Shellacked baseballs.

[Deanhof]

Does anyone have info on how to restore shellacked baseball.I want to buy one that is starting to chip and am hoping for a way to stop it or repair it.thank you.

[steve B]

I haven't heard of it being done, there are probably ways that would work, but I'd consider them all to be risky. Shellac dissolves in Alcohol, but so do some pen inks. There's also the chance of people considering it to be altered and the restoration lowering the value.

Others may have better ideas, and if it's a really good ball a professional conservator might be the way to go.

Steve B

[Zach Wheat]

I had asked a conservator previously and he indicated the shellac should be left on the ball. The ink actual absorbs backwards into the shellac and, therefore becomes part of it. How much ink comes off with the shellac is difficult to say.


Not my specialty.....just repeating what someone had told me.


Z

[perezfan]

I've heard this as well, and as a result stay away from shellacked baseballs.