Card storage

• What is the best way to store cards?

Cardboard boxes made specifically for card storage are good for storing complete sets. As long as they are not moved around a lot, they won't get damaged. Cardboard boxes are also good if you like to handle your cards a lot. They are available at sport card stores or card shows.

D-ringed binders and nine-pocket pages are good for sets as well, although if you handle them a lot, taking them in and out of the pockets is a bit of a hassle and the dangers of damage escalate. Make sure you use the pages with no chemicals or preservatives like PVC, as sheets made of these materials might leave a stain on your cards. This is also a good way to store high-end sets as well as special collections of cards (such as all your favorite cards of one player).

Semi-rigid plastic holders are pretty big and very light. These are very good for cutting down on postage when shipping $3 - $5 cards. The trick is getting the card out and in. The best way to get the card in and out is to squeeze the sides of the holder so that the top opens (like a mouth). Then, press the card up against the smaller side and slide the card out. Soft sleeves are definitely a good idea when using these kinds of holders. Using these to store cards can be bulky.

Hard plastic holders, or "Top-Loaders," are probably the most common and the most traditional. They don't look too aesthetic, but they serve their purpose. Soft sleeves are definitely necessary so that the hard plastic doesn't scratch the cards. These are good for cards that you will handle a lot.

Snap-its are holders that are very hard plastic and "snap" shut. The open by using your fingernails/coin/screwdriver to pry it open. Snap-its usually have a recess in it (a rectangular indention for card). Although these are very attractive, they should be used only when the card is not moved around. The recess is usually larger than card. Therefore the card moves around inside and is susceptible to edge wear and corner dings

There are many types of screw-downs, but they all protect the same, regardless of size. The only major difference is that some have recesses and some do not. The recesses in screw-downs usually are not as big and deep as the recesses in snap-its. They still have the same problem though. The card can move inside. The screw-downs without the recess are probably the best protector as long as the screws are not to tight. However, if the card has a high gloss finish or UV coating, some of the gloss may rub off on the holder and ruin the card.

Soft-sleeves, or "penny-sleeves," are individual soft plastic sleeves about the size of a card (with about 1/16 inch on each side leeway). Usually, these aren't good for protecting on their own, but they do keep any of the other holders (with hard surfaces) from scratching the card. These are best used with top-loaders (both the semi-rigid type and the hard plastic type). Some people use soft sleeves with screw downs as well, although they don't work to well with the recessed type. Some people also use soft sleeves when storing cards in a cardboard box. It really can't hurt. I usually use these for the star cards.