If you collect comics, then the issue is not whether you should have an organizational storage method or not. The main issue is deciding which organizational method is best for you. Comic books damage easily, add to clutter, and require meticulous organization for easy pulling access; comics are usually ordered by title name and issue numbers. The more you add to your collection, the more tedious it becomes to organize them correctly in order so they don’t get lost. If you own thousands of comics, then you may need a comic book file cabinet storage solution.
Comic books attract dust. Comic books are made from the cheapest quality paper, ink, and iron staples. (The quality of such materials has incrementally improved in recent decades, but not as much as you think.) As comic books are made from wood pulp, they contain a natural biological acid called lignin.
Your Comics Must Be Organized
As the paper contained in comic books is exposed to air and the elements, it releases natural gases and lignin. Lignin slowly discolors and dissolves paper fibers on the molecular level.
The longer you leave comic books exposed to sunlight, humidity, and air, the quicker they disintegrate. Although the process takes decades, you can see your comic book fade, yellow, and become brittle to the touch within a few years if you don’t protect it.
Comic books must be stored and filed in the same manner that you would for books. It is so easy to spill food, drink, or damage them if you have them covering a desk or stacked in unstable towers on the floor.
So, let’s talk about some comic book file cabinet storage options that are readily available. The hard reality is that while there are a lot of file cabinet storage options for documents and books, there is no similar system for comic books.
Let’s explore that problem first before examining solutions.
Comic Book File Cabinet Storage Solutions – The Struggle is Real
Did you know that a lot of people turned to reading comic books during the pandemic? That recent cultural development put a spotlight on the struggles of comic book collectors trying to organize their collections.
There are multiple Pinterest groups and posts dedicated to people creating their own comic book file cabinet-style storage solutions for their collections. People are repurposing file cabinets, wall units, document drawers, and even IKEA drawers into file cabinet storage systems for their comic books.
So, if you’re good at carpentry or hacking existing wall units, desk drawers, and IKEA furniture systems into bespoke comic book file cabinet storage systems, there is hope for you.
But if you’re like me, this just won’t do.
Companies should make it their mission on Earth to create comic book file cabinet storage systems for the existing demographics clamoring for one.
If you want a comic book file cabinet storage that serves your needs and doesn’t require you to MacGuyer your own organizational solutions, then there are a few options out there for you.
1. BCW Short Comic Book House
BCW is a well-known brand to comic book collectors. This product is called a “comic book house,” but it is really a cardboard housing sleeve or shell that allows you to insert a comic book short box into.
You can then pull it out and stick in the short box like it was a file cabinet. Here are the dimensions of the housings: 16.5 x 9 x 12.75 inches. This is constructed with durable, high-quality corrugated cardboard.
Keep in mind that you should only stack these short comic book housing two or three levels high only. Stack them on a desk, or stick one on the shelves of accommodating wall units. Such boxes can hold up to 150 to 175 comic books.
BCW sells a 10-count Short Comic Book House for $109.99. You get 10 of these cardboard houses with every purchase.
Keep in mind, you must buy one of BCW’s comic book short boxes to complement the BCW short comic book housing. (You can get that here, 10 BCW short boxes for $79.) If you don’t buy the corresponding BCW short boxes, then this product is just an empty rectangular sleeve housing.
2. BCW Short Comic Book Bin (5-Pack)
This product is essentially a more durable, plastic version of the BCW Short Comic House. The BCW Short Comic Book bin holds 150 comic books each. Here are the product’s measurements: 12.25 x 8.625 x 16.5 inches.
The manufacturer claims that you can stack these boxes up to six levels. So, you can create an ad hoc comic book file cabinet storage system that way. Each box is made of durable, acid-free plastic. Each bin also has interlocking butterfly-style lids.
But you will have to pull out, shift, and move boxes as needed since each box has butterfly-wing opening lids. The best option may be to place these boxes on wall units with enough depth of space for you to slide them in and out.
Please note that this comic book is optimal for mylar-sleeved or unprotected comic books, not slabbed or top-loaded comic books.
You get five bins with each purchase, and each bin holds up to 150 comic books. Get it now at Amazon for $127.99. This is a great deal if you’re a new collector or a veteran collector who needs to upgrade their storage.
3. BCW Graded Comic Book Bin
Slabbed comic books are comic books that are encased in rigid plastic shells. Usually, a third-party comic book appraisal company assesses the value of the comic book, gives it a grade ranging between 0.5 and 10.0 on a “CGC” grade, slabs it, and then puts stickers and documentation on it attesting to the value of the comic.
The comic is slabbed to protect its value and slow down natural deterioration from exposure to the elements. (You can slab your own comics, but you can’t independently attest to their collectibles market value.) But that does not mean comic book collectors don’t enjoy holding and admiring the slab like a trophy.
The BCW Graded Comic Book Bin is a durable plastic comic book storage bin that is designed to exclusively store slabbed comic books. Here are the product’s dimensions: 15.5″L x 13.25″ W x 8.75″H inches.
You can store 30 slabbed comics in this product. Get it at Amazon for $50.99.
4. Leffis 5-Pack Stackable Comic Book Storage System
Leffis’s stackable comic book storage system is an affordable alternative to the standard corrugated cardboard and plastic storage bin systems.
Here are the internal dimensions of this product: 15.5″ X 7.5″ X 11.3″. Each one of Leffis’ comic book storage boxes holds up to 150 comics.
Leffis’ storage boxes are made of a high-quality linen exterior with a sturdy and collapsible PVC shell interior and baseplate. Each box has a Velcro lid that covers the interior. And each box is sturdy enough to stack up to two levels safely. When not in use, you can collapse the box for easy storage.
You get a five-pack with each purchase. Get it at Amazon for $43.99.
5. YITAHOME 2-Drawer Mobile File Cabinet with Lock
As this list has made it very self-evident by now, there is no standard comic book file cabinet system. And there should be one by now, considering the market. Still, you can easily repurpose an existing mobile file cabinet to store and safeguard dozens of your valuable comic books.
Since these drawers use hanging file folders, it would behoove you to place your comics in a Mylar sleeve with a backing board or a slab before putting them in a hanging file folder.
The YITAHOME vertical, two-drawer file cabinet can roll under or beside a desk for easy access. This product was made with durable steel and will last a long time.
It is also lockable and resistant to tipping over. It comes fully assembled except for the wheels, which you must insert. You could store dozens of your prized comic books in these drawers.
Here are the product’s dimensions: 17.8″D x 27.8″ W x 15″ H
Until some manufacturer wakes up and makes a file cabinet product exclusively for comic books, this could be your best bet to protect your more valuable comic books.
Get it now at Amazon for $107.99.
Maintenance is Key
You can store your comics in cardboard bins or in ad hoc file cabinet systems. All that matters is that you find a storage system that works for you.
Also, be prepared to upgrade, scale up, and expand your organization’s system when needed. Compare your options. These products protect your comics and make organizing them easier.
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