xRCx wrote:packrat wrote:Do NOT rub down a glossy photo. Only rub down glossy baseball cards. I have never had a photo bubble up on me. I have had cards bubble up though. Do not use the cheap erasers because they can result in a filmy smudge on them. Use the Pentel eraser or the Staedtler Mars Plastic erasers. You don't have to bear down too hard, just give it a little bit of pressure and rub it down a few times. If you do get a bit of a smudge, use a soft cloth to wipe it down and it should be fine.
Some people use baby powder instead of an eraser. It does not leave a smudge but it can get messy.
An alternative to rubbing down/powdering the cards is to use a Staedtler medium point marker instead. They can be hard to find. Check out the arts and crafts stores in your area, that's usually where they are. The fine point tends to be rather thin for my taste, almost like a pen. But if you can live with that, they are easier to find. I think Staples might carry them, but I'm not sure. I have never heard of those markers bubbling up, although a few folks have mentioned that it is a good idea to lightly rub down chrome cards as a precaution.
I'm a bit afraid of the eraser thing, to be honest. I'm afraid I'd ruin the card because I don't know how to properly do it.
Can you elaborate on the baby powder idea?
like the poster said, its messy...but....simply place the cards somewhere (be prepared for a bit of clean up afterwards) on a flat surface. take baby powder... spread it on the card & rub it around till the card is covered in it....then wipe it off with a piece of toilet paper or a kleenex (or your sleeve if you are out hounding and dont have said items with you). When I used to use it, I would also give them all a quick wipe afterwards on the backs too incase any was on the back of a card & transfered onto the front of the next card.
Once done, take whatever is needed to clean off the surface that you were working on & wipe it down.
It works VERY WELL...but, it is also very messy...which is why most people eventually just go to erasers...although eraser shavings are messy too, its less messy than baby powder.