Need Some Expert Advice - Results of Soaking

[Buythatcard]

If we decide to soak these cards in water to hopefully remove the backs, would it be considered altering the card? Would SGC grade a card that was soaked in water?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

If we decide to soak these cards in water to hopefully remove the backs, would it be considered altering the card? Would SGC grade a card that was soaked in water?

Soaked cards can be graded numerically but if there are traces of the soak they will be downgraded. That is my experience. Your mileage may vary...
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[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by Leon

Soaked cards can graded numerically but if there are traces of the soak they will be downgraded. That is my experience. Your mileage may vary...
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Hopefully, distilled water doesn't leave a trace. I wonder if it's better to show a trace of soaking or whether to keep the paper residue on the back.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

Hopefully, distilled water doesn't leave a trace. I wonder if it's better to show a trace of soaking or whether to keep the paper residue on the back.

There could be a trace left.
That's a personal choice but, for my experiences, trying to get the glue off was better than leaving it. And each card could be different with yours.

Here is one I did again. Close to half the back, which had writing, had glue and paper remnants on it. It got a numerical grade, obviously.


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[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by Leon

There could be a trace left.
That's a personal choice but, for my experiences, trying to get the glue off was better than leaving it. And each card could be different with yours.

Here is one I did again. Close to half the back, which had writing, had glue and paper remnants on it. It got a numerical grade, obviously.


.

That's impressive. We should hire you to do the cleaning for us.

[bigfanNY]

I used Gone with the stain once and was happy with result. It was a Gypsy Queen. I talked with Mr. Towle at legnth about his secret sauce.
As many have said the type of glue used will determine your success. You say you have done this before so you understand the basics. I had a scrapbook filled with R312's that were beautiful and they came out with no major issues. But it was very time consuming.
But if it all goes bad do not despair. Call Gone with the stain and trust your cards will come back with backs! Given the value of a couple of the cards you might want to leave this to the pro's. Either way Best of luck.
Jonathan

[Pat R]

There are a countless soaked cards with numerical grades here's an example of a card getting a better grade after it was soaked.

PD150-3A.jpg

PD150-3B.jpg

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

If we decide to soak these cards in water to hopefully remove the backs, would it be considered altering the card? Would SGC grade a card that was soaked in water?

If you do a bad job they will be considered altered. It is one of those things that if they can tell you did it they will consider it altered. If done so they can't tell you done it you will get a number grade. With "proper" soaking they will also get a higher grade and be worth way more cash. Soaking can remove the staining and many of those creases and greatly reduce the others.

[Buythatcard]

Originally Posted by bnorth

If you do a bad job they will be considered altered. It is one of those things that if they can tell you did it they will consider it altered. If done so they can't tell you done it you will get a number grade. With "proper" soaking they will also get a higher grade and be worth way more cash. Soaking can remove the staining and many of those creases and greatly reduce the others.

Hopefully, we mess up the commons and not the big guns. I am hoping they get atleast an Authentic grade for most of those cards.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

Hopefully, we mess up the commons and not the big guns. I am hoping they get atleast an Authentic grade for most of those cards.

Anything will get an authentic grade if you have them slab all cards.

I would honestly suggest buying some complete beat to crap 60s or 70s cards and practice. After some practice soaking/cleaning cards you will then be ready to do a way better job on the tobacco cards. The most important part is the drying/pressing part so you can't tell the soaking pressing was done.