[Cozumeleno]

Originally Posted by egri

I'm curious if those of you who use binders have ever seen cards get damaged in the binder? The reason I ask is my project is currently about 1/3 in slabs and the rest in toploaders, and I'm thinking a binder will be easier to view and store, but I am worried about the safety of the cards when they're in pages.

No issues on my end. I use the Lighthouse Vario rectangular-ring (I said D-ring earlier...I meant to say the rectangular ring, which is square on all sides) binders since the circular/rounded rings can damage the sides of the cards. Even the D-ring binders have the circular edge one one side which can crimp into the side of the page when flipped depending on the pages you are using. The covers are thick and sturdy and the top of the pages sit a good 1/2" below the top of the binder. I also keep the binder inside of a slip cover to enclose the whole thing. I cannot stress how important it is to have one - I would not personally recommend using a binder without one.

Here is an example of one on eBay (not my listing): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lighthouse-V...wAAOSwwpdW5Ldo

Can damage happen to cards in a binder? Yes. More easily than toploaders? Yes. I've stored cards both ways and the cards are more protected when they are in card savers. My teenage nephew wanted to flip through my binder once and I had to show him how to carefully turn the pages. Carelessness could lead to damaging the cards if in binders. But I haven't had any problems and for my lower-grade collection, the binders work fine.