optimal_max

On 6/18/2022 at 1:06 PM, greggy said:

These are modern slow I assume?    I have 2 modern/slow stuck in SFG 3/14 & 4/4 received dates.  My 2 previous orders were 2.5 months, so it seemed like TAT's were drastically improving.  Your TATs are not bad at all.

If we have multiple independent pressers/cleaners who are cheaper and much faster then CCS, why does anyone still use CCS?

Not scantily clad...but dang Marvel Girl got THICC

On 5/15/2022 at 4:25 PM, The Meta said:

Be best to show the back in this case, otherwise can't tell

Not sure what I have to gain by lying about it, but I'll play along. 

Minor issue, but still inaccurate info

Got both of these back this past week.  "Fleer Ultra X-Men Cards included"  Nope, these are both Newsstand Editions which did not include cards.

ok, sorry if it's been posted already, but what is up with this?

I could see if it was "newsstand"  

https://www.ebay.com/itm/353986786420?hash=item526b41b474:g:BSQAAOSw0nhiR3aI

On 5/11/2022 at 4:53 PM, shadroch said:

My goodness. Asking people to step up and pay their taxes.  What has happened to this country?

We already pay about 5,000 other taxes.  Income tax, phone tax, sales tax, environmental tax, death tax, toll taxes, social security tax, FICA tax, Medicaid tax, and many many more.

My last 3 modern no-press orders have been under 4 months.  The grading has been noticeably stricter, but the times have improved.

Comparing 

On 4/1/2022 at 7:48 AM, Petroman said:

Out of curiosity were they all the same tier/speed?  My last MODERN SLOW got horrible grades.  My last MODERN FAST got expected grades.  Wondering if they are maybe giving the books you pay more to grade to the experienced graders and the cheap stuff to the newbies...

Same here. And, to compare, my CBCS grades have come back almost exactly as I expected, so how can I be so far off with one company and spot on with another?  I also have noticed spine tiks on returned CGC books that were not there when I sent them (and I have shipped thousands of books, so I know how to get them there safely).  And other books' grader notes (on a modern book) that say "light spine tiks", brought the grade to 8.0 :O ) but I'm seeing nothing upon intense scrutiny.  I seriously think the labels got mixed up, especially how often people post pics of returned books with labels from completely different books.

On 3/31/2022 at 12:33 PM, Cobbledclam said:

 

We don't talk about fight club?

Modern no-press received in the system 12/7 shipped today.  That's under 4 months.  Too bad the grading (at least my books) has been way off the past couple months.

Yeah, I realize it's an old thread, but I got into pressing last year and have become decent at it, though I'm sure there are many better than I am.  It is too complex a process to list everything in detail. Here are some tips I can share that work for me.

Type of Press: I have not noticed a difference in press quality between a "regular" and a  clam-style press.  They will both get the job done.  

Suggestion: Practice about 100 times on comics that you don't care about. You will make mistakes.  

Preparation : I typically use 5 pieces of laser-jet paper (re-useable)and one backer board (re-usable) per press. The backer board gets inserted in the center of the book (at the staples) with a piece of paper against the shiny side of the backer board to prevent sticking).  2 pieces of paper under the front cover, and 2 inside the back cover.

I personally prefer to use two sheets of smooth metal above and below each comic when pressed, as the press itself often has bumps/deformities. And the metal sheets tend to dissipate the heat better in the case of a press that doesn't dissipate heat equally.  I also prefer to use parchment paper (instead of teflon paper) above and below to protect the comic from burns, and you can re-use parchment paper until it gets wrinkly.

I typically press comics for about 10 minutes per side. Older books (pre-glossy paper) get pressed at 170-175 degrees.  Newer books (with glossy paper) I press at 155-160 degrees.  If you press glossy paper books at higher temps, you will ruin the books.   Squarebound books I press even lower temperature 135-140 (to not melt the glue) and a much softer press to not deform the binding.

The after-press is just as important as the press.  I use glass shelving to cold-press the books immediately after hot-pressing. Glass has some weight, and is 100% smooth.  I leave it under glass for a few days for best results.

There are plenty of helpful videos on youtube for a more detailed process.

On 3/13/2022 at 4:49 PM, Petroman said:

I've taken the approach to just stop submitting books until the chaos ends.  No idea when that will be.  But at around $30 grading cost per book now, it just doesn't make sense to send in books that should be 9.8's and have them come back 9.4 or 9.6.  Nor do I want to have to keep such books for years and re-submit later as that just means increases storage costs and further resubmissions costs.  I've dumped all my 9.4's and 9.6's and will just sell raw when I figure I can get decent value.  And really, for newer books, selling raw is more profitable than selling graded 9.4's or 9.6's and means a lot less delay and aggravation.

My feelings exactly.  It wasn't long ago I was spot on with grades, and now I can't believe what I get back.  We are paying more now, for lower quality grading.  I'm seeing grader notes "light spine stress" and looking at a spine that is smoother than smooth. I have another book with no spine stresses noted and there are multiple obvious stresses (which by the way were NOT there when I sent the book in) and it's a 9.6.   I also bought a CGC 9.8 book recently that shouldn't have graded a 6.0.  3 corners were all sorts of bent (no damage to case which means they let it slide). <--- Stuff like this makes me think bigger retailers get preferential grades.

On 2/8/2022 at 6:39 PM, ADAMANTIUM said:

Man I'm suprised, justly as perplexed at the improper technique. How can it be? That a day in the life can be so upsetting, and or, stressful! Honestly

 

I'm not sure what any of this means.  Is this a quote?

On 2/8/2022 at 6:02 PM, The Meta said:

Yeah that definitely looks like it was done pre slabbing

Fo sho, my man.  The plastic would have to crack before making a bend like this.  The part that drives me nuts is the number of flawless books I've sent in that came back 9.4, and Dynamic Forces gets this.

Ok, so I got this through Dynamic Forces. Which makes me wonder if retailers get preferential grades on damaged books OR CGC QC is just that bad.  This book has three bent corners inside the case.  A blind person could tell this is not a 9.8.  I wouldn't sell this as VF.  I have an email in to Dynamic Forces, and waiting on response.

On 8/5/2021 at 3:38 PM, Monstertruck97 said:

Jim Starlin I believe.

THAT"S IT!! Thanks so much!

On 8/5/2021 at 1:30 PM, revat said:

Someone might recognize it, but it may help if you A) showed the whole picture in case someone recognizes the art style and B) told us who the other signature is, as it might provide a clue.

 

It's the same sig both times.  One is in the print itself and one is hand-signed.  Not sure who the inker is either., though, since I didn't get to meet him.  Thanks for the suggestion of the full pic.  will include.

Forgot whose auto this is. Help appreciated.

thanks!

  Can't recall this signature.  Help please?   It's on Lady Death : The Rapture #1 (DF exclusive cover).

6 hours ago, namisgr said:

Project much?  Your thread, your post asking what you should do with one of your comic book belongings.  But the answer to your original question depends on the condition of the book, which others can only help assess with full front and back cover scans or photos.

Projecting? From the guy whose panties are in a bunch that someone might sell a comic he doesn't want to buy another comic that I'd prefer to own.  And that's not what I asked.  I asked if it was WORTH grading when there is a condition involved that I was not overly familiar with. Worth implies value, not intention. I wished to know, that IF the book was otherwise immaculate, apart from the condition described and pictured, would it be worth grading?  If the value gained was minimal, then no, it would not be worth grading.

15 hours ago, namisgr said:

Just those trying to determine if they should encapsulate a comic to wring a couple of extra dollars out of selling it.

Why does it bother you so much what I do with  my belongings?

15 hours ago, Ryan. said:

And I bet that's not what he meant. 

It is, actually. I chose a teaching job at a small private school instead of a public school where they are paid 3-4x more, since we are getting all personal up in here