Any storage tips?

General Question
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1

are there any storage tips for graded and non graded cards that i should know of as a long term collector? temperatures, moisture, products i should buy, anything to avoid a disaster. right now my whole collection is in a room that can fluctuate from 64 to 80 degrees f. seeing if anyone has stories to share :slight_smile:

not talking about pwcc vault or any paid service btw, although that is an option

2

Honestly, don’t overthink it.

Unless we’re talking about like 5-6 figure cards that you have raw or something, which just for peace of mind I might store differently behind some kind of lockable metal, I’m sure penny sleeves, top loaders, card savers, no-ring binders, cardboard boxes will work fine for you.

3

fair enough thanks, i am just paranoid maybe

4

These are a little better than just your average cardboard box. I like the graded card storage boxes. They have a bunch of different kinds.

5

Temperature is not necessarily the enemy, it’s the amount of moisture in the air and accidently trapping the moisture where your cards are stored. For some peace of mind, I would throw a couple of silica gel packets in whatever storage container you’re using.

6

I would recommend buying a dehumidifier and some temperature/humidity gauges. As others have said, it’s not necessarily the temperature that is the problem, but fluctuations in the humidity. Higher temperatures hold more water in the air, so it’s especially important to watch the humidity when temperatures climb.

If you are extra paranoid, run the A/C more than you typically would. The extra $50 per month may be worth peace of mind. A/C will cool down the place, and it will efficiently extract moisture from the air.

7

This is my A/C that i run more than i typically would

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8

@Dyl @rtas tyvm for the comments. silica gel and a dehumidifier sound like great ideas

9

Outside of my basement (a good basement is always the best option imo) I have two fairly small rooms in my house that fulfill my requirements to store sensitive valuables.

Requirements:

  • Appropriate distance to the most destructive forces in the house, namely the shower, fireplace, kitchen and washing room
  • I don’t have to air it out, circulation is sufficient without ventilation
  • Appropriate distance to rooms that gets aired out, or a main door
  • It’s feasible to block all sunshine out of the room
  • It’s not a room that gets permeated with fumes/smells
  • It’s not a room that experiences inordinate fluctuations in temperature or humidity
  • It’s not the first place a burglar would get to
10

If using a safe, ensure that you “vent” the air every couple weeks. Moisture builds up inside airtight objects especially if there is fluctuations in temps.

  • Sleeve / toploader / slab / binder
  1. Silica gel sachets (change monthly)
  2. Use an airtight case, shock proof ones for cameras work well
  3. Don’t take them in the bath
11

I don’t but it’s good advice.

12

Don’t over think it. Most people are extremely excessive with their storage methods. For non-graded, you’ll be fine with the following:

  1. Perfect fit sleeve top-down
  2. Dragonshield sleeve bottom-up
  3. Insert into side-loaded binder that can be zipped shut.

Adding silica gel packets within the binder is the cherry on top. I recently sold 2 raw poncho pikas that I’ve had stored this way for 7 years. The buyer graded them and both received PSA 10.

13

I wrote the guide on safes if you’re interested, and there are several links there that cover other topics: Safes 101: An introduction to protecting your collection.