Protecting sets in a binder
 

In the past year I have built a few 70s sets, nothing that great except for one set (75 mini) where I have been striving for nmt+ quality. I have these sets filed like books in a library. I use the nice ultra pro sheets and notebooks and store them on a smooth wooden slab. Still I worry that the bottom cards in the set might compress and wonder about warping over time, etc.

Is there basically no way around these issues if you store your sets in binders long term or am I just being paranoid? Thanks!

I've been storing vintage like that for years, and haven't noticed any adverse impact on the cards. You do want to make sure that they are arranged firmly, not tightly. If you have a shelf which can hold, say, 10 albums, but only have 6, you should place something against them so they stand straight up as if there were 10 - otherwise you may see them droop a bit which MIGHT lead to some warping or worse.

I've gone to locking ring binders with slipcases and use full size page lifters front and back in each album. Much better that regular 3 ring binders IMO.

Through the years I have tried many different methods, but they all lead back to 3 ring binders with Pro inserts. This is the easiest and safest way for me to enjoy the sets. Yes, I even have raw Mantles stored in the sets. The only exception is if the card is graded, and then I have a picture of the graded card cut to size and inserted in the binder. The only problem I have had in storing them in this manner is; when I insert them into the sleeve sometimes the corner can get dinged while inserting - be careful.

Of course, always use inserts that fit the size of the card.

I've never used any type of padding or other stuff. I've just had them stacked on shelves. I put all of my Topps flagship sets from 57-22 into notebooks from a 1957 Brooks RC to a 1987 Topps base card. They're all in just regular pages. Is this something i Need to change?

Mine are in binders and arranged firmly like dewy's. There may be better ways now, like the one Dave suggests, but I am much to lazy to change anything at this point :)

I think paranoia is the right word...

I always stored in binders and ultra pro sheets...but had custom cabinets made so I could store the binders horizontally. I was always just too worried that I would get some sagging/warping/etc and horizontally seemed the best way to go

and I preferred the side loading ultra pro sheets to avoid slippage out the top...not sure ultra pro even makes those anymore

The slip cases are an interesting idea. I don’t think ultra pro makes them and I’m kind of invested in a couple hundo of ultra pro equipment that matches nicely. I like the idea of those slip cases though.

Gonefishin I have been doing the same thing with my graded cards in sets. Photographs in the binders. Great minds.

Sounds like most go for vertical although we have a dissenting opinion on that one and the guy is a Yaz fan so he must know what he’s talking about :)

I bought slip cases and binders from Archival Methods, and they are good products. I still have some sets in them, but I have increasingly moved away from binders in favor of of cards/sets in toploaders/Card Savers in boxes. I didn't do this because I'm afraid of damage, however. I've successfully stored cards in binders for decades with zero issues. The reason I have shifted strategies is due to the fact that I am starting to collect more variations, and I don't want to worry about having to rearrange an entire binder set when I didn't leave enough empty spaces for the variations of a given card. My OCD demands that the variations of a card all be side by side and not have some at the end of a set. I know I'm weird. :D I also like being able to "play" with my cards when I want to. I like arranging and then rearranging my early 50s sets. Sometimes I want them in chronological order, and sometimes I want them arranged by team.

My cards have been in binders for years with no issues.

I too have gotten into variations. My sets from 1965 on are in team order but those from 1964 or earlier are arranged in numerical order. So when I get a variation in a set in numerical order, say like number 7, I have to move almost 600 cards to fit it in. (I'm like you, variations MUST go next to or on top or bottom of each other.) I am very careful but really enjoy looking at and holding those cards again.

PS You are not weird. My wife calls my collecting habits "Quirky".

Mike

I read somewhere that it’s best to lay albums fast instead of standing them up. Anyone else hear this?

I've said this before here. I have a set of 65T more or less NM. I had it in a 3-ring binder, mostly Ultra Pro pages, stored vertically, for about 25 years. Gravity (I guess) caused the tops of the pages to pull away from the binder spine and curl the top left cards.

I took all the top left cards out and pressed them down. Probably not NM anymore but none got creases, so the damage overall was minor. I now lay the binder flat.

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That settles it. I’m going horizontal!

Now I just need to find the space.

I hate binders. Luckily I'm not primarily a set collector. Though I used them as a kid back in the 80's and 90's, something about binders as an adult just doesn't sit well with me for some reason. I think it has to do with liking to flip through large groups of cards at a time and rearrange on the fly individually. So yes, I'm the guy who has all 752 1971 Topps cards in toploaders and card savers in multiple 2 row boxes. I have never claimed to be efficient with supplies, LOL.