Storing in Acrylic
 

Ebay Link

Is this what happens if you leave a card in a screwdown holder for years?

Jonesy

I have seen similar damage from screwdowns. I always make a seller remove a card in one of these cases so I can inspect.

I had a beautiful Jordan RC come into my shop, mid 90s. Asked seller to remove and handed him a screwdriver. When he pulled to two halves apart the red from border stuck to case. Heartbreaking.

Trouble comes from moisture and no penny sleeve on the card.

Good advice Craig on removal by seller prior to purchase . When working on an ungraded 1974 Topps Deckle set in white backs I bought a Frank Robinson in one of those one pound prisons. When I tried to remove it the back was affixed to the plastic such that removal caused damage.

I have found that in freeing cards from them their acrylic prisons you can sometimes tell beforehand that the card is sticking to the acrylic by that part of the card seeming to be "clearer" than the rest of the card... What I have done is loosen the screws up but leave the whole ensemble in a somewhat humid environment for a few days and the card will loosen up and be able to be released without harm..

I got lucky with my cards as I stored them on their side, not their backs but I also know I screwed them down just enough to barely hold them.
When I first joined this site, many told me to get them out of there asap, which I did, but I was panicked unscrewing them thinking I likely screwed them up! :eek:

I have also read/heard, placing them in a freezer for a period of them also helps, but maybe that was for a different situation, I can't remember?

I have a couple cards in screwdowns. I am going to be removing them in favor of magnetics. They are not high dollar cards, but I would hate for any damage to come of them.

Mike

How about the screw down holders with a recessed area to them?
Wouldn't this give it enough "wiggle room"?

Recessed are better, but they can still get moisture inside and damage the card over time.

Single Screw With Recessed Area
 

I have about 50 unslabbed OJs in this type of screwdown cases. If you use there, put a penny sleeve in the storage box. I also have them in a climate controlled safe with a few saline packets in the box.