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A record sleeve (not to be conflated with a record jacket/cover) is the outer covering of a vinyl record. Alternative terms are dust sleeve and album liner. Besides the standard white, they can come in various colors and/or have print on them like label logos, lyrics, sleeve notes, artwork, etc.
What do vinyl sleeves do?
Vinyl record sleeves made out of polypropylene are a great all around choice for economical protection since both sides of the label can be seen clearly without the need for a cutout as with paper sleeves. Not having a cutout means less dust can get to the record.
Should I put my vinyl records in sleeves?
Commercial vinyl records may be stored in their original sleeve, but they should also be placed in a static-free polyethylene liner to avoid print-through from the original sleeve. In addition to storing records in a plastic sleeve, you should store record covers in a plastic sleeve.
What are the best plastic sleeves for vinyl records?
The 3 best record inner sleeves Paper & Poly lined record inner sleeves. These sleeves look & feel best and have cut corners for easy insertion. Thick 90 Micron HDPE plastic record inner sleeves. Regular 40 Micron HDPE plastic record inner sleeves.
Are plastic sleeves bad for vinyl?
To answer the OPs question, yes, PVC damages your vinyl. I never filed my albums in PVC sleeves, opting for the safer material instead, but a few I bought in PVC outer sleeves, I left them on and regret it now.
Do I need outer sleeves for vinyl?
You will need an outer covering to accompany the inner. This will protect your vinyl’s card sleeve but will also prevent dust finding the record (and abrading it over time). Be careful here. Don’t buy the heavy gauge plastic samples and feel smug about it.
How do you store vinyl records without sleeves?
Put paper or a cloth between each record You don’t want records to be touching and scraping against each other as you will scratch them when you pull them in or out of the box. Put a soft paper towel or even better a piece of scrap cloth in between each record to keep them from touching.
Can you store vinyl records in the garage?
The short answer to this question is no. Storing vinyl records in your garage will lead to unnecessary damage and could cost you an entire record collection.
What does gatefold mean vinyl?
A gatefold cover or gatefold LP is a form of packaging for LP records which became popular in the mid-1960s. The larger gatefold cover provided a means of including artwork, liner notes, and/or song lyrics which would otherwise not have fit on a standard record cover.
How thick is a vinyl record sleeve?
(100) 12″ Vinyl LP Record Outer Sleeves – High Clarity, Archival Quality Polyethylene – Industry Standard – Standard 3mil Thick – 12-3/4″ x 12-1/2″.
How do you look after vinyl records?
Cleaning Your Records Dry Cleaning – Use a carbon fibre brush to clean your vinyl before and after every play. Wet Cleaning – Highly recommended when you want to give your records a deep clean. Cleaning Machines – Once you have a big collection, cleaning records by hand might be a lot of effort.
How should vinyl be stored flat or upright?
The best method of storing your records is upright in the supplied sleeves and outer jacket, preferably in a poly sleeve. If you do not store them upright, you run the risk of warping or damaging your vinyl records. Storing them upright in a poly sleeve also prevents ring wear to the outer sleeve.
Can records be stored at an angle?
Records shouldn’t be stored horizontally, or flat. Storing vinyl records flat can place too much pressure on the records lower in the stack causing damage over time. Never leave records leaning at angles when in a box or on a shelf, this will cause the vinyl to warp.
Why are plastic sleeve bad for records?
The record collector Bob Stanley talked about the risk of ruining ones’ valuable Record Collection my using Petrol Based PVC sleeves. It turns out it can cause “irreparable damage” as the oil in the vinyl and sleeve can fuse causing a “misting” on records along with an audible hiss.
How can I protect my vinyl?
Vinyl records should always be stored in a dry, cool environment. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight, as the light and heat can fade the jacket artwork and warp the record. In addition, avoid storing in areas where the record will be exposed to a lot of dust or airborne particles.
Are rice paper sleeves good for vinyl?
The plastic sleeves are NOT recommended because there is simply no way to guarantee the purity of the plastics or how they will react to the vinyl, no matter how much you’ve spent on these “audiophile” sleeves. Rice paper and other “high-end” sleeves are needlessly expensive and offer no benefit.
How tight should vinyl records be stored?
Good rule of thumb: Tight enough they all stand vertically, but loose enough you can grab any album with relative ease.
What temperature can vinyl records withstand?
The ultimate solution for your records is a reliable, safe, secure storage facility that features climate-controlled units. The ideal climate for vinyl record storage is 65° to 70° F and 45% to 50% humidity. This environment is easily maintained in a climate-controlled unit.
Should you store records outside the sleeve?
Outer Sleeves To protect your artwork, and prevent airborne dust contaminating the record when stored, you also need to invest in outer record sleeves. PVC-based products can cause contamination and serious damage to your records.
Is it bad for vinyl records to get cold?
Senior Member. Any extremes in temperature are not good for vinyl. One of the other by products of having records in a cold place is that moisture can develop on them and when the temp fluctuates that the possibly of mold growth can occur. Keeping them stored in a cool, dry climate it best.
Do vinyl records go bad?
While there is no expiration date on a vinyl record, the answer lies within how well you take care of your records over the years. Read on to learn more about how to take care of records and make them last as long as possible, keeping them in pristine condition.
How do vinyl records get damaged?
Seven Bad Habits That Will Destroy Your Vinyl Records Touching the record surface. Stacking your records. Leaving your records out. Carelessly returning the record to its sleeve. Bad cleaning practice. Cueing up records with your hand. Not waiting for the record platter to STOP.
