Tricks of the Trade - Sharpies

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jay R. Neill on September 7, 2009 at 10:48am

I only use Blue and Black Sharpies. I have not found Red to hold up well over time as they can fade.

The new Silver Sharpies are very streaky and don't replace paint pens by any means.

Sharpies do not hold up well when signing baseballs and footballs that are not leather. The blead to the point that they cannot be recgonized any longer. I have had similiar finding when signing pennants.

I have not had problem with them drying up, but they do sometimes split at the tip creating a feathering effect.

Permalink Reply by Kimberly Cole on September 7, 2009 at 11:09am

Excellent info! Thanks.

Permalink Reply by DC on September 8, 2009 at 8:23am

I use very fine tip sharpies in black or blue only. I find that they allow the signature to be read easier, the results are usualy a more attractive presentation. I avoid using paint pens as they will flake over time, are streaky, and are unstable over time. What ever I am having signed I prep in advance by matching the pen type/ color ink etc for best results. I prefer blank white index cards to be signed as they are more versitle.

Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on September 11, 2009 at 9:23pm

To keep your silver sharpies as wet as possible, keep the tips down at all times. If you don't, they will dry out to the point where the ink is almost powder like and can be rubbed away. They are good for about 40 signatures before they lose their fiber tightness in the point.

Permalink Reply by Louis Becerra on September 17, 2009 at 3:45pm

Hi everyone,

I'd like to thank Kimberly for getting the discussion started! As mentioned, I will be heading a new column in the magazine geared towards providing helpful tips to other collectors to help maximize their in-person autograph collecting experience. I would like to invite you all to join the new 'Tricks of the Trade' group I have created. I'll post different discussions based upon ideas I have for future columns. Also, if I use any information from posts in the group discussions, I'll do everything possible to make mention of your contribution in the column itself. Thanks for your interest, and I look forward to some great discussion!

Louis

Permalink Reply by Josh Board on September 20, 2009 at 3:43pm

I've always used black Sharpies, but have heard that they get "yellowish" over the years. I know hardcore baseball nuts, like the sweetspots signed with ballpoint pen, and NOT sharpies. Not just because it's harder to read, but I think it gives it that nice, old school baseball look.

I mean, if you have a Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and autographed baseballs like that on the shelf...having a Pete Rose in black sharpie, probably is too much of a contrast. It would look much nicer to scan a shelf of autographed balls, and see them all signed in ball point pen (and having an entire team sign a tiny ball, a ball point is almost a necessity).

The black and blue Sharpies are MUST HAVES for ANY 8 x 10 that has ANY amount of dark area in the photo. Because inevitably, the celebrity will be rushed, either by a large crowd or by handlers, and they won't look at what they're signing. It might be over their black hair in the photo, or black suit jacket, or black background. And having the black/blue color, often STILL shows up over that. Other coloros won't.

And, I too have had bad luck with the silver sharpies, but also with the paint pens. I'm still at a loss of what is best to use.

I once bought a brand new gold paint pen, only to have Ran Manzarek of the Doors spend 5 minutes trying to shake it and get it to work for me!!!!