General Forum

I was wondering about how many pages to a binder since some of mine are starting to get full. I counted about 80 pages of one that's about full. I'm not sure if it was 2.5 or 3 inches. I think the best way is to try and see.

I wonder what's the best source for good 2.5 or 3 inch D-ring binders. Anyone have great place to get them online?

As long as the pages are being held fairly tight to the front and back covers, you don't risk the pages sagging inside, whether full or empty. Obviously, as you fill the pages, they fatten up quite a bit, even with thinner card stock (such as the Topps base sets). I think I was putting the 660-card sets in 3" binders (going from memory - I'll have to check at home), which means about 75 pages (so think about 20 to 25 pages for each inch a binder is in order for it to be "full"). Again, if the set is Flair, the cards are thicker, that equation is out.

Another item I would HIGHLY recommend to all binder users - sheet lifters (sometimes also called page lifters). These are those plastic thingies that you put in the front and back of the binder to keep page 1 and the last page from slipping down into the rings and damaging (if you put them in numerical order) cards 1, 4, & 7. I bought a large amount of them from a seller on ebay, and at a cost of approximately 25 cents each, it's well worth it for what cards you may protect.

mrbenaka wrote: I have my Royals organized by year and use the database here for my guide to a complete set.  I put them in binders, leaving spaces between cards for cards I don't have yet.  Do the pages need to be full of cards to be considered full and not a risk for being damaged or is it ok to have gaps and still store upright?  Currently I store them flat because I don't want to damage the cards but the number of binders is starting to take up a lot of space and would be easier to store upright.  Also, is there a guide to how many pages it takes to fill a 3" binder? Thanks for the help, guys!

Binders are tough online because of the size and weight, the shipping gets pretty high, pretty fast. I have done well at Staples (physical store) when they have sales (August is a good time for those sales). Also, sometimes you can get smaller (2"), white, basic binders in bulk at BJ's. I would guess the other warehouse club stores would be similar. Those you can get for a real good price. But, they are basic and they won't really hold up to repeated open/close, add cards, move cards, etc. They are great for "I have a set I want to sheet, and maybe look through twice a year." Player/Team collections belong in the Avery (or similar brand) Heavy Duty (or at the very least, Durable) binders.

joshthurman wrote: I was wondering about how many pages to a binder since some of mine are starting to get full. I counted about 80 pages of one that's about full. I'm not sure if it was 2.5 or 3 inches. I think the best way is to try and see. I wonder what's the best source for good 2.5 or 3 inch D-ring binders. Anyone have great place to get them online?

I store my complete sets in 660-800 boxes and kept on shelves. I keep my Tigers in binders. Each binder contains a decade and they are in order with the team card first, the manager card (if there is one) then the team alphabetical by last name. I put base Topps and traded/updates together in this order. I do put the awards, league leaders and All star cards together by last name also. If the binders are full, I stand them on end. If not, I lay them flat. The binders I get from office supply stores or Costco and the sheets are typically Ultra Pro. I threw out the old vinyl sheets many years ago. I get about 30-40 pages per 2" binder.

I'm getting D ring binders from Office Depot right now.  They merged with Office Max and the Depot stores are closing with great discounts.  I think mine were up to 40% off last weekend.

I stay away from binder use. I often the card corners would bend or crimp damaging older vintage cards. Even when I go to shows tons of binders are used as I look through them often vintage cards would have bent corners. I guess it is ok if you know you will be getting bent corners. I like the cards to be as Near Mint as possible taking into account my own handling. I use set boxes and I do not play with my cards. As I build the set I'll read the cards after I slip the cards into sleeves. Once the cards are in the box this is where they stay until I either sell or trade but I do not pull them in and out of the boxes.

THe method you use is your own method what ever gives you statisfaction if you are a seller your process is much more complex and you will use different typs of methods.

Still toying with this but end up moving in different directions and loading cards here or scans.

Probably going to go with a combination of binders for the ultimate hockey card base and parrallel. Boxes for the rest but might change my mind. My wife makes comment all the time, When are you going to be done LOL

I'll throw in my 2 cents. I organize in two different ways. Cards I want to trade and cards I collect.

Sets I collect are organized by year and then set. They are in 3,200 or 5,000 ct boxes and in penny sleeves. Player collections are in 2 row or 3 row boxes (1,600 ct or 3,000) and I put them in penny sleeves and cases. Player cards are organized by year and set.

For cards I trade I put them in 3,200 ct boxes by year and set. Anything over $3 (sometimes ser# cards that are slightly less) I put in cases and organized by year at the end of my 3 row boxes with "Star players" like Jeter, Griffey, Kershaw, Ripken, and HOFs in alpha order in the beginning. Works pretty well for me.

I only have one binder and it has other sports (football, basketball and non-sports) that I collect as it's pretty small. I lay it down and not upright as I'm worried it will sag and over time and damage the cards, hence I don't use binders and prefer boxes.