Storing your Cards in a Safe : Questions...

[Yaz#8]

I have a large Sentry waterproof/fire proof safe that I keep my collection in. I have had no issues at all with regard to moisture. Although, I have been thinking about a safe deposit box b/c my collection is growing. I am afraid I would miss the convenience of being able to look at my cards anytime I would like within the comfort of my home. Is it just me??

[Kenny Cole]

Yes, that part sucks. Good scans and a nearby bank where your safe deposit box is located help though.

However, my thought is that I'd rather have my expensive cards in a safe deposit box than at home. If they're at home, a person with a gun to the head of my wife or kids would be given the key to the city immediately. If they're not at home, they can open my safe and take everything there and I'm still moderately OK.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Yaz#8

I have a large Sentry waterproof/fire proof safe that I keep my collection in. I have had no issues at all with regard to moisture. Although, I have been thinking about a safe deposit box b/c my collection is growing. I am afraid I would miss the convenience of being able to look at my cards anytime I would like within the comfort of my home. Is it just me??

I go visit my cards every once in a while at the safe deposit box, maybe 1-2 times a month. They are less than 3 miles from me so it's not too bad. Otherwise, I have the great majority of my collection on line so I can view it anytime. It's not as good as the rich smell of plastic in the morning (or was that napalm?) but it's ok. I even have about 100 cards on our album page(s) on this board. I go over there and look sometimes too.

On the moisture issue I can't recall anyone saying they have had a big problem with it, other than natural disasters, which are sort of obvious.

[CW]

Originally Posted by Yaz#8

I have a large Sentry waterproof/fire proof safe that I keep my collection in. I have had no issues at all with regard to moisture. Although, I have been thinking about a safe deposit box b/c my collection is growing. I am afraid I would miss the convenience of being able to look at my cards anytime I would like within the comfort of my home. Is it just me??

I also used to have the majority of my collection stored in two of these Sentry
safes, although it currently lies safely in a safety deposit box. Some time ago,
I had gone a few months without opening up my collection and looking at it.
When I finally pulled them out to look at my cards, I noticed that the envelope
with my important documents (which was also in the safe) felt a little damp.
It also looked like some of the PSA flips had taken on a wrinkled look, although
they may have been that way from the beginning. The cards seemed unaffected.

I did some research and found that the fire retardant they use inside the
walls of these small safes can cause moisture buildup within the safe.
The solution was to store my cards in ziploc baggies. I just bought some
of the bigger gallon sized bags and double bagged stacks of 25 slabs or so.

[AndrewJerome]

I have a small safe for my cards, and I use "damprid" flakes purchased from Home Depot/Lowe's. I made a contraption that consists of two small plastic containers with a crack in the top container (holding the flakes) to let the moisture get into the bottom container.

Is storage in a safe dangerous for our beloved cards? I am not aware of any horror stories. However, I can tell you that the damprid flakes turn to mush and then water in 4-6 weeks or so.

Andrew

[Yaz#8]

Thanks CW! I will err on the side of caution and put the slabs in zip locks!

-Mark

[yanksfan09]

I'm not sure if zip locks alone are the best idea. I may worry about moisture building inside a ziplock bag. I would suggest maybe throwing in some small desicant baggies inside a ziplock and/or inside the safe as well. You can buy big bags of 100's of packets of these as well as bigger "rechargeable" ones. I would also use the hot-rod dehumidifiers as well in a large safe.

All of these moisture-control items are inexpensive, so I see no reason to be extra cautious and use them pretty liberally.

[chris]

I have no experience with humidity controllers, however I have had a safe for years and see no reason why I need to get one as all my cards, paperwork etc.. are fine. What I do feel I need to mention is the quality of safes. I have a friend who works for a locksmith, they do repairs/installs and they sell safes and all sort of locking mechanisms. These guys actually play games and bet who can crack a safe the fastest at there shop. I have seen it and been told of amazing stories. Very few safes are "totally secure" and they cost a small fortune. I have been told never to buy safes from Lowes, Home Depot, Target, Cosco, Meiers, etc.. Spend the extra couple hundred bucks and buy from a locksmith as you will get what you pay for. I have seen a locksmith open a 250lbs. gun safe purchased from Lowes in 17 seconds with no tools.