Protecting your cards

[TanksAndSpartans]

For raw cards, I don't like toploaders because they are made with PVC (I've seen old ones yellow which shows they aren't made with materials archivists would use imo). I look for archival safe plastics. Mylar/polyester is the gold standard, but I don't like working with it. I prefer polypropylene (I check my penny sleeves and binder sheets are made of this before purchasing, typically they are).

Humidity is a different issue. I would recommend a temperature controlled space - no basements or attics. Keeping the humidity within a certain range probably isn't feasible, but my theory is if you're comfortable, the cards are probably fine.

[RL]

I store mine, sleeved, 9 pocket page, binder.

so far no issues

[steve B]

Sleeve, toploader in a team bag is probably ok under most conditions.

I don't use the team bag, I just don't think it adds much. Plus I'm cheap sometimes.

Most houses these days have some climate control and are built to keep dampness out.

Now in an old house like mine, bagging on a very humid day then storing in an attic with major temperature swings could cause a problem. I've seen bagged ephemera at flea markets that has obvious condensation inside the bag.
BUT
I have other stuff stored in the attic that was bagged on humid days and haven't seen any issues whatsoever in over 20 years.

[BCauley]

I used to use the penny sleeve/top loader/team bag method for decent cards. I used the team bags only because when I'd look through the cards without them, the top loaders would scratch each other sometimes and I was OCD about it. Commons stayed out of any packaging and went into boxes.

I'll still pick up raw now and then but my goal is to have everything I get graded for the sole purpose of if I kick the bucket one day, at least my family members will know what the heck they are looking at and dealing with.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I started using team bags over toploaders to keep out dust. It's hard for me to believe they are harmful. Then again, I don't know much.

[cjhav]

Once again, THANK YOU, to all who have responded. I am starting to feel better about my storage method. We do not have too many moisture issues in my house, except winter time things get a little dry.
Happy Holidays to everyone here on Net 54

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by TanksAndSpartans

For raw cards, I don't like toploaders because they are made with PVC (I've seen old ones yellow which shows they aren't made with materials archivists would use imo). I look for archival safe plastics. Mylar/polyester is the gold standard, but I don't like working with it. I prefer polypropylene (I check my penny sleeves and binder sheets are made of this before purchasing, typically they are).

Humidity is a different issue. I would recommend a temperature controlled space - no basements or attics. Keeping the humidity within a certain range probably isn't feasible, but my theory is if you're comfortable, the cards are probably fine.

No toploader made in the 21st century by a reputable supplier contains PVC. That stuff was hobby headline news in the 1980’s, if not before. Even if they did, the chances that such toploaders would noticeably damage your cards in your lifetime is all but nil.


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[jchcollins]

I think the Mylar thing for the garden variety collector is largely unnecessary. Yes, it is the most "inert" material, but realize that the HOF uses Mylar because they need the cards in their collection to last for hundreds / thousands of years more, not just the next 50-75. I mean I enjoy the idea of my collection outliving me and serving generations to come, but in reality I'm going to be fertilizer in all likelihood 50 years from now - so why do I really care? Polypropylene products and the other stuff that penny sleeves, toploaders, Card Savers, and One Touches are made of is also "inert" and "archival", even if they don't pass the same rigorous tests that Mylar does. The one time I tried to use Mylar, I found it very rigid and difficult - and I will agree with the previous poster who said it doesn't work well with toploaders. My cards looked great when finally IN the Mylar, but good luck getting them in or back out. Not for me.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

No toploader made in the 21st century by a reputable supplier contains PVC. That stuff was hobby headline news in the 1980’s, if not before. Even if they did, the chances that such toploaders would noticeably damage your cards in your lifetime is all but nil.


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Not true. It's the SLEEVES that are PVC free.

https://www.bcwsupplies.com/topload-holder-info

BCW Toploads are manufactured from rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) which contains no plasticizers or stearates (a salt or an ester of stearic acid). They will not migrate or harm your cards, photographs, or prints. BCW Toploads come in a variety of sizes and are an inexpensive way to store and display your collectables.

https://www.ultrapro.com/product_inf...oducts_id=1376

Protect your valuable collectible trading cards with the original Ultra PRO toploaders! These rigid plastic protectors are made with super clear PVC

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Not true. It's the SLEEVES that are PVC free.

https://www.bcwsupplies.com/topload-holder-info

BCW Toploads are manufactured from rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) which contains no plasticizers or stearates (a salt or an ester of stearic acid). They will not migrate or harm your cards, photographs, or prints. BCW Toploads come in a variety of sizes and are an inexpensive way to store and display your collectables.

https://www.ultrapro.com/product_inf...oducts_id=1376

Protect your valuable collectible trading cards with the original Ultra PRO toploaders! These rigid plastic protectors are made with super clear PVC

Ok, I stand corrected - but hear me out: The problem in the 80's with PVC was the plastic pages (soft sleeves) that had PVC. Right? Toploaders I don't think were ever really questioned because the PVC in them acts differently / takes longer to break down?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Ok, I stand corrected - but hear me out: The problem in the 80's with PVC was the plastic pages (soft sleeves) that had PVC. Right? Toploaders I don't think were ever really questioned because the PVC in them acts differently / takes longer to break down?

Pretty sure the concern was the pages that were prevalent back then. I think the reason toploaders may not be concerning is that they aren't directly in contact with the card if you use a sleeve?

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Pretty sure the concern was the pages that were prevalent back then. I think the reason toploaders may not be concerning is that they aren't directly in contact with the card if you use a sleeve?

Toploaders might have PVC, but I think at this stage in the game if they were regularly damaging cards - we would know about it by now.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Toploaders might have PVC, but I think at this stage in the game if they were regularly damaging cards - we would know about it by now.

I should think so.