Painted football help
 

I just picked up this signed 49ers football. I believe it is from the 1981 team, which went on to win Super Bowl XVI. I believe the football is painted and the paint is very, very fragile. Or the top coat of whatever the ball is made of is very fragile. See the pic of the nose of the ball. Even a slight brush with my fingernail will remove the paint/layer. And it is almost coming off like a powder. Both the white and brown parts of the ball will flake very easily.

Normally, I would never, never, ever think about trying to put any kind of clear protective coat of... something... on a ball. But, if I don't do it with this one, I think everything is going to crumble away.

Has anyone here ever tried to put a protective clear coat on a ball autographed ball? If so, what have you used? I'm not sure that I'm really going to try to do this, but I'm curious to hear if anyone has tried (with both good or bad results).

This football doesn't appear to be painted or coated from the pictures , it appears to be a " cheap " souvenir football made of synthetic leather / pleather. One reason is that the football is not marked with the NFL logo and more importantly the football is not dimpled as an official football would be but it is smooth for display or autograph purposes and the football is deflated and has lost its shape and also the "leather " is drying out from age and lack of proper care and this is the cause of the peeling / chipping as the " leather " surface separates from the air bladder beneath it. The signatures look in good condition. The " leather " will continue to dry out and peel / chip off as a by product of the material it is made from . I would not at this point attempt to inflate the football because the air bladder under the " leather ' surface could pop if it is as dried out as the surface that is peeling off.

Yeah, I agree about the cheap material/leather. Not paint. I have the box and believe it was stored out of the way somewhere, which is why the signatures have not faded. But wherever it was stored wasn't great for the ball itself. I'm leaning towards trying some sort of clear coat. If not, there just is not any real way to enjoy it without fear of more damage. The ball was not all that expensive and I don't plan on trying to sell it.

I agree with all that has been said. Very nice ball despite the damage, but that’s what happens quite a bit with these signed footballs. Do not attempt to rebladder it as it will crack apart. I’ve had that happen to a couple signed balls I’ve had done. I wouldn’t spray it or clear coat it. I’d just leave it as is and store away from any UV light.