My 100 count box of Ultra Pro 9 pocket pages arrived today. That means that my project for tonight is to get my 1988 Fleer set paged and put into a binder. I still need to buy a binder from Wal Mart, and will be making that trip this evening.

My question, to the community at large, is how big of a binder should I get? I'm planning on just putting 9 cards to a page (no back-to-back). The breakdown is as follows:

Base set: 660 cards = 74 pages

Errors/Variations: 6 cards = 1 page

All-Stars insert set: 12 cards = 2 pages

Headliners insert set: 6 cards = 1 page

Wax Box cards: 16 cards = 2 pages

World Series insert set: 12 cards = 2 pages

So I have a total of 82 pages. Not all of them will be filled but there won't be any blank ones (once I finish the set, that is).

So, community members: any input? I'm thinking either 2.5 or 3 inches, but wanted to see if anyone has a foolproof way of figuring out what size they need.

Thanks in advance,

Jason

From my experience you can do between 800-900 cards safely in a 3" binder. I've considered buying 5" binders for my cards, but I worry about them getting damaged with too much weight.

Hmmm. I put modern sets 18 to a page, so it's 35-40 pages for a complete set. And they fit nicely within a 3" binder. But you've got about 80 pages there, admittedly thinner with only 9 cards per page. I'd still go 3 1/2 or 4 inch binder, because if it gets too full, the end pages can sort of get caught up with the covers and there's a small risk of bending.

Have fun. I love putting complete sets away. It takes me hours, because I get hung up looking at the cards.

You putting them in numerical order or some other approach? I go with teams, which takes even longer, because I have to resort the set.

v3

I've found that 30 pages per binder inch fits comfortably.  A three inch binder will likely suit your needs while keeping the cards in good shape

This is actually the first set I've ever put away in a binder, so I'm really excited. I still have a few more inserts to go, but the base set is complete. That is part of the reason I am only putting 9 per page; I want to be able to see the backs as I flip through the binder as well.

Luckily, this is one of the sets where the checklist is already ordered by team, in the order that the team finished the previous season. Thus, the Twins are the first team, the Cardinals the second, and on down the line.

I have no thoughts on the size of the binder you need, however I think it's imperative it be a D-ring binder. A D-ring binder will keep the cards much safer than a standard round ring. A little more expensive, but well worth the investment considering you're trying to protect and preserve a collectible.

Two words for anyone putting cards in binders:

Sheet lifters

If you don't know what they are:

Here is one manuafacturer's page.

I am not recommending that company over any others, I have bought generic ones off of ebay and am very pleased with their durability. In fact, I only have a couple left, so I may be doing an inventory of what I need and buying more very soon. Absolutely necessary if sheeting cards.

I was going to recommend D rings and those plastic things. Now I know the plastic things are sheet lifters.

I'll second what Dan says about Sheet Lifters.  Also, what Lerxst said about D-rings.

I have about 80-90 binders full of cards and use sheet lifters in them all.  For what it's worth, I use a flat one, or boomerang in front and a curved one in the back.  

I have seen the sheet lifters but might be a little slow on the purpose. Do you use 1 per binder or every so many pages? What exactly is the purpose. I have many binders full and want the best process to maintain the quality of my stash.