How to store cards and/or prep for grading

onegaucho

I haven't submitted my own cards in a long, long time. I just moved and finally have gotten around to organizing a lot of my raw stuff. I'm gettin ready to prep them for submission and thought I'd ask the group before I got ready to ship.

What are the preferred vendors you guys use?

I know PSA recommends Card Saver Is' with sleeves protecting the cards.

1. Do you guys use Card Saver Is? What other ones are 'acceptable'?
2. What company's soft sleeves do you use?

Also, I keep most of my raw 1950 Bowmans in an album. Ultra Pro (I think) created these cool 12 card sheets that hold these smaller cards 'tighter'. Anyone else store their raw cards in albums? I've had them in these sheets for 5+ years now and they don't 'stick' to the sheets at all.

Hubcap

I do not use Card Saver semi rigids. I have found that the openings are too narrow and may cause chipping (especially on color sensitive borders, like 1971 Topps baseball and 1962 Topps FB) when the card is put in and taken out. In addition, I have found that the raised logo may damage the back of the card when inserted into the semi rigid. I also do not use sleeves. Another chance to damage a corner on insertion or removal.

I do use a slightly wider semi rigid (about a 1/4" wider) and it is so much easier for me to place the card in the semi rigid holder and reposition the card if necessary w/o the worry of damaging the card. I get them from www.mattsbaseball.com and he has a toll free number if you need to speak to him directly. They are about 2.5 cents each in quantity plus shipping. This is in no way an endorsement or plug, but his product works for me very nicely. I also find that it also eliminates having to push the card down into the semi rigid which may cause creasing along the top portion of the card.

The disadvantage? The semi rigids do not fit in a shoebox the way the Cardsavers do. That is why most dealers use the standard sized semi rigids. Another disadvantage is that you can get Card savers at the shows from PSA for free.

But I like the advantages of the wider semi rigid.

Skycap

Here's how I prep my cards for grading:

I use a scissors to cut off the bottom and right-side seams of a Card Saver I so it opens like a book.

I put the card into a "penny" holder and place it inside the Card Saver I, centering it as best that I can.

I then put two pieces of scotch tape at the right side (one near top and one near the bottom) and one at the bottom to close it up. I put enough scotch tape so that the loops extend about 1/2 to 1 inch beyond the edge.

I have been very successful with this method and have never had a card come back with unexpected damage. I would never just put a card in an unaltered Card Saver I through the top because the corners or edges could be damaged.

Skycap

34GoudeyCollector

Awesome idea Skycap! Never thought of it. I seem to get damage from time to time with unaltered Card Savers. Thanks for the tip!
Ken

Wayne8348

<< <i>Here's how I prep my cards for grading: >>





<< <i>I use a scissors to cut off the bottom and right-side >>





My first thought was that you can get in trouble for this...


wayne

dalew

Buy yourself some Ultra Pro Sleeves 2 5/8 X 3 5/8 - They come 100 in a pack. The web site is www.ultra-pro.com. Slide your card into this flexible sleeve. Then slide your card into a Card Saver I. I buy mine from Cardboard Gold, Inc. Don't know the web site, but do a search on the company.

Correspond the invoice submission number to the line and use a removable sticker to identify your card (i.e., 9023423 - #1, 9023423 - #2, etc).

When you get all your cards done, depending on the amount, put them in the appropriate size container and put in packing material and send.

I've never had any cards damaged in shipping.

Dale