How do you store and protect your cards

[derek dea]

How do other members, both protect and store their card collections.
I have mostly used the archival storage sheets in albums, so that I can both protect and view them.
Recently I have been using the small plastic storage boxes to store the sets I have.
They obviously cannot be seen without taking them out of the box, but it does reduce storage space quite considerably.

[lachlan]

I'm sure I'm like most others in storing them in storage leaves/sheets, though one has to be careful with the type of material used as apparently the older leaves can leech, damaging the cards. Something to do with the plasticiser.

[derek dea]

I'm sure I'm like most others in storing them in storage leaves/sheets, though one has to be careful with the type of material used as apparently the older leaves can leech, damaging the cards. Something to do with the plasticiser.

You are quite correct , I had some older type sleeves, which after many years started to wrinkle and curl, and also give off an aroma, these were before archival formulations introduced luckily no cards were ever damaged.Even though they were purchased through a well known retailer, you still have to be carefull.I now only purchase from one supplier as they are of the archival materials.
I have found that a lot of the non archival type have a certain aroma , ie like pvc so I avoid these.
After working in the plasics industry for over 14yrs I learned a lot of useful information regarding different types of plasics material

[lachlan]

Which supplier do you currently use?

[derek dea]

I get my storage items from a supplier called Vera Trinder Ltd, the archival wallets are made by a company called Inform Plastics under the name of Polyprotec,
http://www.informplastics.com/polyprotec.html, this link gives a good idea as to what they produce,

[lachlan]

Thanks for that. Vera Trinder is big in the stamp world, too.

[mrp1017]

I like individual Card Savers.
They are thin, cheap, clear and contain no PVC.
I can ship with them, store with them, sort with them and fear not for any card damage. I only wish more people who sold cards used them for protection when they shipped. I use them exclusively.

[joeD]

my cards are either encapsulated by a grading company or in top loaders.

I then place them in a nice storage box like the one shown in this link.

http://aboxfactory.com/wood.php

[lachlan]

Not cheap, Joe. By the way, what's a top loader?

[joeD]

lachlan -

a top loader is just a rigid plastic holder that looks like this:




Some of the cards I have are in card savers instead of top loaders..... card savers are thinner and are semi-rigid (much more flexible).

[lachlan]

Thanks, Joe. From where do you buy them? Regards

[joeD]

lachlan -

I usually pick them up as I need them at card shows.

[mrp1017]

If you appreciate your cards, don't use Top Loaders unless you use a plastic sleeve with it. Cards can shift around in the holder and hit the corners, especially in transit. Go with Card Saver 2 for normal 2 x 3 cards. They are cheaper, thinner and store away a lot easily.
Pick them up at shows or online.

Cardboard Gold Card Savers. Ultra Pro make a similar product too.

[dant melys]

Larger cards in a mix of top loader/sleeves and card savers/sleeves , although the card savers are quite difficult to purchase in the UK ..

 cigarette cards are in 10 pocket sleeves and in albums .

[mrp1017]

If anyone here wanted any Card Savers, I would be more than happy to accommodate the need from here in the states. LMK what size you would like and I'll buy them and ship them for only my cost. Boxes of 200 are the way to go.

http://www.scottsdalecards.com/catalog/popup_image.php?pID=6119&osCsid=ee0b70739ec8d68dbfbb89dd0338adb5

This is an image of the Card Savers 1 that hold older baseball cards. CS 2 would be more appropriate for this 2 x 3 card size but both work fine.