Storage for RAM coins with packaging

[kchan1111]

Sorry if this has been discussed before...

How do you guys store your RAM coins with packaging? Like the ones that come in a cardboard strip, or sealed inside a card.

I have been heat sealing them in polypropylene bags like this to minimize contact with air. Now I have lots of these loose bags all over the place.



I am thinking of getting these binder sheet protectors and put them into a 4 ring binder. Both of these looks like PVC free and made out of polypropylene.

http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/j-burrows-insert-binder-a4-4-d-ring-38mm-blue-jbib443be

http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/keji-sheet-protector-a4-light-weight-100-pack-kesp100bx

You think this is OK? How do you keep your RAM packaged babies safe?

Would love to hear your tips.

[Fulvio]

I have been heat sealing them in polypropylene bags

Are you SURE those bags are PP? Cos they're more likely LDPE. Which, as we've discussed several times, is not impermeable to gasses or moisture. Neither is PP, but it is better by a significant margin.

Yes, the PP binders are fine. PVC probably is too, given that its not in contact with the coins, but if you're buying, definitely go for the PP ones.

If you want ultimate protection from a plastic, then metallised mylar is the way to go. Like they use in helium balloons.. and chip packets. Sadly, its not transparent, but for bulk storage that may not matter. I would use the stuff as an outer layer, with bagged goodies inside. Oh, and vacuum seal if you can.

There are several threads on this subject, BTW.

[trout]

Most of my RAM packaging ends up in the bin or in big cardboard boxes , especially those open ended cards the mint your own and other 25mm dollars are sold in

I put the coins themselves in either heat sealed saflips or self adhesive 2x2's as these offer far more protection to the coin than the somewhat flimsy or in many cases PVC  packaging that is supplied with the coins. :ok:

[kchan1111]

Thanks Fulvio. I *think* it's polypropylene. The item description was polypropylene and I asked the seller before getting them. They are these:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/138-x-190mm-100-qty-Clear-Cello-Cellophane-Reseal-Resealable-Plastic-Bags-/221698250586

Yes I've read the threads on storage, including discussion on mylar. But as you said... it's not transparent. I like some method that can keep them safe, organised and allow me to look at them. As these are RAM "standard" NCLT packaging I thought there are may be solutions specifically created for them rather than my DIY.

Most of my RAM packaging ends up in the bin or in big cardboard boxes , especially those open ended cards the mint your own and other 25mm dollars are sold in

I put the coins themselves in either heat sealed saflips or self adhesive 2x2's as these offer far more protection to the coin than the somewhat flimsy or in many cases PVC  packaging that is supplied with the coins. :ok:

The raw coins I have them in heat sealed saflips. But the RAM packaged ones I am keeping them in those. I like the packaging.

[robbiegal]

i like the look of those bags over the folders and then sealed
1. you must buy bigger bags
2. you must have a fairly big heat sealer

I put mine into the same burrows folders but I bought clear pages from online coins
bit exy but my decimal stuff remains pristine  
I put my MYO etc in the 3 0r 4 to a page
then I get the big page for my stamps booklets etc
i pop most into a clear PP bag first as well
sometimes I think my storage costs as much as the coins!
 
http://www.onlinecoinsandcollectables.com.au/collections/other-banknote-albums-pages/products/lighthouse-folio-3c-clear-album-pages-packet-of-5

[Fulvio]

The item description was polypropylene

Its a bit odd how they call it both Cellophane and Polypropylene. Completely different materials of course. Cellophane is very biodegradable, which would not be a good thing.

There are tests you can do of course, but they're destructive.

[Nevol]

I'd be a bit wary of those binders, board covered with polypropylene.  

Would the board not contain glue which may give off fumes?

[robbiegal]

Gosh Nevol
what can we do then?

I chucked out hundreds of  $$  worth of Numis albums a couple of years ago because the advice that got here was that they were no good
the coins in them had held up quite OK for many years in them as well

http://www.onlinecoinsandcollectables.com.au/collections/numis-album-system/products/lighthouse-numis-coin-album-blue-including-5-pages-for-143-coins

now I get those Burrows ones - which I might add break after a while so I do a lot of replacing

honestly my ols coins aren't all that valuable so the storage fussiness gets a bit arbitrary really

[kchan1111]

The item description was polypropylene

Its a bit odd how they call it both Cellophane and Polypropylene. Completely different materials of course. Cellophane is very biodegradable, which would not be a good thing.

There are tests you can do of course, but they're destructive.

Yes that's why I contacted the seller for information. Their reply below:

Thanks for your question. The material is polypropylene.

The only reason we use cello and cellophane in the title is because that's the term most people search for when trying to find these bags. If we omitted cello and cellophane from the title we'd hardly get any search term hits.

But it's as per the item description which is 100% polypropylene. We prefer this over cellophane because cello deteriorates with age and yellows. Our material will remain crystal clear and not deteriorate.

What is the destructive test? I have a whole packet so destroying one is not the end of the world.

[Fulvio]

What is the destructive test? I have a whole packet so destroying one is not the end of the world.

Basically its burning the plastic and seeing what the spectrum it gives off is.

But if that's what they said, I think you can believe them. It actually makes sense, since to the average person, ALL plastic film is 'cellophane' since that's the stuff they played with in school, right?

[Unicorn]

Basically its burning the plastic and seeing what the spectrum it gives off is.

Geez if we'd known that we could have put all those candles on your birthday cake to use!!! (Probably would have had to call the Fire Brigade).

[kchan1111]

i like the look of those bags over the folders and then sealed
1. you must buy bigger bags
2. you must have a fairly big heat sealer

http://www.onlinecoinsandcollectables.com.au/collections/other-banknote-albums-pages/products/lighthouse-folio-3c-clear-album-pages-packet-of-5

The size of those bags fits all the RAM packaging sizes. My heat sealer is long enough to seal an A4 size lengthwise.

The lighthouse pages are pricey. I have those for my hyperinflation banknotes. Not for my RAM coins. I though perhaps those PP heat sealed bags in PP binder + PP sheet protector inserts would be good enough.

Can you heat seal the lighthouse pages? Looks awkward to do so.

I'd be a bit wary of those binders, board covered with polypropylene.  

Would the board not contain glue which may give off fumes?

That's the whole idea of heat sealing to minimize contact with air. It's not perfect but there are so many things in the average household that are PVC so some level of fumes is unavoidable. No?

Basically its burning the plastic and seeing what the spectrum it gives off is.

But if that's what they said, I think you can believe them. It actually makes sense, since to the average person, ALL plastic film is 'cellophane' since that's the stuff they played with in school, right?

What colour should I observe if I burn one?

If cellophane goes yellowish I haven't seen any of mine done that yet.

[robbiegal]

i've used the PP = cellophane bags for years
they remain clear and complete

no disintegration to date
i started to store my excess coins in those bags rather than the albums

awkward but it works

at least with the album i could see each coin

i also now have hundreds of the clear flips and hundreds of pages - progressively putting coins into flips
just did a few hundred today
now i have to go to officeworks and get some more albums

[Fulvio]

Geez if we'd known that we could have put all those candles on your birthday cake to use!!! (Probably would have had to call the Fire Brigade).

You'll keep. gettin' to be as bad as AJ.

What colour should I observe if I burn one?

I remember posting a colour chart some time ago, but of course I can't find it now.

Still, I just found THIS, which may actually be better:

[JeffH]

That is wonderful -best I have ever seen for the burn test.
I don't see the first ever mass produced plastic; Bakelite. Or is it hiding under some acronym?

Now, does anyone have something similar for what adhesives are compatible with various plastics.