Bags and envelope suppliers • Collecting General • The Acaeum

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Bags and envelope suppliers
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aia
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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 4:24 am

Hi folks, this simple request: in my coolllections there are several items which do not fit to the standard poly bags (by standard i mean those that perfectly fits for a D&D classic module)...
in particular i have several books (mailny softback with more than 150 pages) which need to be properly stored in bags... the same as for boxes and some hardbacks...
have you got any trusted seller for these kind of stuff? is it an online store? could you pls post here below your favorite seller?

(i am looking for an european seller for it'd be expensive buy these items in the US however pls feel free to add your suggestions)

tnx and ciaooo

benjoshua
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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:18 am

I use Badmike! He had just what I wanted. He sent it quickly. He felt bad about charging me. What an amazing guy!

Actually, we talked a lot about that here:

viewtopic.php?t=6627&start=100

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aia
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:40 am

thanks a lot for the tip!

so far these are the sites i found in that thread:

http://www.ultrapro.com/
http://www.collectorsafe.com/
http://www.cardsnetwork.com/ultrapro-ma ... p-450.html
http://www.actionplasticsales.com/speciatly.htm
http://www.bagsunlimited.com/

...my next question is: do even british collectors use these eshops? carl? alan? ...is there anything similar in europe?

tnx and ciaooo

Gnat the Beggar
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:08 pm

aia wrote:thanks a lot for the tip!

so far these are the sites i found in that thread:

http://www.ultrapro.com/
http://www.collectorsafe.com/
http://www.cardsnetwork.com/ultrapro-ma ... p-450.html
http://www.actionplasticsales.com/speciatly.htm
http://www.bagsunlimited.com/

...my next question is: do even british collectors use these eshops? carl? alan? ...is there anything similar in europe?

tnx and ciaooo

From my first visit (just now) to the web site above it appears to me that Bags Unlimited are VERY proud of its products, they want well over twice as much for the same or even lesser products than the other three shops that you have listed above.

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TheMilford
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:13 pm

Anybody know where to get a good selection of Mylar (polyester) bags?

I find these to be the best.

Gnat the Beggar
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:40 pm

TheMilford wrote:Anybody know where to get a good selection of Mylar (polyester) bags?
I find these to be the best.

I have no clue about Mylar or Polyester bags.
Never heard of them in fact.

But the ones offered by Ultra-Pro and Collectors Safe (listed above) are made from Polypropylene and are PVC and Acid free and they are 100% Archive Safe for storing your items.
The cardbacks are also Acid Free.

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Xaxaxe
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:47 pm

aia wrote:http://www.ultrapro.com/
http://www.collectorsafe.com/
http://www.cardsnetwork.com/ultrapro-ma ... p-450.html
http://www.actionplasticsales.com/speciatly.htm
http://www.bagsunlimited.com/

You really can't go too wrong with any of these companies.

This is one of those areas where the consumer actually wins ... these companies have to make sturdy, reliable products to satisfy the Ultra-Anal comics crowd, which will not tolerate their McFarlane Spider-Mans getting dusty. It's a competitive field and any company that establishes a reputation for cheap (or acid-based) goods will quickly be tossed to the curb.

Avurax
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 1:36 pm

TheMilford wrote:Anybody know where to get a good selection of Mylar (polyester) bags?

I find these to be the best.

I use E. Gerberwhich I have found to be significantly less expensive than BCE (though by no means cheap). I believe both are manufacturers instead of just distributors and they seem to be the big mylar players. Just ordered from E. Gerber Monday and tracking says it should arrive tomorrow.

Last time I checked Bags Unlimited, they seemed to just dabble in mylar.

Mars
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:53 pm

Is "4 mil" = 4 millimetres? That seems insanely thick.

jasonw1239
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:05 pm

Mars wrote:Is "4 mil" = 4 millimetres? That seems insanely thick.

"mil" when referring to a measurement of thickness is actually 1/1000th of an inch. So 4 mil is 4/1000 of an inch.

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Mars
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:16 pm

Okay, so that works out to about 0.1 millimetres - that makes more sense.

Gnat the Beggar
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:50 pm

WOWSERS!

Ya'll were talking about the 4 mil bags:
About 50 cents to a buck 80 per bag, depending on what size, and how many you buy.
8 3/4 x 11 1/2 Large Comics, Mag. & Letter $24.25 (50) $78.00 (100).

SO..... Just how much more awesome is Mylar at that pricing, than the 5 bucks for a hundred of the Poly bags those other folks are selling?

"Guys, I am starting to think Tegel Manor might be haunted..."
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Last edited by Gnat the Beggar on Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

jasonw1239
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:07 pm

Just a random link for mylar comic bags, (UK web site) 50 bags for 35 pounds.
http://www.megacitycomics.co.uk/acatalo ... _Bags.html

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Mars
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:23 pm

The 2 mil mylar bags look like they are 25 cents for a module bag 21.5 cents if you buy 200.

Grug Greyskin
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:25 pm

I like the 2 mil mylar bags from these guys:

http://www.bcwsupplies.com

I use the 2 mil mylar magazine bags for my modules and magazines. They are 8 7/8 inch wide, which I have been able to use to fit anything up to as thick as a T1-4 with a backing board and map booklet with no problem.

I do not like the 4 mil bags, as I find them to be a bit more rigid, which in fact means that 9" wide size bags seem to have less storage space.

As far as Mylar vs Poly, Mylar is definitely much more expensive then polypro bags, but supposedly the polypro bags are not good for longer term (over 5 years) storage. Disclosure: I am part of the ultra-anal comics crowd, and I will not tolerate any dust on my McFarlane Spider Mans. :wink:

(Actually, I am slowly changing all my comics from Poly to Mylar as I catalogue it. Slowly.)

Last edited by Grug Greyskin on Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

PaulKM
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:45 pm

Avurax wrote:
I use E. Gerberwhich I have found to be significantly less expensive than BCE (though by no means cheap). I believe both are manufacturers instead of just distributors and they seem to be the big mylar players. Just ordered from E. Gerber Monday and tracking says it should arrive tomorrow.

Last time I checked Bags Unlimited, they seemed to just dabble in mylar.

Okay bear with me, I'm terrible with dimensions:

Avurax: What size bags would have enough wiggle room say for a DMG sized item?

Grug: Would the 2mil mylar you mentioned fit something as large as a DMG?

Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day, and for once I'm inclined to believe...we are indeed drifting into the arena of the unwell.

Grug Greyskin
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:29 pm

PaulKM wrote:
Grug: Would the 2mil mylar you mentioned fit something as large as a DMG?

Definitely not.

TheMilford
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:19 pm

From Gerber's site:

Mylar®:
How does Mylar, which is biaxially extruded polyester film, afford more protection? The poly-bags that most everyone sells are "blown" films, affording very low density and dimensional stability. Mylar is an extruded film that is simultaneously stretched in two directions to give it maximum strength. In fact, it resists penetration by gases, such as oxygen, 300 TIMES more than the poly-bags. As for strength and stability: it is also several hundred times stronger and more stable. Keep in mind, that we are not talking about 4 or 5 times better as compared to their price; we are talking about offering the kind of protection for 100 years which poly-bags cannot offer for even one year.

Are the Mylars better to use than the cheaper poly-bags? Poly-bags are acceptable for short term storage while the comics are for sale as noted earlier. But if the storage period is longer and you do not switch to Mylar, then you qualify as DIRECTLY proportional.

Advantages of Mylar® Type D Compared to Commonly Used Plastics:
Resistance to diffusion of gases like oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, etc. is 350 times greater than polyethylene.

Permanence. There is no noticeable change in storage-100 years when compared to 2 to 5 years for others.

Resistance to moisture, insect attack, fungus, mold, mildew, acid, oils, grease, and solvents is "excellent" compared to "fair" for others.

Strength and creep resistance is 10 times that of polyethylene, one-third the strength of steel.

Volatile Additions--Mylar® contains no dangerous plasticizers, slip additives, surface coatings, antioxidants, acid-hydrolysis compared to other commonly used plastics."

I've been using them for about 18 years and they definitely hold up better than the regular poly bags. the poly bags are a softer material that stretches and tears easily... also they get cloudy over time. The Mylar stays crystal-clear and hold up well to repeated opening and closing

Cheers,
D

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