Help with a card storage problem

jason045

Since I started buying Card Saver 1s for my PSA sumissions, I've started using them on all my cards instead of toploaders. They are easier to get the card in and out of, they will hold thick or thin cards, and they don't allow movement. The problem is I need something to hold them. I would like something like the cardboard fold up boxes that are used for sets. Something that would hold 100-200 card saver 1s. Does anyone know where I can find something like this? Thanks for any help.

Jason

Stone193

Jason
Link #1
Link #2
Here's a couple of sources to start with. I like the cardboard vault boxes to store semi-rigids in.
Hope this helps.
Mike

magellan

Mike (or anyone) I have a question. I've been buying my supplies at BCW and had a bunch of semi-rigids which I used to submit to PSA in. After looking through all their do's & don'ts of submissions, it looks like I screwed up & used the wrong (smaller) size semi-rigid. Are they going to go ballistic on me when my submission gets there? They describe the holders in Cardsaver 1 & II terms, hell I didn't know the difference. Until recently I'd always used toploaders & penny sleeves only.
Also it doesn't look like BCW even carries a larger size, is the hotflips large the right one? Thanks for any help here.

Dave

ctsoxfan

I have sent in my last half dozen submissions using the smaller (Card Saver I ?) holders, with no problem at all. I don't think it matters much, but definitely do not submit in top loaders. PSA does not like that at all, and they say so in the submission instructions.

Jason, when you store your cards, are you putting them in penny sleeves first, and then the Card Savers? I have always wondered if the penny sleeve is necessary at all with the Card Saver, either when submitting, or for long term storage. Any thoughts, anyone?

Stone193

Dave
If you are submitting modern era cards (57T and newer) - I agree with Soxfan but if you submit the larger pre57's then they fit on the snug side and I could see them frown a bit at that - Also, coincidentally, I just bought a case of semi-rigids from Hot flips and the large are close enough to me - they are 3x4.5" - and the price was good 70$ for the case - that comes to 3.5cents
I recollect that BCW does have the PSA version as they advertise but was a lot more $ - 20$ more for the case as I recall.
Soxfan - I would kind of believe that a penny sleeve inside a semi-rigid would be overkill and harder to see the card clearly over time - I have a few thousand cards in semi-rigids for 10+ year now and they look good - and these are star cards from mantles to ripkin rc's etc. Ya know, I didn't find anyone that was selling the cardsaver in SCD - does anyone remember cardboard gold?
Mike

DeutscherGeist

I do use penny sleeves and then put them in Card Saver II's. While you will be fine with a plain old Topps cards just placed in Card Saver II's, but something glossy like a Fleer Ultra, Topps Stadium club, and even the topps tiffany cards will do better inside a penny sleeve as their surfaces are very scratch prone. Also, I have seen gloss stick to Card Savers over the years when the protective penny sleeve does not act as a barrier between card and Card Saver. This is my experience.

I have stored cards for more than 10 years inside Card Savers and I am very fussy about card storage and card condition, so I always strive to preserve my cards the best way possible. The penny sleeve is also a good way to keep air from coming into contact with the card. You don't want your cards to yellow due to oxidation.

A penny a sleeve is not always overkill. Using penny sleeves in top loaders is also nice and depends on your personal preference. Just be cautious in putting cards in penny sleeves as some damage may occur if not done properly.

Stone193

DG
That's a good point especially with respect to high gloss modern which I don't have stored in semi's - I have not seen any problem with the cards I have stored but you can't be too cautious especially if your cards get exposed to extra heat and moisture. Good point.
Mike

elway65

A couple quick questions: could someone tell me the best place to buy cardsavers? Also, I'm kinda old school...I've been using soft sleeves and top loaders for years...cardsavers better? I find getting the cards out really, really hard (but there's probably a trick that I'm not down with...do you squeeze them to release the card?).

thanks, marc

Putty

Stone, thankx for the storage box links. I have been looking for them every since the Ft Washington show. They had them there for a dollar, and of course were sold out by the time I found the stand.

magellan

Mike & ctsoxfan, Thanks for the replies, I feel better. As to Cardboard Gold, I remember their ads years ago (SCD?) but when I googled for cardsavers the only link in top 20 or so that was for other than credit cards was one to PSA. I've been doing the pennysleeve inside the semi-rigids and toploaders, I feel more comfortable with them that way.

Dave

ctsoxfan

Thanks also for everyones thoughts...very helpful thread! I hate using the penny sleeve, because of the possibility of nicking a corner when you put the card in, but if you are careful about it, I think the sleeve gives you an extra bit of protection for the card. The cards I have that are not graded, are gradually going into these (Card Savers), and one of the main reasons is trying to get a card out of a top loader can be difficult to do without damaging the card (Elway, I don't have the trick either). Thanks again, all.

jason045

Soxfan: A nice trick for getting cards into penny sleeves without nicking the corners is to slit one edge with a razor blade about 1/4 inch from the top. You should be able to get them in with no problem then.

DeutscherGeist

Jason is right, slit the edge of a penny sleeve, and then you can avoid damaging the card while putting them in. Practice with commons first till you get the hang of it. (And you though commons have no practical use).

DeutscherGeist

Elway,

Having cards in penny sleeves then in placed in top loaders is an excellent way to store cards. My only reservation to this is that the top is too open, meaning more conducive to dust and particles getting in, even air to cause potential oxidation. The solution to that is to put them in team bags or something similar and then you have really good protection. I do use the top loader method myself, but I also like Card Saver II's because they take up slightly less space and are cheaper. Not only do I look for the best way to preserve cards, but I also like to cut costs without compromising optimal care.

BEWARE: Not all penny sleeves are safe. Some are inferior in quality, meaning they have particles in them that will dent your cards. This probably due to poor factory control and procedure. Look closely at a sleeve and make sure there are no clear colored particles molded on to the sleeve. High quality sleeves are the Ultra Pro Platinums---they are the best I have seen and they do a good job of making sleeves that have no defects or particles that can dent the card.

To get a card holdered by PSA just to have them preserved is a big waste of money, especially if its something to go in your permanent collection. Slab it if you want to sell. If you want to keep it forever, the above methods are better. Maybe you want to display the card in a PSA holder and have no intention of selling it, then that is your preference. However, if you have 10 Mattingly rookies that you want to keep forever, slab one for display and keep the rest in the above mentioned method. If you ever decide to sell in 30 years, psa may not be around or the holders have changed, so its best you holder at a point when you are really sure you want to sell to make sure you have the latest style holder to offer customers. Maybe grading standards would change by that time too, so the latest holder will command the highest money.

elway65

Mahalo everyone.

When I mentioned having problems getting the card out, I meant getting it out of the Cardsaver (as opposed to a penny sleeve). I ran a thread about trouble nicking corners and received a lot of helpful advice (I believe it was "Card Protection 101 on either the Vintage Card or PSA Set Registry board). I've tried both the "cutting 1/4" and "using my index finger back and forth inside the sleeve to stretch the mouth of the sleeve open" methods, and it's much easier.

How does one properly slip a card into, and out of, a cardsaver?

Again, thanks for all the great advice.


marc

jason045

Elway, I use the oversize Card Saver 1s. To get them cards in and out, I just squeeze the edges and use a finger to open the top. Then just slip the card (in a penny sleeve) inside. With the smaller Card Saver 2s, this is a little more difficult. There is a much better chance of damaging the card with a card saver2.

Stone193

I'm with Jason
If money and size is not an issue, easier is better and the larger semi-rigids will facilitate this. Unless someone knows better, Hot flips will sell you a case of the larger semi's for about 3.5 cents a piece if you buy 2000 I believe - that's a heck of alot cheaper than PSA at 10 cents. Just my opinion - I think that Geist has provided a lot of really superb information on this topic.
Mike