get a treatment plan for foil curl based on the card’s finish and condition.
- Separate shuffle wear you can live with from residue that actually hides the card.
- Hear that play ink and stamps are often permanent before you mail anything.
- Keep documentation if the card later goes to a buyer or a grader.
Magic restoration limits
Your treatment plan explains the expected improvements and the wear or damage that will remain.
- No removing judge stamps, pen, or play marks that have stained the paper
- Tournament legality must be confirmed with the event’s judge
- Complete flattening of modern foils is not guaranteed
- No recolouring or filling whitening on old duals and playables
- No guarantee of a higher grade after a clean or a repair
Our 5-step process
Email photos of the front, back, and an edge-on shot if the card is curled. After you approve a plan, use the Magic: The Gathering shipping guide. Do not mail a foil in a tight binder page.
Packing walkthrough: Magic: The Gathering card shipping guide.
Send us clear photos of your Magic: The Gathering cards and describe any damage.
We assess your cards and send a detailed restoration plan with the recommended tier and quote.
Mail your cards to us via Canada Post with tracking and insurance.
Each card goes through a careful, hands-on restoration process with before/after documentation.
Your restored cards are shipped back securely with tracking.
Card restoration pricing
Two service tiers, depending on how much work your card needs.
Pregrade Clean
Condition review and surface cleaning for cards that do not need physical repairs.
- Pregrade review
- Advanced microscope cleaning
- Mold removal
- Surface grime reduction
- Edge fluff removal
- Optional polish
Repairs
Targeted repairs for scratches, minor damage, and warping. Treatment is tailored to your card’s condition.
- Includes everything in Pregrade Clean
- Scratch reduction
- Edge lift repairs
- Minor crease repairs
- Bend and dent repairs
- Warp reduction
- Premium return package with @PullShield
We recommend a service after reviewing your photos. All prices are in CAD, per card, plus tax.
Each card is assessed by condition first, then matched to the most appropriate tier and workflow.
Repairs is generally best suited to cards valued at $300+ or cards with sentimental value that justifies the cost.
No payment upfront. You approve the plan first, and payment is due after the work is completed.
Add $25 for in-house slab cracking on graded cards. Return shipping is billed at cost.
Risk notice: Slab cracking carries an inherent risk of card damage. We maintain professional handling standards, but damage can still occur during removal. By authorizing slab cracking, you acknowledge and accept this risk.
Card analysis add-on: +$10 CAD/card + tax
Centering, edge, and corner analysis with a grade estimate.
Grade estimates are opinions, not guarantees. Final grades and grading acceptance are determined solely by the grading company.
Magic: The Gathering restoration FAQ
How much does Magic: The Gathering card restoration cost?
Do you work on Alpha, Beta, or Unlimited cards?
Can you flatten curled Magic foils?
Can shuffle wear or play marks come off?
Will restoration keep a card tournament-legal?
How should I pack Magic cards for Kingston?
Read these before mailing Magic cards
Curl, play wear, and grading rules are the three Magic conversations we have most often. These notes cover the limits before you pack a box.
We also restore
Slabworks handles cards from all major trading card games.
Ready to restore your Magic: The Gathering cards?
Email us photos for a free assessment. No obligation, response within 24 hours.
No customs. No duties. No currency exchange. Canada-wide shipping via Canada Post.