To Soak or Not To Soak - That is the Question
 

And I am not talking about the "ethical" arguments about whether soaking is evil and not to be condoned.

Below I am showing two cards. Both are currently in cases. Both are graded 2.5. Both have backs that have discolorations that may or may not benefit from a soak. In my experience cracking cases has minimal risk and the downside of an unsuccessful soak is also minimal.

Card A

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...249/soak-lentz

Mr. Lentz technically looks like a better card in terms of corners, centering and defects. The light brown residue on the reverse is in a pattern and of a color that suggests water soluble glue. Was the card downgraded for this reason?
Would you crack the case and soak it?

Card B

http://www.collectorfocus.com/images...6248/soak-cobb

Mr. Cobb is not quite as good a card technically but a half grade bump would be worth more than a 2 grade bump on Mr. Lentz. There are two spots on the reverse that are similar to Mr. Lentz, but they are better defined at the margins and could be tape residue, which is less susceptible to soaking. There is also residue from parallel lines from the adhesive in a photo album which I believe suggests a more modern adhesive. Would you crack this one and soak it?

This is not a quiz and there is no correct answer. There are no after pictures yet. One card is mine and one is not, but the possibility of soaking both exists.
If the cards are soaked and possibly regraded, post soaking scans will be shown in this thread. The soaking is not being considered for the purposes of resale. Both owners intend to keep the cards in their collections.

Let's try to focus on the cards and the possible results, but if this thread gets diverted in another direction, so be it. Thanks for you thoughts and input.

Personally...I don't think soaking will remove those stains...but you never know?

Would I attempt it myself...ABSOLUTELY YES!

WHY? Because I like soaking cards...it's fun! And there is practically 0% risk...IMO!

Successfully soaking that Cobb and getting it into a PSA or SGC holder, Frank might have to suffer an outrageous fortune. :D:D:D

Frank if you fail in your soak of the Cobb you can always hand him off to me :D While most of you guys have White Whales that are a lot more ambitious mine is just to own a Cobb.

IMO...I would definitely soak the Lentz as it should lighten the stains up quite a bit and possibly bump it to a "4". Not so sure on the Cobb. I believe the grade is about right and I'm not so sure soaking will make much of a difference...also, there seems to be a little bit of stray paper loss, where it may keep the Cobb in the 2-2.5 range. Good luck either way!

I think you should soak your head, not the cards which look fine as is to me. :D

Out, damned spots! Out, I say! :D:D:D

Soak the Cobb, but how Ty would have wanted it soaked in a tall glass of booze.

Cobb
 

Be careful with the GAI case as card may be altered.

Methinks you are in the wrong play, Reynaldo.

Yeah, but who on this board gonna know it but you. :D:D:D

The OP is a Yale man. :D

Soak 'em if you got 'em!

I recently acquired a card with some spots. Soaking didn't completely remove them but it definitely made the card look better than it did.

Question please!

Does soaking a T205 do any damage or cause deterioration of the gold border?
(I would think it would)

Hell is murky.

I get the reference, too. However, methinks the question at hand is whether 'tis nobler in Frank's mind to suffer the slings and arrows associated with the outrageous fortune of which you spake.

Exeunt Eric, as he takes arms against a sea of troubles...

Eric, thanks for taking us back to Hamlet. Now that we are back on track....

To get these puppies out of the tombs, should I simply shake them or use my spear? Do tell. O, how full of briers is this working-day world!

Oh for cryin' out loud! You're from Wisconsin! Do a Ed Gein on them and get thee to a nunnery.

.
 

Bourbon ???

If you are a "closet" soaker who doesn't want to be outed, feel free to PM me with your thoughts. Rest assured that my Altzheimer's will protect your identity.;)

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. :D:D:D

Anyone care to offer an answer to my Post 14?

O Higher Grade, Higher Grade! wherefore art thou Higher Grade?
Deny thy handling, and refuse thy originality;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my card,
And I’ll no longer go unsoaked.

There is a whole thread devoted to which cards can be soaked or not...archivit!

Fred, I've soaked a few t205's for my own personal collection. It didn't do a thing to the gold borders but I found it hard to remove stains in comparison to an 06.

Hi Fred,

Sorry for my Shakespeare posts within this thread. Since Doctor Frank is the one who started this, I couldn't help myself.

As to your question about soaking cards, I am wholeheartedly against this practice. To me, it is akin to the many alterations already being done to other cards treasured by collectors.

Just my two cents.

Best regards,

Eric

Eric's originality was forever lost when the meconium was wiped from his heinie in the delivery room. I might add that I have never soaked a Heinie.:D:D:D

Some days, this Board is a tale told by an idiot. :D

Who you calling an idiot, Meconium Breath. :D:D:D

Lotta sound and fury there, big guy. But it don't signify much.

This thread should be moved to the Caesarian Section of the forum.

Was someone from his mother's womb untimely ripp'd?

King Lear
 

Although the last, not least.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/...6abc6ff55f.jpghttps://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/...84a5fc8d6d.jpg