Topps complete set “bricking”

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say put them in a freezer. The cards are bricked because the ultraviolet gloss fused on a molecular level with another card's gloss. When they cooled down they solidified again on a molecular level except now the cards are fused together.

You can't reverse that fusion by simply making them cold and solidifying them further. Once cards are bricked, they're bricked. You may get a group that you're able to carefully separate without damage but it has nothing to do with spending time in the freezer.

Arthur

[ALR-bishop]

Ok, how about soaking ?

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by HasselhoffsCheeseburger

I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say put them in a freezer. The cards are bricked because the ultraviolet gloss fused on a molecular level with another card's gloss. When they cooled down they solidified again on a molecular level except now the cards are fused together.

You can't reverse that fusion by simply making them cold and solidifying them further. Once cards are bricked, they're bricked. You may get a group that you're able to carefully separate without damage but it has nothing to do with spending time in the freezer.

Arthur

I have done it hundreds of times, but yes they don’t fall apart they have to be separated. It simply makes them easier to separate as the gloss is crisp and in an hardened state and less likely to snow another card.

I would say that describing melted gloss as fusing on a molecular level like atomic bonding is an odd comparison as molecular fusion would by definition create a new item by combining atoms to a greater nuclei. The gloss melts slightly and dries together, they are not exchanging protons and neutrons.

Making the gloss as crisp and hard as possible eases the separation as they are in still two natural separate items by nature. The melting has caused a mild viscosity that then dried giving surface tension, this can be snapped as the card is stronger than the bond. Again, freezing does not separate cards, it only makes it less likely to be damaged as the cold gloss is a cleaner break in the tension as it is in its weakest state.

In any case, people can do as they will. I would experiment with leaving a few packs of early Pinnacle out in sun on a 90 degree day then bring them inside and try methods. I have met people that say to put them out in the sun and make the gloss viscous again. I tried that and while they did come apart easier, it completely removed the gloss from huge spots, lol. What a mess that was

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

One of the bigger problems -- and this is just my opinion based on submissions from the last five years or so -- is that PSA knows which issues fall into the "Brick Era" and spend an extra few seconds on both front and back surface to look for any signs of surface damage.

I'm not talking about those basterds that look like a snowball hit them, I'm talking about the ones you think you got off clean. They will findthe separation points and they will deduct grades from your card for it. This may be the best explanation as to why people are sending in seemingly Mint+ cards that are coming back PSA 5 or PSA 6.

I'm simply throwing darts here.

Arthur

[insidethewrapper]

I know the 1992 Fleer Ultras are terrible to separate and I threw out sets of them. Hard as a rock. Beautiful cards but all stuck together.

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

I know the 1992 Fleer Ultras are terrible to separate and I threw out sets of them. Hard as a rock. Beautiful cards but all stuck together.

I just so happen to have a '92 Ultra pack here on my desk that someone threw in as a bonus and it was as hard as a diamond. There's absolutely going to be some sentimentally popular sets from that era that are going to see bonkers prices on high-grade commons in the future as registry users duke it out for these.

Arthur

[ALR-bishop]

Arthur— if I wanted to do a run of bricked sets, where to start and finish ?

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Arthur— if I wanted to do a run of bricked sets, where to start and finish ?

First thing you're going to want to do is find a sturdy wall. Something that isn't going to break easily. Lean slightly towards the wall from a few feet away, using your hands to brace yourself. Then just start smashing your head into the wall until your desire to build those sets subsides.

Arthur