Comic Book storage supplies

[fokkerfan]

So I've decided to clean up my comic book collection from my youth. What are your recommendations on a place to buy storage boxes, boards and bags or what other tools do you use?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Buy at a local comic shop, Phoenix, Another Dimension or Words and Pictures should all have what you need. Or on amazon.

Boxes like these:

https://www.amazon.ca/BCW-Long-Comic...7PFXCM75DS7SAR

Plus bags and boards. Assuming your comics are all modern era just regular bags/boards will be fine. If you have Golden/silver age stuff you may need other sizes.

Store in a cool dark place. If you want other options, like for display in your home, you can find stuff on amazon or in your local comic shop.

Also, there’s a dedicated comic book thread in the entertainment sub forum where you can ask more questions or discuss collecting further.

https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=143504&

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by fokkerfan

So I've decided to clean up my comic book collection from my youth. What are your recommendations on a place to buy storage boxes, boards and bags or what other tools do you use?

We (Phoenix Comics NW) sell that box that Cecil linked to on Amazon for $8.99... so I highly recommend shopping locally for your comic supplies. We'll be cheaper than Amazon on all of it. Our staff can help you out with the different sizes as well.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Yeah the amazon prices are crazy and I have no idea why. Bags and boards are insanely overpriced too.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Yeah the amazon prices are crazy and I have no idea why. Bags and boards are insanely overpriced too.

Yeah, I'm shocked they're so bad. I guess I should get off my ass and start selling comic supplies on Amazon.

[KTrain]

Unless you're buying in bulk it almost always cheaper to buy supplies locally.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by fokkerfan

So I've decided to clean up my comic book collection from my youth. What are your recommendations on a place to buy storage boxes, boards and bags or what other tools do you use?

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.

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.

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.

[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!!

[mikephoen]

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.

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.

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.

Generally plastic boxes are bad for comics, as they are made from plastic that does a lot of off-gassing that degrades the paper comics are made from. This isn't as big a deal on stuff from the mid 90s and up, because the paper used now is infinitely better than the stuff used from the 30s to the 80s. If you have anything valuable you shouldn't be storing it anywhere water can get at it anyway.

As for stacking, comic boxes are fine stacked up to at least 4 or 5 high. I've seen them up to 10 high without really damaging anything in the lower boxes as long as they're full and bagged and boarded.

Ten high is kind of dangerous though, haha. I don't recommend it, unless you need to get 300 long boxes in a one car garage...

[dino7c]

[KTrain]

Edit: That was mean.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Unfortunately this is the correct storage device for most 90s comics, but comics from other decades deserve a little more respect.

[dino7c]

Just breakin' balls

[LouCypher]

Another Dimension is where I get mine, I haven't bought any in a couple years but their prices were pretty good. I have been looking for a magazine size or CGC size box lately and they do seem hard to find and expensive not sure if anyone local carries these types of boxes.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by LouCypher

Another Dimension is where I get mine, I haven't bought any in a couple years but their prices were pretty good. I have been looking for a magazine size or CGC size box lately and they do seem hard to find and expensive not sure if anyone local carries these types of boxes.

I'll try to stop plugging myself here, but we have Magazine boxes ($7.99) in stock pretty much every day and we can special order in CGC boxes ($9.99). Phoenix Comics NW, 1010 16th Ave NW.

If you want to order in CGC boxes, send us an email at phoenixcomics@gmail.com.

[fokkerfan]

Thanks for all the replies, I'll be paying a visit to a local shop soon!