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Storing Cards for Protection and Enjoyment

jskirwinjskirwin Posts: 700 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Okay, it's a basic question but the search turned up 0 hits so here it goes.

How do you store your raw cards? Toploaders? Acrylic sleeves? Binders? Boxes?

I'm looking for a way that protects the cards while allowing them to be enjoyed (handled and looked at) without damaging them.

I realize that there is a trade-off between handling and protection, but I can't simply shove the cards in a box - so I'm looking for the best alternative.

And I'm talking thousands and thousands of cards. Once I decide on a method, it's being applied across the board - so cost will be a factor as well.

Thanks!

Comments

  • jrdolanjrdolan Posts: 2,549 ✭✭
    Cheap or low-grade cards I store in poly sleeves which in turn go into toploaders which in turn go into those white cardboard boxes.

    My better cards, I store in PSA slabs. image
  • charliehustle14charliehustle14 Posts: 425 ✭✭✭
    I'm with jrdolan on both counts. The only thing I'd add is that I've found that the Ultra-Pro One-Touch holders are pretty cool for '57 and up cards that you want a little more protection for, but aren't ready to send in for grading yet. You get a thicker holder with corner protection:

    image
  • DeutscherGeistDeutscherGeist Posts: 2,990 ✭✭✭✭
    Ultra Pro Platinum sleeves are the best way to store cards. Put them in 400 ct boxes. For more valuable ones, place them in a top loader or card protector in addition to the sleeve.

    THe sleeve in a top loader is a very safe way to archive a card and can be viewed for enjoyment as well. You don't need a hard case unless you plan on flingging the card off the roof or drive over it with a car--what are the odds of that. Keep them away from children and nothing should happen to the cards.

    Using hard plastic cases in a bulk manner is over protection and takes up so much more money and space. Besides, the hard plastic cases do not protect the cards against oxidation. Having cards in sleeves and then placed in 400 ct boxes forces air out of each individual sleeve containing the card. A card in a sleeve may not seem much armor, but seriously, what disaster are you afraid of. Normal handling of the card in a sleeve is not going to damage the card, but giving it to a baby will. A baby could even damage a card in a plastic holder, not by breaking it, but by slobbering all over it and having some saliva leak through the holder and onto the card.













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  • Dallas88Dallas88 Posts: 746 ✭
    Has anyone used the MJRoop binders and "cover" for the binder?

    If so - could I please have some input on what you think of those?

    Thanks - Dal
  • elway65elway65 Posts: 157
    Roop is the poop (I borrowed that from some clever individual).

    Roop is the chicken soup (I made that up and it really sucks).

    I like their binder systems. I have a few of them and find they're really great for both display and protection purposes. I am visual and love to look at my cards. A little on the expensive side, but worth it IMHO.

    Roop is the poop
    everywhere you go
    there you are

    marc in Hawaii
  • Dallas88Dallas88 Posts: 746 ✭
    Muchos Gracias Elway

    I'll give that binder a try - although it'll be tough to break from my Office Max $1.00 special!image
  • eadams24eadams24 Posts: 139
    Is there anything comparable to the Ultra-Pro One-Touch holders for cards early than 1957, like 1952 topps ungraded cards?
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