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Post by elfstone99 on Oct 7, 2021 19:43:57 GMT
Just curious if anyone is using slipcases for their Scott binders? I have 15 of my Specialty albums with slipcases and will need about 22 more to completely have all the binders matched to a slipcase. Any opinions on if they are worth it? I've noticed that Scott keeps raising their prices on them (among other supplies).
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator 
Posts: 5,912 
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Oct 7, 2021 19:55:28 GMT
I have Scott International albums, and I have slipcases for all of them. From my point of view, the slipcases get quite dusty over time, so I think that they are worth it to keep the majority of that dirt off of the albums themselves. On the other hand, as I only have a couple of these, it's nothing like the expense of 22 slipcases! Good luck with whatever you decide....  |
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Post by elfstone99 on Oct 7, 2021 19:59:13 GMT
I have Scott International albums, and I have slip covers for all of them. From my point of view, the slip covers get quite dusty over time, so I think that they are worth it to keep the majority of that dirt off of the albums themselves. On the other hand, as I only have a couple of these, it's nothing like the expense of 22 slipcovers! Good luck with whatever you decide.... Yes, the covers do seem to protect the binder and contents. I should have bought them all when they weren't so expensive now. The OCD thing in me has episodes when I look at the shelves and see some binders with slipcases and some without. I thought about used slipcases, but in prior experiences with used binders and other supplies, the musty smells and odd stickiness to them kind of ruin the whole thing. |
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bobstew617
Member 
Posts: 376
What I collect: Switzerland, Ireland, Scandinavia, Channel Islands, Hong Kong (British Admin), PNG, others...
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Post by bobstew617 on Oct 8, 2021 3:49:03 GMT
I use slipcases for my Scott albums and am almost there. I have bought mostly used, with good success. I agree on the prices increasing.
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,524
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Post by khj on Oct 8, 2021 5:58:59 GMT
I never go out of my way to pay extra for slipcases for stamp albums -- they are so unbelievably expensive (my cheapskate's opinion). But if I buy a collection or used album, a slipcase is definitely a plus and may factor into whether I bid on an item or not.
That being said, slipcases are definitely a plus. They do more than just keep dust out. They also help keep your binder strong. For non-SI albums (SI albums tend to be much thicker, like 3"-4"), I've noticed that once albums start getting fuller/heavier, the binders tend to lean toward one side. I have a lot of hingeless albums and also Vario-type pages in binders (typically 1"-2" thick). Unless you pack the albums side-by-side fairly tightly, the binders will tend to "lean" in one direction over time if left free-standing -- eventually becoming an almost permanent lean. This is something I've definitely noticed comparing my albums with and without dustcases/slipcases. I've got more than a couple of albums sets with no dustcases, where the entire set leans to the left or leans to the right slightly. But the cheapskate in me has learned to live with it.
The slipcases not only help support the binder joints along the spine (often the weak spot in a binder), they also protect your edges/corners from getting dinged when moving around. Also, if you absent-mindedly lay your mint stamp albums flat stacked on each other, the dustcases helps keep the top albums from becoming page presses for the album pages below, as the dustcase will help support the weight.
If these things bother you, then learn from my cheapskate's mistakes.
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,700
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Oct 8, 2021 10:00:26 GMT
I like slipcases. I use the Lighthouse Vario binders and they include slip cases. If anything because it is easy to remove a binder and the albums next to it do not fall over. The slip case reserves the spot.
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Post by elfstone99 on Oct 8, 2021 13:44:23 GMT
Ok, will probably keep with the slipcases, and add them a few at a time.
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DrewM
**Member** 
Posts: 32
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Post by DrewM on Mar 27, 2022 22:26:31 GMT
I nearly ALWAYS put my albums into slipcases. To not do that means dust, dirt, and possible insect damage, all of which would injure my carefully created collections. Whenever I order from Amos Advantage (Scott), I add one more slipcase to the total. This raises the total price above their "free shipping" minimum which also helps by saving me a few bucks which helps pay for the slipcase. One slipcase at a time, and I've got enough for all my albums. Well, almost all my albums.
As for prices, I pay about $26 a slipcase from them (with their standard discount for everybody who subscribes to Linn's). I don't find that too expensive, but it's not cheap, either, especially times many slipcases.
The problem with buying used slipcases is that sellers often have no idea what album the slipcase will fit, and measuring the sizes of slipcases and binders and so on seems like an arcane science to most people. They commonly get the sizes wrong, and especially where an extra quarter inch matters, this is a problem. Also, Scott makes many different slipcase sizes. Even all four of their green Scott Specialty slipcases are different sizes, one each for large 3-ring binders, small 3-ring binders, 2-post binders, and their whatever-it-is "Universal" binder. That's four different green slipcase sizes for four differently Scott Specialty binders. Wow! My head hurts.
There's some guy in the UK who sells his homemade, but pretty good-looking, slipcases on Ebay for whatever size binder you have, and he'll ship to the U.S. BUT the shipping costs are enormous, so this is not economical. Nevertheless, it reminds me that making a slipcase is a fairly standard do-it-yourself craft that is explained in You Tube videos, and can be done by nearly anyone with a sharp box cutter knife and some cardboard and glue. If I were poor, I'd make my own slipcases rather than leave my albums out in the open.
Another option is to try to find inexpensive slipcases that fit your albums but aren't necessarily designed for them. For my dozens of White Ace albums (no longer sold since they're out of business), I found a seller (Bindertek) who sold slipcases that exactly fit the WA binders I had. White Ace's own slipcases were awful, I thought, since they were hard plastic. The ones I found were softer vinyl and work well. So I've looked for something similar for my Scott Specialty (and other) albums.
What I found was one size of Lighthouse slipcases that were sold by Mystic Stamp Company for their fancy pants "Premium" U.S. album, the one with the mounts already installed. That slipcase fit smaller-sized Scott Speialty albums perfectly, so I ordered about 20 of them. They work great but won't fit the normal-sized 3" wide binder. I mostly have older 2.5" or 2.75" wide Scott binders that they don't sell anymore (a discontinuation of a good product that drives me nuts). But here's the bad news. Mystic won't sell the slipcases separately any more. You have to buy a binder, too. But I don't need a binder, and the total price of Premium binder and slipcase is at least $35, so that's not going to work. The large shipping box that Mystic used to send me all my slipcases in was, I noticed, from Lighthouse, and it had the LH product number for the slipcases on it. So I contacted LH to see if they'd sell me the same slipcase (this is how obsessed I am with slipcases!). But even they wouldn't sell me that slipcase. So there's some weird anti-slipcase conspiracy going on here. The model number of the slipcase is Lighthouse DC-397 and they cost $15 each from Mystic -- before they stopped selling them to me. I can only shake my head at Mystic Stamp Company for not wanting to take my money.
I should add that slipcases for Scott's International albums presents the same problem. My Scott Specialty albums are in narrower and rare 2.5" binders once sold by Mystic Stamp Co., but discontinued. These are not Scott's usual 3.5" International binders which I find too thick and too heavy to pick up easily. I found that these same LH DC-397 slipcases also fit these smaller International binders just as well as they fit the smaller Scott Specialty binders. Woohoo! Except, as I said, I can't get any more of them now. Larger Scott slipcases for the International albums are much too big for my albums, so they won't work.
What's with all these stamp companies making a good product and then discontinuing them? Arrghhh! What's the deal, Mystic? You're the only source available for these slipcases, but you won't sell anyone a slipcase. I find this weird. I even wrote to Mystic's president, but got only a pro forma answer that gave no reason. They just won't sell them, that's all. So there. I'm not a big fan of Mystic these days.
Anyway, I'm still buying one Scott slipcase each time I order from them, and still looking for a cheaper slipcase that will work. For Scott Specialty binders, the interior dimensions of the slipcase must be: More than 12" high (12.5" works best) and 3" wide. Note this is not exterior dimensions, but interior so the album/binder slips in properly. The search continues.
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brightonpete
Departed
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On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Mar 28, 2022 1:45:52 GMT
Hmmm, I have some binders and stockbooks that I've bought recently that came with slipcases. Binder I bought 50 years ago from AES (Atmospheric Environment Canada,) meant for copies of MANOBS, were used for my stamp collections, some of which I am still using. Never had any issues with any of them. Stamps mounted and placed in binders without slipcases faired very well, little if any dust, no bugs. Maybe it's just lucky that I live in Canada - who knows!
Peter
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Jul 12, 2022 16:44:34 GMT
I've been on a quest to find affordable slipcases. Bindertek seems to be an option, as far as affordability goes. I was about to use their 10% new customer coupon until I got an email letting me know they were having a 15% Summer flash sale (today only). I went ahead and ordered a 2" and a 3" slipcase, just to test the waters. I don't want to order half a dozen or more of these and not like them.
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Jul 22, 2022 18:30:05 GMT
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brightonpete
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On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 22, 2022 21:03:08 GMT
Great idea for making a slipcase! I was thinking at first a cereal box, but they are too flimsy. I'll have to check the post office next week to see if they have similar sized boxes!
Peter
On a side note for quoting messages:
Type up YOUR message, THEN click on the quote button of the message you are quoting. Perfect every time!
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,655
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jul 22, 2022 21:12:17 GMT
Be careful using the USPS boxes. Technically that’s a no-no. Signed, your resident goody two shoes ex Girl Scout philatelia  |
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brightonpete
Departed
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On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Jul 22, 2022 21:18:57 GMT
Good grief!
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Admin
Administrator 
Posts: 2,676
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Post by Admin on Jul 22, 2022 21:34:14 GMT
To be clear, the Forum in no way condones or is promoting the misuse of unused Priority Mail boxes for constructing DIY slipcases.
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