Window card experiments (sunfading)

[Tripredacus]

bnorth asked for me to post my window cards here, which were weathering experiments I had started... perhaps 12 years ago... and sort of forgot about.

I had seen others do experiments, but usually using older Topps or OPC cards. And I wanted to test weathering and sun-fade on a variety of newer types. Initially there were 5 cards that were used, although currently there are only 3 still in windows. Those typed were/are:

1. Glossy (2005 Upper Deck)
2. Dufex (90s Pinnacle parallel)
3. Thin plastic
4. Thick plastic (Upper Deck Ice)
5. Refractor

The glossy card was from 2005-06 Upper Deck base set, and I believe it also was a Brendan Shanahan. That card is currently in a binder, and I think that the reason it was taken out of a window was because the window was replaced. The Dufex card was a 1996-97 or 1997-98 Pinnacle card of an Ottawa Senators player. The problems with a Chrome card is more extreme with the Dufex card, as the foil material also shrinks but is much thinner. This creates some extreme curling on the cardboard. Unfortunately, this card was not in the window it was supposed to be in, so I am thinking that perhaps the kitty-man had found it.

If I find where the Dufex card is, I will take a picture of it. It is quite wild how that card looked the last time I saw it.

Here I made an Imgur gallery of the fronts and backs of the three cards that were still in windows. I put some text in there because it is posted to public Imgur:

https://imgur.com/gallery/bP1sxeG

[bnorth]

Nice stuff, thanks for posting. I had never seen any modern cards faded. That Boone is cool looking.

[Tripredacus]

I wanted to note that the window setup is like so. The cards are in between the window and the screen, presuming the window is closed. There is no storm window used here, it is the modern double insulated energy efficient windows, not the old wooden kind with the sliding glass storm window.

So besides sunlight, they can also be exposed to rain and certainly freezing temperatures if not also a little snow in the winter time.

[mrmopar]

That is great info, but I would think most folks will not be worried about external elements, aside from sunlight. I guess if anyone is actually storing their cards in the weather, they have bigger problems than what will happen to the cards.

I have often wondered how cards would fair in somewhat extreme cold, but still inside and protected from direct exposure to the elements. I would use a garage as an example. My garage is exposed to outside temps, but is still enclosed, so maybe a hair warmer that external temp. I guess my biggest concern was always moisture. I have always been nervous about storing anything good in the garage and have avoided it for the most part. Same with storage when I had everything in the storage locked. I opted for heated storage when I had to use one.

I have stored boxes of cards and magazines in my garage (often out of necessity and lack of indoor space), some probably as long as 10 years. I have not noticed any issues when I have dug up certain boxes, but some of the stuff I have not viewed since it was stashed.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

That is great info, but I would think most folks will not be worried about external elements, aside from sunlight. I guess if anyone is actually storing their cards in the weather, they have bigger problems than what will happen to the cards.

I have often wondered how cards would fair in somewhat extreme cold, but still inside and protected from direct exposure to the elements. I would use a garage as an example. My garage is exposed to outside temps, but is still enclosed, so maybe a hair warmer that external temp. I guess my biggest concern was always moisture. I have always been nervous about storing anything good in the garage and have avoided it for the most part. Same with storage when I had everything in the storage locked. I opted for heated storage when I had to use one.

I have stored boxes of cards and magazines in my garage (often out of necessity and lack of indoor space), some probably as long as 10 years. I have not noticed any issues when I have dug up certain boxes, but some of the stuff I have not viewed since it was stashed.

I've had a few boxes of junkwax era stuff in the garage/carriage house since 1997, and the area has been generally damp most of that time. Generally a bit cooler than outside in the summer, and just as cold in the winter. It's been in 800 count boxes.
No ill effects that I can tell.

[Bigdaddy]

I've had some junk wax stored in the garage for maybe 30+ years in coastal Virginia - think hot and humid in the summer.

The two biggest things I notice is that some cards with glossy finishes will stick together, though you can usually loosen them up. And the other thing is that if the edges of cards are white and uncoated, they can start to turn tan/brown. You won't notice it on an individual card, but if you stack them together and look at the edges, there is a definite toning.

[Tripredacus]

I have read before that some people put those glossy cards in the freezer to get them to stop sticking to each other. I don't remember if they meant cards or specifically un-opened packs.