Protective Mylar Sleeves, and Boards Products
E. Gerber Products, LLC : are the makers the famous Mylites mylar sleeves. Mylites are mylar sleeves that have a bendable flaps much like a ploy bag, but are make of one and two mil mylar. Mylites are one mil thick and Mylites 2 are two mils. E. Gerber Products also makes 4 mil open top sleeves. E. Gerber’s prices are some of the most in inexpensive on the market.
The company also makes Acid Free Backing Boards called Half (24-mil) and (42-mil) Full Backs. All these These boards have a 3% calcium carbonate buffer throughout, maintains ph. of 8.0+ add to the acid free backing board. The company also make other products like CGC comic boxes. Full Backs are also perhaps one of the thickest and stiffest backing boards on the market. See their Amazon Store too.
NOTES: In the pass, some have commented on the quality of the seams on E Gerber’s sleeves, we have not had such problems to date. The seam issue may have a bad production run or a problem that may occur from time to time.
Another note to mention, as of the summer of 2010 they do not have an automated online ordering system. You have to call or e-mail your order in to them. I suggest you at least e-mail your order in to them to confirm what you have requested. Confusion in ordering can equal wasted time and money in reorder, returns and repacking fees.
Mylites 2 and 4 mil are a cost effective way to protecting large collects, for comics have to be opened from time to time.
Bill Cole Enterprises: is the maker of the Super Mylars sleeves called TIME-LOKS®. These 4 mil mylar sleeves have pre-folded flap. TIME-LOKS use Ultraweld™ technology seams to try make their sleeves strong. Bill Cole Enterprises also makes 2 and 4 mil mylar with open flaps. Bill Coles mylars products are prices expensive, because of the increase in international oil prices. Mylar has elements that come from oil products we were told by the company.
The company also makes Acid Free Backing Boards called THIN-X-TENDERS™ (24 mil thick) , TIME-X-TENDERS™ (42 mil thick), and LIFE-X-TENDERS™ have 3 layers: one is acid free backing board, 2. is 3% calcium carbonate buffer throughout, maintains ph of 8.0-8.5 3. another acid free backing board. Only LIFE-X-TENDERS™ have the 3% calcium carbonate buffer at time of press of this article in the Bill Cole line. The company also make other products like CGC comic boxes.
NOTES: The use of TIME-LOKS is best for rare or important comic items that need more protection from dropping, weather, or general handling within encapsulation. There is some skill involved in putting in and removing comics from these stiffer sleeves. Time-loks are usually rather expensive. Although, they are perhaps one of the best polyester film encapsulation products in the market, for items that are not opened and handled regularly after encapsulation.
BCW: Another company that has Archival Polyester (Mylar®) comic products. They make 2 and 4 mil comic sleeves and also other sizes. They also offer FREE shipping with some types of orders, which saves lots of money on large orders and is very rare.
Item: Comic Book Storage Boxes (Standard)
Note: First Vendor Name Listing are web clinks
Bill Cole Enterprises: Vendor has a wide selection of acid free comic book storage boxes and CGC size comics sleeves. (Some of his other products are listed in more detail in other sections of this site)
E. Gerber Products, LLC : Vendor has CGC size comics boxes. (Some of his other products are listed in more detail in other sections of this site)
BCW: This company also sells the card board boxes, but also plastic comic boxes as well. Both type boxes are offered in short (L 15.75 X W 7.5 X H 10.75) and long (L 28 X W 8 X H 11.5) lengths. The plastic boxes may seem better for damp or wet conditions, possible storage problems or moving conditions. The plastic boxes seem to be able to store a heavier weight load.
Item: Special Comic Boxes
Conservation Resources International: Make very serious paper conservation products for museums and government archives. One of these products is small selection of comic related items, such as the .060 Gray/white and .060.
Collection Armor This is a newer concept comic book preservation method in which your comic book box storage box is protected from the elements.
Hollingermetaledge.com Another site offering very high qualify storage box option for your comics using tan acid/lignin free buffered (ph8.5) materials. Note: you may for what you get.
Item: Micro Chamber Interleaving Paper
Note: First Vendor Name Listing are web links
Bill Cole Enterprises: item is called Life-X-Tenders Plus™
9 Mil Anti-Aging Preservation Sheets.
BCW: There product is called Comic Extenders and sold in 10 mil Bookthick sheets. Their Amazon Store Too.
Conservation Resources: Very serious art and document conservation company click the following link for the right site location related to comics, (it is very easy to get lost on their site) Click Here Please. From this company also you can buy your own roll of these materials and cut and design to your own needs. This company is in the UK.
Conservation-by-Design: From this company also you can buy your own roll of these materials and cut and design to your own needs. Company is in the UK.
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Restoration and Conservation Artist: While we are listing the following vendors, we can not endorse their products or services. The following information is just being presented for reference purposes.
Comics Ina Flash (Pressing Services, mostly) PO Box 3611 Evansville, IN 47735-3611
comicflash@aol.com This gentleman’s services I have used was satified with his work at the time.
1-812-401-6127
CFP Comics and Services, Inc. (Pressing Services, mostly) CFP Comics and Services, Inc.
638 Whittingham Place
Lake Mary, FL 32746
407-474-7718
joe@cfpcomics.com
Eclipse Paper Conservation(Various paper restoration services) WWW.Eclipsepaper.com
email at: trace@eclipsepaper.com
1-888-836-2821
Restoration Lab
Susan Cicconi does restoration, pressing /cleaning, and other services
Email: susan@therestorationlab.com (617) 974-1125 cell phone
Susan Cicconi
P.O. Box 632
Newton, MA 02456
Paper Restoration and Conservation Products
Always test these products first, before using them on your comics.
NOTEABLE WEBSITES
Do it youself Cleaning and Pressing: If you patience, space and time you may want to try cleaning and pressing comics yourself. This website gives really detailed instructions and outlines the materials to get started. I suggest you practice with comics that you dont care much abot first. This site is great for getting started in cleaning and pressing comics. There are also instructional video links too. Good luck. KaptainMyke.com
Library of Congress: Thats right the Library of Congress has a page on comic book care. Tell the douter that little fact.
Cleaning Antique Books Shows how to clean old books .
Preservation Summary: Nice quick overview of comic care.
Comic Book Preservation 101: Another good starting poin of comic book care
How to Store Comic Books: Authored by wikiHow Staff it discusses with pictures something many would not think of factoring into to their comic book care.