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Good news, Bad news

ElvisPElvisP Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Tonight I ripped 3 1986 topps football wax packs. The good news is I pulled a really sharp Rice RC, nicely centered. The bad news is when I turned it over there was the dreaded gum stain. Not bad but it is there. Is there any way to remove gum stains if they are light like this one? Thanks!

Comments

  • ClockworkAngelClockworkAngel Posts: 1,994 ✭✭✭
    I used to get it off with Nylon, but don't know that I ever got 100% of it off at least to the point where it won't affect the grade. And I think it's tougher to get it off the back of a card than the front. I am sure others have more experience with this stuff. Good Luck!
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  • WalterSobchakWalterSobchak Posts: 2,096
    I think nylon is for wax stains. There is no way that I know of to get off a gum stain w/o damaging the card.
    'Sir, I realize it's been difficult for you to sleep at night without your EX/MT 1977 Topps Tom Seaver, but I swear to you that you'll get it safe and sound.'
    -CDs Nuts, 1/20/14

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  • yankeeno7yankeeno7 Posts: 9,249 ✭✭✭
    Nylon will only work 100% for a card front because it is glossy. The card reverse to get wax off depends on the card and if the wax is only resting on the card or if any moisture from the wax has set in the cardboard.

    Same with gum stains...pretty much impossible because moisture has drawn from the gum into the cardboard so there will be no removing the stain.
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭
    I've heard you can remove wax stains from the backs of cards with lighter fluid.
    It will absorb the wax. I've seen a local dealer here give a card with a very heavy
    stain, a couple of 'treatments' and the stain was gone days later. I think it
    somewhat darkened the stock a little though. This was on a '75 Topps Baseball
    card. So that type of card stock.

    Now I don't know how PSA would treat the card. More than likely they
    will give a suspicious card the black light test and I think in that case, would
    reject the card from grading.
  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭
    A slight dab of lighter fluid on a rag. Heard that works.
  • milbrocomilbroco Posts: 2,747 ✭✭✭✭
    If trying lighter fluid or something like that, test it on another card first to make sure you do not damage the good card.
    Bob
    ebay seller name milbroco
    email bcmiller7@comcast.net
  • Mdube16Mdube16 Posts: 744 ✭✭
    Throw it in the Pool
  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Throw it in the Pool >>



    And make a thread about it with a bunch of pictures, and try to pick a fight with anyone who shows the tiniest bit of disapproval
    My cards on COMC
  • TNP777TNP777 Posts: 5,710 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Throw it in the Pool >>



    And make a thread about it with a bunch of pictures, and try to pick a fight with anyone who shows the tiniest bit of disapproval >>

    image

    Dodgers collection scans | Brett Butler registry | 1978 Dodgers - straight 9s, homie
  • MattyCMattyC Posts: 1,335 ✭✭
    Try putting it under a brown paper bag, then lay a towel over it, then hit it with a steam iron. I've removed both wax and gum like this as a kid. The gum is a crapshoot though, while the wax always comes off. In a good scenario, the gum stain sort of evaporates and gets absorbed by the paper bag. Sometimes the steam just sort of diffuses the gun stain to the point where it is far less offensive to the eye.
  • pclpadspclpads Posts: 457 ✭✭


    << <i>A slight dab of lighter fluid on a rag. Heard that works. >>



    But, would it pass the sniff test by a TPG, or get the dreaded ALT?
  • FirstBeardFirstBeard Posts: 472 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I've heard you can remove wax stains from the backs of cards with lighter fluid.
    It will absorb the wax. I don't know how PSA would treat the card. More than likely they
    will give a suspicious card the black light test and I think in that case, would
    reject the card from grading. >>



    I have used this method to get price stickers off of original star wars figure cardbacks from 1977-83. It worked without damaging the card. The fuel evaporates almost immediately and the smell disappears after a few hours of allowing it to air out. Keep in mind, the front of a vintage SW figure has a gloss similar to a baseball card from the 70s/80s, so you may have a very different result with the back of a card. I have no idea if it would be visible under a blacklight though. Definitely test on a gum-stained common first...

    Good luck, and congrats on a great pull!
  • jwgatorsjwgators Posts: 460 ✭✭
    Used dryer sheets (AKA Bounce) may work similar to a nylon. I used one on a gum stain on a 75 mini and got enough of the gum off to grade with no qualifier.
    Joel
  • MapleleafMapleleaf Posts: 506 ✭
    I tested some gum stained commons using a variety of solvents. A few worked really well but I can't remember the brand name. After some airing time, there was no noticeable difference in the card stock. I was just doing it to complete some of my personal sets and never sent any for grading. Xylene was one I used with ok results but didn't remove the stain as fast as Solvent (I think it was PPG that I had left over from painting a car).

    Incidentally, this was a trick that a few unscrupulous sellers used on redline Hot Wheel packaging. The would soak the original blisterpack in solvent, remove a mint original car, put in a repainted car, glue back together and voila! An "original" blisterpacked car was re-created. Or they would put a rare original colour in there and create thousands in value. Thankfully the internet usually outs these type of dealers fairly quickly.
  • ElvisPElvisP Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭
    Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. Looks like I am going to be in the lab for a while!! BTW, I had a pretty good night last night opening packs. Also pulled a Dorsett rookie and 2 Montana's('84 and '86). Mercury Morris and Jim Plunkett from a '75 pack. Fouts, Largent, Staubach and Stabler from 2 '78 packs in addition to the Dorsett. Lofton, Dierdorf, Rashad, Griese and Bradshaw from 3 '79 packs and a Barry Sanders rookie fro 2 '89 Score packs. Walt Frazier from a '77 pack. Some are very gradeable, while others are borderline due to centering.
  • chouserchouser Posts: 193


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Throw it in the Pool >>



    And make a thread about it with a bunch of pictures, and try to pick a fight with anyone who shows the tiniest bit of disapproval >>

    image >>





    image
  • JMDVMJMDVM Posts: 950 ✭✭✭
    Contact Dick Towle, "Gone With The Stain". He's in Pittsford NY. He worked for Kodak and thru his experience , he has developed some chemicals that work. Got wax off the back of a 63 Fleer Spahn and Santo for me---both cards came back 8. Here is his number: 315-375-8542
    Call him before you mess with the card. Tell him Joe sent you.
  • icelandericelander Posts: 47


    << <i>Nylon will only work 100% for a card front because it is glossy. >>



    Barry knows his nylons. image
  • ElvisPElvisP Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Contact Dick Towle, "Gone With The Stain". He's in Pittsford NY. He worked for Kodak and thru his experience , he has developed some chemicals that work. Got wax off the back of a 63 Fleer Spahn and Santo for me---both cards came back 8. Here is his number: 315-375-8542
    Call him before you mess with the card. Tell him Joe sent you. >>



    Do you know if it works with gum stains? Thanks for the info Joe!!
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