Got a comic room??? Showcase it here! 49 49

[ComicDoc]

Hey guys, I bind too. Have about 10 binds completed and another 20-30 prepared for binding once I get back in the money.

 

There are lots of options for binding here in the states, you can find most of them mentioned in the link Kenners provided. Some of the better know ones are Single Bound Studios (with the great David Banks), Hauchen and others.

 

Its a good idea to investigate if there is a book binder who would do your binding projects locally since a decent part of the cost ends up being shipping (even when using media mail, which some binderies do not).

 

As far as bound collections being worth more than the sum of their parts... well its very hit and miss. The biggest example was a Miracleman binding that went for (if I'm remembering correctly) around $1000. The guy probably doubled his money, depending on how much he paid for some of the key issues. But since there there have been multiple binds of the same subject so their uniqueness is going downhill.

 

Most binding collectors are trade readers so the more valuable binds are those that have a lot of interest, but for some reason have no TPB/HC collections (or they are long OOP, like Miracleman). Of late I've seen single binds of low-interest material (Ravage 2099) go for $16 on ebay (and thats was with a Stan Lee signature in it!) which doesnt even cover the costs of originally shipping the comics back and forth from the binder, much less a basic bind ($30ish) plus the cost of the books. Similarly a bind collection with lots of interest (an Avengers run that chronicled from Disassembled all the way thru Heroic Age) may not have interest because there are ready made HCs available (this collection of 10 binds went for over $300, but again didnt cover cost of production and materials)

 

There are the occasional binds that hit the perfect spot of interest w/o available trades and enough bidders to drive up a price to $100 for a book. But again when you factor in the cost of the 20-30 books ($1ea or $3 off the shelf) plust the cost of binding ($30) and two way shipping ($20) you just break north of even at $100.

 

Binding is a lot of fun, and theres a sweet spot of books from the bronze/copper age that arent old enough to have nice Archives made, and arent new enough to be part of the modern TPB/HC collection churn. Or there are events from the past that dont have collections "the way you want" to read them, so you can do a custom bind.

 

My collection is sporatic at the moment including: 2 volume DC Who's Who, 3 Volume Gotham Central (bound before they started finally collecting this), 4 Volume Star Man (again bound before DC started collecting it), and some random love like: Atari Force, Resurrection Man, Human Target, etc...

 

My biggest bind is yet to come is a 15 or so volume collection starting with Green Lantern #90 (first post-Neal/Denny issue with Mike Grell) and running up to present day containing all Hal Jordan-centric comics (so skipping Kyle's time as GL).

I have been thinking of binding my books that I want to keep. I have double copies of most sets and was thinking of doing them so that they are more accessible and promote reading. As far as getting a "factory made" HC or Essentials etc. they just do not have the aesthetic feel or nostalgic value to me as the original books. I do not like the paper, printing, lack of color (Essentials) or lack of ads that add to the value of the books IMHO.

 

I also don't like that covers are removed or ads from bound books and I would bind the books as a whole unit without removing anything. I have been in discussions with one bindery here in MA to do this. The problem is he does not do the volume to have all the graphics, stamps and imprints so I am limited on choices. Any ideas on where I could get some to have him use on my books?

 

What grade would you or Kenner recommend as the best for binding??

[Kenners]

Your books look great! Love the Captain Britain volumes! Let me know if you ever want to part with them

 

By the way how do evaluate the value of bound books? Does the value go down dramaticly?

 

Thanks, ComicDoc. I might be tempted to part with those Captain Britain volumes. Make me an offer, Sir

 

It seems that binding comics doesnt make their value go down at all (actually seems to go up).

PM me with an idea of what you would part with them for also let me know what shipping would be.

 

Done! Check your inbox

[Kenners]

What grade would you or Kenner recommend as the best for binding??

 

Only speaking for myself, its surprising how low you can go re: grade. If you buy a comic in GD condition, noting that all the edges will be more-than-likely rough .. having the books trimmed (you only lose 3/16" of an inch, folks) pushes the grade of that comic up several notches. Personally, there's nothing worse than ragged-edged comics

[PulpCultureComics]

What grade would you or Kenner recommend as the best for binding??

 

Only speaking for myself, its surprising how low you can go re: grade. If you buy a comic in GD condition, noting that all the edges will be more-than-likely rough .. having the books trimmed (you only lose 3/16" of an inch, folks) pushes the grade of that comic up several notches. Personally, there's nothing worse than ragged-edged comics

 

I can remember saying that to an ex-girlfriend

[miraclemet]

I also don't like that covers are removed or ads from bound books and I would bind the books as a whole unit without removing anything. I have been in discussions with one bindery here in MA to do this. The problem is he does not do the volume to have all the graphics, stamps and imprints so I am limited on choices. Any ideas on where I could get some to have him use on my books?

 

What grade would you or Kenner recommend as the best for binding??

 

The great thing about binds is you can include the covers/ads if you want! My 80s nostalgia binds included the ads cause that was part of my memories.

 

Gradewise a VF book is perfect, but you can get away with a FN. to me its about page quality between the books.

 

The bindrys I mentioned earlier (Hauchen and Single Bound Studios) has a lot of die stamps that can be used on the book covers and on the spines. Bigger binderies can make their own die stamps, but it costs ~$50 for one.

[Kenners]

What grade would you or Kenner recommend as the best for binding??

 

Only speaking for myself, its surprising how low you can go re: grade. If you buy a comic in GD condition, noting that all the edges will be more-than-likely rough .. having the books trimmed (you only lose 3/16" of an inch, folks) pushes the grade of that comic up several notches. Personally, there's nothing worse than ragged-edged comics

 

I can remember saying that to an ex-girlfriend

 

[Kenners]

The bindrys I mentioned earlier (Hauchen and Single Bound Studios) has a lot of die stamps that can be used on the book covers and on the spines. Bigger binderies can make their own die stamps, but it costs ~$50 for one.

 

Wow, that's cheap! Over here in the U.K., custom die stamps cost £50 (and they're not interchangeable between different binderies)

[miraclemet]

The bindrys I mentioned earlier (Hauchen and Single Bound Studios) has a lot of die stamps that can be used on the book covers and on the spines. Bigger binderies can make their own die stamps, but it costs ~$50 for one.

 

Wow, that's cheap! Over here in the U.K., custom die stamps cost £50 (and they're not interchangeable between different binderies)

 

that price typically includes a "gentlemens agreement" that the bindry can use the dies for other customers and keep them in their inventory and advertise on their website that it is an avialable die.

 

Ones that you want to keep private usually cost more cause they are "one time" and the only way you can interchange your dies between binderies is if they are your dies and you can have them sent to another bindery, as I did when my first binding shop closed down in Texas a few years back.

[Kenners]

that price typically includes a "gentlemens agreement" that the bindry can use the dies for other customers and keep them in their inventory and advertise on their website that it is an avialable die.

 

In the U.K., the customer who paid to have the die made is always asked by the bindery if they can have permission to use that die if another customer wants to use it. Because our binding industry is so small, there is no gentlemans agreement commonly held in place.

 

Ones that you want to keep private usually cost more cause they are "one time" and the only way you can interchange your dies between binderies is if they are your dies and you can have them sent to another bindery, as I did when my first binding shop closed down in Texas a few years back.

 

The binderies, here in the U.K., generally charge £50 to manufacture a die, and those dies are the customers property, but held at that bindery for any future-bindings that the customer might want to use that die for. You were extremely lucky that two binderies had jigs that accepted the dies. The handful of binderies here (3 that I've dealt with), all have different jigs, guaranteeing that a die made from one bindery, will not fit the jig of another bindery.

Edited February 1, 2012 by Kenners

[genrlzod]

I decided that for the new year I would make some changes in the basement (my comic room). The first thing to do was to paint. Since we moved into the house in 2001 I never bothered, it was painted just before we moved in by the previous owner and I had a hard time deciding what color to go with, so I left it white. Well 11 years later the paint looked old and I had an idea on a way to change the over all look of the basement.

 

Here is what the basement looked like before I started. These pics are a few years old, for I have five file cabinets now, not just two.

 

 

 

 

 

About two years ago I found a spinner rack for sale and put it at the bottom of the steps to the basement.

 

 

 

Here are some pics of the basement just before I started to paint.

 

Notice the wall where the paint has chipped, this is due to my use of double sided tape for the picture frames.

 

 

 

Yeah it's a mess over here.

 

Yeah the wall was dirty, hidden by posters. Also notice the bookshelf on the right, for it's no longer in the house.

 

 

Here is the where the spinner rack was/is. I also tested a few colors. And yes there was usually a cat nearby helping me.

 

That is the end of the before pictures, here are the after.

 

We'll start at the top of the steps. Demon cat welcomes you.

 

This is still the perfect spot for the spinner rack.

 

 

 

A closeup.

 

Better angle. The books are real, but will soon be replaced by color copies.

 

Cool poster signed by: Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper, & Sarah Douglas.

 

Best angle I could get of the top shelf. Yes that is a talking Tick action figure.

 

Didn't notice that crooked picture until after I looked at the picture. Since corrected.

 

A view to the back of the room. Notice the cat that thinks she owns the place.

 

 

This is where the old bookshelf was located. I like this setup a lot more. Close up pics to follow.

 

 

 

 

 

This was a birthday gift that I got from my wife a few years ago. What can I say she not only supports my hobby, but enables it.

 

Mike Schmidt the best third basemen to ever play the game.

 

Here is the back wall. As you can see I like baseball and the Phillies in particular.

 

Turning the corner. Only so much you can do to hide a circuit breaker and a Fios box. Need to find a bigger banner.

 

I used the fireplace once and hated it. It's now a place for me to display stuff.

 

Here is a shot of the front of the room. On the TV, Adam 12.

 

Minersville is the name of the town where I was raised. You can find anything on e-bay.

 

Here is the wall with the file cabinets. Please ignore the ugly couch. It will be going to the stepson once he graduates college and moves out of the house.

 

The shelves just fit.

 

Found these at an auction last summer. They were mislabeled as being from the 60s, really are from the 40s.

 

 

 

 

This is an original piece done by Darth Corgi. Thanks Christian.

(See more of his work here: http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=5373620&fpart=all )

 

Well that's the basement. Hope you liked the tour.

Erich

 

[Bosco685]

 

 

You had me at "SPOON!"

 

 

[Arsenalherd]

I decided that for the new year I would make some changes in the basement (my comic room). The first thing to do was to paint. Since we moved into the house in 2001 I never bothered, it was painted just before we moved in by the previous owner and I had a hard time deciding what color to go with, so I left it white. Well 11 years later the paint looked old and I had an idea on a way to change the over all look of the basement.

 

Here is what the basement looked like before I started. These pics are a few years old, for I have five file cabinets now, not just two.

 

 

 

 

 

About two years ago I found a spinner rack for sale and put it at the bottom of the steps to the basement.

 

 

 

Here are some pics of the basement just before I started to paint.

 

Notice the wall where the paint has chipped, this is due to my use of double sided tape for the picture frames.

 

 

 

Yeah it's a mess over here.

 

Yeah the wall was dirty, hidden by posters. Also notice the bookshelf on the right, for it's no longer in the house.

 

 

Here is the where the spinner rack was/is. I also tested a few colors. And yes there was usually a cat nearby helping me.

 

That is the end of the before pictures, here are the after.

 

We'll start at the top of the steps. Demon cat welcomes you.

 

This is still the perfect spot for the spinner rack.

 

 

 

A closeup.

 

Better angle. The books are real, but will soon be replaced by color copies.

 

Cool poster signed by: Margot Kidder, Jackie Cooper, & Sarah Douglas.

 

Best angle I could get of the top shelf. Yes that is a talking Tick action figure.

 

Didn't notice that crooked picture until after I looked at the picture. Since corrected.

 

A view to the back of the room. Notice the cat that thinks she owns the place.

 

 

This is where the old bookshelf was located. I like this setup a lot more. Close up pics to follow.

 

 

 

 

 

This was a birthday gift that I got from my wife a few years ago. What can I say she not only supports my hobby, but enables it.

 

Mike Schmidt the best third basemen to ever play the game.

 

Here is the back wall. As you can see I like baseball and the Phillies in particular.

 

Turning the corner. Only so much you can do to hide a circuit breaker and a Fios box. Need to find a bigger banner.

 

I used the fireplace once and hated it. It's now a place for me to display stuff.

 

Here is a shot of the front of the room. On the TV, Adam 12.

 

Minersville is the name of the town where I was raised. You can find anything on e-bay.

 

Here is the wall with the file cabinets. Please ignore the ugly couch. It will be going to the stepson once he graduates college and moves out of the house.

 

The shelves just fit.

 

Found these at an auction last summer. They were mislabeled as being from the 60s, really are from the 40s.

 

 

 

 

This is an original piece done by Darth Corgi. Thanks Christian.

(See more of his work here: http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=5373620&fpart=all )

 

Well that's the basement. Hope you liked the tour.

Erich

 

showed the woman, and all she cared about was the "Fanatic" bin, we fell in love with Phillies when we came over to the town last year and she is buying anything with "Fanatic" on it

[genrlzod]

My wife loves the Phanitc also, we have a few items with him.

[Waylander]

My wife loves the Phanitc also, we have a few items with him.

 

Your man cave looks very cool - the refurb worked. (thumbs u

[genrlzod]

My wife loves the Phanitc also, we have a few items with him.

 

Your man cave looks very cool - the refurb worked. (thumbs u

 

Thank you.

[This is water]

Wow,how cool!

 

I'm lovin' all the pictures.

[AnastasiasCollect]

By far one of the greatest mancave's I have ever seen

[Ringfinger]

Pretty sharp room!

[AndyBoBo]

So the wifey has allowed me to bring some of CGC books home! It's not much, but it's a start. Here are a couple of random books, my X-Men 1-66 books, and many of my SS sketch books.

 

[decepticon]

Looking good Andy!