Ordered My First Pin Bag/Book - Have Questions

[Ninpin]

I finally bought one of the authentic WDW large pin bags/books online. Sadly, all this time I've just been keeping my pins wrapped in bubbles and in a box in my closet, hidden from sight... but now I feel it's really time to get them organized better and keep them easily available to view! I'm not ready to frame the pins, so I figure this will do for now.

How good are these bags/books for keeping expensive pins safe from scratches and rubbing on other pins? Are the pages "stiff" or are they floppy and can move around some inside the bag? I read that they have dividers to protect them - what are they made out of? Felt? Do they stay in place well? Basically I want to know if it's okay to take my expensive pins out of their packaging and off their backer cards (I would save the packaging and cards in the pouches, labeled), and not have to worry about them getting damaged while inside the pin bag/book?

I really can't decide if I should keep them on their cards or not. Part of me wants to see all of my beauties together without cards, the other part is so afraid of damaging anything or devaluing them in some way! Eeeps!

So, how sturdy are these things? I have a few pins valued over $100 right now, and one is closer to $300. I'm worried about them the most.

 

[Poohlady5]

I'm not sure about the current pin bags, but the ones I have are separated by fabric inserts. I don't like them for dangle pins because they slide all over the place. I know some people who put tape on the back side to keep them in place. I'm not a huge fan of tape so I used a plastic pouch/bag to keep the dangley bits safe and it seems to help.

 

[StitchTrader]

Cork and felt. It's what I do to my bags.

 

[pinbum]

I like to make my own display books.I use the baseball card plastic pages and put them in a over sized binder.Its keeps them nice and safe from damage.Also it does not cost a whole lot to make.$10.00 at the most...The plastic pages come in different sizes.

 

[Ninpin]

I'm not sure about the current pin bags, but the ones I have are separated by fabric inserts. I don't like them for dangle pins because they slide all over the place. I know some people who put tape on the back side to keep them in place. I'm not a huge fan of tape so I used a plastic pouch/bag to keep the dangley bits safe and it seems to help.

I never thought about that. I do have a few dangles, hmmm... maybe I will wait on those. I'm glad most of the other pins that I have have 2 posts though, so they wont shift around. Thanks for the tip on protecting dangles!

I like to make my own display books.I use the baseball card plastic pages and put them in a over sized binder.Its keeps them nice and safe from damage.Also it does not cost a whole lot to make.$10.00 at the most...The plastic pages come in different sizes.

I've thought about that, and if I wind up not liking this bag I will probably go that route. I hear most backer cards fit right into the slots... do you put a sheet of felt between pages for extra padding? I guess most people just use the trader bags for traders (imagine that) and not a real collection anyway.

Someday I want shadowboxes, I just don't have the room right now, heh.

 

[pinbum]

They fit in the plastic slots with the backer cards on the pins.The backer cards help protect the pins no felt needed.DLR sells spacer pages that go between the pages.

 

[starry_solo]

They fit in the plastic slots with the backer cards on the pins.The backer cards help protect the pins no felt needed.DLR sells spacer pages that go between the pages.

A few traders have told me that the backer cards/plastic pages don't work well for permanent storage. I have seen a lot of these types of folders/bags where traders have the pin fronts facing each other (so first page is really backwards/upside down, followed by second page which is right side up)

 

[MaidMarian]

About the baseball card pages: I store my cards separately in baseball card sleeves in a shoebox. If the slots in the baseball card pages are the same size as the sleeves then not all cards will fit. So far, all my backer cards from Tokyo Disneyland and the backer card from my Mike & Sulley PODH do not fit, and I have to slip a second sleeve upside-down over the top of the card and into the first sleeve. I don't know how you would deal with this on a card page. Anyway, I store the cards separately because it ruined my enjoyment to look at my pins through plastic baggies, and the cards would get damaged in the pin bag without anything to protect them.

And I guess this is kind of related: When I used to collect pencil boards (plastic sheets used in Japan to protect lower pages in your notebook from getting dented when you write on the top page) I learned that keeping them in the cheap plastic they often came in would damage the surface of the pencil board -- it left this weird snaking pattern all over. I think it was from the oils in the cheap plastic bag. Not sure this can damage pins but it may be something to think about if you keep pins in the original bag. *shrug*

 

[Ninpin]

About the baseball card pages: I store my cards separately in baseball card sleeves in a shoebox. If the slots in the baseball card pages are the same size as the sleeves then not all cards will fit. So far, all my backer cards from Tokyo Disneyland and the backer card from my Mike & Sulley PODH do not fit, and I have to slip a second sleeve upside-down over the top of the card and into the first sleeve. I don't know how you would deal with this on a card page. Anyway, I store the cards separately because it ruined my enjoyment to look at my pins through plastic baggies, and the cards would get damaged in the pin bag without anything to protect them.

And I guess this is kind of related: When I used to collect pencil boards (plastic sheets used in Japan to protect lower pages in your notebook from getting dented when you write on the top page) I learned that keeping them in the cheap plastic they often came in would damage the surface of the pencil board -- it left this weird snaking pattern all over. I think it was from the oils in the cheap plastic bag. Not sure this can damage pins but it may be something to think about if you keep pins in the original bag. *shrug*

That is very interesting about the plastic! Thank you for sharing your experience - I learned something new!

And I have to agree, I enjoy looking at pins more when they are not stuck on cards.

 

[bportahh]

I just got a pin book as well, and I don't like that the pages are floppy, I plan to get cork or something to slip in the zipper pouch to make the pages more rigid and easier to flip through


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[Ninpin]

I just got a pin book as well, and I don't like that the pages are floppy, I plan to get cork or something to slip in the zipper pouch to make the pages more rigid and easier to flip through

Oh, so the pouches are part of the pages themselves? If that's the case, good idea, I will probably do the same!

 

[PersinettePins]

I have all my expensive pins in my pin book (Art of Ariel, Beast/Adam Transformation, Beast Designer Couple, etc.)

The neoprene (what the pages are made out of) is squishy and the dividers are a cheap thin felt (not as nice as the older style of plastic deviders and more velvet-esk pages I hear.) I've yet to have a problem though so long as you leave adequate space between pins. Pins without the tiny side post points (you know the tiny pyramids/cones near the big post) sometimes spin around when wiggled as they would on a lanyard or shirt so you don't want them to overlap and scratch eachother by being placed too close together on the page. I have yet to have a problem with scratching and the neoprene should be safer than the backer cards for your pins which I've heard can cause discoloration in the pin metal due to ink chemicals over time. When you fill up a page it does get heavy though, and because the pages are floppy you have to be careful when turning your pages. Also, it's is a really big pain if you, like me, opt to use the pin backs instead of poking into a cork board support (I am just too scared they will fall off unsecured and sticky fingers) because reaching your hand in the pocket to secure them is a challenge sometimes.

Excited for you and your new pin bag! I really like mine and use is to store my pins until I can frame them. (I suggest paying the extra for UV glass to protect from fading).

Side note: I gotta update my signature wants!

 

[pin2pin1]

Well ive tried it all. I'm currently using a cork board for the first time. Honestly, I love it. I do have one reservation though. I'm afraid that my pins which are real shinny and new looking will lose their luster and shine. I've heard some say that happens and some say no. But ........ So easy to just stick on board and I get to admire them every time I walk by the board. My pin bag like the one you've ordered is nice and protects great but I thought I was going to shoot myself if I had to reach down in the pocket and put pin backs on one more time? It can be difficult in certain spots. I hate that part. Lastly, the baseball card sleeves in a binder is a great idea! I did try it as well. However, my pins which were on their backer cards fit into the slots but each time I picked my book up the top row of pins would slide out of the book. I felt although the pins and card fit, that the space for each was not sufficient enough for the pins to go deep enough so the top ones didn't fall out. But I do like the idea of having the pins on their backer cards and plastic and being real protected. It all depends on what your really want out of your pins. The last two years I've kept mine in pins bags or their own box for protection. Now.....I really want to enjoy looking at them without having to alway get books out. I like to rearrange mine a lot. It makes me feel like I've bought something new. Lol. Enjoy playing with your pins. Either way, it's always fun to redo your pins in new books, binders, or cork. Good luck.

 

[MaidMarian]

the neoprene should be safer than the backer cards for your pins which I've heard can cause discoloration in the pin metal due to ink chemicals over time.

This is good to know! I kind of understand why people want the cards and even the original bag, but they are definitely not made of archival materials. Personally, it bugs me to have to keep all that stuff as it's no fun, but as a compromise I store it.

My pin bag is not a Disney bag, and it was purchased for me by a friend. The pages are pockets like the ones you all are talking about, but they are made of a quilted fabric. It holds the pins really well, but I always wince when I stab the post through because the material is so thick it makes a sound. So far so good, though!

 

[PersinettePins]

I keep all my backer cards in a plastic zip lock but yes, as you mention, definitely not archival material. I've gotten pins new on backer card where it was clear the person never took them off because the metal is dis colored and the paper is warped/off looking. I think letting pins breath is a good idea personally. I tried the card binder thing but too many if my pins simply didn't fit as I like jumbos. Plus the binders get way fatter faster than the books due to the design (no pockets for overlap) from my experience.


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[Ninpin]

Thanks for all of the replies! I really appreciate it, and they were very informative!

I've received the book today, and so far I really like it! I've decided to take my pins off their cards and keep them in the book, and save the cards in a pouch in case I ever want to trade or sell later on. I think this will be much better than the state I was keeping them in before - at least until I get the shadowboxes!

Also, good tip on the UV protection glass, thanks!