is a much softer plastic. In lay

PE is a much softer plastic. In laymans terms, I understand this to mean it has less stable oil content. Bags Unlimited calls them Standard Acid-Free and Super Acid-Free. I have tons of books still in both PE and PP that have been in them for at least 15 years and the books haven't been affected by the bags. The sheer weight of the comics will cause the bottom boxes to start crushing. Many of the sleeves being sold on the internet and by hobby and comic shops are very flimsy and range from .5 mil to 2 mil. Having said all that, PP does seem to have won in the marketplace over the last 10-15 years, with Bags Unlimited being pretty much the only source for PE as far as I can tell. And it is those elements which produce damage to collectibles. There is not doubt that mylar is the best material for archival storage of paper collectibles. Comic Bags ive heard different stories about changing PP or PE bags every 2 years or every 6 months or every 3 months. Top Loaders Reverse the books every 5-10 to keep the stacks stable (since a comic is thicker on the stapled side if you stack them all in the same direction, they will tend to slide to the right). Those are indeed impressive numbers Gary, I guess what I would ask you is what do you store your personal collection in? Personally, nowadays if Im going to take the step up to Mylar from poly bags, I go all the way to the 4 mil thick archival bags. Try to gently tear each one. Acid Free Storage Boxes: These are typically used by people storing comics bagged in Mylar, but seem a bit like like overkill, theyre VERY expensive. Re: Having the board be too long for the mylar Not a problem Ive had, but Id personally just trim the board a bit to make it so that it is not too long. In more chemistry-speak, propylene (CH3CH:CH2) is is a sub-stratum of ethylene. https://comicspectrumblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/rack-system-for-comic-long-boxes/. If you get reusable dessicant packs, they will indicate via color change when they need to be recharged, pop them in the oven till they turn back to their original color again and when they cool off they are good to put back in your comic storage location. Poly-bags will not actually destroy your comics. Some dehumidifiers require you to regularly dump a tank that collects moisture (which can be a pain and can overflow if you dont keep an eye on it. There is one dealer who advertises "Made in the USA" who sells sleeves that say "Product of China" right on the package. If I was starting out today Id have more of my collection in these. Pingback: How many comics fit in a short box QNAFaq, Pingback: How many comics fit in a long box QNAFaq. 7 3/4 to 7 5/8 (Silver/Gold) Good for 1950s onward. Sold by E. Gerber, BCW, and Bill Cole. A cool, dark and dry environment will person_having_a_hard_time_understanding_my_point the aging process. I keep my comics in boxes where there is no light. I can't remember the last time I bought any sort of polywhatever bag. However, I buy whatever is cheap - poly e's seem to have had a real problem with sizing in the past couple years, in that silver age bags don't fit silver age boards, and the bag sizing is all smaller than the width indicated on the packaging - doesn't seem to matter what the brand. The difference in cost between 2 mil polyethylene and thinner polypropylene is a penny or 2 per bag. Then there are those who recommend alternating facing them front then back to mitigate spine rolling (even in bagged/boarded comics). * Regular short & long boxes are perfectly fine for most collections. Not trying to be my normal overly smart alec self, just honestly curious. Bob Bretall: bob@comicspectrum.com Yes, thats clear. Personally, I dislike the 1 mil Mylites/Arklites (Ive bought the 1 mil Arklites). Any thoughts on this? I believe that replacing poly bags ever 2-5 years is not necessary, but is encouraged by those that have a vested interest in selling collectors bags or up-selling collectors on Mylar. Hi, It can be harder or easier depending on where you live and what kind of average humidity youre dealing with outside. I wrote about them in detail in the following CGC post: https://boards.cgccomics.com/topic/504270-comic-book-conservation-niche-questions/ Obviously, you want the purest tough guy genes, so you would go with the father. There are things that can be done to manage your environment far before you get to the bags you keep your comics in, but the last line of defense if going to be the comic bag. E. Gerber Mylites developed by Ernst Gerber in 1977 and made from Mylar D. Mylites are offered in various sizes including current, silver, golden and magazine. Here is what E. Gerber has to say about storing comics on their web-site (keeping in mind that they are, after all, in the business of selling mylar bags): Poly-bags will not destroy your comics. Poly-bags are acceptable for short term storage while the comics are for sale as noted earlier. (LogOut/ Some collectors have them so snug, you cant easily finger through them, while others have them rather loose such that theyre laying over. I would think the extra minimal cost is worth the expense to perhaps get a better price in the sale. Drawer Boxes: Standard short and long boxes are not meant to be stacked up more than 2 or 3 high. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Im always up for amending/adding to make reference material more complete. Change). For display purposes I dont think there would be a problem with carefully folding the shipping cover to the back so you can display the magazines cover. Started by In an attempt to answer the many inquiries we get, we offer the following responses. Pedro, I have at least 200 comics in my to read pile stacked on a shelf that gets zero sunlight right now. This re-enforced caseholds up to 15 bagged and boarded comic books,or up to 20 loose comic books. Cost The paper tears readily, while you have to give the towel a little more of a tug to tear it. For added protection, you can also place sheets of micro-chamber paper in your comic that are designed to remove and neutralize acids as well as trap pollutants. I believe those are mostly comics that have been stored in harsher environmental conditions than I have. Poly bags also come in a variety of thicknesses, with polypropylene typically being thinner (1.2 to 1.5 mil). Polyethylene is inert, translucent and creates a lower static charge than polypropylene, and those are the three main characteristics which make it a superior archival or storage material. Generally, thicker bags are better. Thank you very much for the reply! Simple logic dictates that it should be a superior product and it is. I found this forum post on CGC that seemed to claim there were no issues with it: https://boards.cgccomics.com/topic/357459-two-books-in-one-bag/ Just to let you know, PET (Polyethylene Terepthalate) is Polyester which is Mylar. A Tip on Sealing Your Bags Before I sold my business to Diamond, I sold over 800 million plastic bags under the ComiCovers brand. Do you have a lot of these factors in your area and if so, do you take steps to manage them? I wrote a Blog about the rack system I built for my long boxes to keep them up off the ground here: Poly p's don't seem to share this problem. Bag Thickness Are the Mylars better to use than the cheaper poly-bags? I had to face how expensive these products were (and also about the size difference between my mostly copper and modern comic collection and the Silver/Gold bags) and thought about double booking, a.k.a. Yesterday my shipment of E. Gerber products arrived and I was met with some problems, that Ive been trying to understand how to fix, and I was hoping youd be able to give some solutions/information on the subject. PP is to my way of thinking too "crinkle-y." Consider your Environment These present a challenge on storage because they are too wide to fit in a normal long box or drawer box, unless stored sideways. However there appears to be a wide supply shortage right now. As far as humidity control for your garage, thats always a good idea. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If I am going to remove a comic from the bag I remove the tape COMPLETELY from the bag, I do not leave it hanging onto the flap where the possibility exists that it could snag on your comic. These typically cost 2.5x and up what standard backing boards cost. As with bags where you have Mylar and poly(ethylene/propylene), for backing boards you have 2 basic varieties: Basic Boards: Typically .24 mil thick these are usually shiny on one side and a matte finish on the other. Do you have issues with mold, mildew and fungus in general? The lower static charge produced by polyethylene as opposed to the higher charge emitted by polypropylene means that polyethylene will attract much less dirt, dust and other foreign, organic elements. For instance, I live in Southern California and we dont have many bugs compared to someplace like Florida (well, most places dont have a lot of bugs compared to Florida, but you get the idea). Its my understanding that the PP bags are superior.Perhaps I am brainwashed,but thats my understanding. Given the published differences between the 2 types of bags, I think 2 mil polyethylene is the best bet for general comics storage (even though you can get polyethylene in 3 and 4 mil thickness, if I feel the need to go up to 4 mil, I am going to go to Mylar). Polyethylene is more flexible than polypropylene. It doesn't matter to me as any book I deem a keeper goes in at least a myliteplus,and the rest go into whatever I have laying around. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. * Use MicroChamber paper with exceptionally valuable comics (particularly old comics printed on lower quality acidic paper). On second thought, if I were a dealer or collector, I would put every comic into Mylar. BCW also offers Acid Free boards that are independent lab certified. Bobs Recommendation: Same here. Due to its rigidity, polypropylene sleeves are more prone to tearing, especially at the seams. These are pH neutral cellulose fiber and are buffered throughout with 3% calcium carbonate. BCW sells a really cool item called a Comic Book Stor-Folio. When buying mylar, you typically can go from 1 mil thick (called Mylites at E. Gerber and Arklites at Bill Cole) to 1.4 mil thick Mylite+ bags (from E. Gerber) to 2 mil thick (Mylite2 from E. Gerber, Arklites 2 from Bill Cole) or 4 mil thick (Mylite4 or Archives from E. Gerber and Comic-Gards or Time-Loks from Bill Cole). I found it immensely helpful and entertaining. is 350 times greater than polyethylene. Re: Alternating facing to reduce spine roll: Yes, I do this. Ordinary Cardboard: If you use backing boards, use only alkaline buffered acid-free board. Resistance to moisture, insect attack, fungus, mold, mildew, acid, oils, grease, and solvents is excellent. At Comic Equip we sell E. Gerber Mylites and BCW Poly-bags. Even the 1 mil thick Mylar bags cost 2-3 times as much as poly bags (wholesale/bulk). Take an ordinary piece of writing paper (rigid) and a common paper towel (pliable). PP, while it gets wavy, stays clear and doesn't get gummy. Frequently I find that a thicker annual or giant size comic just wont fit, or even some indie comics that have slightly wider trims. Due to its rigitity, polypropylene sleeves are more prone to tear, especially at the seams. Polyester film (Mylar) is basically the same - but is superior to PP and PE because it's thicker (except if it's a Mylite - then it's really no better - sorry, Kenny!). E. Gerber Mylites are our preferred choice for comic archival sleeves as they will prevent deterioration due to their superior quality over traditional poly-bags. Storage Folios youre welcome! In addition to the Mylar brand name, Bags Unlimited has Museum Grade Archival Polyester in 2 and 4 mil thickness that is compared to Mylar and is a bit cheaper. I have never personally used or seen these bags and cannot speak to their quality. This is seriously implying that poly bags are not to be used for anything other than REALLY transitory storage. The same principle applies for propylene vs. ethylene. Taking this a little further; won't the customer believe, and rightly so, that I am treating these comics with the best care possible? I recently switched over (what a lovely ongoing task this has been) from all polypropylene bags to polyethylene bags does anyone have a feeling about which is better -- while the polypropylene bags look clearer to me, the polyethylene bags I got from Bags unlimited with the acid free boards appear to not warp at all and the boards of higher quality what do you guys use generally -- obviously I use mylite2s and full backs for the expensive stuff but just the generic books what is everyone's preference? CGC places a sheet of this inside the front & back cover of any comic they encapsulate in one of their slabs. People usually bag and board a comic and put it in a box, theyre not tossing it around where they need this kind of extra protection. However., if you have crapppy storage conditions, then both turn out ugly. For regular comics, Id recommend polyethylene. Reading through your article I was wondering. The books fared mostly well but there was a slight image copying from the books on the rough side of the backing boards. In fact, it resists penetration by gases, such as oxygen, 300 TIMES more than the poly-bags. Bag Width It can be shelved in a book case or carried in your backpack to safely transport your comics to your favorite comic book convention. Of the 800 million, 500 million were PE, the remainder PP. Matt, thank you so much for this article! BCW sells some of these with little stands built in that are kind of cool as a cheap alternative to a frame if you want a quick display for some of your comics. I always have someone comment about how cool this is when they see me pull it out of my backpack at a con. Problem (mostly) solved. Re: Splitting the mylar when putting in the board You just need to be more careful sliding it inthis will get easier for you as you get more practice. Everything else > 2 mil Polyethylene bags. When Im done I just slide those 15 or so comics back in at the end. placing two books into one bag, back to back with the board in between. Again, I think it's mostly the storage conditions - the books turn the bags yellow, not vice-a-versa. maybe that is just a waste of money as well. As for strength and stability: it is also several hundred times stronger and more stable. Why polyethylene rather than polyproylene? Before that I was storing 2 books per bag since the early 1990s and keeping them in Rubbermaid containers. I have bought a number of back issues in old bags that are very yellowed and deteriorated (and have replaced those with new polyethylene bags). The comic has MicroChamber paper inserted inside the front and back covers, is sealed in Mylar, and then encapsulated in a hard-plastic shell (also called a slab). They are simply a means of protecting your comics from storage and handling damage. Resistance to diffusion of gases like oxygen, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. They are different plastics but they perform the same service. Storing Your Comics: Bags & Boards & Boxes.Oh, My!! To get around this and allow stacking various companies have developed boxes that fit into an outer shell that allows the comic box to be slid out like a drawer from any position in the stack while the outer shell supports the weight of the boxes in the rows above. As far as Im aware (and I could be wrong) there is no added value to having a shipping cover attached, other than the fact that it may have preserved the cover of the magazine underneath. Before the con I load it with comics that I want to have autographed or blank sketch cover comics that I plan to have worked on at the con. Youll probably have to get a Magazine size box and that will be a bit too wide. Same thing if you have any questions or think I missed something. The primary purpose of a backing board is to add some stiffness to your comic book storage and prevent unintended bending or creasing of your comics. Be careful, not all bags are made alike. There are various widths, make sure you buy the right width for the comics you need to store: 7 (aka Current) I do not like using this width. Some collectors have a lot of angst about storing their comics. You can also get these made from corrugated plastic from BCW & BagsUnlimited. Be sure this specification is in writing and from someone you trust. I dont see the usefulness of these for general comics in your collection. Bobs Recommendation: Light can be particularly harmful to collectibles, especially magazines, comics, books, photographs, artwork or any kind of cover or jacket that has color and/or photos or illustrations. Corey, This is not something Im an expert in. The other step would be installing a dehumidifier which will pull moisture out of the air. While the 1 mil thickness is the cheapest Mylar solution, they are very thin and crinkly feeling, though they should provide the same chemical protection as thicker Mylar. Does that seem clear? I have a strong preference for PE. These are made of PVC and are not archival (like Mylar). Permanence. Many people have asked why Downtown Magazine sells only polyethylene sleeves rather than the cheaper polypropylene sleeves. Bottom Line on Bags But not every single comic. A brief note on slabbing: The ultimate in protecting a comic is, of course, to get it slabbed by Comics Guaranty, LLC. BCW sells some of these with little stands built in, long and short boxes made out of corrugated plastic, comparison of the DrawerBox vs. the Comic House here, How many comics fit in a short box QNAFaq, How many comics fit in a long box QNAFaq, https://comicspectrumblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/rack-system-for-comic-long-boxes/, https://boards.cgccomics.com/topic/357459-two-books-in-one-bag/, https://boards.cgccomics.com/topic/504270-comic-book-conservation-niche-questions/, ComicCon@Home: Bobs Sunday 7/25/2021 Panelsreviewed, ComicCon@Home: Bobs Saturday 7/24/2021 Panelsreviewed, ComicCon@Home: Bobs Friday 7/23/2021 Panelsreviewed, WonderCon@Home: Bobs Saturday 3/27/2021 Panelsreviewed, WonderCon@Home: Bobs Friday 3/26/2021 Panelsreviewed. These are rigid plastic sleeves that you slide a bagged/boarded comic into for additional protection. A little more expensive than normal tape, but worth it! So you have a bunch of bagged & boarded comics, now where are you going to keep them? 2017 Certified Guaranty Company, LLC. Volatile Additions--Mylar contains no dangerous plasticizers, slip additives, surface coatings, antioxidants, acid-hydrolysis compared to other commonly used plastics. I have been using one of these to carry books to conventions for years. BCW acid-free Poly-bags or polypropylene bags have become the traditional way of storing comics. That keeps a decent amount of external humidity out. I personally have comics that have been in poly bags in my collection since the late 1980s (when I did a large-scale re-bagging effort, apparently not even using backing boards at that point in time). Many of the polypropylene sleeves are less than 2 mil. I have been selling PP for the past two years because there have been complaints about PE even before I got into this business. Polyethylene costs more. She used to do a lot of scrapbooking and suggested that he use the acid-free double-sided tape they use for mounting photos. List Of Clients | Preservation | Price List | Contact Us | Links | Home | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. E. Gerber and Bill Cole have these in acid-free buffered cardboard. The PP bags are overall better looking and seemed to have held up better than the PE bags (some of which are stickynothing to do with the Leather and Lace and Black Kiss comics contained within). The 3 most common materials for bags are mylar, polyethylene, and polypropylene, lets get technical for a moment: Mylar: A biaxially extruded polyester film that is simultaneously stretched in two directions to give it maximum strength. PP is no better than PE. The ethylene base provides more "give" and thus stronger seams and less likelyhood of tearing. All returns are subject to a 10% restock fee. If you already store your comics in Mylar then the Acid-Free nature of the boxes is not essential, but it is still desirable. Back when both types of bags were first introduced, PP was advertised to be more archival and have a longer life than PE. Thank you. Polypropylene is also inert, but that's where the similarities end. I rarely ever see bugs. Standard Comic Boxes: These can be bought in almost any comic book store and come in different lengths & widths: Plastic Comic Boxes: Are those regular cardboard boxes just not doing the trick for you? I personally have not seen PE turn but the reason i sell PP is because i have had no problems since I started selling them either. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. REPEAT: None of these bags are protecting your comic books from aging. Ive seen so many different opinions. There is no noticeable change in storage-100 years when compared to 2 to 5 years for others. Now each book has new BCW polypropylene bags and acid free [on one side] boards. I would definitely put my For Sale comics into poly-bags, but only for a short term, say a couple of months. Will the fact that they are extra stiff full backs make a difference or will the size discrepancy put my comics at risk in any way? Foolkiller, September 21, 2007. An aside on taping your bags: Some people like to tuck the flap in and dont use tape, fearing that it will snag a comic when taking it in/out of the bag. I like to take the value of a comic into account when determining the cost of the storage materials I use with it. Advantages of Mylar Type D Compared to Commonly Used Plastics: Resistance to diffusion of gases like oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, etc. It actually kind of resists tearing by having some flexibility. The lower static charge produced by polyethylene as opposed to the higher charge emitted by polypropylene means that polyethylene will attract much less dirt, dust and other foreign, organic elements. The stack of 5 short boxes pictured above has no problem sliding out the bottom drawer. I have all my comics in a database (I use collectorz.com) and I track what box number each comic is in. Compare this to using archival Mylar where you take off the tape, place it safely to the side, remove your comic from the sleeve, read it, and then return it to the sleeve and re-tape it. Our polyethylene sleeves are 2 mil and 3 mil, respectively. It's important to know that bags made of these materials do not protecting your paper collectibles from aging. With a really stuff fullback in them, I dont think them being wider will put your comics at risk, but you should think about where you plan on storing them. Almost every collector has seen one of the white comic book storage boxes at some point, but there are more categories to choose from than you might think. I prefer the poly e's because they don't wrinkle up. Bobs Recommendation: Now, would you rather have the genes from the son of a tough guy or fom the original tough guy, in this case, the son's father? Just spring for the Mylite 2's, you can afford it. E. Gerber calls these Half-Backs and Full-Backs. The cheaper one that doesn't turn the color of pee is more appropriate for me. You should be fine keeping them like this. If you live in high humidity area, you might consider using some de-humidification and anti-dessicant solutions in the area where you store your comics. PE turns yellow, can stick to each other and can get gummy under the tape.

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