Cards that CAN and CANNOT be soaked?!
 

It'd be nice to compile a list of sorts of different types of vintage cards that CAN...and those that CANNOT be successfully soaked.

Can anyone add to such a list?

I have successfully soaked T215-1, e122, t206.

Any and all input is greatly appreciated?!

I have successfully soaked E92 and E95

I had good luck soaking a C46.

T205
 

Attachment 101802Just got done soaking this one.

T210s soak very well.

Both 1914 and 1915 CJs soak - no problems

I've soaked the following successfully (distilled water, never more than a couple hours):

-All Topps issues 1952-1970 (including Venezuelan issues)
-1933/1934 Goudey
-T206
-T205
-1934-36 Diamond Stars
-1949 Leaf

The only issue I've ever had with soaking occurred with a 1938 Heads Up Goudey. Some staining appeared on the car that was absent before. Could have just been a one time thing though...

T206s for me. I haven't soaked many, but when I have, I ended up with good results. And I soak them for a couple of days, changing the water every few hours (hot, filtered water).

Will soaking a 1914 help w/the caramel stains? I've always been nervous since they are so thin, fragile, and sometimes brittle.

Great thread. Anyone ever try obaks or T3s?

I just soaked a '34 Goudey. Came out nicely.

I soaked an Old Judge and came out without problem, but only one

No it doesn't help. Ive noticed that they can be lightened by additional means involving cotton balls and q-tips but it also removes ink and lightens the card. The biggest danger when soaking the 1914s is creasing the wet card in transport, have yours ducks in a row and don't freak out when its a 4-figure HOFer that's in Ex condition but glued to a scrapbook...he'll look sweet when its done.

Exhibits soak fine but be careful with the Red, Yellow and Pink tints as they can bleed off and/or onto other areas of the card.

E93's soak ok but I did have a slight bleed on a red area on one card (check his belt and glove).

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...storious40.jpg

thanks for the info scott. now i know why i sometimes see e93s with those pink hues. will just assume they've been soaked going forward

I have to echo what everyone said and say that soaking is much scarier than it is difficult. It can really enhance the look of a dirty card and remove the paper stuck to the back.

Do you think this card would have graded lower before a soak? What do you think it would have graded?

Its the glue not the card my friend
 

Pre 1943 glue was water saluable(spelling?) and if u want to remove a pencil mark use a art eraser it doesn't damage the paper...u can buy at any art supply store.

soluble, I think

Do m101-2 sporting news supplements soak to remove cardboard backing?

Add

N28 A&G
N284 Buchner Gold Coin

To the mix........

successfully soaked several Zeenuts to remove paper on back

The card had something stuck on the back so the soaking worked great as it came off with no residue left, I think they had just used a flour and water based paste. The down side was the bleed on the front, the front was better prior to the soak.

Two to not soak
 

I would NEVER soak an E94 and probably not an E98.
I have had E94s sent to me through the years in rigid holders that literally exploded when I tried to remove them from the holders. Not just from one seller either. They have a tendency to have large color "flecks" come off the cards. I don't know why but that is one of the reason every E94 and E98 I own is in a slab.

Koester bread cards soak well

Awesome thread idea Pete! I have a few I may soak so thanks for your opinions!

I know 33/34 goudeys have been mentioned...also...34 WWG's can be soaked!:D

I'm wondering about the later 30's goudey premiums?! Has anyone tried to soak these super thin pieces?

I'm surprised at all the issues that soak well - is anyone compiling a table/list?

T205's were a problem for me - they soaked well, but if you leave them soaking very long, then use you finger to loosen excess glue or paper, lettering can come off quite easily.

National Copper Plates soak great; in fact, the wrinkles come out. This was a very pleasant surprise.

Ditto zeenuts especially the 1911's.

Jim, solubility varies - even with glue as old as what was used in the 1800's. I've conducted experiments soaking albumens, and because of the various glues used, had varying results.

It's the same for lithographs - when we talk about whether or not a card is 'shakable', we are assuming that the glue is going to be 'friendly'.

Does anybody know if M101-4 cards are soakable? I have 3 with black paper stuck to the back.
Not baseball, but I've soaked T68 and T218 cards successfully.

So far...late 30's goudey premiums are soaking successfully...although they are quite thin and extreme care needs to be exercised to avoid tearing them!

Here a f/u - its a 1915, but caramel stains come out equally from both years. The stains that did lighten up significantly I believe were dirt or something else, not caramel stains. The biggest concern is creasing the card when handling it wet but there are ways to safe guard that as well.

Okay, am I the only long-time collector who hasn't yet soaked a card??

I have a really beat up 1973 Venezuelan Sticker album (missing cover, back, and it looks like a mouse had a field day on the edges), but the stickers look pretty nice.

Would this be soakable?

http://photos.imageevent.com/derekgr...In%20Album.jpg

Obviously, I'm building on the thread about the Caramelo Deportivo album....

soaking
 

Had no problem soaking a Schutter-Johnson. I was worried about the red being vulnerable so only soaked until I could gently rub album glue off.

Derek, soaking 101 is finding the most beat up common from the album of cards and trying a soak on it prior to doing anything with the cards of significant value. Doing a test soak should help you decide if it is possible to soak your Jim Rice out of there without destroying the value of the overall piece.

Thanks Rhett - that was going to be the plan but I've never soaked before. I hope it works!

I'll give it a try in a few weeks.

Never soak a Fatima T222
 

One issue you never want to soak is the Fatima T222. I have seen examples which have been soaked, and because they are really photographs the "photograph gloss" is dissolved by the soaking in water.


Patrick

Gentlemen (and the few ladies on this board),

Out of curiosity, why is soaking a card acceptable while other alterations are, according to some members of Net54, verboten?

I considered soaking a card...once. After realizing what it would likely do to a T206 with a back stamp and (let's call it) a sticker, I quickly backed off.

Upon further reflection, I am curious as to why this particular form of, "card doctoring" is OK with some who would cry, "foul" under other circumstances. In the grand scheme of things, it seems about the same as taking an eraser to a pencil mark or ironing out the crease in a silk.

Just curious...although I imagine a Net54 beat-down is coming my way for suggesting that soaking a card is unethical.

Best regards,

Eric

No idea why but it is a double standard. Personally, I don't have a problem with altered cards as long as they are sold as such.

I soaked two T3 before

Alex,

I have no problem with people selling, when properly advertised, altered cards, and agree with you regarding them being sold as such. As a matter of fact, I purchased a trimmed T206 earlier today and was quite grateful for the seller following through on the transaction.

In some cases, the restoration makes the particular issue look remarkably better. What I take issue with is the nonchalant soaking of cards by a great many people who do not disclose this when selling the card.

I may be wrong here...however...do not remember many auctions that state, "hey, this used to have XXX on it, but I soaked the card and now it's gone."

Just my two cents...and please know that I am not attacking you, personally.

Best,

Eric

[QUOTE=Eric72;1246834]Gentlemen (and the few ladies on this board),

Out of curiosity, why is soaking a card acceptable while other alterations are, according to some members of Net54, verboten?


I don't make the double standards, I just abide by them.

Why? To me, it just seems like card doctoring.

Generally speaking soaking a card removes things that aren't meant to be there and weren't there when the card was made. Most collectors don't have a problem because it isn't altering the original composition of the card (though I guess that could be argued). Also, erasing an errant mark isn't as taboo as it might should be. Same philosophy though.

As someone said, I don't make the double standards, I just go by them (love that saying)....

If I am going to sell a card, I will not soak it, if Im going to keep it, what the hell its my card.
in most cases it drastically improves the cards aesthetics, but to each his own
Sebastian

Leon,

I respectfully disagree with your casual stance regarding taking a card for a soak. In my humble opinion, this practice is as unethical as trimming. Just my two cents.

Best,

Eric

No offense taken. I think we have had this conversation before on the board and people seem to have strong opinions on both sides.

Derek,

Unfortunately, the Venezuelan albums from the 70s are some of the most unsoakable that exist. Almost always have the worst glue possible that NEVER comes off. You might as well just tear them out of the album if you want them out. I'm not saying it's impossible or can't happen, I've just never had success. And I've tried. Over and over. Might be worth trying a sample page just to see. Maybe you'll get lucky. Don't even think about doing the page with Rice until you've had success with other pages, though. The good news is they're often only glued on the very top edge.

-Ryan