Protecting the Box Sets • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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Protecting the Box Sets
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cabala
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 4:17 pm

So, I have explored and explored various options to protect the various box sets from the different product lines and have yet to find a suitable poly bag or similiar for the box sets.

I reallllly like the BCW supplies poly bags, especially the large print magazine and book bags, they work really well with the RPG books. The book bags fit all of the hardbacks i have and some of the thicker softbacks which the large print magazine bags still dont accept. The book bags work for the Dark Sun boxed modules but thats about it, even Myth Dranor which is one of the thinner boxes doesn't fit?

What do you guys use for the box sets? I tried some samples from ClearBags but also didnt care for their sizing or quality.

Thanks,

Cabala

JohnGaunt
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:11 pm

cabala wrote:What do you guys use for the box sets? I tried some samples from ClearBags but also didnt care for their sizing or quality.

For boxed sets I use Ultra-Pro "Life" Magazine Bags. By coincidence they are "Clear Polypropylene" and "Acid Free - No PVC", which is good enough for my purposes.

The bags fit boxed sets up to 2-1/8" or 5.5 cm thick such as Champions of Mystara.

MetaSigma
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:10 pm

JohnGaunt wrote:For boxed sets I use Ultra-Pro "Life" Magazine Bags. By coincidence they are "Clear Polypropylene" and "Acid Free - No PVC", which is good enough for my purposes.

The bags fit boxed sets up to 2-1/8" or 5.5 cm thick such as Champions of Mystara.

I second this. I use and have used the "Life" size bags for all of my boxed sets. Even the largest boxes I've owned fit.

As an aside, I have never stored my boxed sets vertically, but always with the bottom of the box meeting the top of a horizontal surface (bookshelf, top of cabinet, etc.). I'm paranoid about the contents leaning inside the box otherwise. I sometimes see pictures of collections with boxes shelved like books, and it makes me cringe

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TheHistorian
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Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:59 pm

MetamorphosisSigma wrote:As an aside, I have never stored my boxed sets vertically, but always with the bottom of the box meeting the top of a horizontal surface (bookshelf, top of cabinet, etc.). I'm paranoid about the contents leaning inside the box otherwise. I sometimes see pictures of collections with boxes shelved like books, and it makes me cringe .

But do you stack the boxes? I don't think that would be good long term either. Best solution is probably stored vertically with something (tissue paper?) inside to act as filler.

Areas of interest/knowledge: Harn, WFRP, Ars Magica, anything BRP based such as CoC, Runequest, Pendragon and all their related games

MetaSigma
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Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:19 pm

TheHistorian wrote:
But do you stack the boxes? I don't think that would be good long term either. Best solution is probably stored vertically with something (tissue paper?) inside to act as filler.

No stacking either. I don't have that many boxed sets, so I can see how my method wouldn't be practical for everyone.

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TheHistorian
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Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:26 pm

MetamorphosisSigma wrote:
No stacking either. I don't have that many boxed sets, so I can see how my method wouldn't be practical for everyone.

Ah, okay...

*eyes all those Chaosium boxes*

Areas of interest/knowledge: Harn, WFRP, Ars Magica, anything BRP based such as CoC, Runequest, Pendragon and all their related games

DiscoDadda
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:49 pm

MetamorphosisSigma wrote:
I second this. I use and have used the "Life" size bags for all of my boxed sets. Even the largest boxes I've owned fit.

As an aside, I have never stored my boxed sets vertically, but always with the bottom of the box meeting the top of a horizontal surface (bookshelf, top of cabinet, etc.). I'm paranoid about the contents leaning inside the box otherwise. I sometimes see pictures of collections with boxes shelved like books, and it makes me cringe .

I thought about the leaning contents but if they are shrink wrapped... never to be opened then no one really knows whats inside...

Disco

Thunderdave
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:56 pm

Most of my box sets are on their side lengthwise (to save shelf space!)... I never really thought about what was happening to the books inside

I guess I'd better open them up & install some packing... I would think as long as the books can't lean, they should be ok structurally on their long edge.

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lokiwookie
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:28 pm

In the same order of ideas... I am wondering how to protect boxed sets (and books) from the sunlight? I am afraid that some spines will start to be insolated...

Adventures in Austerion : a fantasy RPG, with boardgame mechanisms and modular battlemap. By Guillaume Tavernier and GÃ©raud G.

Kingofpain89
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:37 pm

lokiwookie wrote:In the same order of ideas... I am wondering how to protect boxed sets (and books) from the sunlight? I am afraid that some spines will start to be insolated...

Drapes? Curtains? Blinds?

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

lokiwookie
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:10 pm

HÃ©hÃ©

My question was to find a way to avoid living in complete darkness of course... In south of France, we have (the chance to have) only bright sunny days, and few rainy ones.

Do bags with protection against light exist for example? Sometimes like that.

Adventures in Austerion : a fantasy RPG, with boardgame mechanisms and modular battlemap. By Guillaume Tavernier and GÃ©raud G.

sauromatian
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:08 pm

lokiwookie wrote: I am wondering how to protect boxed sets (and books) from the sunlight?

Don't forget the destructive effect of oxygen. And dark energy.

Kingofpain89
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:13 pm

lokiwookie wrote:Do bags with protection against light exist for example? Sometimes like that.

Looks like it.

http://www.interplas.com/reclosable-bag ... p-uv-guard

You don't like your job, you don't strike. You go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way. - Homer Simpson

benjoshua
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:49 pm

TheHistorian wrote:But do you stack the boxes? I don't think that would be good long term either. Best solution is probably stored vertically with something (tissue paper?) inside to act as filler.

I bag the contents, sometimes two or three booklets/maps together and then add the large bubble wrap inside the box until the contents are tight. The boxes are stored vertically. I have a few boxes where the top has sunk and the addition of bubble wrap pushes the top out which, over time, I am hoping will help the top square up. But even if it doesn't, at least the cupping shouldn't worsen.

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TollHouseGolem
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:07 am

Anyone use acrylic boxes? Looks like the acrylic cereal box display boxes would look good and keep the boxes from getting crushed. The downside appears to be the price - the cheapest I've seen is $18 for a box that holds a 24oz cereal box.

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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:45 am

benjoshua wrote:
I bag the contents, sometimes two or three booklets/maps together and then add the large bubble wrap inside the box until the contents are tight. The boxes are stored vertically.

Do you open SWed boxed sets to do that?

I use a similar method for my boxed sets, with bubble wrap inside the box. But no bag in it though. Do you think it is necessary? What about "condensation" in bag (like in SWed items)?

Adventures in Austerion : a fantasy RPG, with boardgame mechanisms and modular battlemap. By Guillaume Tavernier and GÃ©raud G.

Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:48 am

Kingofpain89 wrote:
Looks like it.

http://www.interplas.com/reclosable-bag ... p-uv-guard

Yes, something like this, but these ones are not very interesting to display boxes...

Am I the only one that have a problem with insolated spines? :/ You guys in Texas?

Adventures in Austerion : a fantasy RPG, with boardgame mechanisms and modular battlemap. By Guillaume Tavernier and GÃ©raud G.

TheHistorian
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 8:55 am

lokiwookie wrote:What about "condensation" in bag (like in SWed items)?

Probably the same as a module in a bag. Ultimately that is going to be determined more by your environment than the lack of airflow around the books. If they're in a humid room, then it's an issue; if not, you're probably okay.

On sunlight... paper items need to out of direct sunlight. They should pretty much be out of indirect sunlight too. Unless you're able to afford some sort of special high end glass in your windows, there is no way around this that I know of. I use bookcases with doors and file cabinets. Not as pretty to display, but neither is a row of faded spines.

Areas of interest/knowledge: Harn, WFRP, Ars Magica, anything BRP based such as CoC, Runequest, Pendragon and all their related games

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