How to perserve autograhs on plastic

[soccer18]

Sorry for yet another post but like I said before this is all new to me. I was wondering how to preserve an autograph helmet I got for my father. A few months back Bob Feller was at the Sheraton Hotel and I got him to sign a replica batting helmet for my dad. I had wanted to get him to sign a ball but I didn't find out about the signing till late so the best I could do was buying the helmet off someone in line. I also got Joe Charboneau sometime later but for some reason I noticed that Bob Feller's autograph was almost completely off the helmet and that it was barely noticeable anymore (he signed it in silver sharpie). Any way I can keep this from happening again, I had hoped to get a few more autographs on the helmet but didn't know if other people handling it would cause this to happen again.

[shysweetangel83]

they sell cases for that kinda stuff i think its a plactic box for a helmet you should cheek online

[soccer18]

Thanks, I keep it in a protective case but some how when I take it out to add signatures to it the other ones come off or get messed up. It seems like the helmet dose not hold them well. I heard of spraying autographs with some type of clear coat to keep them looking nice but I was unsure if others could sign on top of that or if it ruined the autographs.

[mharm2k6]

It might work to spray a clear coat on time (like you mentioned), but I wouldn't risk it on that signature. Some clear coats will react weird to the signature and make it run or distort it [although a long time ago autographs were preserved by dipping the baseball in shelack {spelling?}- but this is not a baseball and that is frowned upon now]. The only thing I could think of would be to get a piece or paper or plastic and make it bigger than the signature. and then when you're going to get the helmet signed by other people sticky tack or tape it over the signature (making sure not to put any form of adhesive directly on it or too close to it. I am assuming %90 of the loss is from physical rubbing and not from the ink deteriorating. I know of someone who also used a microgrit sand paper and lightly wetsanded the surface of his helmet before he got it signed and then when all was done he put a sealer on it and as far as I know it held up (will have to ask him later). The last thing I could say is possibly looking for a different marker, Silver Sharpies are by far the most common I've see used, but some markers may hold up better.