re-bagging collection

[nocutename]

I am sure that this has been discussed here before but here it is anyway.

Most of my collection are in bag and boards that came shipped with the comics. My current moderns from the LCS are in new bag and boards as I purchase them along with the new comics. I double bag my comics, one in the front and one in the back. This saves space in the box and then I have an extra bag and board for another comic.

Last month I used up my bag and board stash. I just purchased 100 pack of silver age size bag and boards to start up a new project to re-bag and board my entire collection. I would guess that I will need to replace about 300 bag and boards.

My problem is were to start and should I just put one comic in per bag? Also, I have about 50 issues I purchased recently that need to be bagged and boarded as well. Yikes! This is becoming a mess and I am getting overwhelmed just thinking about the task.

It is quite apparent that I should use the new materials on the newly purchased comics and then the remainer to start up the new project. But I would like some suggestions. Should I stop putting two comics per bag? How about the VG's? I purchased another lot of them and the seller brick bagged them without boards. To me, I think I am fine keeping them like that.

My collection roughly breaks down to moderns VF/NM (70%), Copper F/VF(10%) and the BA (20%) are G to VF.

Any comments and suggestions are welcomed.

[Scarecrow1983]

Unlike a lot of people, I've always single bagged everything. I'll also rebag anything I buy no matter what the condition. Most sellers probably don't change the bags or backing boards on collections they've bought out so you really don't know how long the comic has been in the bag. I have found a lot of the cheaper backing boards actually will have an imprint of the comic that it was against. I just got in the habit of rebagging everything.

[toz1960]

Unlike a lot of people, I've always single bagged everything. I'll also rebag anything I buy no matter what the condition. Most sellers probably don't change the bags or backing boards on collections they've bought out so you really don't know how long the comic has been in the bag. I have found a lot of the cheaper backing boards actually will have an imprint of the comic that it was against. I just got in the habit of rebagging everything.

What he said#cheers#.

[nocutename]

My collection is fairly new and most of the moderns are in new bag and boards. The problem is that I double bagged these ones and am factoring in that I should single bag all of them.

It is the rest of collection that really needs to be rebagged as these have been recently acquired within the past 6 months. So should I start rebagging these newly acquired comics first? Also, if the bag and boards don't look great I do replace those ones.

Should I stop double bagging them as well? I just learned that the cheaper boards only have buffering on one side so the comic on the back is not benefitting.

Thanks for you thoughts.

[fulltimer56]

In my personal collection I do not double bag my comics, each comic has it's own bag and board. Liked you said, the boards only have buffering on one side. Comics I buy from ebay or from here, I always replace the bags and boards before putting the books in my collection.

[illuminated]

I used to bag & board everything as it arrived, setting aside the old materials. As time went on, I bought more and more. I didn't have time to catalog or sort what was coming in. I was too busy buying. Now, when I walk into my basement, if I am not completely overwhelmed by the racks and stacks before me, I simply shudder and mewl. My wife walked in on me once, as I was sobbing uncontrollably in the comic mine (AKA Fortress of Comictude); it was awkward. I said I had a piece of dust in my eye and a rat in my throat.

[Scarecrow1983]

I used to bag & board everything as it arrived, setting aside the old materials. As time went on, I bought more and more. I didn't have time to catalog or sort what was coming in. I was too busy buying. Now, when I walk into my basement, if I am not completely overwhelmed by the racks and stacks before me, I simply shudder and mewl. My wife walked in on me once, as I was sobbing uncontrollably in the comic mine (AKA Fortress of Comictude); it was awkward. I said I had a piece of dust in my eye and a rat in my throat.


:sad: I feel your pain. I've been getting bubble wrap from work from the boxes we receive in, thinking that I'll use it sometime or another. I'm wondering if anyone would buy it at a yardsale. :eek: If you see it at walmart its pretty expensive.

Jeaninne, If you can do it I'd single bag everything.

[nocutename]

Yeah, that is another reason I was going to start up this project was to single bag all the comics.

[nocutename]

I used to bag & board everything as it arrived, setting aside the old materials. As time went on, I bought more and more. I didn't have time to catalog or sort what was coming in. I was too busy buying. Now, when I walk into my basement, if I am not completely overwhelmed by the racks and stacks before me, I simply shudder and mewl. My wife walked in on me once, as I was sobbing uncontrollably in the comic mine (AKA Fortress of Comictude); it was awkward. I said I had a piece of dust in my eye and a rat in my throat.

I go on a buying frenzy too that last about one or two months and then I start to sell the old ones to make room. Then I stop buying for another month or two to organize everything and hopefully read all the new ones. Then the vicious cycle starts all over again. :D

Of course, trades don't even fall under this cycle, they are free range to purchase at anytime.

[The Charlton Guy]

C.G. tips #whack#:

For Modern books/new releases: Use a bag only and seperate them in the long-box with cheap boards. This causes less wear on the rear cover (yes, even an archival board will scratch rear covers, particularly Modern/black rear covers). Some of the sweetest condition 70's, 80's and 90's books I have aquired were in bags only.

For older high grade books I do the same, for the same reason, but use Mylite 2 sleeves. (Hoss has 'em cheap...).

IMHO, backing boards are highly over-rated and can actually cause significant wear and tear on rear covers over time.

You just have to be very careful to keep the bagged-only books cafefully stacked and relatively tight within a box or on a shelf.

You can also use a bag-only first, them bag and board it again in a larger spec bag and backing board (the first bag affording some protection from board abrasion), but that can get pricey when you are talking hundreds or thousands of books.

Yeah, I am excessive with my high grade gems...#tomato#

[grininbarrett]

Personally, I don't have a problems with brick bagging comics that:
1. I am not planning on keeping long term for my personal collection
2. Are not particularly valuable
3. Are not in the best of shape anyway, usually G-VG condition

I still have a few boxes that are single bagged no boards but as CG said you need to make sure they are fairly tight. The ones in bricks are not as important to have tight because the brick is less likely to bend and damage the spines.

The regular "Acid Free" backboard is the weakest link in most collections. The problem is regular boards are only acid free at time of manufacture. There is a thin layer of calcium carbonate spray coated on one side of the board to provide a temporary layer of protection. However, as the backboard (and most older comics for that matter) ages, the decomposition process releases acid which makes the heretofore "acid free" backboard; you guessed it = acidic. It is usually the acidic nature of the book and backboard itself that causes the most damage to a comic. The damage is not limited to the back of the book either. The acid within the comic itself will turn the pages yellow and the book becomes more brittle.

The most economical solution is to use backboards that have a calcium carbonate buffer throughout the entire board.

[nocutename]

Thanks for the advice. Interestly enough one of the seller I used to get a bunch of Batman comics from must have stored them like this too. All the comics came packed in their own bag and the backboard was outside. I just figured that he stored the comics in bags to save room.

Now, each normal size comic thought did have a similar flaw. They all curved at the bottom starting from the spine to the right corner. Some worse than others but no creases at all. I am told that will flatten out over time. Either way it did not bother me just knew it was because how they were stored.

So do you recommend putting a backboard between each bagged comic or can I skip a few? Also, I would have to handle the comics more gently pulling them out, correct? I like having the extra protection the backboard provides but I do notice that I have bend the corners because of the boards.

This is the first time I am hearing this as a suggestion. I appreciate it.


Grinin - I don't consider my "collection" having any monetary value but I do realize the potential. I really only collect them to read them. I keep my Tecs and Bats plus a few other series but the rest I sell. I wish I could get my collection down to just two short boxes and have only one box of rotating readers. That will be my goal for next year.

Sorry for the rant, to answer your question, yes I have seen some nasty backboards too in relatively new comics. That is one of the reasons I want to rebag all of them. If money was not as tight as it is, I would have sprung for the more expensive ones and just for my tecs.

[fulltimer56]

Yeah, I am excessive with my high grade gems...#tomato#

Ain't we all!!! :cool:

[jordanscott]

Well this thread spurred me on to rebag and board everything I've bought in the last couple months.

I can now actually see some of desk!

[Capitalrecoveryman]

For older high grade books I do the same, for the same reason, but use Mylite 2 sleeves. (Hoss has 'em cheap...).



Yes he does and I need to make another trip to the well soon as I'm about to use up the last of the 200 I got from him awhile back.

[nocutename]

Well this thread spurred me on to rebag and board everything I've bought in the last couple months.

I can now actually some of desk!

Jordan, last night I did the same thing. I have about 20 or so comics in my basket that I got in last month. Now they are all in their new bags and boards.

Question for Charlton, I got the silver bag and boards. If I wanted to only go the Bag only route, shouldn't I use current or modern size bags so that they fit tigher in the bag?

[oxbladder]

Every book in my collection gets a bag and a board. I have recently begun the procedure of moving my collection into Mylite2's and Fullbacks. The reason being that it gets annoying and expensive to go through my collection every year and figure out which bags and boards need to go. With Mylite2s and Fullbacks this will be the last time I will have to do it.

[Scarecrow1983]

I guess I'm one of those strange people who enjoys rebagging comics. I don't know why, maybe because I get to check out some of the comics I forgot I had. I get the flip n stick type bags which makes it easier to seal than putting tape on the bags which I never liked doing. Certain tapes dissolve after time so when these types of bags came out I thought a miracle occurred. :p Like anything they have their faults. I've gotten bags that the flaps are too short or the sticky edges are too low but I still enjoy using them. Another fault is the pull material that comes off of them. I'll end up finding them months after I rebag. I know there's a lot better products (bags) on the market but I'll just stick to these right now(pun intended);).

[fulltimer56]

Hi oxbladder,

All my comics that I have replaced the bags & boards from 2007 & 2008 are clear but all the comics that I'm putting in new bags and boards now in 2009 have a small blue dot in the upper right corner of the bag and when the year changes to 2010 it will be a green dot. That is how I'm going to tell if it is time to change out!! Like you I found that it was hard to keep track on when a bag was change and that is what I have come up with! Anyone have any other ideas?

Linda


Every book in my collection gets a bag and a board. I have recently begun the procedure of moving my collection into Mylite2's and Fullbacks. The reason being that it gets annoying and expensive to go through my collection every year and figure out which bags and boards need to go. With Mylite2s and Fullbacks this will be the last time I will have to do it.

[oxbladder]

That actually sounds like a good system. I should have used something like that in the past but I have so many now that I have opted for a bit of an expensive fix but at least it should be a one time fix.

[nocutename]

Hi oxbladder,

All my comics that I have replaced the bags & boards from 2007 & 2008 are clear but all the comics that I'm putting in new bags and boards now in 2009 have a small blue dot in the upper right corner of the bag and when the year changes to 2010 it will be a green dot. That is how I'm going to tell if it is time to change out!! Like you I found that it was hard to keep track on when a bag was change and that is what I have come up with! Anyone have any other ideas?

Linda

That is a good idea. This batch of comics I am using small heart stickers to close the bags so I am going to use your idea and switch to a new sticker once my project is done.

[fulltimer56]

That is a good idea. This batch of comics I am using small heart stickers to close the bags so I am going to use your idea and switch to a new sticker once my project is done.

Hi jnine,

I'm one of them evil people that uses tape on my bags to close them (it's Scotch's Removable tape). I just like to use tape to keep my bags closed and wished that this kind of tape had been around back in the 60's and 70's.

I found that the stickers tend to tear if you go back into the bag more than once!!

Linda

[jordanscott]

I'm a tape user as well.

I don't think it's evil but it is certainly damaging if I'm careless so a couple yrs ago I switched from 2 pieces, one on each side of the flap, to just 1 piece in the middle.

This way I'm sure my hand is blocking all the tape whenever I take a book out of the bag.

[toz1960]

Another advantage of one piece of tape vs. two.The entire package will tend to bend if you are trying to open a bag with 2 pieces of tape.If I get any with 2 pieces I just cut both.Even the slightest bend will put stress on the spine.

I found some really great tape at Family Dollar.1400 inches length,3/4" wide for one buck.It pops right loose from the bag when opened but there is no problem coming loose in the mean time.It's in a green dispenser and simply says "Invisible"tape.

Some kinds of tape,especially the kind MH uses,seems to almost weld to the plastic bag.When it finally does come loose it leaves a big old nasty looking stretch mark on the bag.Sorry.I just don't like that,even on the back.Clean clear bags just make a book look better against a clean,white board.

[stupidman]

Draft dots?

[Mutant Manatee]

I always use tape as well, 2 pieces on the flap. I always make sure to only have about 1/8" to 1/4" of tape extending down below the edge of the flap. That way the flap stays secured but there is much less chance of the tape accidently getting stuck to the front of the comic when you open the bag.

With only 1/8" to 1/4" of tape exposed, it is also very easy to open the flap without causing spine stress.

[illuminated]

...and don't get me started on people who place the tape parallel to the flap, so it's near impossible to open the bag w/o tearing the tape down the middle...

[stupidman]

I always use tape as well, 2 pieces on the flap. I always make sure to only have about 1/8" to 1/4" of tape extending down below the edge of the flap. That way the flap stays secured but there is much less chance of the tape accidently getting stuck to the front of the comic when you open the bag.

With only 1/8" to 1/4" of tape exposed, it is also very easy to open the flap without causing spine stress.

Tony, do you have Giffle's "how to use tape on a bag" visual guide to post?

[Mutant Manatee]

Tony, do you have Giffle's "how to use tape on a bag" visual guide to post?

No, I don't have it saved. If I recall, he folds the end of the piece of tape under and sticks it to itself so that the end of the tape has a "tab" to grab onto. (Is that right?)

And I totally agree about taping parallel to the edge of the flap. I HATE it when people do that!

[nocutename]

Another advantage of one piece of tape vs. two.The entire package will tend to bend if you are trying to open a bag with 2 pieces of tape.If I get any with 2 pieces I just cut both.Even the slightest bend will put stress on the spine.

I found some really great tape at Family Dollar.1400 inches length,3/4" wide for one buck.It pops right loose from the bag when opened but there is no problem coming loose in the mean time.It's in a green dispenser and simply says "Invisible"tape.

Some kinds of tape,especially the kind MH uses,seems to almost weld to the plastic bag.When it finally does come loose it leaves a big old nasty looking stretch mark on the bag.Sorry.I just don't like that,even on the back.Clean clear bags just make a book look better against a clean,white board.


I just got something from MH and know that they just packed it. The tape destroyed the bag like it was married to the bag for decades. I was pissed because I like to reuse those magazine bags for my trades.

Linda - I have tried other stickers without any success but these ones I use come off with easy and can be restuck as well. I have had no luck with tape but I do recall you talking about resealable tape. I am just too lazy to go to staples and track it down plus I have about 100 heart stickers.

[fulltimer56]

Oh there isn't anything wrong on using what you have!! I'm a firm believer of that!! BTW you might check Wal-Mart or K-Mart if you have one of them you your neck of the woods because my Wal-Mart carries the removeable tape.

Linda




Linda - I have tried other stickers without any success but these ones I use come off with easy and can be restuck as well. I have had no luck with tape but I do recall you talking about resealable tape. I am just too lazy to go to staples and track it down plus I have about 100 heart stickers.

[fulltimer56]

Hi toz,

Be careful of that "invisible" tape. If it gets the least but warm/hot it tends to "melt" to the bag! I know this because I use to use that tape and when I was changing out my bags last year I notice that I was having all kinds of trouble getting that tape open and even damaged a comic (thank god it wasn't a key) getting it out. JMHO!

Linda




I found some really great tape at Family Dollar.1400 inches length,3/4" wide for one buck.It pops right loose from the bag when opened but there is no problem coming loose in the mean time.It's in a green dispenser and simply says "Invisible" tape.

[toz1960]

Hi toz,

Be careful of that "invisible" tape. If it gets the least but warm/hot it tends to "melt" to the bag! I know this because I use to use that tape and when I was changing out my bags last year I notice that I was having all kinds of trouble getting that tape open and even damaged a comic (thank god it wasn't a key) getting it out. JMHO!

Linda

Thanks Linda,I'll keep that in mind.It's all I've used in the past 5 years and i have never had a problem with it.

[nocutename]

I have another question about rebagging. I had gotten a couple of issues from my LCS last year were the board was in the middle of the comic so you can see the back as well. Since then, I had gotten comics from another seller stored the same way.

I just got two series that great backcovers. One has wraparound covers and the other just nice BC. Is it safe to store comics like that and how does it affect the spine?

[Duffman_Comics]

Now, I've bought a lot of books with the board in the middle - mostly from a great dealer friend of mine.

I have seen a lot of other collectors decry the practice. Claim it "damages" the book. I've never worked out why.

Books I have had for years "centreboarded" I have recently rebagged (and conventionally reboarded) and examined in the process.

I cannot detect any damage at all.

I will admit to being a "bottom feeder", but not all of the comics rebagged fell into the "VG-" class.

Can someone more knowledgeable than me chime in on this subject?

[grininbarrett]

Centerboarding provides less mechanical support for the edges of the book, so if you are one to regularly flip through your boxes I would shy away from this method for that reason alone. Additionally, as I mentioned previously, only one side of regular boards (the shiney one) is buffered with an alkaline coating. The other side is often slightly acidic at time of purchase, the acidity increases with time/temperature. You definitely don't want that in direct contact with your paper collectibles.

btw, most non-coated boards that you stumble upon, are not buffered at all and are thus acidic on both sides.

[Duffman_Comics]

Centerboarding provides less mechanical support for the edges of the book, so if you are one to regularly flip through your boxes I would shy away from this method for that reason alone. Additionally, as I mentioned previously, only one side of regular boards (the shiney one) is buffered with an alkaline coating. The other side is often slightly acidic at time of purchase, the acidity increases with time/temperature. You definitely don't want that in direct contact with your paper collectibles.

btw, most non-coated boards that you stumble upon, are not buffered at all and are thus acidic on both sides.

OK, acidic thing noted. As to the structural support, if the board projected past all three 'open' edges of the comic, I don't see where there could be any "feathering" of the pages.

Anyway, to the OP, I refuse to have any tape on any of my bags. I just tuck the flap in. This followed the Great Tape Pull disaster of 1989 . . . . . .

[nocutename]

Centerboarding provides less mechanical support for the edges of the book, so if you are one to regularly flip through your boxes I would shy away from this method for that reason alone. Additionally, as I mentioned previously, only one side of regular boards (the shiney one) is buffered with an alkaline coating. The other side is often slightly acidic at time of purchase, the acidity increases with time/temperature. You definitely don't want that in direct contact with your paper collectibles.

btw, most non-coated boards that you stumble upon, are not buffered at all and are thus acidic on both sides.

Yes, I completely forgot about the one-sided coating. It would only be for a few issues that I would keep in a magazine box so they would not get too trashed. But it would be nice to see the covers without removing them from the bag.

[nocutename]

OK, acidic thing noted. As to the structural support, if the board projected past all three 'open' edges of the comic, I don't see where there could be any "feathering" of the pages.

Anyway, to the OP, I refuse to have any tape on any of my bags. I just tuck the flap in. This followed the Great Tape Pull disaster of 1989 . . . . . .

I use to tuck but it wasted so much time getting the corners in just so and then some of them the top would puff up if I did not score the top correctly. Small heart sticker now. Plain, simple, classic!

[Duffman_Comics]

Small heart sticker? Jeez, if there were any doubts about your gender, all have now been resolved.

Hmmm.

Is there a small Punisher Head sticker?

[nocutename]

Small heart sticker? Jeez, if there were any doubts about your gender, all have now been resolved.

Hmmm.

Is there a small Punisher Head sticker?

LOL. When I first started I got cool Batman ones but they don't remove easily for re-reading. You have to tear them to open the bag. These ones I use now are great and fashionable too. :D

[nocutename]

I figured I would update this thread with my progress. OK, the first set of bag and boards I used to rebag and board all my new purchases (mostly from you guys here! :D ). I am going to start continuing that trend of rebagging everything as I receive it.

Last night, I rebagged and boarded half of my Detective Comics collection, plus Batman Family. This takes me through to Tec 526 and I still have a full short box to go.

Most of my moderns I had put two comics per bag. So I am using the old bag and boards (which are not terrible and I believe most of them were fairly new as I did replace some runs) to split these up. I did my two big runs, Demon and Suicide Squad last night as well. I also found extra large clear plastic bags to bundle those larger runs together for sale.

By the end of this weekend, I hope to have another 100 bag and boarded, plus finish my putting together the comics I am offering at my flea market table. I am hoping to put together 2 short boxes.

[GWiz]

wow, this has been a great read! was wondering, how others out there store, bag and tape their comics. guilty here of parallel taping, leaving only tiny ledges of tape to hold the bags closed. personally found this much less stressful when reopening the comics to read them. two parallel tapes for the non-reading comics, reading comics are parallel one taped in center. since returning to the world of comics have learned it is just good practice to rebag and board any newly acquired comics. didn't do this in the past as the old collection was just acquired for reading and stored with out backboards. didn't have a large collection, still don't. however the new collection is steadily growing.

have lots of questions and not sure how to phrase them properly. finding that the bag and board comics tend to turn or lean to the right, if viewing the covers. guessing this is from the comic spines on the left side bunched up together when stored in boxes. anyone out there got tips on how to deal with this? found out recently to much comics in the boxes and any handling of the comic filled boxes causes unnecessary damage to any comics at the handle ports(?). also a good way to damage those comics when trying to file them too. how many comics does anyone out there put to a large box? how many comics to keep in a small size box? is it good practice to keep space in the boxes to have comics leaned backwards?

[nocutename]

Hi GWiz, I forgot about this thread. I had purchased a few Mylite2's and halfbacks around the end of '09. I used those for most of my Batman and Detective Comics collection. For me they are very frustrating to work with and personally don't fit my needs. With the exception of Moderns, most of my comics are low grade and if I am lucky mid-grade. I am happy with them in this condition. The problem is I don't feel that Mylites are the best for handling an active collection. There seems to be a lot of friction and tightness when getting a comic in and out of the bag that I am afraid it causes more cover wear on the comic then if it was in a regular cheapie bag.

To answer your question about how many fit into a box. I don't think there is a magic number and it depends on what you are using to store the comics. If you use Mylites2 they take up more room and you can only store so many but the comics stand up straighter. What I do is fill the box enough so they are all standing up straight but I can still view the issue numbers without any problems. Pretty much I can slide my hand through any section of the box but the all stand up straight. In the rare event when I was unable to fill the box I put them in a basket until I accumulated enough and then used some type of filler for the box to make them stand up straight. Notice the importance of having them standing up not bending over.

Finally, I don't use tape I tuck the back side in which is alot neater and less risky. Of course except on those pesky Mylites2, they are a big pain to fold in as they are thicker so I still use my small heart stickers. Which are not functional but look cute.

[malaprop]

I don't use boxes for any comics that i think will ever have any real value. My cutoff (roughly) is $20 Overstreet. Everything higher is bagged and boarded, and stored in binders with plastic pages. I also try to never allow tape anywhere near my books, i fold the bag flap in. Just last night I pulled long boxes out of the attic to do a 5 year inventory. They were Vertigo titles like the Dreaming and Books of Magic, complete runs. I enjoyed reading them once, but doubt I ever will again. Made a mental note to just leave them up there from now on. maybe some day I'll try to sell them as lots. My suspicion is that the bags and boards may have higher long term value than the comics.

[nocutename]

How do you like the binders? I picked up an underground lot and he had a run in the binder (unbagged) and I was afraid they would be destroyed but held up pretty nicely. Of course they have those strong covers which are hard to mess up. I was going to post a pic of the binder to see if it was worth keeping. If I get a chance later I will do so.

[GWiz]

thank you jnine and malaprop for the kind responses. just have a very small collection of modern, probably VF – NM. was going to use those Mylite2's though at time of purchase the LCS owner/vender. stated that with the humidity here and use of Mylite2s combination causes condensation inside the bags. unless the comics are being stored in a cooler area like an air conditioned space. don’t have that luxury so opted for the comic boxes again. was disappointed cause those awesome cover arts would be hidden from view. there is hope now after reading your folks responses.

binders for comics, never figured that such an item existed. used google fu, just at a quick glance of those sites found. it would seem the info being sought escapes their listings. roughly, could one just purchase… what looks, like… comic sheets? would that be the correct term? how many comics can go in a binder? could bagged and boarded comics fit inside those comic sheets? could those comic sheets be used in other types of binders? any negatives that go with this type of storage? apologies for all the question this is exciting to know.

[nocutename]

I am not sure that what your LCS is telling you is actually true. I am hardly an expert on the matter but I don't have A/C either. In fact my apartment was so hot during the 1st heat wave that it liquidified a bag of fresh potatoes in a couple of days. We are coming up to our possible 3rd heatwave of the year here. The comics in mylars were not sweaty whatsoever. In fact I had pulled a couple for a VCC sale and now have them up on ebay.

The mylites with full or half backs are suppose to hedge against unidealistic storage conditions. At least that is the way I believe it to be. The halfbacks are buffered to ward off damage from possible breakdown etc (lack of better technical terms). The are also provide archival protection which the cheaper bags really don't. I am not trying to sell you on them and just like I won't take my word as the end all you should accept what your LCS is saying either without doing your own research.

Anyway, if you do order them make sure that you get the a size bigger because the comics fit snugger inside them. For copper and moderns I used 700 Halfback and Mylites2 Standard Comic Size 7 1/4". Note these do not handle the 20 centers well at all. But I found no probems with the coppers.

How small is your collection? If it isn't more than 100 or so you can use Magazine boxes. I have them for comics that are on my "To Read" pile and them work great. You can actually make them yourself out of cardboard boxes. I just took a box and cut it in the shape of one to see if it worked out and I like them better than the comic boxes because I can group a genre or run together. You can do a quick search on magazine boxes at staples.

[malaprop]

I don't have special binders made for comics, just regular ol 3 ring binders, with 3 ring plastic sleeves you can get at any office store. I still use regular comic bags as well, so they're double bagged. What doesn't work particularly well is the mylars with the open tops, they stick out of the top.

What I have thought about trying to find is a set of binders with sleeves, such as you might see in a book set, so that no light gets in. Probably expensive though.

[grininbarrett]

The mylites with full or half backs are suppose to hedge against unidealistic storage conditions. At least that is the way I believe it to be. The halfbacks are buffered to ward off damage from possible breakdown etc (lack of better technical terms). The are also provide archival protection which the cheaper bags really don't.


Great concise explanation.
Halfbacks are a trade name for Gerber boards. The only other fully buffered board manufacturer regularly selling into the comic market is Bill Cole. All other boards are solid bleached sulfate, some with a spray coated buffer on one side (BCW) and some without. Even the spray coated ones become acidic in 3-5 years. Sooner in high temperatures. Acid browns the pages and makes them brittle and of course dulls the cover.
For reader comics (especially from the 80's and up) there is little reason to go to the expense of Mylars, or even bags and boards for that matter. But if you want to maintain comics to look their best, Mylar, Halfbacks or Fullbacks, and microchamber paper is the way to go.

Any other storage questions? Let 'em fly!

[disneyteddies]

Mylites and fullbacks for me, never have to do it again...do it now before you have 22000 to do..

[illuminated]

All other boards are solid bleached sulfate, some with a spray coated buffer on one side (BCW) and some without. Even the spray coated ones become acidic in 3-5 years. Sooner in high temperatures.

I have often heard that acid-neutral boards could turn sour. One of the tricky phrases is that "Acid-free" seems synonymous with "neutral". That is, Acid-free products do contain acid, but it's fair and balanced.
Acid-free (http://www.bcwsupplies.com/spages/info/GLOSSARY.htm)
Acid-free paper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid-free_paper)

I simply can't change boards every five years. It's all I'd be doing. I have around 20k to 40k comics I'd like to hold onto. I try to keep them cool and dry. But, as most are not worth more than $2, simply can't invest 25-50¢ each in bags/boards, especially considering many may be losing value. Even at 20¢ each, it'd be more than I have invested in the comics. It's all I can do to keep selling enough to keep buying. I'm so screwed.

[grininbarrett]

I have often heard that acid-neutral boards could turn sour. One of the tricky phrases is that \"Acid-free\" seems synonymous with \"neutral\". That is, Acid-free products do contain acid, but it's fair and balanced.
Acid-free (\"http://www.bcwsupplies.com/spages/info/GLOSSARY.htm\")
Acid-free paper (\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid-free_paper\")



It is only fair and balanced when first manufactured. After that its downhill all the way. UNLESS, the boards are buffered throughout.

The balancing point is when to go to the expense. Factors include:

Printed on newsprint, Higher current value, High potential to appreciate in value, Higher grade

With any of the above you may want to do Mylar, buffered boards and microchamber
Newsprint papers are the most susceptible to acid hydrolysis. Newer papers, not so much
Higher value, self explanatory
High potential to appreciate usually goes in hand with scarcity in High grade