How To Crack A Cgc Slab
Getting to Know Your CGC Case
In this article I will address some of the popular questions and misconceptions regarding the CGC slab, or case.. holder? ...Bury?
Well even so y'all refer to them keep reading to get the answers to some of the questions y'all may take regarding the only tangible product we get from CGC?
The CGC instance has went through a few blueprint changes over the years, the most contempo being in early 2016 where arguably the most meaning improvements were made over its predecessor.
So for the sake of this article I will primarily refer to spec'southward and information based on the newest generation of slabs.
Merely commencement...
How Do I know if I have the New Fashion CGC Slab?
The New Fashion case has ridge in the plastic that bumps out over the characterization section of the front of the case and an indentation in the plastic on the backside of the characterization, whereas the old manner is flat on both front and back.
The new style cases are about .125" thicker overall giving them a much stronger and more rigid feel over the pre-2016 version. A few other smaller, merely still very important changes are :
-The inner well material went from Barex to PETG
-The "Page Quality" notation went from the middle of the Characterization to the white box under the number grade of the volume
-The legal info, or fine impress on the back side of the label was removed and replaced with information about the encapsulated volume
-The sticker on the top edge of the slab denoting the volume and grade was moved to the label within the plastic, leaving no opportunity to be removed or fall off.
-The CGC Hologram sticker at the top right corner was given some added detail making information technology much more hard to be replicated.
What are CGC Cases Made of?
The CGC case has two main parts, the "inner well" and the "outer well". The inner well and virtually important part as it has direct contact with the comic, is made of PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol). The outer well is made of a tough, bear on and stain resistant plastic called SAN (Styrene-Acrylonitrile).
An explanation of PETG and SAN (in layman's terms) tin can be summed upwardly this way, PETG is a widely used material that is bully for preservation and long term storage. SAN is an impact and stain resistant plastic with swell clarity.
***Reader Tip***If you want to get into the science behind the materials keep reading, otherwise just skip to the next heading that says "Are CGC Cases Water Proof?"
Mylar, a word most of united states of america in the comic industry are familiar with, is a PET (polyethylene terephthalate)...a polyester, formally called BoPET, the "Bo" is but short for "Biaxially Oriented" which refers to how it is stretched into sheets during product.
So what does that accept to do with PETG? Well the addition of the "Chiliad" means Glycol was added which enhances the clarity and longevity of the pliability of the chemic makeup of PET over time.
PETG is an inert plastic, in plastic speak "inert" basically means "archival" some other discussion many of us in comic books are aware of. In its "raw form" it is platonic for long term storage and preservation for our priceless collectibles. I say in its "raw course" because other materials could be introduced during manufacturing of PETG to accomplish certain specific needs required by the end product or intended use. Why does this thing? Well equally soon as any other materials are introduced it may still be referred to as PETG just that end production may no longer exist suitable for long term storage, possibly having adverse affects on what it comes in contact with, ie...our comic books.
At present I am quite certain our friends at CGC have our best interests in mind and would be certain their manufacturers continue any not archival materials out of the process.
The outer well really is non that important when it comes to archival quality as it is non going to touch the volume, however other qualities are important here.
Clarity, scratch resistance, durability, these are some characteristics that will help keep our investment safe and looking beautiful for years to come. Well CGC did a great job here too, SAN is what they call a "Copolymer" pregnant information technology combines two or more than materials (in this example styrene and acrylonitrile) to produce (in this instance) a rigid, articulate material with loftier impact resistance and good oestrus and chemical resistance. Something to keep in heed, in this state of affairs clarity is key because we all want our books to look bright and vibrant in these cases. Every bit soon as you start adding materials that are more than scratch resistant and durable, that clarity lessens more and more.
So in the stop CGC did a great job in choosing some great quality material that embodies the best of all of the necessary characteristics we want.
Is everyone still with me? Hopefully I didn't lose you through that science lesson.
What is important to us, as comic collectors is that PETG is about as prophylactic as a material that we tin ask for to have our ever degrading paper collectibles packed within of.
Are CGC Cases Waterproof?
No, CGC cases are not waterproof, water resistant is a much more than correct term. For the sake of the comic book inside neither the inner or outer well are completely sealed.
It may have some time to seep in but eventually if left soaking in a tub of water, the h2o will achieve the comic book.
In an interview with Comictom, Matt Nelson head grader at CGC stated that they have tested leaving a slab in a tub of water and eventually the water made its sway in and ruined the comic volume inside. A joke was made that if a slab were accidentally dunked into water and pulled back out (like an Oreo cookie), it would probably exist ok. He besides went on to say that information technology should exist common sense, don't drop your book, don't leave it in direct light, don't go out information technology in a hot car and it will be fine. Perfect response! Use common sense! Read the commodity and watch the full video " Debunking x3 CGC Myths" on ComicTom'south website here.
Ok, So why are the comic books non completely sealed inside? An article I found on the Library of Congress website gave a very skilful reason as to why paper products should not be sealed up air tight. "In the presence of moisture, acids from the surroundings (e.grand., air pollution, poor-quality enclosures), or from within the newspaper (e.m., from the raw materials, manufacturing process, deterioration products), repeatedly cutting the glucose chains into shorter lengths. This acid hydrolysis reaction produces more acids, feeding further, continued deposition."
-You tin read the full article on the Library of Congress website, hither
CGC adds a sheet of microchamber paper to the front and back within covers of every comic book they encapsulate to help absorb those acids that are constantly being released from our comics, so then why can't they be sealed tight to keep the outside air pollutants and wet from seeping in?
Photo Courtesy of https://world wide web.brooklyncomicshop.com/guide-taking-care-comics/
Well, in a advice I had with a representative from the company that supplies the microchamber paper to CGC, her response to the question of completely sealing any paper product in a sleeve (even with microchamber paper), was just awesome,
"in the non-so-technical term as causing the item (whatever information technology may be) to "stew in its ain juices" every bit annihilation volition keep to historic period, certainly not as speedily, but with aging comes off-gassing various by-products of deterioration. If the bundle is completely sealed, there is no escape and a [stew] of chemicals form."
Further to that, the chemicals may non all remain just equally they are when released. That is to say, if by-product of deterioration A and B are both released, there is a concern that they will combine and form chemic AB, which may cause even further problems." She went on to say that "animate, is the goal."
Essentially all newspaper materials accept a moisture content and sealed moisture forth with the acids from the the newspaper and ink may in some cases accelerate the degradation of the paper.
Interleaving paper, or "microchamber" paper that CGC adds to the inside of the books is designed to blot some of the acids released by the paper in the comics, nevertheless if sealed air tight it could result in deterioration also.
Exercise CGC Slabs Accept UV Protection?
No, CGC Cases have no built in protection course dissentious UV rays that could fade or deteriorate the comic, magazine or fine art within. The inner and outer well of the case are made from raw materials such every bit PETG and SAN and accept no added UV inhibitors.
Personally I am happy that their cases are non UV prophylactic, if they were many of the UV Blocking Products we offer for Graded Comic Books would be unnecessary!
But actually, why does CGC not add UV inhibitors to the outer well of their cases? I hateful that would exist just another level of added protection for the comic inside, correct?
Well, here is a couple things to think about, although slight, adding a UV inhibitor to the SAN Copolymer mixture will affect the clarity of the plastic, taking a small footstep backwards from i of their goals. Toll is another gene to consider, for reference I can give y'all an example from personal experience, a sail of standard acrylic is less than one-half the cost of a sheet of 99% UV Safe acrylic of similar size and thickness.
The best answer I could get from a CGC rep when I asked nigh why they do not have UV protected cases was "We looked into UV for outer cases a few years ago and there were some issues (non cost) as to why it wouldn't piece of work, just I'm not exactly sure what those reasons were."
If you are looking for some UV protection components for your CGC Graded Comics and Magazines, check out thiswebsite.
How Many Different Size CGC Slabs Are There?
Referring to the about current revisions, or Generation of cases but, CGC uses iii sizes of cases for encapsulating comic books and two different sizes for magazines or large format comics.
It is also worth noting that they have several sizes of slabs to hold single page original fine art, 11"x17" and 9"x12" for certain, but I am quite certain at that place are other sizes also.
Even more, CGC's parent company, Certified Collectibles Grouping (CCG) has several other grading companies that use MANY other types of cases of all shapes and sizes for encapsulation, so really they could probable grade just about anything...if you're willing to pay for information technology!
Simply once more for involvement of this article we will only focus on the five main sizes primarily used in the comic book industry. According to CGC they are broken into 2 groups, "comic book size" and "magazine size". These groups are designated past the overall width and acme of the instance, then cleaved down from there by the thickness of the example and subsequent thickness of volume each will concord.
Comic Book Size Cases (viii.13"wide by 12.9" tall):
i) Small(.52-.54" thick)- Used for thin books with few pages, generally up to about 26-28 pages. Preview books or ashcan books are skillful examples.
-Although this case and the medium instance are the same thickness the difference really lies in the back half of the slab. On the small size the back half of the outer well of the slab is really indented, or sunken in. What this does is actually create a thinner dimension on the inside of the case where the comic book mounts, thus it information technology used for thinner books. The medium size example does not have this sunken in back, it is much more flush, creating more space inside the instance for a thicker book.
2) Medium(.52-.54" thick)- Holds most comics upwards to about 48-64 pages. Depending on folio weight and cover stock.
3) Big-(.76-.78" Thick) Used for square bound comics, annuals, many Gilded Age, Giant Size and some trade paperback books.
Magazine Size Cases (9.625" wide past 13.8" tall):
1) Small(.46-.48" thick)- Used for most Golden Historic period Dell and Gold Key, Treasury Edition, Sports Illustrated, Playboy, TMNT (1984)
ii) Large(1.25-one.iii" thick)- Large Foursquare bound books, Hard Covers, oversized issue Sports Illustrated, large format comics with
***Something to keep in mind is that just because your book may autumn into a sure category or size constraint for a detail slab size it does not guarantee that will be the slab y'all become with your volume in it. There have been numerous forum and facebook posts about someone submitting a standard sized modern volume with the typical 36-twoscore pages and it volition come up dorsum in a thick Golden Age slab. I accept even seen a couple forum posts where already graded books were sent in for re-slabbing or re-grading in a standard sized slab, only to have it come back in a thick slab, or vice-versa.
Why is There a Plastic Flap Inside My CGC Case?
The plastic flap sometimes used either along the spine or bottom edge of the comic volume is simply put in place when needed to keep the book from shifting or moving inside the slab.
Will CGC Cases Break?
yes, they are made of plastic materials more than focused on protection, preservation and clarity over durability. Having a more durable instance would mean sacrificing those other qualities.
Can a CGC Case exist Opened?
Yes, but not without damaging the case and therefor rendering the grade and any certified signatures or markings on the book (if applicative) invalid. Unless done by or in the presence of and authorized CGC representative.
Here are a few scenarios in which you may want to open up your slab and remove your comic but withal want to preserve certain characteristics about the book.
1)Y'all desire to get your comic pressed and cleaned. -A regrade is your goal in this situation so removing the book from information technology's electric current slab on your ain is acceptable.
two)You lot want to become your comic reholdered into a new slab but you lot desire to keep the course on your current slab. -You MUST send the entire sealed slab in to CGC for reholdering.
***It is worth noting that although unlikely information technology is possible to accept the comic come up back a different class subsequently reholdering. On a side notation to this scenario, if yous are reholdering due to a damaged case, if the example is broken or separated to the betoken that the comic book tin be removed, the comic volition be regraded.
iii)You want to become an artist or writers signature on your book (that currently does not have whatsoever authorized signatures, Bluish Label) -You may remove the book on your own
because whenever a signature, remarque or annihilation is added to the comic it will automatically get re-graded. However recall that you MUST get the signature, remarque, etc in the presence of an authorized CGC representative.
4) You want to get additional signatures, etc. on a book that already has signature(southward) -The book volition become regraded no thing what however do non open the case unless in the presence of an Authorized CGC representative or the existing signature(south) on the book will no longer be certified.
So that's it! I hope this information helps to answer some of the questions yous may have had regarding your CGC cases. If you lot are looking for answers to questions I missed in this article I would dearest to hear them and I will practice my all-time to track down the answers for you! You can email your questions or comments to tony@gradecomstore.com
Source: https://thecollectorsresource.com/blog/getting-to-know-your-cgc-comic-book-cases/
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