Soaking cards, redux

[Leon]

If it were mine I would soak that sucker. Nothing fancy....some warm tap water in a bowl, dunk it and leave in there a few minutes, seeing if the back paper will float off. I have had great success soaking most cards. WARNING- I have never tried it with one of these types .....but I think it would do fine. Hopefully others have tried and will relay their experience(s).

[packs]

So you really just dunk them into the water and let them float around for a while? I've never soaked a card and feel like I'd have a heart attack doing that. When you take them out of the water do you just let them air dry? They don't wrinkle at all?

[John V]

Here's what I've done after soaking with no problems...
Put it between 2 white paper napkins or paper towels and lay between two very hard flat surfaces. I used two 12 inch granite tiles. After an hour or so, I replaced the wet paper with fresh napkins and "tiled" them again. After 3 days, the card will be dry and straight.
I'm sure others have performed this process in similar ways.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by packs

So you really just dunk them into the water and let them float around for a while? I've never soaked a card and feel like I'd have a heart attack doing that. When you take them out of the water do you just let them air dry? They don't wrinkle at all?

+1, scares me to death lol

[birdman42]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I think Messers. Goslin and Donohue are going swimming this weekend.

For those of you who have never tried soaking, some cards--most Ts and Es--soak just fine. Follow the directions above. Others are a disaster. I wouldn't soak anything post-war, and of course the real photo items like T200s and T222s are a definite no-no. Some you can soak, but very carefully, like the Allen & Ginters. (I've tried the various Birds series, and I assume the others would be similar.) The paper holds up pretty well, but it does get a little soft and you have to be careful about trying to use a Q-tip to remove scrapbook paper--you might end up removing a little of the surface of the card at the same time.

Bill

[FrankWakefield]

Just so you'll be less stressed about it, soak the worst of the bunch first, and get a feel for how that goes and what you're doing... It'll be just fine.

[atx840]

Double up some papertowel, place card tween two layers and use a heavy book. Replace paper after first hour, swap in a few more and leave overnight or until dry.

Crummy video of a test on a beater.
Video

[egbeachley]

Don't forget to dunk the entire card. If you let it float or only do one side (for whatever reason), some of the accumulated dirt and oil will slide over and leave a line.

[Exhibitman]

I blot the card initially with paper towel and then use sheets of plain white paper and a stack of old auction catalogs [see, there's a use for them] to flatten them.

I'd suggest you use distilled water or at least filtered water--some domestic water supplies can have rust or other particles in the home plumbing.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I blot the card initially with paper towel and then use sheets of plain white paper and a stack of old auction catalogs [see, there's a use for them] to flatten them.

I'd suggest you use distilled water or at least filtered water--some domestic water supplies can have rust or other particles in the home plumbing.

Good point on the water Adam. I think I actually use our Ozarka 100% Natural Spring water nowadays. We go through many gallons of it in this TX heat. Hey, it will only be over 100 degrees five times this week. We are having a cold spell!!

[EYECOLLECTVINTAGE]

Bringing this back from the dead with a question.

Can you soak 1950's or 60's topps cards?

Also.... I have a jackie robinson that would grade a 7 but has ink on the back. I need it for my collection.

Is there a way to remove ink? HELP. Not looking to do anything shady, just want it for myself.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by packs

So you really just dunk them into the water and let them float around for a while? I've never soaked a card and feel like I'd have a heart attack doing that. When you take them out of the water do you just let them air dry? They don't wrinkle at all?

yeap...and nope they don't wrinkle but they will curl up. See the post about laying them flat with something on them. This is really very common sense stuff if you just think about. The first card I think I soaked was my 1911 Buck Weaver, T212 Obak.....it had about a dime sized piece of paper snugly attached to the back, from scrapbook removal. I soaked it, paper literally floated off and then I stuck it under something to flatten it from the slight water curl...then sent it in to be graded.

[packs]

I guess it is common sense that water would unstick glue. I just figured it would have a negative effect on the card.