How to Bag and Board Comics Properly (To Avoid Damage)
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- Опубликовано: 31 окт 2021
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Among collectors, most new damage occurs when we remove comics from or put comics into bags. In this video, I show you my "no-touch" technique for correctly removing and inserting comics into a new bag and board.
I hope you find this video helpful. Thanks for dropping in!
What size bags do you suggest for modern age books? I’ve found that the modern bags are too narrow and sides of the comic aren’t protected
Hello! I use 7x10.5 mylars and a 6 7/8 board, nice and snug, just enough room on the side. Here is a link to some I see on eBay. It's a non-affiliate link by the way. www.ebay.com/itm/203320270571?hash=item2f56d51eeb:g:Ls8AAOSwqOVgXVOj
I avoid the 6 3/4 bags like the plague.
I always size up one. Or board and bag it in its age appropriate bag and board then board and bag it again one size up. So board and bag inserted inside a board and bag one size up if its a more expensive comic.
@@ImproveCollectingComics not sure if you are aware but the average collector isn’t putting modern books in Mylar unless it’s a key or ratio variant considering 100 Mylar cost as much as bottom tier Bronze Age grails--lol. Sounds like you are a anomaly who is operating as if you are the norm.
@@louielogicsxxx3669 Yes, am aware. I put all my lower end books in poly.
Favorite bags are 7.25" for anything 1960's to present, ideally with a 7.125" board. Unfortunately the most popular pairing is 7.00" boards with those 7.25" bags. For me, it's not comfortable because the book and the board slide too far.
........Golden age size bags 7.75" with boards 7.50" are my favorite for ~~~Mangled~~~ 1960's books. So, those rips and tears and vulnerabilities that are so common ... will not get damaged further.
Finally, a video that is so important. I'm tired of damaging my bags. Bag after bag. It got to the point where I now put the bag in the comic. This is a little trick I wanted to share.
Perfect. I just started this a year ago and it made all the difference. No more accidental corner damage. Much better way. Also I agree you probably shouldn’t read or go through big key issues but I can’t help myself I love the look and feel of vintage books and the nostalgia you get when flipping through them, carefully!
Not much point in a comic you can't touch. Even if I was l lucky enough to own an Amazing Spider-Man #1, I would hold and read that sucker (gently).
Was worried I was doing it wrong did everything you did yesterday 😂
I believe you failed to mention the shinny side of the board should be toward the comic.
I laughed the whole way through this. Thank you so much! 😄
Glad to be of help!
@@ImproveCollectingComics helpful and entertaining 👍🏻
HOLY HELL MAN! I always take my comics out by themselves/without the backboard. Now I see the way you do it is WAYYYY more efficient and safe,thanks for the tip you just got a sub😁
Glad I could help! Thanks!
I thought that I was being careful and feel like such a nube savage now. 👊
"Don't handle or read the comics you buy. Instead, buy a readers copy or find them online." I used to say the same thing back in the halcyon days speculative collecting. Everything must be sealed and preserved right away! This will be worth $$$ in the future. Yeah...at this point, we should just buy pre-slabbed books straight from the publishers and printers. Oh, I forgot, they're already selling just the covers of comics nowadays--in the form of NFTs.
Yeah I imagine saying that to my 12 year old self and getting mega deer in the headlights. Even though I was a collector and tried to keep them as nice as possible, it never occurred to me not to read them.. it would have bene unthinkable lol
not reading your books doesn't make sense. Not just cause that's what they're for, but because in grading they go through each and every page, so even if you don't read it the grader basically is.
Any spider-man book with the black suit or the symbiote you know it will be 🔥🔥
I bet CGC doesn't even treat comics this nice 🤣
LOL.. you are probably right.
Very good informative video thank for sharing !
Man I never thought of handling books like that great info.
Glad it was helpful!
Cool Cover. I like such motifs. Perspective also plays a role. Anyway, I think it's very good. 😁
Been doing this but with my set of boards.. I use silver age bags & boards with a modern board behind the silver. I do this for almost all of my books but mainly the higher dollar books to ensure the corners won’t get dinged if dropped.
What do you think of my storage method?
I like that method for higher books for sure. But as long as the book is snug in there, an extra board probably would be a bit overkill. I'd much rather just single board and put it in a top-loader, if extra expense is going to be invested anyway. It also makes rotating comics around for display purposes easy.
Been doing this for years. When I do buy a loose book, I do handle it to check front and back. That way I know what shape it’s in before putting in Mylar 👍
Very cool, thanks for commenting. It makes me feel better about the way I do it. I'm sure there is a better way, but I haven't thought of it or seen it yet. I guess never taking a book out might be best, but that would be no fun.
This would take so long to do on thousands of comics. I just wear gloves.
pull the new board out till theres about 1 cm left in the plastic , transfer the comic from the old to the new board them slide back in, this avoids any catching of the corners when you struggle to reinsert the board as the board is already partially inside the plastic
WOW, that's impressive!!!
Great technique ! I might experiment with some of your ideas.
........I am quite careful with my books, lifting them out of the bag very carefully. When I keep the spine very straight, using gravity to help. The only thing that curls is the pages.
........That being said, there are Still occasional times when a book gets ~~~dropped~~~. Therefore, for an expensive high-grade book, I only read it when it's flat on a table, with cloth placemat underneath, and a magazine board directly on the placemat.
........The magazine board doubles as a base for light cleaning (mainly cotton pads and some high quality erasers)
Cool, thanks for commenting. Yeah no worse feeling than dropping a book.. I dropped a few of my new slabs a couple of days ago.. I hope my kids didn't hear me cussing like a sailor lol
What books do you typically clean, are they bronze age and older mostly? How long does a lightly soiled silver age book typically take to clean? (for example)
Great tips!
Rule #1 for comic bagging, and transferring:
Comic gets a flat solid backer when the collector gets a flat solid table...
I like the resealable lol.amd then sometime ill put that in the nylar oppisite dorection.I don't grade tho
I do it the same way but the only thing when I'm putting the comic into the bag and put two boards in to the bag then I pull I pull the board out that's on the cover of the big
That's a really good idea, especially on the more valuable books. Thanks for the comment!
Bag and board size is key. Mylar bag and the right sized board will keep your comic books from sliding around. This is how books get color rubs, ding'ed edges and corners. I prefer "Regular" backing boards and "Current/Modern" 2 mil mylar bags. Fits perfectly with plenty of room around all edges of the comic book. At least for modern comic books.
To add to the proper bagging and boarding, put the book and board into the bag backwards. Flap should fold down onto the cover side. This way there is no risk of tape sticking to the book itself, just the board. Or simply remove the tape all-together before removing the book.
buy the bags that have the tape on the back and not on the flap, that is the key
Or just hold the tape out the way while pulling it out lmao
Which side of the comic book boards do you put the comic, the shiny side or the matte side?
Shiny side toward the book
I'm surprised that you suggested using BCW 2mil mylar bags for long term storage and the heavier mylites4 for short term storage. Seems like it would be the other way around?
What would be the difference in putting the board in the middle of the comic’s pages. I see some people do that. Is that a bad way? And is it good to but two boards. One on the middle and one at the back of the comic? Thanks!
Putting the board in the middle of the comic is good for displaying a wrap around cover but the edge is exposed more.
I think that could be a good idea for thicker books, but am not really sure. I think it might just be a waste of a board most of the time. If you really want to protect a book, one board and a top loader is pretty much all you need. I try to put all my highest grade raw books that are valued at $100+ in top-loaders.
thank u for this video
Don't touch the comic? I'm there to read it not stare at it
Sorry, should have been more clear. I meant when you are done reading it or only have it as an investment. I touch all my comics as I grade them, no gloves here.
I do it a little differently than you do. I'll put the new backing board part way into the bag and then, using gloves or more comfortable finger cots, I'll carefully lay the comic on the backing board, centering it so no part of the comic hangs over and edge then slide the backing board/comic into the bag. I think it helps prevent the comic from catching on the side of the bag and causing damage. Once in the bag, if the board is a little bigger and the comic not centered, I'll gently tap with a finger on the side of the board that I want the comic to move towards until it's centered.
I remove comics the same way you do. If I used tape to hold the flap down I'll carefully remove it beforehand.
I put the comics in the same as you do but what I do differently is that I actually cut the sides of the old bag and lift it open. Bags are easily replaceable, books not so much. When I put a book on a new board I actually get 2 boards. I put on board on top, flip it, then replace the board and flip again.
I really like that idea.. that's what I do on books that come new in polys so why not on the BCW variety too? Also, the two board thing is definitely a must on higher-end books.. that sandwich makes damaging a book virtually impossible. Thanks for the ideas!
Would you say board and bags are best way to ensure comics are protected if you didn’t wanna laminate them?
LOL
I never use tape I just folded the top over and tuck it in the back of the bag been doing that for 35 years
I think that's probably the best way to go. Keeping tape or any type out of the comic area is a great idea.
Before putting the book in the bag, sandwich it with the spare board on top of the book and slide the sandwiched book into the bag, making sure you feed the top board in the bag first to prevent the bottom edges from getting caught on the edges of the bag. When the sandwiched book is in the bag, take the top board out. You're welcome.
Yoooooo I always put the board in the bag then the comic in!! I never had an issue I hav thousand of dollars in my collection!! But if that works for u it’s a nice way!!
With practice, that's definitely a solid way of doing it. I probably way too overcautious.. the though of causing damage even 1 out of every 1000 times makes my OCD spike. lol
I've seen Mylars destroy comic edges the way u slid it in.. Lift the close flap then put it in
If the comic has rough edges that is
Thanks for the heads up, I'll watch for that!
I dont think i’ve seen anyone use my method. So here’s what I do…
Place the comic into a modern mylar with no backing board at all. This way there’s zero worries of the acid content of the board down the road. So it’s just comic touching mylar on all sides. Then, slide that mylar into a golden age mylar with a golden age backing board. Tape the inner mylar flap down first & then tape down the outter mylar flap. Now the comic will not move at all & there’s zero chance of it ever banging the edges at all. Plus, they display SUPER nice with the double mylar coverage. Of course I only use this method for really nice books. It’d be a waste of money for just normal books.
Great idea!!! I'm making a note about that for my bigger raw books. Mind if I "steal" your method? :)
@@ImproveCollectingComics feel free!
@@PhysicalMediaOnline This sounds really good, what price min would you consider nice books to do this for ?
@@j_cruz_56deuce26 no price minimum really. Just books I really care about & wanna make sure stay protected
Clean hand thoroughly, dry thoroughly, its perfectly fine ro touch them. That is how old books are handled. Its perfectly fine.
No offense but if you don’t intend on reading the comics why don’t you just buy gold or silver or any number of other commodities? I mean I’m a huge Dr. Doom fan if I ever got my hands on FF5 I’m reading it(you can’t get readers of blue chip keys at affordable prices lol) I don’t care if it loses a grade or two-I guess I’m just a comic junkie not a “collector”--starting buying comics 2 years ago I have a few thousand and I’ve read each one-most of the modern books I bought and read are still NM+…..not really sure why you think reading a comic prevents it from getting a 9.8…….9.8 allows for plenty of defects. If I read a book I wouldn’t expect a 10/9.9 but 9.8’s are a different story--read the books look at the art, that why the creators created the books-they didn’t put all that effort in so you could never open it immediately put it and Mylar and let it sit in a box for decades……so sad. Just my opinion, how I operate and why it makes sense to me…..I’m aware others buy comics for other reasons.
I understand where you are coming from.. everyone has their preference, and all are perfectly fine. That's what's great about collecting, there's no exact "right" way to do it.. each person can choose whatever makes them the happiest.
Why do I collect? It's because I love comics.. mainly now for the nostalgia of it, not so much as a reader. Every time I pick up a new book it's like entering a time machine and walking into a shop in the 1980's. Investing is a small part of it, but not the biggest thing for me.. it's definitely not considered part of my retirement portfolio. I retired from my job already.
And since there's such a premium on 9.8, it makes sense to keep them as nice as possible. As a collector knowing what I know now, my personal option is to read once, bag it away.. pick up a low-grade reader's copy I might wish to read it again sometime.
As a appraiser I can tell you from research that if you buy the right comics they will appreciate at 15-20% ANNUALLY. I buy comics for the cover art, I stopped reading then a long time ago.
Because it makes you feel good like other people collect swords etc
I'm a "collector" but I to read all of my comics. My kids read my comics. I try to preserve them the best I can afterwards, but they're definitely getting read. And probably flipped through several times afterwards. But they stay bagged, boarded, and boxed. Just not up to "real collector" standards I guess.
It’s art. Gold and silver is boring. Need to conserve the art
Interesting to see folks do different things. I am with you on no contact if it's high grade. However, my one call out. "Sticky bags "? I rather the self sealing bags . I have 15000 + books and have ruined more books with tape than any other thing (except the post office) I have gone out of my way completely to eliminate TAPE.
I agree with you on no tape at all. Maybe we need to invent magnetic plastic or something. :)
use acid free double sided tape. Stick is to the back of the bag primarily and when/ if you open it, keep the strip of tape on the back of the book and not the flap
I just learned the other day with older comics. You gotta be very careful with the thumb pushing or pulling it out or pushing it in at the top. I put a thumb sized crease at the top of an uncanny xmen 177 comic which probably can’t be pressed out because it has a thumb sized white crease in the ink :((((
I felt like I barely put any pressure on it.
Yikes, that sucks. I always feel a little dirty when I have to put my thumb on the top of the book. There's pros and cons to each setup. Tighter bag and board setups like 7" boards with 7 1/8" boards secure the comic better and are likely best for long term storage, but can be hella hard to pull out of the bag. 7" boards with 7 1/4" bags are much easier to get in and out, but also allow the comic to move around more inside and would be more likely to cause damage if accidentally dropped.
So, basically if you are leaving it in the bag for months or years.. probably go with a tighter setup and just cut the bag off when you are ready to take it out. If you are planning to take it in and out frequently, go with the looser setup. I will probably do a video on this soon.
Thanks for commenting and sorry about the book!
question, how do I read a comic without ruining it?
It depends on what your expectations are. If you want to keep a book 9.6 or higher, than reading it at all is probably not a good idea. However, if you are really careful you can still enjoy reading a comic and still have it maintain a high grade of 9.0+. And, most of the defects you do would likely be pressable if you ever wanted to get the book graded later down the road.
Another idea for modern books is to buy two copies. Lock away the highest grade one and never touch it, and let the other one be a "readers" copy. Or, for older books, just buy a super low grade book for reading.
If you decide to read a higher grade book, I recommend keeping iton a backing board while reading it. I did this recently while reading with my 9 year old and it worked well. Keep the back of the book secure against the board while gently turning the pages and you should do minimal damage over time. Just be really careful not to let the spine bend, or non-pressable spine ticks will build up over time.
Thanks for the idea, I will do something like "how to handle and read comics" in my next video. I may have time to record it today. Thanks for commenting!
You buy a duplicate bad copy and don't read the other one.
Bro acting like it's rocket science to bag and board a comic 😂😂😂😂
I wish I was that smart 😂
Double board it. Especially if boards are bent in packaging.
Although your method is time consuming, it has way more positives than negative. No risk of getting any fingerprints on it
Ive got to be honest with you guys ive seen high grade comics in shops directly under hot lights and the comic is faded from it. So that grade is no longer valid
Lol don't touch the comic..... not like the oils from your fingers aren't all over those boards and bags lol. Not to mention this way seems like its just bagging and boarding with extra steps..... if you're using the correct sized bags and boards it doesn't matter if you have the board already in the bag when you put the comic in it.... all I can see is this method is alot more likely to cause a defect than just putting the book in the bag.... lol. I'm sure comic collector's can put comics into a bag without issue, unless they have elephant hands or something. So to save yourself all the extra steps if your paranoid about touching a comic put on gloves. Lol its a comic you can touch it that's what they were ment for touching and reading. If its valuable put it in mylar with full backs, problem solved.
Yeah, it's definitely an overkill method. But I am clumsy, so I feel paranoid and take extra care lol
And I hate wearing gloves, it makes me even more clumsy. I do wash and dry my hands thoroughly before touching anything,.. this hopefully helps mitigate the transfer of oils from my hands.
Thanks for the comment! :)
Some would say you're insane......I would say NOT. You are correct....less you touch...the better. Mylar -one of the world's greatest invention for collectibles that was EVER fucking invented.........
And it makes the books soo purty too :)
@@ImproveCollectingComics Frankly, I have found that IF I can put it in mylar...I can sell anything. And yeah...it does make things look a bit prettier too.
Respectfully I disagree. … I always put the board in the bag first … I’m as careful and meticulous as you are in terms of preserving condition of the book -- and I always put the board in first! -- although, if the goal is to Literally NOT TOUCH the book at all, then I suppose this way of putting book+board in together makes sense 🤝
I sometimes do it the way you do, if the fit isn't too tight. But I use 7 1/8 bags with 7" boards, so putting the board in first would put me at serious risk of bending a corner
Always read physically...even if it ruins collectors lives lol
Looks exhausting
LOL indeed.. but once you get used to it, it's not bad.. much better than the alternative
@@ImproveCollectingComics maybe I’ll give it a shot. Thanks
Comics are made for reading stories and enjoying drawings. For me it is creazy NOT to touch a comic and preserve it as a piece of gold ( fake old..it is still paper !).
It's a collectible, there are plenty of copies to read. It's a matter of nostalgia. When a book is preserved and displayed, it makes us feel like a kid again every time we see it. It's the same reason people will grade and display baseball cards, video games, VCR tapes, etc. No one gets mad that a VCR tape isn't getting watched anymore or a video game isn't getting played. The stories of these comics are usually available online or in a reader copy. Why do we have to specifically read THAT book,? And potentially damage it...
@@ImproveCollectingComics To preserve, to display is one thing. To make it completely inavailable to be read is crazy. I tell you, I live in Italy, lots of ancient drawings are stored in museum and archives, far from light and open air. BUT, if you want to read them, you can make a request, get an appontment, using gloves and with a supervisor they can be brought to your eyes to be seen. The real ones, not a digital copy. And each of those ancient drawings value way more than a comic. Art should be displayed, protected but available for its own purpose: TO BE ADMIRED. Slabbing comics (very perfect copies never read ...to achieve the fabled 9.9) looks more like " making money out of thin air.
😭
That second method is a huge NO-NO.
HOW THE FUCK DO YOU READ YOUR COMICS!?
I haven't really read comics much since I was a kid. I mean I do, but it's not a regular thing. I have recently started a "reader" collection, so I don't have to worry so much about damaging my higher grade books. I mainly collect now for the enjoyment of it, although I do like to revisit the old stories occasionally. :)
How about you?
@@ImproveCollectingComics I read everyday. Never touched a slab
What, no DC?
i hope you're not one of those guys that put the books in upside down...that drives me bonkers.
No way.. and yeah, it makes me want to stomp a toe when I see that
dont ever put duck tape
But, but, but lol Doing it that way and if there is a black back page you just dragged it across the table taking it out and putting it in. ... Just saying*
Yes, I agree. I am not sure if you mean my video, though.. I am careful to keep in on the board at all times. When I was dragging it on the table, it had a board behind it.
Puff puff pass.
slide the comic onto the other board? thats a terrible way to do it and perfect way to take off color from the back of the book. NEVER SLIDE YOUR BOOKS ANYWHERE, ALWAYS PLACE THEM. Do not reccomend this method at all
Sliding is fine on boards, they have a slick coating on them to help prevent color rubbing off.. unless it's constant and with pressure. Placing is of course better in a perfect world, but you're more likely to add defects that way. If you are only transferring books every few months or years, there's nothing wrong with sliding. It'd literally take 500 years to color rub at that frequency (without pressure)
LOL..........stop it.
Sorry, can't help myself :)
Wear gloves 🧤🧤🧤
Agreed, unless you wash them thoroughly right before and are not handling the comic for more than a couple of minutes
Jeezi christ so now full grown men have to have a craft table in order to "handle" comic books. We werent need enough buying comics, now in 2024 taken to a whole lower level. DONT TOUCH THE COMIC!!! Cmon man for real?? Lmao 🤣
Sorry to get you all stirred up. This video is for collectors trying to keep their books undamaged. :)
I was at my lcs ringing in my books last week and the cashier was manhandling my books @hoodwood_comics
Yeah that drives me nuts.. I am pretty firm with not letting anyone checking me out even touch the books.. I keep my hands on them and if they reach, I politely ask them to please let me hold them while they inspect them and ring me up.