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Observations and
recommendations on the use of inner and outer LP record sleeves by
As a
newly minted teenager in 1971, I decided to begin my 13th year
on the planet with the purchase my first 12” long play vinyl album;
Thirty
Three and a third years plus thousands of albums later, I’ve learned a few
things about record care and maintenance. I’ve
witnessed how both LP jackets (the record cover with the graphics and
text) and the vinyl can deteriorate without proper handling and storage,
so over the years I’ve experimented with different techniques and have
optimized the process of LP storage. The ultimate goal of the LP storage
exercise is twofold: 1)
Your vinyl should remain devoid of added contaminants (primarily paper
dust and fingerprints) 2) The
LP cover should retain a condition identical to the day of purchase
This
written guide was prepared with the intention of delivering practical
knowledge on record storage that will make you the beneficiary of
my years of restlessness and perspiration! Ardent
record collectors will be quick to recognize that an LP should be
protected by two record sleeves; the inner sleeve which houses the vinyl
within the record jacket and the outer sleeve, which protects the LP
jacket. I’ll address both entities separately. Inner
Sleeves: Ok, so
let’s begin with the basics. Why should I use an inner sleeve versus
jamming my vinyl, sleeveless, into the LP jacket? Perhaps the most
practical way to answer this question is by example. Take a trip to your
local thrift store, wonder over to the random stacks of records and take a
look through some LP’s. Since this venue generally doesn’t regard vinyl
with a high degree of affection, you’ll notice that a significant portion
of the albums will have their inner sleeve in absentia. Pull a few records
out of this lot for inspection and chances are much greater than your odds
of winning at Simply
put, the absence of an inner sleeve subjects a record to the vagaries of
its environment. If we were to use an electron microscope and take a
close-up view the grooves on an LP’s surface, we would essentially be
looking at miniature ditches, which make great repositories for dust,
fingerprints, pollen, pet dander and whatever else you can think of on
this diminutive scale. In addition, the inside of an LP jacket is a
goldmine of paper dust just waiting to be released. Keep in mind that the
LP jacket is milled from paper mash containing hundreds of thousands of
fine cellulose fibers, many of which are the perfect size to line tender
LP grooves and have your expensive needle grind through them. Get the
picture? Now
that we’ve determined that using an inner sleeve is a good idea, let’s
consider our options. If there was only one type or brand of inner sleeve
our choice would me made instantaneously, but the reality of course is to
the contrary. Putting brands aside, there are 3 primary types of inner
sleeve: <!--[if
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<!--[endif]-->100%
paper <!--[if
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<!--[endif]-->Paper exterior with a plastic
inner liner <!--[if
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<!--[endif]-->100%
plastic We’ve
all had the experience where during a used record shopping spree, we
eyeball a 30 or 40 year old album, pull out the inner sleeve to take a
peek at the vinyl and we are exposed to a faded, browned paper inner
sleeve. Then we examine the vinyl and it has inevitably lost its sheen in
addition to having plenty of paper dust on its surface. Unfortunately,
paper has electrostatic properties causing it to attract dust and it loves
to share this “free” dust with vinyl. If
you’re getting the impression that I’m not a fan of paper sleeves then you
have advanced to the next round. At
greater expense but better protection quality, paper sleeves with a
plastic inner liner substantially lower the paper dust issue. The vinyl
now has a thin layer of plastic separating it from direct contact with
paper. The key here is that the plastic liner has lower electrostatic
properties than paper, so it attracts less dust. The
paper/plastic sleeve is far superior to paper only and many of today’s
vinyl reissues use this type of inner sleeve. Have I
saved the best for last? You betcha!
Why
would 100% plastic be best? Well first of all we’ve eliminated the
electrostatic paper from the equation. Secondly, modern plastic inner
sleeves are made with anti-static plastic, ergo, less dust to attract.
Thirdly, and this point is important, plastic inner sleeves are thin,
which minimizes pressure on the LP jacket seams (the side joints that hold
the front of the jacket to the back). Keep in mind that with used
collectable albums you will likely retain the original inner sleeve (only
if it contains graphics or significant markings which contribute to the
authenticity of the LP) so you will be adding another ‘container’ to the
inside of the LP jacket. The added seam pressure is especially apparent
with the paper/plastic combo sleeve. Also, some LP’s are sold with added
inserts or posters which further exacerbate seam
stress. Of the
various brands of plastic inner sleeves available, I prefer the Japanese,
rounded bottom anti-static sleeves. The key here is the rounded bottom
which makes insertion of the sleeve into the jacket easy and it eliminates
the unsightly folded corners which are too common with square sleeves. A
major hassle at used record stores is trying to jam the square record
sleeves back into the jacket after inspecting the vinyl, sometimes causing
you to split seams and then you quickly put the record back in the bin
like nothing happened as you glance sideways to see if anyone saw you. I’m
sure this has never happened to you, right? :) Finally, this sleeve is less
expensive than the paper/plastic combo so choosing it should be a
no-brainer. Outer
Sleeves: Few
things in the life of a record collector are more disappointing then
sifting through bins of used records and finding vinyl in fine condition,
but the LP jackets are trashed. This situation can be prevented by the use
of an outer sleeve which will virtually eliminate ring wear, faded luster,
paper tears and minimize corner dents, creases, split seams and mildew. I
can exemplify of the benefit of using outer sleeves by reaching into my
collection and pulling out 25 to 40 year old LP’s stored with outer
sleeves. These LP jackets still appear M to NM (grading abbreviations for
Mint and Near Mint) confirming that this simple solution is consistent and
lasts. Outer
sleeves are generally available in two formats, open ended and
re-sealable. The open ended sleeves have seams on 3 sides and allow you to
slide the LP jacket into the opening. The sleeve is slightly larger than
the LP so that it can accommodate most double albums. It’s best to slide
the open end of the LP into the sleeve first since this allows the spine
of the LP jacket (which has the LP title/performer listed) to be revealed
through the sleeve opening. This method also provides superior protection
from airborne contaminants. Open
ended sleeves are often available in various thicknesses ranging from
2.5mm to 5mm and my experience consistently leans to the thicker, sturdier
sleeve. On the
flip side, most open ended sleeves are made from polypropelene, which has excellent clarity when new,
but quickly fades to become translucent and even browning in some
instances. I’ve found that the polypropelene
sleeves also have a greater propensity for attracting
dust. The
best sleeve that I’ve found to date is the Japanese re-sealable. This
sleeve has a flap which folds over the otherwise open end of the sleeve
and attaches to an adhesive strip. Although the re-sealable sleeve does
not hermetically seal the LP jacket, it is the closest to this ideal. In
addition, this sleeve is manufactured with Mylar; an advanced form of
polyester which has two major advantages over the polypropelene products: <!--[if
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<!--[endif]-->The Mylar doesn’t fade. Whereas
polypropelene has excellent clarity when new,
Mylar has outstanding clarity which remains consistent over time.
<!--[if
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<!--[endif]-->Mylar sleeves attract less dust
vs. polypropelene sleeve. Finally, if you have boxed
sets, you’re essentially on your own. I haven’t been able to find a
consistent supply of oversize outer sleeves, so I’ve relegated myself to
storing boxed sets without outer sleeves. If you
have any questions/comments, please email me at
Richard_kozicki@yahoo.com. | |
