| If you want to keep your comic book collection in | | | | articles on preservation and using MicroChamber |
| tiptop shape, comic book supplies will become part of | | | | materials. You can read an in-depth discussion at |
| your collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed | | | | Be forewarned though, You may need a moderate |
| there are natural environmental forces going to work | | | | understanding of chemistry and physics to completely |
| to try and destroy the ink and the paper. You have put | | | | follow some of the discussions. But the articles will |
| in a lot of time, effort and enjoyment in acquiring all | | | | open your eyes to what is available in the comic book |
| your comics. You don't want them to turn back to the | | | | industry for comic book supplies preservation supplies |
| dust and elements from which they came do you? So | | | | these days. |
| the proper use of comic book supplies is essential. | | | | Now if you have a rather rare back issue that may |
| Elements such as humidity, temperature, pollutants, | | | | well have a high dollar value, here is a process worth |
| human skin oils and even the chemicals of the printed | | | | considering. De-acidification products are usually used |
| materials themselves, will start to deteriorate and | | | | to neutralize acids in the paper prior to storage of |
| discolor your comic books from day one. Comic book | | | | most paper products of a pulp nature. This is not to be |
| supplies and tools that have been developed over the | | | | taken lightly, as it is considered by most to be an |
| years to help us combat these natural forces are | | | | extensive form of restoration. The current |
| de-acidification paper, polymer type storage bags, stiff | | | | understanding of the process is that the staples are |
| backing material, storage boxes and desiccants | | | | removed and the sheets are submerged, film |
| (dehumidification materials). Not only will these comic | | | | developer style, in a bath of de-acidification material. |
| book supplies protect your comics for your own | | | | Then the entire book is rebuilt with new staples. This |
| enjoyment, they will add to reinforce the future value | | | | process can cost around $50 per comic book, when |
| of each comic book. | | | | done by a professional, but will restore and increase |
| Most all of these comic book supplies can typically be | | | | the life expectancy of your comic book by many |
| located down at your local comic book shop. But as I | | | | years. This process, in my opinion, should only be |
| have discovered lately, there can be a world of | | | | considered for already deteriorated comics that may |
| difference in preservation abilities depending on what | | | | have a considerable future worth if restored. |
| materials are used in the manufacture of comic book | | | | One final item to consider, especially if you live in a high |
| supplies. Quite typically what you may find downtown | | | | humidity area is the use of descants as part of your |
| will be of sufficient protective quality to protect your | | | | comic book supplies arsenal. A desiccant is a chemical |
| comics for quite a while. Although, polybags, to put | | | | sieve for water, and is available for industry use in |
| your comics into, are quite common and fairly cheap, | | | | small packets or in buckets. For our purposes an 8-oz |
| Mylar bags are definitely the way to go. They will | | | | can (that looks like you'd keep a grasshopper in) can |
| protect for 100 years (that may be a little overboard) | | | | be simply put inside the box to absorb moisture and |
| as opposed to 2 or 3 years for poly. | | | | indicates when it is full by changing from crystal |
| There has been a lot of elaborate science, particularly | | | | colored to pink. These same cans can then be reused |
| chemistry, which has gone into comic book supplies | | | | by baking them for 3-4 hours in an oven at about 350 |
| preservation material manufacturing the last several | | | | F. Each canister can cost around $9-$10 from one |
| years. MicroChamber material has been developed | | | | supplier called GAYLORDMART. 1 canister per short |
| that will increase preservation from de-acidification and | | | | box and 2 per long box should be sufficient. Another |
| environmental breakdown for a vastly superior time | | | | consideration is the little packets typically found in a |
| period as opposed to typical comic book supplies | | | | box of shoes. These are even more inexpensive, but |
| materials available today. Beware though, comic book | | | | would require further research to insure no harm would |
| supplies manufactured with this new material can | | | | come to each comic book. |
| become quite costly. But if you have some serious | | | | So as you build your valuable comic book collection, |
| collector's items, which you feel are worth a significant | | | | you will want to put some serious consideration into |
| amount of cash, isn't the investment worth it? It is also | | | | the comic book supplies that you will need. Materials |
| no secret that CGC uses these comic book supplies | | | | and supplier source will become important variables in |
| materials in every comic book they grade. | | | | your overall decisions. I will have more interesting topics |
| I have created a page at my comic book site, which | | | | and sources from time to time at my site, so come on |
| incorporates links to some rather technical scientific | | | | over and visit. You may even want to bookmark it. |