Sets in sheets or Card Savers?
 

I'm building a '68 and '75 set. I currently have them in 9-card sheets, but I think I'd now prefer them in Card Savers instead. My thinking is that I could somehow have a more intimate feel with a card in a semi-rigid holder, and I'd like to look at each card individually rather than one in nine.

Any thoughts? Has anyone bought and filed a set into one only to switch it to another later? Did you truly enjoy it more, or was it just a "grass is always greener" situation?

I think it's just about personal taste. I love flipping through my binders and getting the satisfaction of filling the empty slots as I go along. Its a visual thing. I just never got into card savers.

That said, I do pull out the biggest stars and display then on my bookshelf in screw down holders, but that's only a few.

Joe

I'm with Joe...I love looking through my binders and seeing everything "together".

I do however have my 54 Topps in card savers (I am about 1/3rd done) only because I have no idea how to binder them and refuse to lay them sideways. I flip through those as well...but would binder them in a second if I could.

I am going to start a separate topic on which sheets and binders to use, but I am interested in this topic, as well.

I'd be afraid to store cards in just card savers, especially any with value. I'm a bit of a klutz, and I'm worried about dropping one, and having it bent.

My concern with sheets is having the cards stick to the sheets. I have one binder that have cards I bought as a kid (my collection for the most part back then consisted of 1986-1991). Well, the sheets have become stuck to many of the cards.

If I could display cards in sheets, and be sure they would be protected (and not get damaged from the plastic itself), I'd probably utilize them.

I have built sets both ways over the years. I have found that I prefer the pages in a binder.

Stache,

If you're worried about protection then you might want to try putting the cards in penny sleeves first and then putting them in the pages.

Also I think the pages that were made in the 80s were worse then the ones today and they would melt/stock over time. I don't think that is a problem any more.

Joe

I have about 22 sets in binders. I like Card Savers but I think it is hard to get cards perfectly centered in Card Savers and always worried about damaging cards trying to get them in there and moving them around.

My less expensive sets get stored in binders with 9 pocket pages. My more expensive sets are in Card Savers (actually the Ultra Pro equivilent) inside either "shoe boxes" or "vault boxes." This is done for (1) protection - the tops of the cards tend to stick out of the 9 pocket pages and I don't want them getting dinged up and (2) I also like to look at the cards individually, but it it much more expensive to store them individually in Card Savers.

Here are a couple of pics of my '54 Topps set in Card Savers stored in a vault box. The more expensive cards are kept seperately.

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/IMG00058.jpg
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/IMG00059.jpg
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x...l/IMG00060.jpg

I use cardsaver I's in 4 pocket sheets so I can have the fun of an album with the protection of a card saver and lots of space around each card. Also makes it a lot less harrowing to rearrange my cards since I don't really handle the cards themselves.

That is exactly how my 54s look now, even with Gus up front because I need #1, haha. I just wish I had as many as you...

Question though, is that box common to get at a shop? The box I have is not ideal and would love to have yours. Thanks...

Yes, they're called vault boxes and they usually go for about $3.50 at the card shops.

If your shop doesn't have them, you can purchase them on eBay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-10-BC...item484726d741

I keep my more expensive sets in my fire safe, so for both space reasons and for not keeping anything that could melt on cards in case of a fire, I keep my cards in boxes raw (just like they came out of a pack). I rarely handle these cards, so any possible added wear to the cards is absolutely minimal (if any at all) and not something I am not very concerned with. With less expensive sets, I keep them in binders.

Dave, are the Ultra Pro Card Savers you speak of a particular type of Card Saver (eg, I, II, III, IV?), or are they a different make/model of the semi-rigid holder? (Thanks in advance!)

Thanks...very appreciated. I will be picking up a couple.

Ultra Pro is just another brand. Same thing, different brand. My shop just happens to carry all Ultra Pro products, not Card Saver. So, it's really not a matter of choice for me, just convenience. BTW, Ultra Pro does make different sizes just like Card Saver.

From what I've been told (and I don't know if it's true or not), the same factory in China makes the product for both Ultra Pro and Card Saver.

Thanks, Dave. I wasn't aware that Ultra Pro made these holders. Thanks!

I use 9-pocket Ultra Pro sheets for 1957+

Everything earlier I either stack raw or in semi-regid top loaders. I would prefer to use Card Savers, but I find the fit to be a little too tight, so there is a pretty good chance at flipping/chipping a corner upon insertion, or creasing the card upon insertion or removal.

How do you folks who use Card Savers manage the tight fit - entry/exit damage - problem?

They make Card Savers in many different sizes - some for '52-'56 Topps and some for '57+ - card Saver 1 and Card Saver 2. I'm not sure which is which since I use the Ultra Pro (they have different sizes too).

Sounds like you may be using the wrong size Card Saver because they should slide in with ease.

Just looked and Card Saver 1s are bigger ('52-'56 Topps) and Card Saver 2s are smaller (regular size cards).