Vinyl collection: do you protect your covers?

MadFloyd · Nov 4, 2012

I use the 5mm plastic covers from Acoustic Sounds (http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/37966/-Outer_LP_Sleeves_Non-Resealable_50_mil-Record_Supplies) and they are high quality.

However, when flipping through LPs, looking for something to play, I hate the feel. I'm considering abandoning preservation of the album covers in favor of ease of use.

I'm curious how many of you make the extra effort to preserve the album covers.

slowGEEZR · Nov 4, 2012

I just use 4mm covers. Works fine for me.

mep · Nov 4, 2012

I put a cover on every LP that I care about.

Johnny Vinyl · Nov 4, 2012

mep said:
I put a cover on every LP that I care about.

This! Same with inner sleeves. If I play something that I haven't heard in a while and has no inner/outer sleeve I may add them, but only if I feel it's worth it. Not about to start going through some 3,000 LP's....

jazdoc · Nov 4, 2012

5mm cover and discwasher inner sleeve on every lp

vinylphilemag · Nov 4, 2012

I don't have outer covers on most of my records, mostly because I haven't found one with which I am completely happy. My favourites are those used by Impex Records, but they're custom made for that label.

However, I do use anti-static inner sleeves for all my records.

flez007 · Nov 4, 2012

Just about 30% or so have plastic covers, mostly those I care the most, inner sleeves all over as well.

DaveyF · Nov 4, 2012

I like the sealable Japanese mylar outer sleeves, sold by Music Direct. They have the added advantage of keeping dust away from the top of the cover. Inner sleeves I use are the rice paper Mobile Fidelity. Still going through my LP's and adding these covers, about 90% done.

rockitman · Nov 4, 2012

I use poly sleeves and put the record in them upright so that when I slide the lp in and out of the shelf, the sleeve does slide off. It does require one to remove the poly sleeve the access the record however.

mep · Nov 4, 2012

rockitman said:
I use poly sleeves and put the record in them upright so that when I slide the lp in and out of the shelf, the sleeve does slide off. It does require one to remove the poly sleeve the access the record however.

That's they way it supposed to be Christian-or at least I think so.

rockitman · Nov 4, 2012

mep said:
That's they way it supposed to be Christian-or at least I think so.

When I got back into vinyl in 2010, I had forgotten about that since the last time I had records...1984.

MylesBAstor · Nov 4, 2012

I've always used outer sleeves and for good reason. Once those records get packed in on a shelf, you can damage the covers every time you slide a record in and out.

Currently I use the 5 mil and the box set sleeves from Sleevetown. (they also have nice inner sleeves too as talked about in an inner sleeve article a while back.)

http://www.sleevecityusa.com/LP-Sleeves-Outer-s/1880.htm

MylesBAstor · Nov 4, 2012

vinylphilemag said:
I don't have outer covers on most of my records, mostly because I haven't found one with which I am completely happy. My favourites are those used by Impex Records, but they're custom made for that label.

However, I do use anti-static inner sleeves for all my records.

I'm not crazy about the Impex-style sleeves since they always end up tearing.

mep · Nov 4, 2012

OK. Here is one of my pet peeves with record sleeves: How many times have you opened up a brand new expensive record and pulled out the record in its sleeve only to see the sleeve was all bent over in one or more corners? I have a pile of them.

sombunya · Nov 4, 2012

I use Japanese resealable as well. A bit of a chore to open and play them but they offer the highest level of protection, I feel.

I've always felt that paper innersleeves were okay, that no real advantage is gained by using any of the various lined inner sleeves. I usually use generic paper to keep some of the printed inner sleeves from splitting or otherwise becoming damaged.

Am I wrong about paper? I have a lot of $$$ tied up here. Should I be using the rice paper sleeves?

DaveyF · Nov 4, 2012

sombunya said:
I use Japanese resealable as well. A bit of a chore to open and play them but they offer the highest level of protection, I feel.

I've always felt that paper innersleeves were okay, that no real advantage is gained by using any of the various lined inner sleeves. I usually use generic paper to keep some of the printed inner sleeves from splitting or otherwise becoming damaged.

Am I wrong about paper? I have a lot of $$$ tied up here. Should I be using the rice paper sleeves?

sombunya, I believe using plain paper inner sleeves is a mistake. Plain paper isn't that soft and has been known to scratch vinyl. The Mobile Fidelity rice paper inner sleeves are IMO the best that you can get, and I would recommend them.
Most collectors keep the original paper inner sleeves on the outside of the cover between the cover and the new outer sleeve. That way, the original inner sleeve stays with the record and doesn't get misplaced.

sombunya · Nov 5, 2012

Makes good sense. I'll search for those sleeves asap.

Do you have a good source you'd recommend?

MylesBAstor · Nov 5, 2012

sombunya said:
I use Japanese resealable as well. A bit of a chore to open and play them but they offer the highest level of protection, I feel.

I've always felt that paper innersleeves were okay, that no real advantage is gained by using any of the various lined inner sleeves. I usually use generic paper to keep some of the printed inner sleeves from splitting or otherwise becoming damaged.

Am I wrong about paper? I have a lot of $$$ tied up here. Should I be using the rice paper sleeves?

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue38/lp_sleaves.htm

Johnny Vinyl · Nov 5, 2012

MylesBAstor said:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue38/lp_sleaves.htm

Thanks Myles!

I switched to the MFSL inner sleeves years ago and haven't looked back. I'd stay away from the paper/poly sleeves as they can adhere to the vinyl and leave an impression. It was this that made me look into alternatives and at which point I tried the MFSL sleeves. Couldn't be happier.

astrotoy · Nov 5, 2012

I have all of my 15,000 records covered with an outer sleeve. Mostly from Sleeve City. I typically use 3mil plastic. For very expensive records I will often use thicker plastic. For my many box set I also use a larger sleeve, I think 14" square, which fits all but the very biggest boxes. I replace all of the inner sleeves except for audiophile pressings which already have rice paper or other similar sleeves.

Larry

Vinyl collection: do you protect your covers?

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