Are binders safe enough...

jskirwin

... for NRMT- Mint cards?

Here's a link to one of several auctions for complete sets stored in binders that are advertised in that range.

While I'm somewhat interested in the sets, I'm more interested in the storage solution because I am considering doing the same with my sets. However I am concerned that storage in penny-sleeves inserted into 9 card sheets will damage the corners over time.

What's the consensus here?

I know the best solution would be storage in a dry cool place, but then what's the point beyond feeding one's inner squirrel.

smallstocks

The key to binders is the ability to get the card into the sleeves without ruining the corners. I have had cards in binders for 26 years now and as far as protection is concerned they have been 100% reliable.

Mike

cardfan07

I've gone thru bunches of binders recently and have noticed that some cards on the outside rows get bent corners. the sheets are sometimes too small or the cards behind them aren't in line, making the unevenness bend corners. Also, getting them in definitely takes a little patience.

Onlypsahockey

Also be sure not to lay the binders flat ontop of each other. The cards can end up stuck to the pages. I store most of my older raw sets in binders & pages but always stand the binders on edge. And use small 1" binders. One set, one binder.

Bob

kingraider75

kingraider75

Binders are not a good way to store cards. The first few cards in pages sometimes have a serious bend after being stuck in pages. If the binders are not stored correctly, the cards can also "stick" into some of the older pagers. Haven't seen this problem with the newer UltraPro pages, but a lot of people have olders sets in old sheets. I guess a binders is better than nothing, but I would think that a box would provide more long term protection. Sellers on Ebay just say "stored in pages and binder" to make you think they haven't sorted the cards often or that they are in better condition.

cardfan07

Yeah, the sheet material has changed over the years. I've found some of the cards I had as a kid in binders and it's hard to get some of them out. Those are the cards from the 80s...I'm sure the foil cards would be even more difficult to remove.

charliehustle14

I've had really good luck with the newer type of soft Polyethelene (PET) Ultra Pro sheets. I have had a '74 set stored in those for about 8 years and the cards (mostly just commons in there now) look just as NM-MT as when I put them in. I have some miscellaneous cards I stored in some older BCW sheets about 12 years ago, and the four corners tended to warp over time. Thankfully, any damage done was to some low-value cards. These were a much harder type of PET plastic sheet and I remember getting them in the 80's after the PVC sheet scare. Anybody remember that? Everybody went nuts all of a sudden when articles were published about what Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastic can do to cardboard over time.

I agree with Onlypsahockey that cards should be stored in an upright manner. My '74's have been stored this way. I think it also pays to get use a nice binder that let's the sheets lay as flat as possible against the front and back covers.

-Todd-

MorrellMan

Cards in sheets and binders are as safe as you make them. There's no rigidity to the sheets so you have to be very careful the way you store and handle them. Visit them often to see how they're doing.

I'm particularly intrigued with the way this seller collates his sets. Putting those 76s in team set order looks pretty nice.

As an added note on this subject, I asked myself that same question about 15 years ago and transferred all my raw sets into Card Saver II's. I still think they are safer that way, but they weren't as fun, so I recently switched them back to sheets. The good think is that I used the new ultrapro sheets that are not only better, but no longer rounded at the bottom right corner, which was always a concern for me. I store the binders flat on a shelf in a barristers bookcase with no other binders on it.


as you can see, I'm pretty happy with that.

bowdowntome

A couple things about binders:

DON'T use O-ring binders. Only use D-ring binders.

Even when using D-ring binders be sure to NOT overfill them. When you overfill them, the top few pages have a tendancy to curl over the top of the D-ring, leaving ring indentions in the cards next to the rings.

MorrellMan

<< <i>A couple things about binders:

DON'T use O-ring binders. Only use D-ring binders.

Even when using D-ring binders be sure to NOT overfill them. When you overfill them, the top few pages have a tendancy to curl over the top of the D-ring, leaving ring indentions in the cards next to the rings. >>



I'll take that a step further: avoid the slant D rings, they'll cause your cards to stack unevenly as well; go with the straight D rings.

damnyankees

As long as the card is in a penny sleeve first,I've had no problems with them.