Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
But I cannot help wonder if I should worry about long term archiving issues.
The protectors do say: Durable, Acid Free, Archival Safe, and Won't lift print.
Incidentally, the newest batches are better than ever before.
But they are plastic!
I like the added protection they offer to the pages and the stamps, (better than Glassine or clear sheet separators), but I cannot help but wonder if I am making a mistake. They are great when you display a collection, or pass it around for people to look at, but how do they hold for LONG TERM storage? I have had no problem whatsoever to report, and have been using them for a number of years...but....
Anyone else been using them regularly on their collections?
Any inspired thoughts on this? (and I am looking for reactions, as well for real scientific data, but not just your gut feelings)?
rrr....
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"But they are plastic"
Any other info on the plastic composition?
Do they say Polypropylene?
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If it is polypropylene.
This polymer is very stable unless in direct sunlight.
It resists fatigue (continuous bending) & dirt very well.
It melts at fairly high temperatures so not an issue with lifting print.
It is inert & hydrophobic so no issue of adverse ph effects.
It has been used for stationary purposes for some time, so it has a good history.
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My collections of computer designed pages have been using the polypropylene sheet protectors for about 15 years with no adverse affects. I really enjoy the ability to load the pages back-to-back in a single protector. That way I get double-sided page effect without the mounted stamps catching on each other. I am more partial to the light weight protectors, because they do not take up so much space in the binders.
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I use them since 15 years too, but they are in an humidity room controlled
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I do exactly as Terry does. My pages are back-to-back in Keepfiling, Polypropylene, Heavyweight and Super heavyweight page protectors. I have not had any issues in 5 years. I do work with my collection a lot now, but it was in storage for 4 of those 5 years...and no problems have been reported.
I think you will be ok with them.
Regards,
Don
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This how I house my collection; Hagners within A4 size polywassaname heavyweight Artcare sleeves. Then into these tough Artcare artist portfolios.
These are great, as they can be zipped shut (there is an aperture for air to penetrate (close to the spine) and they have a carrying handle. The corners are metal reinforced and can be stood upright.
I also have a lighter soft cover version, for taking to stamp fairs. It has a sundries pocket at the back for my 'lupe the lupe', perf guage, tongs, compass, flask of coffee, packed lunch, groundsheet, tent. Sorry got confused with my rucksack. 
Oh yes. These are over 25 years old. The Artcare sleeves are replaced every now and then, when they become a bit scuffed and tired looking. No problems.
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10:17:29pm
No problems with the Heavyweight Sheet Protectors - the lightweight ones - the sheet protectors have changed colour but no adverse reaction to my stamps that I've ever seen (although they are now in heavyweight). Printed on cardstock both sides in one sheet protector each. Most of my collection even in the lightweight ones well over 15 years - no stamp damages - those ones are all hinged and in direct contact with the sheet protectors. My newer lots are mixed hinged and in direct contact and others parts of the collection are mnh in top and side open mounts double sided printed in heavy duty and in 5+ years - no problems thus far.
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I use the light weight sheet protectors and have had no problems with them causing any damage to stamps or paper.
http://stamporama.com/images/ei_cool.gif
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If they are polypropylene and from a reputable company such as Avery, you have about the best you can get. This assumes that Avery is using a 'barefoot' resin - one with a very low additive package, and I'd be shocked if they weren't. They know the intended use, and would know that some high-additive types could cause long-term problems.
Polypropylene does not require a plasticizer, a major source of bleed from plastics. Polypropylene is a fairly high melt temperature (about 425 degrees F) plastic, so softening is not an issue. It is subject to ultraviolet degradation, and some of its uses require a UV stabilizer, but again Avery knows the use and would not specify that. Inside a binder, it's not going to see high UV levels, and even if it did, the degradation is physical, not chemical, so the contents are safe.
The only additive frequently used in PP that would really cause a problem is an antistatic agent - that's an additive that bleeds off static charges so bottles on a grocery store shelf don't pick up dust and look unattractive. Some of those could be a problem. One of the best is made from what's essentially rancid chicken fat - if it's for a container for foods, it's made from rancid Kosher chicken fat. Again, there's no need for that in a sheet protector, so Avery would not use it.
Avery has all the reason to avoid additives anyway. As you might expect, the fewer additives used, the lower the price of the material.
Spent 30+ years with the world's largest maker of polypropylene. Never thought what I learned from that would be applicable to stamp collecting.
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
20 Feb 2015
01:57:51pm
As of late, I have been printing my Bill Steiner pages on heavy card stock and then inserting them in Avery Premium Heavyweight Sheet protectors (I buy them at Costco).
But I cannot help wonder if I should worry about long term archiving issues.
The protectors do say: Durable, Acid Free, Archival Safe, and Won't lift print.
Incidentally, the newest batches are better than ever before.
But they are plastic!
I like the added protection they offer to the pages and the stamps, (better than Glassine or clear sheet separators), but I cannot help but wonder if I am making a mistake. They are great when you display a collection, or pass it around for people to look at, but how do they hold for LONG TERM storage? I have had no problem whatsoever to report, and have been using them for a number of years...but....
Anyone else been using them regularly on their collections?
Any inspired thoughts on this? (and I am looking for reactions, as well for real scientific data, but not just your gut feelings)?
rrr....
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02:00:46pm
re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
"But they are plastic"
Any other info on the plastic composition?
Do they say Polypropylene?
Login to Like
this post
02:26:39pm
re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
If it is polypropylene.
This polymer is very stable unless in direct sunlight.
It resists fatigue (continuous bending) & dirt very well.
It melts at fairly high temperatures so not an issue with lifting print.
It is inert & hydrophobic so no issue of adverse ph effects.
It has been used for stationary purposes for some time, so it has a good history.
Login to Like
this post
re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
My collections of computer designed pages have been using the polypropylene sheet protectors for about 15 years with no adverse affects. I really enjoy the ability to load the pages back-to-back in a single protector. That way I get double-sided page effect without the mounted stamps catching on each other. I am more partial to the light weight protectors, because they do not take up so much space in the binders.
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re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
I use them since 15 years too, but they are in an humidity room controlled
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re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
I do exactly as Terry does. My pages are back-to-back in Keepfiling, Polypropylene, Heavyweight and Super heavyweight page protectors. I have not had any issues in 5 years. I do work with my collection a lot now, but it was in storage for 4 of those 5 years...and no problems have been reported.
I think you will be ok with them.
Regards,
Don
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this post
re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
This how I house my collection; Hagners within A4 size polywassaname heavyweight Artcare sleeves. Then into these tough Artcare artist portfolios.
These are great, as they can be zipped shut (there is an aperture for air to penetrate (close to the spine) and they have a carrying handle. The corners are metal reinforced and can be stood upright.
I also have a lighter soft cover version, for taking to stamp fairs. It has a sundries pocket at the back for my 'lupe the lupe', perf guage, tongs, compass, flask of coffee, packed lunch, groundsheet, tent. Sorry got confused with my rucksack.
Oh yes. These are over 25 years old. The Artcare sleeves are replaced every now and then, when they become a bit scuffed and tired looking. No problems.
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20 Feb 2015
10:17:29pm
re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
No problems with the Heavyweight Sheet Protectors - the lightweight ones - the sheet protectors have changed colour but no adverse reaction to my stamps that I've ever seen (although they are now in heavyweight). Printed on cardstock both sides in one sheet protector each. Most of my collection even in the lightweight ones well over 15 years - no stamp damages - those ones are all hinged and in direct contact with the sheet protectors. My newer lots are mixed hinged and in direct contact and others parts of the collection are mnh in top and side open mounts double sided printed in heavy duty and in 5+ years - no problems thus far.
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re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
I use the light weight sheet protectors and have had no problems with them causing any damage to stamps or paper.
http://stamporama.com/images/ei_cool.gif
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07:16:24pm
re: Heavyweight Sheet Protectors
If they are polypropylene and from a reputable company such as Avery, you have about the best you can get. This assumes that Avery is using a 'barefoot' resin - one with a very low additive package, and I'd be shocked if they weren't. They know the intended use, and would know that some high-additive types could cause long-term problems.
Polypropylene does not require a plasticizer, a major source of bleed from plastics. Polypropylene is a fairly high melt temperature (about 425 degrees F) plastic, so softening is not an issue. It is subject to ultraviolet degradation, and some of its uses require a UV stabilizer, but again Avery knows the use and would not specify that. Inside a binder, it's not going to see high UV levels, and even if it did, the degradation is physical, not chemical, so the contents are safe.
The only additive frequently used in PP that would really cause a problem is an antistatic agent - that's an additive that bleeds off static charges so bottles on a grocery store shelf don't pick up dust and look unattractive. Some of those could be a problem. One of the best is made from what's essentially rancid chicken fat - if it's for a container for foods, it's made from rancid Kosher chicken fat. Again, there's no need for that in a sheet protector, so Avery would not use it.
Avery has all the reason to avoid additives anyway. As you might expect, the fewer additives used, the lower the price of the material.
Spent 30+ years with the world's largest maker of polypropylene. Never thought what I learned from that would be applicable to stamp collecting.
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