Original Art Sleeves and Boards 1 1

[KingOfRulers]

I've come to realize that finding high quality bags/sleeves and boards for OA is very difficult. The sleeves and boards that I purchased around 10 years ago don't seem to be available anymore. Or am I not looking in the right place?

My preference is the open-top Mylite sleeves with fullback boards. I'm not sure the thickness of the Mylite; probably equivalent to a Mylite 4. I can't find the sleeves or boards available anywhere. I believe Hotflips was where I purchased them previously years ago, but they no longer offer those products.

Currently, the only options I can find are Mylite 2 bags (with foldable flap) and standard thickness boards. The same thickness you'd find on normal comic book boards. The bags are okay. I'd prefer the other sleeves, but they're not bad. The boards are the important part here. The currently available boards are so much more flimsy than the fullbacks. Here's a fullback and the standard board next to each other to compare flimsiness. 

Here's the combo I'm looking for:

 

Here's the only combo readily available in today's marketplace, that I could find:

Can anyone provide info on where to find what I'm looking for? Thank you!

[malvin]

I haven't bought from them in years (because I bought a few hundred last tie) but I use get mine from e-Gerber. I haven't researched since but at the time they were the cheapest"

https://www.egerber.com/catalog_archives.htm

I typically just go with their 1117R (4 mil think mylar) and do not use a board (although they sell that too) for standard OA. I also have some 1114R and 1218R for other sizes

You have to call them to order though and I think there was message posts that they had a big backlog.

 

Malvin

[KingOfRulers]

Thank you!

Too bad they don't feature pictures of each product. It looks like they have sleeves, but no fullbacks for OA are on their product list. 

[comix4fun]

On 4/19/2024 at 4:39 PM, KingOfRulers said:

Thank you!

Too bad they don't feature pictures of each product. It looks like they have sleeves, but no fullbacks for OA are on their product list. 

The cost of paper products spiked 5-6 years ago and a lot of placed stopped carrying the larger boards as they weren't selling many to begin with and their margins were already poor, I don't think they were selling many at a 50-75% price increase.

Gerber has the best price I've found on mylar for artwork. 

My regular source for boards was bags unlimited but their prices on boards went way up in the last 7-10 years. From about $35 for 25 11x17 acid free boards to $64 for the same amount now. Still they make a very nice quality product and are very reliable. 

[Shaun Hill]

I agree on Gerber.  That is who another collector turned me on to years ago, and I never deviated. 

[MAR1979]

The only issue, and one I've always had, going back 26 years with eGerber is they seldom answer the phone to take an order and their NON "eCommerce" website is circa 1999.  it becomes a week of attempt after attempt on my part. Leaving a message has not obtained me a callback from them in at least 15 years.  They certainly make it very difficult to purchase from them. It's an Odd business model!

 

Edited April 20 by MAR1979

[tth2]

On 4/20/2024 at 12:17 AM, KingOfRulers said:

The boards are the important part here. The currently available boards are so much more flimsy than the fullbacks. Here's a fullback and the standard board next to each other to compare flimsiness. 

Just use multiple standard boards to achieve the desired firmness.

[timguerrero]

On 4/19/2024 at 10:17 AM, KingOfRulers said:

I've come to realize that finding high quality bags/sleeves and boards for OA is very difficult. The sleeves and boards that I purchased around 10 years ago don't seem to be available anymore. Or am I not looking in the right place?

My preference is the open-top Mylite sleeves with fullback boards. I'm not sure the thickness of the Mylite; probably equivalent to a Mylite 4. I can't find the sleeves or boards available anywhere. I believe Hotflips was where I purchased them previously years ago, but they no longer offer those products.

Currently, the only options I can find are Mylite 2 bags (with foldable flap) and standard thickness boards. The same thickness you'd find on normal comic book boards. The bags are okay. I'd prefer the other sleeves, but they're not bad. The boards are the important part here. The currently available boards are so much more flimsy than the fullbacks. Here's a fullback and the standard board next to each other to compare flimsiness. 

Here's the combo I'm looking for:

 

Here's the only combo readily available in today's marketplace, that I could find:

Can anyone provide info on where to find what I'm looking for? Thank you!

the ones you are looking for reagarding the bags without sleeves from EGerber are the Mylar Bags and Sleeves described as Archives those don't have flap and are 4 mil mylar. Then for the Full Backs you have to call them. They used to produce them in whatever size you'd need and won't appear in their site. They stopped producing them for a while but last time I bought from them in 2021 they had them back as an option but I am not sure if they still do. I've always had an answer from them when I've called and if they haven't answered they must be on the ohine with another customer. I recomend not to leave a message expecting a call back from them just try again in 30 minutes. I stopped using the full backs on regular art boards and now I only use them on pieces that come in flimsy paper. Hope this information is of service to you. 

Edited April 20 by timguerrero
grammar mistake

[KingOfRulers]

Thank you for all this great info.

On 4/20/2024 at 8:53 AM, timguerrero said:

the ones you are looking for reagarding the bags without sleeves from EGerber are the Mylar Bags and Sleeves described as Archives those don't have flap and are 4 mil mylar. Then for the Full Backs you have to call them. They used to produce them in whatever size you'd need and won't appear in their site. They stopped producing them for a while but last time I bought from them in 2021 they had them back as an option but I am not sure if they still do. I've always had an answer from them when I've called and if they haven't answered they must be on the ohine with another customer. I recomend not to leave a message expecting a call back from them just try again in 30 minutes. I stopped using the full backs on regular art boards and now I only use them on pieces that come in flimsy paper. Hope this information is of service to you. 

Thank you for all this great info. It is very helpful. 

I didn't realize Archives is what I was looking for. I'll try my luck at calling Egerber to inquire about fullbacks for OA.

[xcantu]

I have had good luck with Bags Unlimited for my comic art storing needs.  They offer a wide variety of Mylar, backing boards and more.

https://www.bagsunlimited.com/category/345/original-comic-art-supplies