Safest method to store 3 ring binders
Ahmanfan
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Curious how you guys would store these. High grade vintage sets so want to make sure they’re not going to warp, etc. seems to me storing this way, they’re hanging vertically from the eyelets so no pressure being applied to the inner column of cards like would be if stored upright.
Any thoughts or insight? Open to suggestions. 
Collecting
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
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That makes a lot of sense. I would box them though to avoid any potential UV light exposure.
Yeah, that does make sense. As long as the sheets don’t hit the shelf below. All my binders stored spine out have the pages sagging between the cards.
On the 2 blue binders how did you get it so the cover did not slide up when stored that way?
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
Thanks Jayman. They're in a closed closet. Just opened for the photo. Good thinking though.
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
I feel that anything decent in a binder should also be in a slip cover. That keeps the binder tight and the pages from warping or sagging from weight. Also keeps the dust out and keeps them safe from UV light exposure.
Good idea. Had no idea these existed. Something like this?
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
Exactly. I use them for some of my cards and they are fantastic.
Thanks for the suggestion. I still feel like the pages can potentially put pressure on the 3 rings if stored upright, even in that. Not too sure.
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
It's not bad as long as the binder is kept reasonably full. There is kind of a sweet spot between too empty (where pages can sag) and too full (where you are really cramming stuff that shouldn't be crammed) where the binder fits perfectly and pages stay upright with little/no pressure.
Slip cover would help, but I have binders that aren’t completely full, they are the ones that like to sag.
These type of albums seem to be popular now. I think they would work well for the issue at hand. Ultra pro make a version too..
CardGuard Trading Card Pro-Folio, 9-Pocket Side-Loading Pages, Holds 360 Cards, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084BKV6WD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Z8B06M7X7NP5JK4KEBHB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
I guess laying the pages flat outside of a binder environment would be the absolute safest. Obviously, not using binders/pages and each card in a CS1 would be the VERY safest.
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
For the best of both worlds, you can also put the cards into CS1s or top loaders and then put them into four-pocket pages. It's a bit pricier, but might offer the peace of mind you want.
You can lay binders/slipcovers on their sides and stack vertically so that the pages lay flat. That might help also.
my only advice would be to research the 9 pocket pages very carefully. i got my childhood collection back years ago from my dad. he was a collector and always kept in his house. properly humidity and climate controlled however he never really thumbed through them over the previous 15 or so years. so they just sat. when i got them back and went to flip through them i noticed that just about every page had a sticky oily residue. basically the petroleum used to make the pages started breaking down over the years. luckily most of the breakdown seemed to occur on the outer side of the page and most of the cards suffered no damage. the few that did seemed to be the cards in the #9 pocket where most of the pressure would have been applied.
tmi perhaps, but better safe than sorry. especially w those vintage basketball sets in that type of condition!
I think you're using the wrong binders? I think the ring should have a flat edge?? The binders you are using are all round. I really don't use binders; but I think I'm correct on the binders you're using.
If my eyes are seeing things correctly the first two blue binders (left) look to be D-ring binders (designed more for cards) and the rest are O-ring binders (for papers, school, etc). What few binders I do have are all D-ring and would never use the O-ring ones.
Jeff
Miscut Museum
My Mess
I am a set collector and at one time had all of my sets in top loaders. Total PITA - impossible to flip through and a bear to store. Have moved most of my sets to the Ultimate Guard binders. Have some pretty valuable cards in there and am completely comfortable with long term storage, and flip through them all the time.
Thanks for the comments all. Yes my binders are a mis mash of whatever I have laying around.. I need to rectify that.
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
I use Ultra Pro Binders. You can buy them by the case and they aren't too expensive but provide a nice uniform look. I use the Ultra Pro Platinum 9 card pages for them too. Again, a little more expensive but still reasonable. For cards that might potentially be worth more or are already worth something, I keep them out of the binder in CS1s. The sets I keep in binders are all complete sets that are fairly low value (Topps 1987 - Tops 2020).
this the way i store my binders. upright and make sure that the binders are not to full of pages and there is no sagging of the pages. i keep the bubble wrap on top to keep the dust out of the top of binders pages. i have every card in penny sleeves mainly my seventies sets. in the pockets to keep the cards from moving.
I use these for smaller groupings of 8x10s and theme sets.
Adorama Plastic Storage Binder Box with 3 'O'-Rings, 9x11", Portrait Format, Color: Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009E6LFA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Z27DWMW976J9GTE8ND57?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
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I too have been looking for a safe, economical and consistent way for my binders. I knew I wanted to store them flat because of the sagging issues and I wanted a slip cover to keep out dust/light. I found these from Bindertek. Im not sold on the strength of the rings but they are cheaper than the other archival systems I’ve come across.