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To mylar or not to mylar...

Started by seank,

111 posts in this topic

HOTFLIPS

HOTFLIPS

Posted
Posted
They are twice as thick.

You got them re-sealable poly bag thingys yet?

 

Yes we do. I just tried out the Regular ones on my Ewok # 1 CGC 6.5 and they look great. I wil let you know the pricing tomorrow. They are 100 per pack and are $10.00 per pack of a hundred i believe.

 

Jeff

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bigfiver69

bigfiver69

Posted
Posted

Wow. Nice to know other guys are conflicted over this too.

 

For a long time, I had all my nice war books (and anything mid-grade pre-1964) in a mylite, then in an archive, with a regular backing board behind the mylite (ie. between the exterior of the mylite and the interior of the archive). Somewhere between 900 and 1000 books.

 

However....

 

I never liked the way it presented, and getting the books out to actually read and enjoy was an enormous hassle - and far more likely imho to lead to damage compared to just slipping it out of archive.

 

So, now I'm in the process of changing over to a Fullback and an Archive. It looks awesome. It's easy to get the book in and out, and there's NEVER going to be a tape pull.

 

Is it bad because it's exposed to air at the top? Maybe... but I think that risk is outweighed by the benefits.

 

Shep

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Count

Count

Posted
Posted

That's what I don't like. The fact that it's not sealed at the top. What if someone turned it upside down? :insane:

 

I normally double bag using a mylite2 into an Archive. Heck if theres a flood these puppies will float... lol

 

 

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CAMERANIAC

CAMERANIAC

Posted
Posted

I like the safety of the Timelok.(closed top)

What I do to eliminate the potential for damage to the comic while loading is to first, bend the flap back out of the way by folding it back along the edge of a table. This keeps it from wanting to go to it's closed position while loading the comic. I also use the two board method which protects the front of the comic when loading it. Just my 2c

Havn't damaged a book yet. :wishluck:

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CAMERANIAC

CAMERANIAC

Posted
Posted
I like the Timeloks but I think they are just too expensive.

 

The M4's or Archives are just as protective but less money. Here's a comparison.

 

4 Mil or Archive: $19 average pack of 50

TimeLok: $55 average pack of 50.

 

Just nuts.

 

Good point. I myself don't use them much because of the reason that you just stated. I was just trying to remove a little of the fear that some people have of using them.

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AussieRuss

AussieRuss

Posted
Posted

I have been doing some research into long term archival storage of paperwork & found some interesting info. I have posted it in another thread but basically it states that Mylar is great for archival storage of paperwork as long as it is used with an acid absorbing medium like microchamber paper.

 

Putting it bluntly it goes on to state that storing paperwork in Mylar alone can cause the paperwork deteriate at a normal rate as the acid leeching process is excellerated by having nothing to neutralise it.

 

The basics are.

 

Exposure of paperwork to micro contamination contained in inner city air of most major city's = not good.

 

Paperwork stored in Mylar alone = May or may not speed up deteriation but much better than no protection

 

Paperwork stored in Mylar + Microchamber paper. May well be the best option. Deteriation was rapidly slowed in most rapid ageing tests performed.

 

 

I must say that I am not an expert but have spent some time speaking with conservation specialists and reaserching what is the best way to protect paperwork for the long term. Everyone that I have spoken to (state library's, conservationists etc) all recommend Mylar along with a microchamber type paper.

 

Only difference between what we use and the library's etc is that they use 8mil to 20mil Mylar intead of the 2-4 mil that we use.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Russ...

 

 

 

 

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Ze-man

Ze-man

Posted
Posted
I have been doing some research into long term archival storage of paperwork & found some interesting info. I have posted it in another thread but basically it states that Mylar is great for archival storage of paperwork as long as it is used with an acid absorbing medium like microchamber paper.

 

Putting it bluntly it goes on to state that storing paperwork in Mylar alone can cause the paperwork deteriate at a normal rate as the acid leeching process is excellerated by having nothing to neutralise it.

 

The basics are.

 

Exposure of paperwork to micro contamination contained in inner city air of most major city's = not good.

 

Paperwork stored in Mylar alone = May or may not speed up deteriation but much better than no protection

 

Paperwork stored in Mylar + Microchamber paper. May well be the best option. Deteriation was rapidly slowed in most rapid ageing tests performed.

 

 

I must say that I am not an expert but have spent some time speaking with conservation specialists and researching what is the best way to protect paperwork for the long term. Everyone that I have spoken to (state library's, conservationists etc) all recommend Mylar along with a micro chamber type paper.

 

Only difference between what we use and the library's etc is that they use 8mil to 20mil Mylar intead of the 2-4 mil that we use.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Russ...

 

 

 

 

Very interesting Russ, thanks for contributing to the discussion. First off, I don't think anyone ever made the argument that Mylar would halt paper from deteriorating, but rather person_having_a_hard_time_understanding_my_point future damage from either external pollutants or physical damage better then any other product out there. And if MC paper is added into the equation it obviously adds an extra element of preservation.

 

I was previously under the assumption that MC paper would partially absorb off gassing and become saturated after time(hence the 7 year itch CGC recommends for changing the paper) So like you I researched what it is MC does exactly(and btw, like you am in no way an expert) In the end my conversations with our own Povertyrow were the most fruitful, we came to the conclusion MC paper was actually not absorbing anything but rather neutralizing it, and after time the make up of the paper would simply lose it's effectiveness like a chewed TUMS after 5 hours.

 

I also have wondered about the size of MC paper itself. Will a book age differently where the paper does does touch it? Was it made smaller for aesthetic reasons?(who wants white paper sticking out?) Or is the paper the size it is because it matches the inked portion of the interior?

 

And to be honest with you I have no idea why there are not 8-20 mil products available to the comic collector,, aside from a demand issue.

 

Russ? How bout it.. lets see some 20 mil open tops. :o

 

 

 

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Point Five

Point Five

Posted
Posted
Wow. Nice to know other guys are conflicted over this too.

 

For a long time, I had all my nice war books (and anything mid-grade pre-1964) in a mylite, then in an archive, with a regular backing board behind the mylite (ie. between the exterior of the mylite and the interior of the archive). Somewhere between 900 and 1000 books.

 

However....

 

I never liked the way it presented, and getting the books out to actually read and enjoy was an enormous hassle - and far more likely imho to lead to damage compared to just slipping it out of archive.

 

So, now I'm in the process of changing over to a Fullback and an Archive. It looks awesome. It's easy to get the book in and out, and there's NEVER going to be a tape pull.

 

Is it bad because it's exposed to air at the top? Maybe... but I think that risk is outweighed by the benefits.

 

Shep

Shep, I came to the same conclusion that the risk is worth it, and I do the same thing with my GA & SA books. Fullback behind the book, slide it into open-top archive, easy as pie. I do like to read my books, and I'd go nuts if I were continually unwrapping multiple layers to get to each book.

 

If you use open-air archives, just make sure the boxes you use are archival too (maybe it's too obvious even to state, but I learned it the hard way in the 80s!).

 

Addressing a few other comments about archives... Knock on wood :wishluck:, I haven't damaged a book with an archive in 10+ years. As long as you have a fullback that's larger than the comic, if you slide book + fullback in together, the fullback should take the brunt of the pressure and prevent the book from any potential nicks or splits.

 

I do like the way the closed-flap archives look, but from my limited experience with them, I find you have to be extremely careful with them not to damage your books. The flap has a stubborn kind of "snap" to it, and you have to pull the book out gingerly to prevent it from snagging at the flap hinge. (What say you, Count?)

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AussieRuss

AussieRuss

Posted
Posted

Hi Ze :hi:

 

I have often wondered why Microchamber paper is sold to in its current size.

Maybe it is so that it fits all comics universaly.

 

From what I have seen it is sold in 1.2 Meter X 50 Meter rolls.

 

It could be that to get the they are cut this way to get the least waste when cutting up a roll. (Maybe comicsupply Russ can chime in)

 

I agree with your statement about the microchamber acting as a neutraliser and not an absorbing material. Also agree that this may be why there is a need to replace it every 5-10 years.

 

I have come to the conclusion that using mylar is only half the battle. Microchamber paper may well best the protection against ageing as it is used in the conservation storage process even without the use of Mylar.

 

Russ...

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Primetime

Primetime

Posted
Posted
Right now, I've got my GA and better SA and BA in mylars. I hate having to worry about slicing the cover in half when I put the books in or crimping a 9.4 into a 9.2 when I pull the books out. So I'm going to full backs and mylites for the GA. The question is, for those of you who use full backs/mylites, do you also put the books in mylar? Thoughts? Recommendations?

 

I always double bag my raw books...presents well and I like the idea of having a raw comic with 1) double acid free boards 2) book and boards in a mylite or bag 3) mylar to cover #1+2 (thumbs u

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Count

Count

Posted
Posted
Wow. Nice to know other guys are conflicted over this too.

 

For a long time, I had all my nice war books (and anything mid-grade pre-1964) in a mylite, then in an archive, with a regular backing board behind the mylite (ie. between the exterior of the mylite and the interior of the archive). Somewhere between 900 and 1000 books.

 

However....

 

I never liked the way it presented, and getting the books out to actually read and enjoy was an enormous hassle - and far more likely imho to lead to damage compared to just slipping it out of archive.

 

So, now I'm in the process of changing over to a Fullback and an Archive. It looks awesome. It's easy to get the book in and out, and there's NEVER going to be a tape pull.

 

Is it bad because it's exposed to air at the top? Maybe... but I think that risk is outweighed by the benefits.

 

Shep

Shep, I came to the same conclusion that the risk is worth it, and I do the same thing with my GA & SA books. Fullback behind the book, slide it into open-top archive, easy as pie. I do like to read my books, and I'd go nuts if I were continually unwrapping multiple layers to get to each book.

 

If you use open-air archives, just make sure the boxes you use are archival too (maybe it's too obvious even to state, but I learned it the hard way in the 80s!).

 

Addressing a few other comments about archives... Knock on wood :wishluck:, I haven't damaged a book with an archive in 10+ years. As long as you have a fullback that's larger than the comic, if you slide book + fullback in together, the fullback should take the brunt of the pressure and prevent the book from any potential nicks or splits.

 

I do like the way the closed-flap archives look, but from my limited experience with them, I find you have to be extremely careful with them not to damage your books. The flap has a stubborn kind of "snap" to it, and you have to pull the book out gingerly to prevent it from snagging at the flap hinge. (What say you, Count?)

 

Absolutely. I normally sandwich the book between 2 backing boards to prevent any accidents. I also only do this to my most expensive books. It would be pretty expensive to do all your books this way. I still use polybags on my moderns :(

 

I've begun switching all my SA and BA books to mylite2...they just look so much better in mylite2s (thumbs u

 

 

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Jayman

Jayman

Posted
Posted

I actually like to use acid free halfbacks in my archives.

They are sturdy enough for my purposes and being a bit thinner, allow the book to slide in and out much easier IMHO.

So it's Archive/Halfback/2 Sheets MC Paper for all my HG books for me! (thumbs u

 

As for inserting a book into an open end Archive, I simply bend the top flap slightly upward so no sharp edges can come into contact with the book then slide it in.

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Noah'Dib-migration

Noah'Dib-migration

Posted
Posted
I have been out of the comic bagging world for many years now.

Would it be too much to ask for someone to post pics of the different styles here in this thread?

I honestly have no idea the difference in a mylar and a mylite or how in the heck one could slice open a comic.

Thanks.

 

Here you go ...

 

Mylite

cgc_mylites1.jpg

 

Mylite2

cgc_mylites2.jpg

 

Archive

cgc_archives.jpg

 

Mylite2 + Archive combo

cgc_archives_mylites2.jpg

 

Just the bags

cgc_all.jpg

 

 

Not to drag this back from the depths, but I'm new to the forum and just came across this great thread. I'm just beginning to get into the swing of things after a 15+ year hiatus from collecting, and I wanted to make the move to mylites2's when I saw these photos.

 

Can someone enlighten a once-again-noob as to the size of these mylars? Are they modern/current, standard, silver, or golden age? Are they all the same size? I ask because the archive seems to house a bigger board then the mylite and mylite2, and the mylite seems to be showing less board than the mylite 2. Are the boards the same size that corresponds with the size of the mylar?

 

Thanks in advance for a great thread and great forum!

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