Anything wrong with screwdown holders?

[Brianruns10]

Speaking as someone with some knowledge of archival storage and display, my experience says avoid these holders, for two reasons:

1) A cardinal rule of displaying anything of value is you don't want anything touching the surface. This is why when you display a print or autographed photo or anything like that, you have a matte cut to fit around it, so the class or poly doesn't touch. To do otherwise risks precisely what you fear: the item sticking, and this is especially crucial for ballcards, where much of the value lies in the state of the surface. Lose that gloss, and the value takes a hit.

2) Plastic holders, while generally stable, are by their nature not chemically inert, since they are petroleum based. They may last a long time, and in fact we're not sure how long they'll last, but basic chemistry and the laws of entropy says they will break down eventually, and could possibly react with the item! So unless you're using glass, which IS chemically inert (since it is comprised of one compound: silica), you're not completely safe against an adverse chemical reaction.

TPG holders like PSA and SGC,you will note, take care not to touch the surfaces of the card, but rather grip the edges, and keep a space between it and the plastic. So in that regard, they are a wiser option, depending on the value and condition of your cards.

Regards,

BR

[ALR-bishop]

I do not use them but did have a bad experience with one. While working on the Topps 1974 Deckle set in white back I bought a Luzinski from a reputable seller that was encased in one ( he had obtained it that way). I display all my sets in binders so set to free it from the slab. It unscrewed easy enough but the card was stuck to the bottom layer of the plastic and could not be removed without damage to the back of the card.

[campyfan39]

I have used them since the eighties and never had a single problem.

[Exhibitman]

If there is a little dirt or grit on the surface you will drive it into the card. I did that with one. I also created a fine network of creases with a larger holder on an Exhibit card. My advice is don't do it.

[bn2cardz]

I had a 33 Goudey HOF with multiple creases in one. I finally decided to convert my Goudey's to PSA holders. The card came back with "Altered Stock". I question what they meant by that and said there were multiple creases so why would anyone alter it and leave those.

This is the response I got back:

"Your card did not qualify for a numeric grade because it appeared to have some signs of
altered card stock. Was the card previously in a screw-down holder? Those types of
holders put a lot of pressure on cards, and give them a pressed appearance, which we
consider to be altered. "

[Cardboard Junkie]

I used large screwdowns on a run of 50's wrappers....ruined them all! dave.

[bradmar48]

I purchased a near mint George Brett 75 Rookie card that came in a very thick screw down holder. When I opened it the face of the card was stuck to the holder. After several attempts to carefully remove it the card was ruined when a section of the card peeled away and remained stuck to the holder.