Use Of Page Protectors

With the increased use of Steiner pages and other computer-generated homemade album pages, I'd like to gauge the community's use of page protectors for these kinds of pages. I have even seen page protectors made to fit Scott album pages. Do you use page protectors for your pages? If so, any certain brand, features to look for? Thoughts (either positive or negative) about using page protectors for stamp albums/collections?

Some real benefits I see, for example, if you are building a large worldwide (or other large collection) using Steiner pages (or homemade pages), this would allow you to print your Steiner pages on both sides of the page in order to save binder/shelf space (but will the extra bulk of the page protectors cancel out that savings? Don't know.). Also the stamps are very well-protected, especially if the majority of your stamps are hinged. No worries about the holes tearing, which is so common with traditional hole-punched pages.

Another benefit that may not be initially obvious is that you don't have to worry about damage to the stamps or pages when letting your spouse, kids, or other non-collectors look at your collection!

I would use Glassine interleaves between the Stiner pages rather than bulky sheet protectors. A pack of 100 interleaves cost about $10-13 US. The ones I use are from Unitrade.... http://www.unitradeassoc.com

I don't let computer printed pages anywhere near my stamps. I just don't trust the ink.

Lighthouse does page protectors - principally for exhibtitions - but they aren't cheap. It also sells A4 plastic holders, which would fit Steiner pages and would probably be safer than what you'd pick up at your local stationer. My sense is that they'd be more trouble than they're worth, however, given therisk of dislodging or damaging stamps as you slide the sheets into the plastic, especially with 2-sided sheets..

I use archival page protectors for pages from my grandfather's album that I wanted to keep intact. I can put two pages in, back to back. I must take extreme care in sliding them in and out of the protector but otherwise I have not noted any problem. They allow me to include my grandfather's pages with my Vario sheets continuing those countries. One trivial drawback is that the protectors I got show the brand of the store in the margin.

Like oldguy, sometimes I use glassine interleaving. On these G&K Elbe Daisy pages, I have used a very thin bead of Elmer's glue behind the 3 punched holes to affix the interleaving to the album pages.

One solution to the issue of sliding the pages into the protectors that was mentioned to me in another thread:

"Put the album page between two blank sheets, slip all three sheets into page protector, remove blank sheets."

Works like a charm

excellent idea Chris. I will try it

Stamp Paraphernalia is a small US publisher that markets a very complete set of album pages for both US and Canada stamps. All stamp pages are 8.5" X 11" and maker supplies clear page protectors that accommodate the pages and fit standard 3-ring binders. Page sets are available complete with page protectors and pre-cut mounts. Page protectors are sold 12 for $6.
I have one album and can verify that the page protectors are very heavy and will impact binder capacity.

http://www.stampparaphernalia.com/

Yes, "impacting binder capacity" is one of my main concerns with using page protectors. However, I can "make up some ground" by editing my pages to delete any real expensive stamps. Also, not needing to punch holes in the pages allows me to use the entire page, thus I can combine some pages together making the pages a bit more compact than they normally are (which I like anyway), and using page protectors allows me to print pages front and back, which will save space and save me half the amount of paper.

chris2015, maybe I missed it, but are you using page protector sleeves primarily in order to be able to print standard 8.5" X 11" pages from a CD program??

KGB and Greaden both point up a critical concern -- security of the materials used that come in contact with your stamps. Having purchased a number of older albums, I have seen some terrible stamp damage because collectors used unsafe materials to hold, store and mount their stamps. Printer ink typically used in $100 printers is not likely to be tested for archival safety. Neither is the type vinyl used for office presentation sleeves. It all depends how much value the collector places on their collection.

The worst offense I've seen is in a 1960 Capital US Stamp Album a young friend inherited from his uncle. Unfortunately, the previous owner ruined the entire collection. Every stamp had been affixed to the pages using cheap cellophane tape which yellowed, become brittle, and stained both the stamps and the album pages with a brown mark.

I use Plastic protectors since 13 years now and I have 0 issues, First of all , Plastic protectors are made of polypropylene , not vinyl. The polypropylene they use is not acid and free of Latex.

The problem with ink is very simple to fix, you use a laser printer, and actually it will be a big saving as per page cost is way lower than ink jet printers.

I started storing slides in them in the 70's with no problem at all. They still look good.

dcaraz1949:

I collect WW classics and thinking about using Steiner pages. Thus, I originally began to think about using page protectors because I had the idea of printing Steiner pages on front and back in order to save on space and paper.

Once I started playing about with this, I started seeing some other benefits, namely, the pages turn easier, no worries about the holes tearing, good protection for both stamps and pages, no worries about damage to your stamps or pages when letting non-collectors look at your collection.

Additionally, what I realized is that it also allows me to use the entire space on the page in terms of editing the pages and not have to have holes in the pages.

After reading a lot of posts on this and other sites, it's clear that a lot of folks are using page protectors for their pages. And many say that they are used them for 15-20 years without any problems.

In terms of safety,

The Epson ink I use is listed as "acid free" and I never by 3rd party ink and the page protectors I am using are C-Line "Crystal Clear" Standard weight, polypropylene and listed as acid free and archival quality.

Plus, any stamps with a CV >$5 or so gets put in a mount anyway.

So, I'm not too concerned about safety of this system.

I place the protectors temporary in 3 rings binders and when I have enough of them I place them in a modify Unitrade 2 posts 4" binders. They cost around 15-20 if memory serve me well. I use the Staples light ( thin ) semi-transparent protectors, $ 10 for 100, being semi-transparent remove the reflections. But I print on only 1 side, so I can add a pages between 2 pages if needed, for example place a cover with a stamps of this area.