General Forum

I have several cards, especially from 2001 Topps baseball, that are stuck together along the bottom edge and/or in the lower corners.  I don't know if they were exposed to high humidty, heat, etc.?  There is nothing sticky on the cards or in their boxes.  I've noticed that a lot of cards from 1999 thru 2002 or so have a propensity to stick together.  These 2001s are especially bad, in that if I try to get them apart, the facing tears off the cards or the cards themselves are separating on the insides.  Anybody have a home remedy on how to safely get them apart?  I've already ruined a small handful trying myself, so wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if there are any good solutions out there.  Thanks!  Jeff

I've also ruined many attempting to un-stick cards. If gentle pressure applied to slightly curve, but not crease, the cards doesn't work, most likely, you're going to have some paper loss when separating the cards. That's what my experience has been.

When I was younger I had a bunch of 1992 Donruss turn into a solid block.. Not sure how to unstick though

 

I've heard you can freeze them and they will loosen up.  But sometimes when those super glossy cards get stuck like that, some will see paper loss when you separate them no matter how careful you are.  Glossy on both sides is just an extremely bad design idea.

I will try the freezer method and report my results. I have hundreds, if not thousands, of stuck cards that I've already counted as a complete loss, so if it goes badly, I don't mind. I will give them a couple days and let you all know how it goes.

I will try the freezer method as well.  It can't hurt at this point, and even if there is minor paper loss, it's still better than what has already happened when I've tried to remove them.  Thanks!!

I'll have to try the freezer method next time. i held the cards over a pot of hot water (steam) but far enough away not to get to moist or warped and depending on how stuck they are it worked on a few. Had to practice with some worthless cards first a few times. Depending on the card, especially the newer ones, not sure if this is a wise choice though

I have a small stack of what appears to be Kobe Bryant RCs (top and bottom card both are) that I will freeze if this method works on the (presumably) commons I have in the freezer now. Of course, it's all speculation of what's in the middle of these stacks. 10+ years of glossy 1990s cards in a storage unit with no climate control is a bad plan.

Maybe you could email a professional paper restorer and ask for suggestions. Here's one I just grabbed off an internet search: http://www.acapaperrestoration.com/services.asp

Mixed results.  110 days in the freezer.  1996-97 Ultra basketball cards did no better, but some late-90s Topps baseball came apart with less damage than some late-90s Topps basketball I had pulled apart without freezing them first.  No real way of knowing if the freezer had anything to do with that though.  And Flair cards may as well be glued together.  Nothing happening with those.