"Secure" 9-Pocket Plastic Sheets, Where Have You Been All My Life?
detroitfan2
Posts: 3,337 ✭✭✭✭
So perhaps I've been living under a rock for far too long, but I have never seen these before:
ultrapro.com/product_info.php?products_id=3940
I ordered a batch from Amazon and they are the best invention since the yellow first down line was transposed on TV broadcasts. For years I've loved having my sets in plastic sheets but hated the fact that the cards could slide out, but this solves the problem. Anyone else tried these?
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Comments
That's really cool
Dang! I just bought a case of non-secure pages!
That sounds like a great idea. Most of my cards from 1990 on are in 9 pocket. I will have to try. Thanks for the info.
They need to manufacture a bulletproof top page which is impervious to the pressure of notebook rings.
Detroit, can you post a scan of a page with cards before I buy them? The Ultrapro picture is hard to appreciate. Is the flap on the back side of the page?
"Molon Labe"
I will try to get you a picture today. The "flaps" are actually pretty cool. You can place them "over" the sleeve (so that if you ran your finger upwards on the page you would open the flap, or you can tuck them under the sleeve (so that the flap is actually in contact with the top of the card and "under" the sleeve), which is how I chose to use them. They are extremely well designed, as the sleeve itself has about 1/4 inch at the top where it is not attached to the sheet, and the flap and sleeve overlap. I will warn you that it takes a bit to become efficient at putting the cards into the sheets, but I kind of like that too because it's forcing me to spend more time with cards that I otherwise wouldn't be looking at
I tried taking a picture but it just won't come out right, so here's a diagram of a cross section from the long side of the sheet (there are 3 such rows of 3):
In the diagram, the red line is the card. In both cases, the bottom line is the "back" of the sheet. The top line is the "sleeve" as in a traditional sheet. The left-most "angled" small line is part of the sleeve but it is not "fused" to the back of the sheet. The right-most "angled" line is the security "flap". The sheets come as shown in the bottom view, however it is easy to house the card using either method, and it seems the top method is a bit more secure. The cards won't slide out either way, but in the top method, they have even less chance of sliding around.
Also, the top "flap" is continuous across all 3 cards in a row, if that makes sense.
If the flap can be tucked inside the pocket, with the sharp edge of the flap then sitting on the surface 1/8th or so all along the top of the card, some level of care will be needed for storage. The design sounds like it will make the pages one layer of plastic thicker where the flaps are. One page it won't be noticeable, but 60-80 pages piled up and there will be something odd looking going on with the pile of pages. The stack will be higher along those 3 flap lines and there will be more pressure along the flap lines, especially if albums are stacked or packed tight. I have seen many instances of 52-56 Topps sized cards slipped into penny sleeves that are too short to cover the whole card, then secured(even lightly) in a screw down. Some time sitting in the screw down, take the card out, and there will be an impression line from the penny sleeve on the card. If the flap on the page is tucked inside the slot and sitting on the card the same impression line could occur. I think you'd want to keep the flap on the outside, but it will still make a larger stack of pages odd looking with difference in thickness.
Those are great points Kb and you are absolutely correct, the stack should be higher along the 3 flap lines. You've convinced me to put the flap on the outside. My sets are all "collector's grade" (Excellent-ish), so there's no PSA 10's in there, but I certainly would like to keep them PSA 5ish.
Thanks for the advice!