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Are toploaders harmful for cards?

kobykoby Posts: 1,699 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I read somewhere that toploaders use old PVC plastic which may be harmful to the cards. Is this true?

Comments

  • lawnmowermanlawnmowerman Posts: 19,477 ✭✭✭✭
    Some toploaders say "no pvc". I am sure this might be true with older or cheap toploaders but I always look for brand names and something that says safe and or no pvc. You should be using penny sleeves with your toploaders which will keep your cards safe from toploader scratches and any other problems.

    1994 Pro Line Live

    TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject

  • kobykoby Posts: 1,699 ✭✭
    Thanks for the information. I better make sure mine are in sleeves and say PVC-free.
  • lawnmowermanlawnmowerman Posts: 19,477 ✭✭✭✭
    Sure, anytime. Penny sleeves are cheap and good ins. to keep your cards safe. Be sure they are good quality as well as the toploaders.

    Matt

    1994 Pro Line Live

    TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject

  • smallstockssmallstocks Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭✭
    Who makes the best toploaders?

    Late 60's and early to mid 70's non-sports
  • lawnmowermanlawnmowerman Posts: 19,477 ✭✭✭✭
    I like Ultra Pro and Collector safe. There are other good brands. Just be sure to read what they are made of.

    Matt

    1994 Pro Line Live

    TheDallasCowboyBackfieldProject

  • Brian48Brian48 Posts: 2,624 ✭✭✭
    I had a bunch of hockey cards I stuffed into toploaders about 10 years ago and left forgotten in a closet. I broke them out recently. All of the had turned dark yellow. Luckily, I used penny sleeves with all my holders back then. The sleeves were still perfect.
  • fsjeterfsjeter Posts: 1,390
    I don't use toploaders anymore. I use penny sleeves and Cardsaver I's or II's (depending on the card size). It's alot easier to get cards in and out of the CS I's and II's and they don't slide around as much as cards in toploaders IMO. image

    Scott
    Registry Sets:
    T-205 Gold PSA 4 & up
    1967 Topps BB PSA 8 & up
    1975 Topps BB PSA 9 & up
    1959 Topps FB PSA 8 & up
    1976 Topps FB PSA 9 & up
    1981 Topps FB PSA 10
    1976-77 Topps BK PSA 9 & up
    1988-89 Fleer BK PSA 10
    3,000 Hit Club RC PSA 5 & Up

    My Sets
  • PinkcatfishPinkcatfish Posts: 377 ✭✭
    Not sure if this is true - but I've been told that ANYthing with any rigidity to it (including cardsavers) have "some"
    PVC in them. Unlike pennysleeves that have no rigidity and are therefore safe. Whenever I use top loaders the
    cards go in pennysleeves first.

    J
  • eadams24eadams24 Posts: 139
    What about album pages? Should cards go in pennysleeves before going into album pages? I use these.
  • CubbyCubby Posts: 2,096 ✭
    "Should cards go in pennysleeves before going into album pages?" Yes, I would put the sleeve on. I have heard stories about the card getting stuck to the plastic, after a period of time. If the fit is too tight, I would recommend putting two cards in there first.


    BTW: Cubby=Cub Fan
  • dudedude Posts: 1,454 ✭✭
    << I had a bunch of hockey cards I stuffed into toploaders about 10 years ago and left forgotten in a closet. I broke them out recently. All of the had turned dark yellow. Luckily, I used penny sleeves with all my holders back then. The sleeves were still perfect.>>

    Same thing happened to me recently except that I had some top loaders that turned yellow and some that didn't. I can only assume that the yellow ones were the PVC variety and the others were not.

    I also agree that using PVC-free penny sleeves or better yet mylar sleeves inside Card Saver I's is the better way to go.
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    What about the larger, older cards that do not fit in traditional penny sleeves (i.e. '55 B & T, '56 T, etc)? The tops stick out just a tad and I'm not sure if over time, it could leave a small mark or not.

    I had numerous older cards in hard top loaders (w/o sleeves) that sat in the dark for over 10 years. The top loaders had a slight brown tint at the top; however, the cards were not effected.
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • CubbyCubby Posts: 2,096 ✭
    "The tops stick out just a tad" This can be remedied by putting the sleeves over both ends. (Assuming they fit)


    BTW: Cubby=Cub Fan
  • kingraider75kingraider75 Posts: 1,500 ✭✭
    the last issue of Tuff Stuff had an article about the toploaders not being acid free. This was the first I had heard of that, so I got scared and went through each card in a toploader to make sure it had a penny sleeve.

    I do like Card Saver 1 or 2, but I think the UltraPro toploaders are easier to handle.
    Running an Ebay store sure takes a lot more time than a person would think!
  • shambo2000shambo2000 Posts: 322
    What is the difference in card saver I and card saver II? I have a ton of card saver II's on hand but noticed that PSA recommends the I's for submission.

    Shannon
    shambo2000
    Topps Heritage Super Store
    My Steve Carlton Basic Registry Set
  • CubbyCubby Posts: 2,096 ✭
    The card saver II is the smaller one (about 3" by 4.5") While the card saver I is approx. 3.25" by 5". Myself, I prefer I's.


    BTW: Cubby=Cub Fan
  • kobykoby Posts: 1,699 ✭✭


    << <i>Not sure if this is true - but I've been told that ANYthing with any rigidity to it (including cardsavers) have "some"
    PVC in them. Unlike pennysleeves that have no rigidity and are therefore safe. Whenever I use top loaders the
    cards go in pennysleeves first.

    J >>



    Slabs, including those of PSA, GAI and SGC, have "rigidity to it." Do we know if slabs have harmful PVC?
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