The Energon Pub

just curious, are cardboard boxes ok to use for storage? right now all my misb items are in plastic boxes but my friend just bought me a whole bunch of cardboard ones and i wanted to make sure it would be ok before i fill them up.

Your collection will be fine. The cards will likely get a bit of wear though.

bit of wear? i don't like the sound of that.

Depending how it's packed I guess. But the worst I think would happen is scuffed corners.

It depends on where you are storing them.

My mom had some collectibles in cardboard and styrofoam. The were Christmas decorations (Dept. 56 buildings). Since they were protected she just put them in the closet under the stairs. But we live in a wet area so eventually they got moisture and ruined some stuff - included the packaging. Now we put everything in rubbermaid tubs with sealing lids.

But if you're on the second floor or something (vs. a basement closet) I would think cardboard boxes would be fine...

Yeah, the only foreseeable thing you might want to look out for is water damage, but besides that you should be fine.

Cardbord box's attract all kinds of bugs......I wouldnt use them.

i use them. but i keep them in my closet and not in a garage or storage room.

Snarlus Prime wrote:It depends on where you are storing them.

More or less.

Cardboard does deteriorate quite easily, sunlight, moisture, bugs etc all break up/damage cardboard quite easily.
It should be fine to keep them in cardboard boxes for short periods of time in normal conditions, but if they are going into a garage/roof/shed/storage Unit, I would not use Cardboard at all.

Plastic tubs (preferably with a lid) is the best way to go, makes it hard for moisture and bugs to get in, water proof and fairly stable even in sunlight.

I use cardboard, but all my figures are put in ziploc bags. I push all the air out before I seal the bag. I haven't had a problem so far.

D-340 wrote:I use cardboard, but all my figures are put in ziploc bags. I push all the air out before I seal the bag. I haven't had a problem so far.

You'll want to pull 'em out of those Ziploc bags. The plastic used in the construction of the bags will eat through and destroy your figures.

One of the posters on here has a girlfriend/wife who works in chemicals and was able to verify this.

Autobot032 wrote:
You'll want to pull 'em out of those Ziploc bags. The plastic used in the construction of the bags will eat through and destroy your figures.

One of the posters on here has a girlfriend/wife who works in chemicals and was able to verify this.

What about instruction sheets? For the toys I have opened I keep all the instruction sheets in a ziploc bag. Is that going to be a problem?

Autobot032 wrote:

D-340 wrote:I use cardboard, but all my figures are put in ziploc bags. I push all the air out before I seal the bag. I haven't had a problem so far.

You'll want to pull 'em out of those Ziploc bags. The plastic used in the construction of the bags will eat through and destroy your figures.

One of the posters on here has a girlfriend/wife who works in chemicals and was able to verify this.

Really? I've had them stored that way for a long time now. I check on them periodically(about once a month) and haven't noticed a problem. Is it just the Ziploc brand of bags, or all of the type of plastic bags in general? I've noticed collectors/sellers store them in the plastic bags as well.

Bonecrusher27 wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:
You'll want to pull 'em out of those Ziploc bags. The plastic used in the construction of the bags will eat through and destroy your figures.

One of the posters on here has a girlfriend/wife who works in chemicals and was able to verify this.

What about instruction sheets? For the toys I have opened I keep all the instruction sheets in a ziploc bag. Is that going to be a problem?

I would get comic book bags they are safer longer.......but you need to change them every 3 years.By the way that's a hint to all you newbe comic book collectors.

Bonecrusher27 wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:
You'll want to pull 'em out of those Ziploc bags. The plastic used in the construction of the bags will eat through and destroy your figures.

One of the posters on here has a girlfriend/wife who works in chemicals and was able to verify this.

What about instruction sheets? For the toys I have opened I keep all the instruction sheets in a ziploc bag. Is that going to be a problem?

The instruction sheets should be just fine, but as Sto-Vo-Kor said, change 'em around every now and then. But in terms of degradation like the actual figures...no. The instructions won't crumble like the figures.

D-340 wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:

D-340 wrote:I use cardboard, but all my figures are put in ziploc bags. I push all the air out before I seal the bag. I haven't had a problem so far.

You'll want to pull 'em out of those Ziploc bags. The plastic used in the construction of the bags will eat through and destroy your figures.

One of the posters on here has a girlfriend/wife who works in chemicals and was able to verify this.

Really? I've had them stored that way for a long time now. I check on them periodically(about once a month) and haven't noticed a problem. Is it just the Ziploc brand of bags, or all of the type of plastic bags in general? I've noticed collectors/sellers store them in the plastic bags as well.

All sandwich bags. There's a different chemical they use to get the plastic that thin (iirc from the other thread). Temporary storage is not a problem, it can't even hurt 'em that quick.

Autobot032 wrote:

Bonecrusher27 wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:
You'll want to pull 'em out of those Ziploc bags. The plastic used in the construction of the bags will eat through and destroy your figures.

One of the posters on here has a girlfriend/wife who works in chemicals and was able to verify this.

What about instruction sheets? For the toys I have opened I keep all the instruction sheets in a ziploc bag. Is that going to be a problem?

The instruction sheets should be just fine, but as Sto-Vo-Kor said, change 'em around every now and then. But in terms of degradation like the actual figures...no. The instructions won't crumble like the figures.

D-340 wrote:

Autobot032 wrote:

D-340 wrote:I use cardboard, but all my figures are put in ziploc bags. I push all the air out before I seal the bag. I haven't had a problem so far.

You'll want to pull 'em out of those Ziploc bags. The plastic used in the construction of the bags will eat through and destroy your figures.

One of the posters on here has a girlfriend/wife who works in chemicals and was able to verify this.

Really? I've had them stored that way for a long time now. I check on them periodically(about once a month) and haven't noticed a problem. Is it just the Ziploc brand of bags, or all of the type of plastic bags in general? I've noticed collectors/sellers store them in the plastic bags as well.

All sandwich bags. There's a different chemical they use to get the plastic that thin (iirc from the other thread). Temporary storage is not a problem, it can't even hurt 'em that quick.

Ok, thanks for the heads up. Time to go with plastic tubs then.

thx for all the advice guys. right now the boxes are in my room so moisture and all that other stuff isn't a problem. looks like i'll have to get more plastic ones though.