[Bleeding Red]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

I don't know exactly where is the best place to get them, but I feel like a plastic container with hook folders is a good bet for comics. I'm sure the cardboard boxes are "fine", but it's not water proof, and I'd be scared to crush a collection under weight if I needed to stack things.

Though I think I understand what you are describing, in over 35 years of collecting I have yet to run across the "Rubbermaid" type flood proof comic box. Likely because the costs are too high and the market is so small for a box of such a specific size. I've seen comic box drawers, but those were made from cardboard. The store owners I have spoken with use custom built bins for their in-store back issue stock (Silver Snail has a sweet setup for their back issues.)

I would further suggest buying a wire rack from Amazon. They're between 60-100 bucks depending on size. I'd have a few boxes on each shelf (each shelf can take up to 200-300 lbs) and stack it that way to organize, rather than stack boxes on top of each other and risk destroying the contents inside.

This sounds reasonable, but I have rarely seen the crush effect with cardboard boxes, provided you are even loosely careful - putting a full box on top of a half full box is a no-no. Otherwise, with bags and boards, you should be alright. Again, over 35 years, no trouble.

I saw my parents do this with Vinyl and it was very uncomfortable to me to see the damaged boxes and vinyl stacked 3-4 feet high. I was worried it would cause some of them to crack or whatever. I bought a black wire rack off Amazon and set it up for them (seemed classier than a chrome rack in a den). The boxes are still crushed and dented and I haven't had time to replace them yet (they're those large case fruit boxes), but at least there's far less weight of stuff stacked together.

I'd definitely consider the plastic box and hook folder set up for the nicer stuff, especially if it will sit on the floor. Cardboard boxes for organization seems fine for the other meh stuff and if on a higher shelf on a wire shelf, I wouldn't be as worried about liquid damage in case of flooding.

So, of course, I recommend putting any issue of value (over $100) in a binder leaf and on a shelf, not in a comic box. I'd bet that unless the collection is pre-1980 that it is mostly "meh" - a condition that affected most of us from the late 80's through the 90's.

Note - you do not have to limit yourself to "Proper Comic Boxes" - I have used bankers boxes and xerox paper boxes. They do not hold as many, but make organization a bit easier.

Also, those boxes that you see with graphics on them, they are smaller than the standard comic box, though they will pop on the shelf, can help with organization (are you the anti-conformer who likes to put all your Superman books in the Batman box?).

SUPPORT YOU LOCAL COMIC SHOP!!