Soaking - What exactly can be removed?

[rainier2004]

Thanks guys, Im right on the fence on this one. Blotting seems the best way to go, but I didnt think about the fact that the dirt will probably leave a stain...great point. My concern was pulling some paper off with the dirt, I know its a 15 but they are also pretty fragile (even though 14s are transparent). My gut hasnt decided yet...any opinions on the dirt on the front of this Tinker?

[ullmandds]

honestly...with my little experience w/soaking...I'd consider a soak over rubbing/blotting on a 14' CJ due to the super fragile nature of the card...or doing nothing at all!!!!

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

honestly...with my little experience w/soaking...I'd consider a soak over rubbing/blotting on a 14' CJ due to the super fragile nature of the card...or doing nothing at all!!!!

The plan is to soak and the dab/blot while the card is soaking -OR- soak and then apply a ton of pressure to a paper towel on top of the dirt spots and try to "soak it up" into the towel.

[ullmandds]

Good luck...you should do a time lapse video!!!!

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Good luck...you should do a time lapse video!!!!

That'd be cool

[smtjoy]

I would not do anything until you know that CJ are ok to soak with water. I know most exhibits soak fine but a few of the colored ones like red, blue, pink have issues with losing ink and sometimes it spreading or just going away (I had a pink Traynor that lost all its color bummer). Also I know the red in E93's sometimes has issues, as you can see on the glove and belt below.

[RCMcKenzie]

I've had mixed results with soaking. I soaked an e90-1 that had scotch tape on the back and the soaking improved the card from very poor to poor.

I soaked a t213-2 with scotch tape on the back and the tape came off, but the front was completely ruined. Both cards were very poor to begin with. I would hesitate to soak a card that I thought had any value as it is.

[conor912]

Imo, you've got to be crazy to soak, blot, or in any other way apply liquid to a 100 year old baseball card. The stains are part of its character and history. Leave them be and enjoy the card(s) as they are, in all their antique glory.

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by conor912

Imo, you've got to be crazy to soak, blot, or in any other way apply liquid to a 100 year old baseball card. The stains are part of its character and history. Leave them be and enjoy the card(s) as they are, in all their antique glory.

Im not trying to remove the caramel stains and their glory, going after the dirt that was applied after the fact as previously stated...

[Leon]

Originally Posted by conor912

Imo, you've got to be crazy to soak, blot, or in any other way apply liquid to a 100 year old baseball card. The stains are part of its character and history. Leave them be and enjoy the card(s) as they are, in all their antique glory.

Sometimes there can be paper remnants which very easily come off with water. With the remnants, parts of or all of the printing, might not be able to be read. Without the remnants it can be read. No doubt almost anyone would rather be able to read the back of a well printed card instead of only seeing paper remnants. But certainly to each their own....(and I do agree that many times leaving what is on the card is a good thing, when it adds to it's character)

[Runscott]

It would be nice to see a list of card sets, and whether or not they can be soaked. For instance, I was very surprised that National Copper Plate premiums could be completely soaked - who would have guessed?

What's the verdict on Cracker Jacks? Complete Immersion? just carefully cue-tipping?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

Thanks guys, Im right on the fence on this one. Blotting seems the best way to go, but I didnt think about the fact that the dirt will probably leave a stain...great point. My concern was pulling some paper off with the dirt, I know its a 15 but they are also pretty fragile (even though 14s are transparent). My gut hasnt decided yet...any opinions on the dirt on the front of this Tinker?

If you are asking an opinion about that CJ card, I would leave it alone. You can still read all of the writing and it's not too distracting.