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Other then a Loupe + strong light, what do you guys use to examine cards before submitting them?

ThoseBackPagesThoseBackPages Posts: 4,871 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
looking for suggestions.

i have a magnifying glass, a loupe and a strong light source. i have seen what jewelers use, hard to describe it, looks like a headband that has like a super magnifying glass attached to it that swivels up and down. that actually looks like it would be an awesome thing to use. does anyone have any information on them? are they costly? what are they called? lol

any other tips?

Big Fan of: HOF Post War RC, Graded RCs
WTB: PSA 1 - PSA 3 Centered, High Eye Appeal 1950's Mantle

Comments

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,487 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If ya collect issues prone to being "recolored" - I recommend a black light - inexpensive and effective.
    Mike
  • saucywombatsaucywombat Posts: 1,223 ✭✭✭
    stereoscope
    Always looking for 1993-1999 Baseball Finest Refractors and1994 Football Finest Refractors.
    saucywombat@hotmail.com
  • sbfinleysbfinley Posts: 357 ✭✭
    If you collect pre-war, especially commonly reprinted pre-war. I strongly recommend getting a black light.
  • ZixxZixx Posts: 228 ✭✭
    If modern cards, start looking at your card with the thought of finding out why it wouldn't grade a 10. If you can't find anything, then submit it.
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092 ✭
    You're going to need a telespectrograph and a microphotometer.
  • itzagoneritzagoner Posts: 8,753 ✭✭
    i keep other examples of cards around to use for comparison. it has helped immensely.
  • jeffcbayjeffcbay Posts: 8,951 ✭✭✭✭
    I use a magnifying lamp along with a second light source. Sometimes I like to scan the card in high-res and look at it on the monitor. That really helps me check for tilt.
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    2 Eyes.


    I've never used anything but.


    Joe came on here and said the graders mainly just use them too.

    It's really not rocket science, this grading of baseball cards.

    Coins, are another matter.


    Steve
    Good for you.
  • bkingbking Posts: 3,095 ✭✭
    I've found the the naked eye is usually good enough for corners, but every time I don't use a super-bright light to check for wrinkles, I get burned.

    I used a blacklight, as suggested here, to check some of the 1971's I had bought years ago, but the depression still hasn't faded so I don't recommend it for the faint of heart.

    ----------------------
    Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
    ----------------------

    Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
  • leathtechleathtech Posts: 3,191 ✭
    Blindfold... seriously I just eyeball them - I'd suggest just subbing cards and writing down what you think each will grade - try and learn from your mistakes.
    image
  • Mickey71Mickey71 Posts: 4,261 ✭✭✭✭
    2 eyes and a very good light source. Keep it simple....look at the cards in a normal evvironment at your desk and then put them under a lamp to see it one last time. The strong light is good to spot wrinkles.
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I usually just ask my friend (pictured below) to look them over and then I send them to Pro. Works every time.

    image

    Shane

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