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mschmidt

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Everything posted by mschmidt

  1. Based on the rash of recent threads talking about grade drops incurred whilst getting books signed, I figured I'd put together a little illustrated post on how to properly protect your books for a Signature Series signing. I realize that there's already a great (and stickied) how-to by Kevin in this forum, but for someone who's never done this before, having a set of photos to accompany the instructions would probably be beneficial. Anyways, onwards and upwards ... Step 1 Here's what you'll need: bags and boards (I'm using silver size polybags with matching backing boards in this thread, but feel free to use whatever you have lying around) bags that are slightly larger than the ones above (I'm using silver size Gerber Archives) marker box cutter or utility knife masking tape straight edge or metal ruler Step 2 Add a backing board to each bag that you're going to cut - this will help ensure you don't cut all the way through the bag. Step 3 Apply masking tape to each bag, outlining where you'll cut. The bag on the right has a generic, full-size window which I use for sketches - the bag on the left has a book-specific, smaller window which allows me to control where the creator will sign. Step 4 Use the metal ruler, straight edge or your uncanny knifing abilities to cut out a hole inside the masked box. Take care not to cut into the blue masking tape as that will leave a sticky residue. Step 5 Insert at least 2 more backing boards into each bag (3 total is the bare minimum, I prefer 4) and then gently slide the book in the bag. I do this upside-down because it makes it easier to slide the inner bag in & out of the outer bag. Step 6 Finish the window-bag by adding a helpful "sign here" note on the smaller window, and then slide the inner bags into the outer, larger bag. Step 7 Don't forget to add a note on the back with the name of the book, your name and the name of the creator who you want signing the book - if the facilitator doesn't know who the book belongs to or which signature to get, the book will most certainly not get done. Step 8 (optional) For an extra layer of protection - which comes in very handy with mail-away signings - cut a backing board slightly smaller than the book itself, and use a strip of tape to anchor it to either the top or bottom of the book, creating a flap. If you put the name of the book and the creator on the flap, the facilitator will worship the ground you walk on. Step 9 Ready to be sent off!
  2. Seeing that this question seems to show up in every single "what supplies should I be using?"-thread on these boards, I figured it was about time to show the visual differences between the various sizes of E Gerber mylar that can be purchased from board member Hotflips or E Gerber themselves. A couple of notes: - Mylites, Mylites2 and Archives are the same size across product numbers, the only difference between them is the weight (Mylites2 are twice the thickness of Mylites, Archives are twice the thickness of Mylites2) and the fact that the Archives are open at the top & have a 7/8" flap that cannot be folded over. - For this guide I'll be focusing on the 5 primary comic book sizes: Current (700), Standard (725), Silver/Gold (775), Gold (800), and Super Gold (825). The number in parantheses refers to the width of the product group - for instance all Gold-sized Mylites, Mylites2, and Archives are 8" wide. The height amongst these product groups never changes, however - it's always 10.5". - Picking out half-backs or full-backs for these mylars is easy - simply choose a half-back or full-back one size smaller than the mylar itself. For instance, the 700 half-back or full-back fits inside the 725 mylar. - I picked three random books to show inside the mylars: a Sandman #8 (modern book), a Daredevil #64 (silver age book), and a Black Terror #11 (golden age book), so feel free to ignore whatever doesn't apply to your specific collecting focus. - Yes, it annoys me as well that it's "Mylites2s" instead of "Mylite2s", but that's just how it is. - (Current) 700M2 and (Standard) 725M2 mylars are the only two sizes that will fit in a regular comic book box and a drawerbox - for all other sizes, you'll need to either use the E Gerber acid-free comic book boxes (which are wider than a regular comic book box), Magazine-sized boxes or CGC-sized boxes. Anyway ... on with the show - all scans have been cropped & resized to the same aspect ratio, so the mylar sizing differences should be obvious across the images. --------------------------------------- Modern book inside a Mylites2: For a modern book, my preferred size is the (Standard) 725M2 - it doesn't fit too tight, and can be used for BA and SA books as well. Stay clear of the (Current) 700M2 size - it's way too small for anything other than books printed within the last 10-15 years, and it just doesn't make sense to spend money on a mylar that only fits one very specific type of book. Modern book in Mylites2 (Current) 700M2 Modern book in Mylites2 (Standard) 725M2 Modern book in Mylites2 (Silver/Gold) 775M2 Modern book in Mylites2 (Gold) 800M2 Modern book in Mylites2 (Super Gold) 825M2 --------------------------------------- SA book inside a Mylites2: In a pinch, the SA book will fit inside a (Standard) 725M2 mylar, but I much prefer the larger sizes. A SA book will not fit inside a (Current) 700M2 mylar. SA book in Mylites2 (Standard) 725M2 SA book in Mylites2 (Silver/Gold) 775M2 SA book in Mylites2 (Gold) 800M2 SA book in Mylites2 (Super Gold) 825M2 --------------------------------------- GA book inside a Mylites2: My favorite here is the (Super Gold) 825M2 mylar - it takes oversize indies (like Cerebus #1) as well. A GA book will not fit inside anything smaller than a (Silver/Gold) 775M2 mylar, and even that feels a bit too tight for my liking. GA book in Mylites2 (Silver/Gold) 775M2 GA book in Mylites2 (Gold) 800M2 GA book in Mylites2 (Super Gold) 825M2 --------------------------------------- Modern book inside an Archive: Archives are open at the top, so make sure you stock up on E Gerber's grey acid-free boxes to store them in - I personally don't use Archives by themselves at all, only in combination with a Mylite or Mylite2 (the popular double-bagging combo). Seeing that Archives are a fair bit thicker than Mylites2 (which translates to a tighter fit around the book), you have to be much more careful sliding the books in & out - the reason I'm not attaching a scan of the (Current) 700R size below is because I was worried I'd damage my modern book trying to get it in there. Even the (Standard) 725R size seems too tight here because of the increased thickness. Modern book in Archive (Standard) 725R Modern book in Archive (Silver/Gold) 775R Modern book in Archive (Gold) 800R Modern book in Archive (Super Gold) 825R --------------------------------------- SA book inside an Archive: The SA book barely fits inside the (Standard) 725R mylar - I wouldn't recommend using it like this. SA book in Archive (Standard) 725R SA book in Archive (Silver/Gold) 775R SA book in Archive (Gold) 800R SA book in Archive (Super Gold) 825R --------------------------------------- GA book inside an Archive: The GA book barely fits inside the (Silver/Gold) 775R mylar - just like with the Mylites2, I much prefer the versatile (Super Gold) 825R size here. GA book in Archive (Silver/Gold) 775R GA book in Archive (Gold) 800R GA book in Archive (Super Gold) 825R --------------------------------------- Combos For more expensive books in my collection, I bust out the double-bagging Mylite+Archive or Mylites2+Archive combos - one combo for modern books, one combo for SA books. I've found that when you're doing combos there's really no need to use full-backs - half-backs will do just fine because you're doubling up the bag (you put one half-back in the inner bag next to the book, and one half-back in the outer bag for support). I also like using Mylites instead of Mylites2 - I find the Mylites too flimsy to use by themselves, but inside an Archive they work great. Of the SA combos below, my favorite is the one that uses the Mylites2 (Gold) 800M2 and the Archive (Super Gold) 825R. A tip: When you're using a combo, put the book inside the Mylite or Mylites2 with the flap at the bottom of the book - it makes it a lot easier to slide it in & out of the Archive. Modern book in Mylites2 (Standard) 725M2, which is then placed inside an Archive (Silver/Gold) 775R SA book in Mylites2 (Silver/Gold) 775M2, which is then placed inside an Archive (Gold) 800R SA book in Mylites2 (Silver/Gold) 775M2, which is then placed inside an Archive (Super Gold) 825R SA book in Mylites2 (Gold) 800M2, which is then placed inside an Archive (Super Gold) 825R --------------------------------------- CGC Bags For CGC slabs you have a couple of different options: Mylites2 (Legal Size) 914M2 fit a slab pretty well and look amazing, but are relatively pricey. Transplant also mentioned that due to their size & stiffness when put in a regular CGC box, they "make the box bow out some". He suggested using CGC Magazine-sized boxes instead. E Gerber, unfortunately, doesn't carry Mylites in the Legal Size, but Bill Cole Enterprises have 1 mil Mylar Arklites that are sized specifically for CGC slabs. Bill Cole & E Gerber share the same Mylar patent, so Arklites are completely identical to Mylites. Bill Cole products are horribly overpriced, though, so 50 CGC 1 mil Arklites actually cost more than 50 Legal Size Mylites2 (even though the Mylites2 are twice as thick). A lot of board members swear by the Hotflips CGC Flip-n-stick bags which are clear polybags with a reseable flap. Another option would be the Bags Unlimited resealable CGC bags which are very similar to the Hotflips Flip-n-stick bags; it seems like the Hotflips bags are clearer & cheaper, though.