Erasing a light pencil mark, altering in a negative manner?

[steve B]

These are the sort of questions I find I can't answer as asked.

Different cards, different marks, it all makes the issue more complex than the question requires.

A light pencil mark that originally left nearly no physical trace - I don't think removal is a bad thing.
IF
It's done in a way that doesn't damage the card. Some erasers are rougher on the paper surface than others.

A heavy pencil mark might be ok to remove, if for instance it's on the back and erasing it doesn't damage the printed portion. There will still be indentations from the writing, so I wouldn't expect the technical grade to change.
But I have a few T206s with erasures on the front. That's pretty bad, and I would rather they'd left it alone.

Spilled ink or stuff like that- Maybe, it's usually hard for an amateur to remove without doing more damage. Removed, lightened it should still be considered marked.

Some marks are more interesting. Like owners stamps and stuff like that. I would consider removing that sort of mark to be bad, as to me the stamp might be better than the card.

never an "it depends" as an answer........

Steve B

[wonkaticket]

I messed up my vote can I erase and start over?

[Cardboard Junkie]

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

I messed up my vote can I erase and start over?

Now THAT is funny!! No erasing though....you have to throw a "meatball" at it! aloha, dave

[Clutch-Hitter]

Whoever made the mark altered the card. One can't undo trimming, coloring, etc (don't think so anyway). Altering an alteration? My vote: no, erase it.

I have a Ruth that was graded PSA authentic and was relieved when I found out it was only due to an erased mark.

[dougscats]

Interesting thread.
Most surprising: that it is more or less acceptable to erase.

I'd done it when I was newer to the hobby, years ago, with some low-grade T206's. I did it not to deceive but to improve the appearance of the cards, with good results. But thinking more about it and concerned with the ethics, I stopped.

Reading this thread, I was surprised to learn that SGC and most responders condoned it. After some more circumspection, I cracked open a PSA 1 [Mk] Frank Baker I'd recently bought, erased the light pencil mark on the back, and was very pleased to have improved the card. I can't see any erasure with the naked eye, nor is it noticeable under the microscope. I would disclose it were I to sell/trade it.

But it brings up the question: What's the best eraser to use?

I've used an ordinary draftsman's eraser [the white, plastic type, say the size of a 2" long, half inch thick bar]--certainly not the standard, orange pencil eraser, which could well leave color or damage the carboard fiber--But does anyone have any better suggestions? I do remember when I was a draftsman, many, many years ago, there was a gummy/putty-consistency eraser that might even be better.

Thanks.

Doug

[pcoz]

Mars eraser is the best to use. It extracts the pencil off the card without the eraser making any type of mark on the card.

[dougscats]

Thanks, Pete.
I believe that's what I've been using [see scan].
The Staedtler/Mars-Plastic is a relic from my draftsman days, 47 years ago, and still works fine. I think the Entre is the same type, and it seems to work as well.
But I seem to remember that in my shop there were putty-like, maybe art erasers, that some claimed to be superior.

Anyway, this thread has impelled me to flip through my collection, and I see that I have at least a half dozen to clean up, which I now look forward to doing.