Card soaking - the results!

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I'm an autograph guy. Haven't been into unsigned cards for decades, but had always wanted to try my hand at soaking. Finally had the opportunity when I discovered this beauty pasted onto the back of a rather meaningless signed album page. For my first attempt, I was definitely pleased! Have had the occasion to try a couple of other times since, but the cards weren't practically pack fresh like this thing!

I do notice now that this one could benefit from an additional soaking to remove that staining from where it had been pressed against the facing album page for 70+ years.

[bobbyw8469]

Do you have a BEFORE pic?

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I do notice now that this one could benefit from an additional soaking to remove that staining from where it had been pressed against the facing album page for 70+ years.

The facing album page must be more acidic than the card because that stain looks like acid damage to me. That won't come out just by soaking it in water longer.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Bobby: I do have a before pic somewhere, but it's nothing interesting. It's only of the front of the card on the album page. I can tell you that after separating card from page, only a lone spot of paste remained on the back. This was removed with a Q-Tip. It was definitely attached to the album page with much more than that one spot of substance. The rest seemingly dissolved in the bath.

Travis: Thanks for your experienced insight, which I agree with. It's too bad no further improvement can be made, but I'm still very content with the result since this was my inaugural attempt.

[Prof_Plum]

A couple of 'scientific' concepts that might help with soaking are using a larger bath volume and more frequent bath changes.

[bcbgcbrcb]

We should just be able to send our album pages to PSA and have them soak the cards, remove them and then grade and encapsulate. Works for the comic book industry with CGC pressing and then grading books. Why not cards?

[Vintagedeputy]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

We should just be able to send our album pages to PSA and have them soak the cards, remove them and then grade and encapsulate. Works for the comic book industry with CGC pressing and then grading books. Why not cards?

When it comes to PSA, it’s usually the customer that gets the soaking.

[switcher7]

Originally Posted by vintagedeputy

when it comes to psa, it’s usually the customer that gets the soaking.

👍 👍 👍

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

Travis: Thanks for your experienced insight, which I agree with. It's too bad no further improvement can be made, but I'm still very content with the result since this was my inaugural attempt.

Further improvements can be made. But it would require something else in addition to just water.