Anatomy of a T206 Soaking

[T206Collector]

Had one of my best T206 soaks in quite awhile today. Documented the whole thing. Anyone want a refreshing glass of T206 water?!

[MVSNYC]

Wow, cool. I've never tried that in my life...how long do you keep it in the water? Give us a play by play.

You make it look too easy.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by Gobucsmagic74

You make it look too easy.

Some soaks ARE that easy. The trick is realizing which soaks, while in progress, are not. A big mistake that a bunch of new soakers run into is being over enthusiastic even though the back is not ready to let go. Paper loss is the result.

[T206Collector]

I did about a dozen soaks today as I bought a large lot with a lot of paper on the backs. This is the best one, but most of them turned out okay. I had two or three that didn't really give, and so I did more damage to the card than I wanted to. I find the length of the soak doesn't really matter -- but three or four minutes is a minimum. You want the underlying adhesive to get pretty mushy. Then I slowly peel it away with some wet q-tips.

The one in the picture was pasted only around the edges, so once those came free the whole paper just came off. Then I place between two pieces of paper and weigh down with heavy books until dry.

Keep in mind that if you don't get all the underlying paste off that it can re-set on the paper you dry the card on! Then you're stuck all over again... Literally!

[Paul S]

Is the pictorial presented clockwise or counterclockwise?

[trdcrdkid]

I've soaked many trade cards over the last 20 years, including full and partial scrapbook pages, as well as a smaller number of T206s and other tobacco cards. How successful a soaking is depends largely on what type of glue was used, and you never really know that until the soaking is under way; however, the skill of the soaker also plays a part. Here's how I do it:

* I generally use a wide, shallow baking pan, though this partly has to do with the fact that most trade cards are bigger than tobacco cards, so putting them in a glass, as the original poster showed, won't really work. That's especially true for full scrapbook pages, which is how I got my start soaking more than 20 years ago.

* I fill it at least half an inch to an inch deep with warm-to-hot tap water. I've found that water from my kitchen faucet at its hottest setting is fine for soaking, and will not damage cards.

* I put the card or cards flat in the water with the paper/glue side up. You may see bubbling when the glue hits the hot water, but that's not necessary for a successful soak. If a card keeps floating to the surface rather than staying completely underwater, I may use a spoon to hold it down, leaning the spoon handle on the side of the pan.

* I generally let the cards soak for at least 5 or 10 minutes, unless the paper starts separating from the card all by itself. I'll try at this point, using my fingers or a Q-tip, to see if the paper is starting to come off. If it is, I'll do what I can to separate it from the card, carefully, always watching to make sure there's no paper being lost from the back of the card. If there is, I'll stop and let it soak some more.

* If the paper isn't coming off after 5 or 10 minutes, I'll let the card soak for another 15 or 20 minutes and try again as above. If the paper is coming off, great; if not, I let it soak some more. Once the water has cooled down to room temperature, I'll take the cards out, put them on a paper towel, refill the pan with warm-to-hot water as above, and put the cards back in to soak. I've sometimes had to do this multiple times and soak cards for over an hour. If that's what it takes, that's what you need to do.

* If the paper doesn't come completely off in one piece, I may need to try getting it off gradually, using my finger or (usually better) a Q-tip. This is where skill and experience comes in. You don't want to scrape it too hard, thus making the chance of paper loss much greater, but sometimes you need to rub at the paper and glue repeatedly until it starts to come off bit by bit. I always watch carefully for signs of paper loss at this point, and stop if I see any. I'll try soaking some more before trying again, but sometimes you encounter a glue that's not going to come off without some damage.

* After all the paper is off, I rub the back of the card with my finger or a Q-tip to get all the glue off. You can usually tell when it's off, because the back of the card stops being slippery or sticky (as it is when there's still glue). If you don't get the glue off before drying the card, you'll have problems.

* I press the cards between two paper towels in order to soak up as much of the water as possible.

* I then put a fresh paper towel on a book or other flat surface, put the cards on it, put another fresh paper towel on top of them, and then put a stack of books (or another flat, heavy object) on top of that.

* I let the cards dry for at least three or four days, changing the paper towels after the first day. When they're done drying, I remove the paper towels carefully, making sure none of the paper is sticking to the cards (which may mean there was some glue left on the cards).

[ullmandds]

i've used a similar technique as David...shallow large bowl would be preferred over "shoving" them in a drinking cup.

I've used distilled water...I've used tap water...both seem to work the same...warm is better.

I have soaked cards for hours at a time with no damage.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by trdcrdkid

I've soaked many trade cards over the last 20 years, including full and partial scrapbook pages, as well as a smaller number of T206s and other tobacco cards. How successful a soaking is depends largely on what type of glue was used, and you never really know that until the soaking is under way; however, the skill of the soaker also plays a part. Here's how I do it:

* I generally use a wide, shallow baking pan, though this partly has to do with the fact that most trade cards are bigger than tobacco cards, so putting them in a glass, as the original poster showed, won't really work. That's especially true for full scrapbook pages, which is how I got my start soaking more than 20 years ago.

* I fill it at least half an inch to an inch deep with warm-to-hot tap water. I've found that water from my kitchen faucet at its hottest setting is fine for soaking, and will not damage cards.

* I put the card or cards flat in the water with the paper/glue side up. You may see bubbling when the glue hits the hot water, but that's not necessary for a successful soak. If a card keeps floating to the surface rather than staying completely underwater, I may use a spoon to hold it down, leaning the spoon handle on the side of the pan.

* I generally let the cards soak for at least 5 or 10 minutes, unless the paper starts separating from the card all by itself. I'll try at this point, using my fingers or a Q-tip, to see if the paper is starting to come off. If it is, I'll do what I can to separate it from the card, carefully, always watching to make sure there's no paper being lost from the back of the card. If there is, I'll stop and let it soak some more.

* If the paper isn't coming off after 5 or 10 minutes, I'll let the card soak for another 15 or 20 minutes and try again as above. If the paper is coming off, great; if not, I let it soak some more. Once the water has cooled down to room temperature, I'll take the cards out, put them on a paper towel, refill the pan with warm-to-hot water as above, and put the cards back in to soak. I've sometimes had to do this multiple times and soak cards for over an hour. If that's what it takes, that's what you need to do.

* If the paper doesn't come completely off in one piece, I may need to try getting it off gradually, using my finger or (usually better) a Q-tip. This is where skill and experience comes in. You don't want to scrape it too hard, thus making the chance of paper loss much greater, but sometimes you need to rub at the paper and glue repeatedly until it starts to come off bit by bit. I always watch carefully for signs of paper loss at this point, and stop if I see any. I'll try soaking some more before trying again, but sometimes you encounter a glue that's not going to come off without some damage.

* After all the paper is off, I rub the back of the card with my finger or a Q-tip to get all the glue off. You can usually tell when it's off, because the back of the card stops being slippery or sticky (as it is when there's still glue). If you don't get the glue off before drying the card, you'll have problems.

* I press the cards between two paper towels in order to soak up as much of the water as possible.

* I then put a fresh paper towel on a book or other flat surface, put the cards on it, put another fresh paper towel on top of them, and then put a stack of books (or another flat, heavy object) on top of that.

* I let the cards dry for at least three or four days, changing the paper towels after the first day. When they're done drying, I remove the paper towels carefully, making sure none of the paper is sticking to the cards (which may mean there was some glue left on the cards).

I think I do an abbreviated version of this method. I would reiterate to be very, very gentle and as you said, watch out for paper coming up with the residue and stop quickly.

[vintagesportscollector]

Would a mild vinegar solution help or do any harm to the card? Vinegar is very effective in breaking down adhesive. I use it with great success in stripping wall paper. Apply a diluted solution lightly to the back of the card with Q-tip. Let sit for 2 mins, and then do the water soak. Not sure what else harmful the vinegar could do the card, if anything.

[wolf441]

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

Would a mild vinegar solution help or do any harm to the card? Vinegar is very effective in breaking down adhesive. I use it with great success in stripping wall paper. Apply a diluted solution lightly to the back of the card with Q-tip. Let sit for 2 mins, and then do the water soak. Not sure what else harmful the vinegar could do the card, if anything.

As long as it's not balsamic vinegar!!

I'd agree with the sentiment of showing patience. I've gotten better at the process the more times I've done it because I've learned not to rush things.

[t206hound]

My easiest soak to date... Mailbox to completion in 5 min





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[ullmandds]

nice erik...those are super satisfying!!!

[Thromdog]

The Lentz!

[mybuddyinc]

Originally Posted by Thromdog

The Lentz!

Josh dang it, Erick. I had that Lentz in my watch list, and forgot to bid on it. Knew it'd be an easy one.

Although I just had a <1 min. success with an A.O. Jordan.

[Paul S]

My first soaker. I wanted that scrapbook paper to come off more quickly than it wanted. After I "finessed" it, out came the paper towels and a slab of marble with the collegiate hardbound dictionary on top, put on my Doc Martens and stood upon it all, bouncing up and down. Chief came out a little "thinner" than when he went in.

[Shoeless Moe]

Does anyone know if you can soak an old ticket stub? Would there be any difference between soaking a stub compared to a card?

[lharri3600]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

Some soaks ARE that easy. The trick is realizing which soaks, while in progress, are not. A big mistake that a bunch of new soakers run into is being over enthusiastic even though the back is not ready to let go. Paper loss is the result.

you are right Mike!

[ullmandds]

From my limited experience with soaking...I have never forced any paper removal. Most would come off by themselves...Or upon me flipping the card over. I have grabbed loose paper with a fine tweezer but never really applied much force. I think this is the key you should not have to use force. Just don't be afraid to soak the cards for a while. I have left expensive cards soaking for more than 24 hours...with no Ill effects.