Comic collecting hobby tips/tricks/questions thread

[Jersen]

I thought it might be handy to have a thread devoted to questions and answers related to the overall hobby of comic collecting. That can be a pretty broad topic, I know, but I know that I certainly have questions about the whats, hows, and whys related to storage and other techniques. I have a couple of questions to kick this off that can hopefully clarify what I mean a little more:

Backing boards have a slick, shiny side and a side that is more matte (not really rough, but not slick and shiny). Which side is the proper side to place against the back of your comic?

Who double-books their bags & boards? By this I mean placing a books back-to-back, separated by a board, in a single bag. I have done this since I was a kid, mainly because I didn't have alot of money to spend on bags and boards and wanted to stretch my supplies as far as they could go. Does this have a major detrimental effect on books?

[400yrs]

Backing boards have a slick, shiny side and a side that is more matte (not really rough, but not slick and shiny). Which side is the proper side to place against the back of your comic?

The shiny side is the buffered side. Supposedly, that's where you are supposed to put the books.

Who double-books their bags & boards? By this I mean placing a books back-to-back, separated by a board, in a single bag. I have done this since I was a kid, mainly because I didn't have alot of money to spend on bags and boards and wanted to stretch my supplies as far as they could go. Does this have a major detrimental effect on books?

I did it. It's probably not good.

[BruceReville]

I was always told by different dealers that double bagging comics put stress on the spines and was not recommended so I have always avoided doing it.

[iggy101us]

I switched to using silver age size bags for all comics a few years ago. It's roomier and minimize the chance of dents from neighboring books.

[superman-prime]

same here i use silver B&B for all

[xodacia81]

I don't double bag, I use silver age bags and boards and I use Mylites 2 or 4s when I can grab them, for my "better" books. I like the Silver stuff because it tends to keep books from getting "pinched" by the smaller modern bags.

[tmcneil82]

I always use the "age" appropriate bags and boards. I hate the look of a modern book in a silver bag and board, and am really not prepared to shove a silver book into a modern b and b. Also, if its a larger modern book, i will use a silver b and b, so its not crammed in.

Oh, and I don't double mine up either.

[superman-prime]

double bagging bad its better to pass altogether then double b and board
on cheep stuff i just bag it

[ian_house]

A nice stack of comics makes a pretty good drinks table and soaks up all of the drips.

[iggy101us]

A nice stack of comics makes a pretty good drinks table and soaks up all of the drips.

[Elveen]

A nice stack of comics makes a pretty good drinks table and soaks up all of the drips.

It looks like there are some rare Hobo-colored-variants in that stack.

[sanman]

I never double bag, but in some cases, I double board—I bag the comic with a SA bag and board and then insert an additional MA board at the centerfold to make the book more rigid. For my more valuable and HTF books, I like the extra protection.

[Heath]

I've double-bagged when necessary. I think two comics in a bag separated by a board, is much better than the comic with no protection. But it's only temporary until I can get some more bags and boards.

I also use silver age bags and boards for modern comics. Modern size bags and boards seem a little too narrow - especially the boards. I've seen spines rolled around the edge of a narrow modern board. Especially when a modern board is used with a silver bag. That's a dangerous combination.

I also bag and board mine upset down, with the flap on the bottom. This keeps the thicker part of the bag/comic/board package on the bottom so you can flip through books tightly packed in a box without bending them at the top. And, in a loosely packed box, it keeps them from slumping down and bending the spine. And, it just has a lot neater look to it.

[IMJ]

and then insert an additional MA board at the centerfold to make the book more rigid.

Hmm... I never thought about doing this for my better books. Not a bad idea if you store those in bags. I've been keeping my better stuff (I mean the top of the line stuff that's really worth it) in Mil cases with micro chamber paper every few pages or so though.

Those Mil cases are amazing, but they are expensive, man.

[sanman]

and then insert an additional MA board at the centerfold to make the book more rigid.

Hmm... I never thought about doing this for my better books. Not a bad idea if you store those in bags. I've been keeping my better stuff (I mean the top of the line stuff that's really worth it) in Mil cases with micro chamber paper every few pages or so though.

Those Mil cases are amazing, but they are expensive, man.

My most valuable comic (as graded) isn’t worth more than a $200 and I have less than ten worth more than $100. These I should probably store better—maybe in the Mil case.

The majority of my more valuable or HTF books fall in the $50 range, and I’ve found the extra board more than adequate.

In relation, I’m going to start rebagging my collection and just about all of my SA, BA and better MA books will be bagged in Mylites—all with the extra board.

[caxiotis]

What is a Mil case? Never heard of it before.

[Knightt]

The extra board idea is a great idea, IMO. I have noticed the thickness of comic book backer boards becoming thinner and thinner (and shorter) over the years. At times I wonder if my LCS is hiring someone to make the backer boards that he sells. I have found a brand of backer boards at the video rental store Hastings that if chosen with scrutiny are thicker than average but still like nothing I was using to bag/board my Valiant collection years ago. So, two boards seems to be very sound advise.

IMJ, I have to admit I do not know what an MA board is...

One quirk that I have for bagging my books is that I no longer use 'tape' to close the bags. I use 'removable circular stickers' to close the bags. There is no fear in damaging my books with tape and does not stress the bag when I open/reopen the bags for either reading or research. An example is noted here:



The removable stickers work well on both regular bags and mylite bags.

[sanman]

IMJ, I have to admit I do not know what an MA board is...

MA=Modern Age, like SA for Silver Age or BA for Bronze Age.

I like your removable sticker idea, by the way.

[Knightt]

Thanks... the idea is very handy for me. I am contemplating on using a larger removable sticker as well.

I had an idea that the 'MA' might mean that but didn't want to put my wanker out there on the table just to have it laughed at.



Thanks for that clarification.

[sanman]

Thanks... the idea is very handy for me. I am contemplating on using a larger removable sticker as well.

I was wondering it there was enough sticker coverage to keep the bag sealed...

Thanks... the idea is very handy for me. I am contemplating on using a larger removable sticker as well.

I had an idea that the 'MA' might mean that but didn't want to put my wanker out there on the table just to have it laughed at.



Thanks for that clarification.

LOL, no problem.

You know your previous post is going to show up—often—in the other members’ posts thread right?

[iggy101us]

You know your previous post is going to show up—often—in the other members’ posts thread right?

[Jersen]

I don't tape my bags closed, simply for the fact that I never know what I'm gonna break out to read and I don't want to stretch/ruin the bags by peeling the tape off. Instead, when I put my bagged books in the box, I simply fold the flap down over the top. It doesn't take long for the flap to retain that shape so that it will stay folded over.

I may start working my way toward rebagging/single bagging my books but to be honest, I'm not too terribly concerned about it. Yes, I want to keep my comics in good shape, but I'm really only concerned about my personal enjoyment of the books.

[superman-prime]

im just too lazy to B&B a lot of my stuff i dont want to sit down and do that for 10k books

[Jersen]

im just too lazy to B&B a lot of my stuff i dont want to sit down and do that for 10k books

It's funny you say that, because bagging and boarding and sorting my books is one of my favorite parts of getting new comics!

[superman-prime]

thats what happens when i started buying collections last year too much to do