Affect of shellac on a signed baseball

[Runscott]

Given the way signatures can sometimes fade or blur with time, is there anything that can be sprayed over a ball that is undetectable, but protects them?

[UnVme7]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Given the way signatures can sometimes fade or blur with time, is there anything that can be sprayed over a ball that is undetectable, but protects them?

A UV ballcube is the best way to go.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by UnVme7

A UV ballcube is the best way to go.

Are the ball cubes that come from the auction houses (like Heritage) UV protected? Thanks

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by UnVme7

A UV ballcube is the best way to go.

The fading and blurring on my balls (1972-73 signatures) is due to the ink and leather, as they have rarely been exposed to light. I got one signed in 1972 and in 1973 - all of the signatures from 1972 are now blurry. The other was signed in 1973 and all of the signatures on one piece of leather are now virtually gone, while the others still look brand new.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Runscott

.................is there anything that can be sprayed over a ball that is undetectable, but protects them?

a little sunscreen SPF 15, but it could burn a little



On a serious note, I would listen to Perezfan above...

[packs]

Personally I like the look of shellacked baseballs as long as they aren't destroyed. For me it's a connection to the original owner, which I find cool. Like when you buy a card with a name stamp on the back.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by packs

Personally I like the look of shellacked baseballs as long as they aren't destroyed. For me it's a connection to the original owner, which I find cool. Like when you buy a card with a name stamp on the back.

For me it depends on the item but I definitely agree for many items. I got a baseball signed by the WWII team from the Stan Musial collection (he served in the Pacific theater and they had an 8 team league there... action was not nearly as intense as it was in Europe.) It's totally brown and covered in shellac but I love that that was how he had it (and it's been really interesting researching the people who signed the ball...)

[earlywynnfan]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

For me it depends on the item but I definitely agree for many items. I got a baseball signed by the WWII team from the Stan Musial collection (he served in the Pacific theater and they had an 8 team league there... action was not nearly as intense as it was in Europe.) It's totally brown and covered in shellac but I love that that was how he had it (and it's been really interesting researching the people who signed the ball...)

I am very sorry, but I have to correct you here. Action in WWII in the Pacific was arguably MORE intense than in Europe. However, after Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was pretty much combat free, and many service teams went to islands that had already been secured.

Ken

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by earlywynnfan

I am very sorry, but I have to correct you here. Action in WWII in the Pacific was arguably MORE intense than in Europe. However, after Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was pretty much combat free, and many service teams went to islands that had already been secured.

Ken

I appreciate the correction. I was referring to the units that people like Musial served in (which had plenty of time for baseball leagues) and not the fighters who were constantly on the front lines. That said, I definitely could use getting more familiar with this part of the war...

[steve B]

No science degree, but.........I do a bit of woodworking. It's nearly as good as staying at a holiday inn express

Shellac is dissolved in alcohol, and some older stuff was DIY rather than sold premixed in cans. It still comes that way of you look for it.

So the amount of shellac mixed in and it's color will affect the end result. Anywhere from almost clear to dark brown.

Shellac is itself somewhat UV resistant, and supposedly doesn't darken with age. I'd almost bet that in some finishes it was mixed with other stuff that does, or that "shellac" has been used generically to cover any finish applied to a ball.

Being Alcohol soluble it generally doesn't like getting wet with water. Think of the cloudy rings you'd get on some furniture with a cold drink glass and no coaster, and you'll get an idea of the exact effect of water on shellac.

Fun trivia- most 78 rpm records are made of shellac.

Steve B