General Forum

I have many cards, specifically chrome cards, that are bowing (as in, arched with the middle being higher than the edges). Is there a reason why this happens with chrome cards specifically, and any way to fix them without damaging the cards?

IMO, they don't need fixing. That's how they age. Cards from the 1970s do the same thing (to a slightly lesser degree).

I am curious to see what members say in regard to correcting the bowing and why it's happening, but I can relate as the Topps Heritage Chrome cards do that too.  They are flat coming out of the packs, but then bow from the front to back after a short time. Its so annoying to scan these for images as I have to put a sleeve over top of the card, then set several hockey pucks on the sleeved side to get them to lay flat.  Because of this I started sleeving and putting them in top loaders for storage purposes.  I've seen this happen to cards in the past due to humidity, but I don't think that's the issue here...and I always keep these cards flat rather than on their sides due to the bowing issue. 

It's because of the humidity & tempature expansion and contraction rates of dissimilar materials (paper & plastic).  It's how bi-metal coil thermosats work. One of the metals expands while the other doesn't and causes the coil to "open" and "close". Woodworkers are also familiar with the warping problems it can cause.

twinswin wrote:

I have many cards, specifically chrome cards, that are bowing (as in, arched with the middle being higher than the edges). Is there a reason why this happens with chrome cards specifically, and any way to fix them without damaging the cards?

Some sets that I have cards from are actually bowed diagonally somehow.  Those are the ones that I find the most strange.  Laying flat they sit on opposite corners. 

Peyronies disease! 🍌

I've had Topps Chrome and Panini Prizm cards stored flat in top loaders and pages for years and they always bow at least a little if I take them out. Some years are worse than others. I've tried to gently bend them back but they always bow again. I'm not sure what else to try. 

I just turn then the other way and squeeze them. Most definitely not the best way but it works as I keep those in my collection.

I have some early 90s Bowman paper that have worse bend than some of my chrome. You just live with it. If it bothers you just put it in a toploader but that can get pricey if you put every chrome card in a toploader since the toploader might be worth more than your standard base card.

You just have to live with it.