I always sealed my comic bags with a blow torch…now it makes sense why CGC keeps grading my comics so low.

“Honey, I need to run to Home Depot to get some painters tape!” “Oh, I’m not painting anything. It’s for my comics! That’s right, my comics!” “Yes, I was watching James again!”

There's an even better way-- which is clued in on your section about wrapping slabs. On each non-slabbed comic, I use two pieces of tape laterally across the flap, but before actually applying to the bag, I fold over about 1/4 inch of the tape onto itself, creating a non-stick pull-tab on the end of the tape. When I go to remove the book from the bag, I simply pull the tape pieces by their tabs, and either re-apply them elsewhere on the back of the bag (or on a separate surface if needed-- edge of the table, etc) before removing the book. When I get ready to re-seal, I simply re-insert the book and re-position the tape tabs back into their original position. This way, the sticky side of the tape has absolutely no chance of coming into contact with the book. The tab method is not really time consuming once you get into the habit, and it works with all kinds of tape-- just don't ever use double-sided tape! I've been using this method for over 40 years-- while it uses a little more tape than the lazy slap-on method, it's minimal cost, especially when compared to the cost of potential damage to an expensive book.👍

Man you might not be the channel I found to keep up with weekly reviews or trends in prices but you always nail the oddball questions I wouldn’t know where else to ask

Painter’s Tape might present a different issue in that it is thicker, so it could leave a light impression on the book behind it (even through the plastic bag). Some of that will depend on if you pack tightly or if you stack books. I use the 2-piece, vertical Scotch method but I have made a practice of entirely removing the tape before taking out a book. I put almost everything in Mylites and Half-Backs (or some equivalent).

Dude, I just really enjoy your vids. Thanks for the fun and education as always.

I do a similar thing but use artists tape (acid free and low tack) which is meant to be easily removed off paper if god forbid somehow it touches the comic. I also use a pull tab on the back for easy removal so it stays on the back of the bag and board and not on the flap where it could touch the comic. I understand this is extremely OCD but it works for me.

Great video. I always use painters tape and it’s been the best change I’ve made. I also put a little flap on the ends of pieces of tape it works great 👍

Mint, ur story about how you got into comics is a thing of innocence I enjoyed all of ur video

Thanks for the painter tape tip! Another great video!

I use mylar and half/full backs for everything and non-acidic archival tape. It’s worked for me for years, but I love your solution for poly bags!

For bags and boards, forget tape. The round yard sale stickers, that can come in either white or packs of multi colors, are easy to use and easy for opening. I use one in the middle for reg bags and two, one in either side, for mylar bags. And it looks neater than tape.

6:02 Good points here for slabs and bubble wrap.

This is excellent thank you so much for this advice! I am the one who uses scotch tape and two pieces to avoid the dog ears but I will seek out painters tape from now on. Thank you buddy 😊

Something every comic collector needs to know.

Thanks for your knowledge

On the Mylars, and this does depend on the backing boards to some degree however, I would recommend NOT sliding the comic in as the roughness/texture of the backing board tends to produce colour rub on the back of the book. I've found that the better option is to have the board mostly out of the bag and only a small amount of the board inside the bag (maybe an inch or so, then place the book on the board in the position you're happy with and then pull the bag (not push the board) up over the book. I also gently grip the top of the board and a small amount of the book with a cotton round so that the book doesn't move while the bag is being slid up (don't worry, you won't damage the book unless you're going super heavy with your grip). I'd also recommend pre-scoring/bending the flap before doing any of the above as it provides a better seal when taping it down (for 4 mil (100 microns)/3 mil (75 microns) Mylar).

Very informative video thanks

The blue tape idea for shipping is great! No tape on my bags and boards - I “pre-bend” the top of a bag over the board between heavy books for a day or two before I put my comics in.

Great info. Straight to the point, fundamentally sound and helpful all in one fell swoop

You save a incredible amount of time with this short video

I didn't know about the no tape thing in regards to submissions

Great tutorial dude!! I figured you would do a video like this after the last one 🤣🤣. I usually am the one doing the third option you showed with the scotch tape. Never really thought about the angled concept, but I like it. Thanks for the video man, good job!

Great stuff bro, thanks for sharing! :-)

Great video as usual! You should continue the theme with a storage video (cardboard long/short boxes vs. the plastic BCW boxes, etc..) I liked the binder you made for your Batman run shown in an older video but would want to know the correct way to do it since some protection may be lost.

Love this vid very informative. Currently I’m just using resealable bag and boards from BCW because Mylar has become really tough to get in my area. They do the job for now.

Great video. Another tip when buying Look for a "low tac" painters tape. Normal painters tape it's great for a while but after few years it goes super stuck to the bag. This also goes for when using painters tape for painting dont leave it on for to many days it can pull the paint off the surface it's on.

Great advice. 👍🏻

Great video!!

I just learned a lot 💪👏

Great vid dude, a lot of sellers need to have a look at this vid haha!

I actually use the pull tab on runs that I like to read, that way I can take them out easily anytime I want to read them without worrying about tap pull.

For mylar, I use the 1-inch wide post it flags. They have flap that you can easily pull and the adhesive is similar to regular post its.

Solid advice. I do use blue tape when I pack books for shipping, but I don't like how it looks on my books in my collection. I use Scotch double-sided cellophane tape instead, putting a small piece on the inside flap and folding it down. When you open the bag again, the tape sticks to the bag instead of the flap, keeping the tape away from the book and allowing for easy resealing. It doesn't eliminate the dog-ear problem, unless you put a small piece on each end of the flap.

Thank you four advising that grading submitters not tape their bags and also that they use paper tape when shipping comics to buyers in order to allow for recycling. I have never bought bubble wrap, padded envelopes or boxes. Always recycle there’s plenty to go around.. Nice informative video

Very informative video. I would use the blue tape cause that's what my brother had, little did I know that was the good tape to use.

Man this was great. Thanks! And you didn’t drag it out either and there was no back ground music!

Great vid👍

Thank you this was helpful :). If I use regular bags, how often should I 'change' them? 2, 5, 10+ years?

This "next best thing" of which you speak -- where you put a piece of scotch tape at either end of the flap -- is how I've been sealing my comic book bags for the past 40 years. I had no idea so few people did it this way.

Thanks Homie

Very nice PSA!!

For slabs I use plumbing insulation. It’s real cheap and makes for quick work of insulating the slab inside of a flat rate box.

I have had painters tape leave sticky residue on the bag, or even tear the bag upon removal.

I sent in my first sub to CGC last week, not only was it a quick turnaround for modern slow (less than 2 weeks!!!)…8 out of 10 got 9.8’s and the rest 9.6. I’m giving you all the credit as I took your advice and packed my comics like you said ;D) Cheers James!

What i saw a comic store did one time is that they taped the edges and put the tape to the front. It’s a bit weird to describe it but easier to show a picture. It’s a really good method for sealing a comic, but i wouldn’t recommend it if you want to open it up frequently to read. I could see that method being a bit of a hassle to open up, but good way to really secure it.

I use the resealable bags now.

I use scrap booking tape. My wife had plenty of it and it works awesome. Cool random colors too. Its like painters tape but in a perfect size.

I’ve recently gone to color coded sticker for the backs of my bags and boards. But def painters tape for the win.

Great video thanks what do you recommend for current books as far as bags and boards are concerned.

Simple blue painters tape half inch to 1 inch size across the middle back. Easy to take off and place back. Don't need two on the sides since a waste of energy and time..

Over the years ive found that only using the invisible scotch tape and using your third method is best.all other tape will have a chemical reaction eventually ruining the bag.I disagree with painters tape only because it degrades much faster than normal invisible tape.ususlly drying out and becoming powder.the real scotch tape invisible only will have no reaction to mylar.

i use "post-it flags" these can be removed have a flag you can use to lift up, i also use them standing up to note a new run or comic.

the tape examples are great, painters tape is easy to take off! I usually don't have any reason to remove a book from the bag unless it's something I've bought and want to look at for the grade, so almost every book I take out of the bag goes into a new bag and board. If I'm selling it and the tape breaks in half like your mylar example when I'm taking it out to scan, it gets a new bag.

I use the wide painter's tape, I think its 1.88".. one piece in the center. I don't have much of a problem with dog ears, since it covers a wider area in the middle. And, I still only have one piece of tape to take off. By the way, try the delicate painter's tape. You can still get major tape pulls from regular painter's tape!

One problem with painters tape is that it’s too thick, I wonder what kinda creases is creates if left in short box a long time.

what's the difference between the blue and green painters tape?

Hi James, what size of mylar bag were you using and what was the size of the board in it? Thanks

Mylars are getting scarce due to oil shortages. Main ingredient in plastic is oil.

I stand by the painters tape method. I've NEVER had a comic get caught on the tape. I usually move it when I open a comic plus it's easier to get off the bag.

Thumbs up for the zoomed in cat shot!

can you do an in depth video how to store your comic books, for all us new people in the hobby?

Have you ever used avery dots? They are my go to for closing up a bag flap. Don’t use them when bubble wrapping and stuff but haven’t had any issues with them for comic storage. They’re super cheap on Amazon for like 1000 of em.

I have a batch of white painters tape; much more aesthetically pleasing than the traditional blue painters tape.

What do you think of the original mylars where they're open at the top?

excellent

I always tape at an angle. Lower right to the side so easier to open from left to right. Also Green painters tape has less stickiness.

I angle my tapes the same direction. That way when I'm pulling the flap up from the right, I get the long angle on both. But great idea on the painters tape; I had never thought of that. Does it add any thickness over the volume inside a shortbox?

I had a question what brand is the comic board with a brown back?

45 years collecting. Had only 2 tape pulls and both on low valued books. Just one piece is needed in the middle. Had like one dog ear. Just be diligent when opening and pulling the book, putting books back. Just pay attention. No need for painters tape. If you're working for a comic shop and have to go through hundreds to thousands from a collection swapping out old plastics and boards for new ones, it'll get monotonous, fatigue, etc. yeah, I can see doing the painters tape, but your own private collection, just pay attention. No need to go through your books fast.

I use one piece of scotch tape or celotape at an angle of 30° from the Vertical and then when I put all the bags and boards together in a box, I go down the sides with a rule to remove the dog ears... But if you put them in properly and you don't cram them in the box so tightly you won't have dog ears and i normally allow my finger thickness to be the gap between comics, then I can squash the comics to get them out, anything less than that and the comics are too tightly packed in my opinion.

#comickarma This has been the most helpful video for my collecting. Thank you for taking the time to put this together!

Might be a stupid question, but why use tape at all? I personally hate opening taped bags and always worry I'll catch the tape on my books. Instead, I just fold the flap inside the bag.

Mister mint hunter sir, I use a scotch double sided tape and it’s far more easier to open the bag or to just close it, it that a bad method?

Pro-tip #2: You can get a 3" roll desk tape dispenser for the the painters tape. I have a couple for shipping tape. Pro-tip #3: Desk tape dispenser for shipping tape is often better than a tape gun in many uses.

I’ve been asking this question around can you put a tape from one and to the other two completely seal it?

so painters tape is better than scotch tape? I just got into collecting variant covers. I have my bags and boards, but no tape yet.

Better idea...resealable bags. And i hate tape so much i use tension to ship my books with gemini and bubble so no tape.

I love how I saw this video after I did a long box the wrong way. LOL

I don't use any tape, I just tuck the flap in behind the cardboard.. it seems fine and stays in.. I don't have a huge collection though, mainly trades, so maybe I'm missing something..

What’s wrong with the resealable bags from BCW?

Mint Hunter Comics, i need a favor, do you know what Batman book from thw 90's has the Joker with red eyes on the front cover? I had that book years ago and want a copy of it but i don't know the issue number any help would be great,thanks.

I heard painters tape doesn’t hold its stickiness very long. Usually only for about a year. Do you know is this true?

Good idea to use blue tape, never thought of that. And James, what is your opinion on resealable bags? Yay or nay? And what about submitting comics to CGC in resealable bags? Quick side question: do you think a comic that has already been signed should be pressed or does it risk damaging the signature?

Does it have to blue? Can it be a different color? Does it have to be by Scotch? Thanks

Drafting tape or archival acid-free white tape.

I actually use scotch tape so it stays on the fold, and fold the tape to create a pull tab at the end of the tape. Works 100% never ruins the plastic.

Decades ago, I learned the hard way...no one is faster than tape!

I think I'm gonna buy a lot of painters tape soon

Pro-tip: If it's just sitting in a your private collection don't use tape, just fold it over and let friction keep it pressed in place. Eventually, the flap will stay permanently folded.

I just use scotch tape with a little tab cut out of a flash cards

I use Color Coding Removable Circle labels. The regular painters tape looks ugly in my opinion. The labels work like a charm.

Smart

Just bought a nice copy of tomb of dracula 1... took it out to check it... tape got caught on the back cover and created an inch tear on the book! 😢

Double sided tape! Set it and forget it. Its a bit more expensive but super convenient

is that a special type of backboard you're using? Why is it brown?

Hi James, I agree the less tacky the tape the better…but man that blue tape is ugly AF. My OCD will not allow that…I find the double scotch method works just fine.

I just tape it until the bag has a crease and then I fold the tape under the comic and leave it without tape.

I don't use tape at all. The bags I use have flaps, I just fold the flap inside. No fear of tape pulls ever. Best to all.

If you’re not going to seal the bag,does it really matter which way round the book is?🤔