A bath for Mr. Bresnahan?
 

Hey guys, hoping to get some opinions from those who have experience soaking cards. I recently picked this card up from a fellow board member (thank you) and have been itching to give Mr. Bresnahan a bath ever since. I've read many previous threads on soaking cards and have a few questions. If you all would chime in I'd appreciate it. BTW - this would be my first time soaking a card.

1) I've read recommendations of soaking times from about an hour up to 24 hours! With such a big difference I'm not real sure how to determine this. Can I assume the length of time depends on how much grime has built up on the card or how cleaned up I hope to get it? That would make sense to me but just thought I'd ask. With a longer soak are there tell tale signs that I'm getting into trouble?

2) Should I be concerned with the edges, they are pretty frayed/worn as you can see. Maybe with this much wear this is a bad candidate?

3) Do you think this card would clean up well or from your experience is the discolor and grime there to stay?

Scans are below. Any and all opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Bill

I don't see much possible gain. There's nothing to soak off of it (glue, foreign paper, etc) and it's not that dirty. Soiling looks fairly light, even and typical of a T206. I think the possible down side is greater than the up side on this one, especially with it being a HOFer....that's my opinion, anyway.

If they are not stuck to a scrap book, I see little reason to soak it. This is a nicely looking, gently loved card.

I would leave it alone too.

Soak?
 

It could be risky to soak this one. The slight paper loss on the front and the rough edges could get worse if soaked. It looks to me like it has already been soaked once. Doing it further is probably not going to help.

+1

Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate it. Ron, (or anyone) was just wondering what makes you think the card has been soaked already? I don't mind if it has been, but would love to learn more.

Thanks guys,

There is no reason to soak this card. You can tell it may have been exposed to moisture by the way the card's edges look -- somewhat bloated and frayed.

I do not think much harm would come with a minute water soaking followed by a press between two sheets of printer paper, under a stack of books (how I have done it in the past). But you are not going to make it look any cleaner.

I'd leave it alone as well.

The front could possibly take a light surface cleaning, but the back would be damaged by most attempts since the cardboard is porous. The fronts are coated for printing, but the backs aren't.

Once cleaned on the front you'd have a mismatch between front and back that would look odd.

Here's about as far as a light surface cleaning can get.
Before, grubby front from probably decades in a paper bag in an attic. With another card on top of about half of it. But the back was very clean. (SC 350-460 F25)

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...ictureid=12668

After, Just a light cleaning with water and a q-tip. I thought I might have wrecked it, but the light area on the neck is the actual color. I should have done a bit more, but I stopped and didn't compare it to online scans.
The surface still holds some dirt in the usually invisible cracks in the surface coating.
And yes, I was very surprised at the grade. I'd hoped for a 40.
And no, I'm not cracking it out to finish the cleaning. I don't think it would benefit much, and going further is both risky and borderline inappropriate.

Steve B

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...pictureid=9887

Soaking
 

I agree with all previously - I would leave that one alone. I have had mixed results depending on the card stock and issues that pertained. Glue, pencil - fairly easy. Pen, tar, deeper stains like caramel or oils from CJ - more difficult.

As an example - attached are some backs of low end CJ's (combo of 14's and 15's) recently won. On the left (black background) before, to the right is after. Most of the glue and scrap book paper came out, but as you can see it created paper-loss as well on a couple. Obviously the intent isn't for grade bump as much as just eye-appeal and appreciation of the card as close to original as possible (IMO). Some clearly went well (Hummel), some not so much (Archer) - the Archer was too far gone w/all the glue and scrap book paper from the book it was in. Nothing but water and a Q-Tip. I heat the water as I feel that helps loosen foreign stains/materials better. Some use/recommend distilled water, I've been OK with tap.