All Poster Forum
Common Poster Subjects => Framing & Storage => Topic started by: Monster_A_GoGo on March 17, 2016, 01:25:25 PM
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I've occasionally heard people storing their posters flat (when they were either originally rolled or folded) in large flat filing drawers. (And yes...I know that putting both previously folded and rolled posters together is a bad idea that will ruin the rolled ones). My question---since I've never seen these filing cabinets and know nothing about them, is where do you get them? how much do they run? What, exactly, are they called? Which ones would you recommend and which ones would you avoid? THANKS!
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I've occasionally heard people storing their posters flat (when they were either originally rolled or folded) in large flat filing drawers. (And yes...I know that putting both previously folded and rolled posters together is a bad idea that will ruin the rolled ones). My question---since I've never seen these filing cabinets and know nothing about them, is where do you get them? how much do they run? What, exactly, are they called? Which ones would you recommend and which ones would you avoid? THANKS!
Check ebay or your local craigslist. The keywords are 'flat file' or 'blueprint file'
Buy locally. There are a lot available. Make sure the interior is large enough for a 1 sheet. That is basically 'C' or 'D' size.
Here is a good example of what I would look for from my local craigslist: http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/fuo/5489848622.html
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OOoooo AWESOME! Thank you so much, Jay!
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yep.. you search Craigslist for flat files, but wait until you find some listed at the best price
they are always listed by used office furniture dealers at something close to full retail (for used cabinets), but yu can find them cheap if yuo wait.
check every day and be sure you get the right size
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Thanks so much for the advice. WOW! CHEERS!
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Thanks so much for the advice. WOW! CHEERS!
you're welcome
I have 5 flat files, 4 are the size you can put one sheets and 30x40s in and some stuff like Argentinian posters and one is a little larger than half sheets
I spent $300 on one newer pair, $100 on the older pair & I got the smaller one, which was nearly new - for a whopping $15!!
look hard.. you'll find them
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Years I have been looking on craigslist and never found a decent deal. Especially not one for $100.
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I just looked on craigslist Los Angeles, and there was nothing listed or shown that was under $350.00 for a standard 5 drawer cabinet of the right OS (or larger) size.
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I just looked on craigslist Los Angeles, and there was nothing listed or shown that was under $350.00 for a standard 5 drawer cabinet of the right OS (or larger) size.
It's the previous generation that got all the good deals... Rich, howsabout some discounts on your website for us younger folk, throw us some scraps
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Years I have been looking on craigslist and never found a decent deal. Especially not one for $100.
that was for (2) cabinets! full sized
I just looked on craigslist Los Angeles, and there was nothing listed or shown that was under $350.00 for a standard 5 drawer cabinet of the right OS (or larger) size.
takes patience. I don't look anymore because 2 of them are in the back not used (can't use them in the warehouse - the metal gets hot & guess what having posters in them would do to the posters) so I don't need more. (no room for them in the office. I need to move into a house again)
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that was for (2) cabinets! full sized
takes patience. I don't look anymore because 2 of them are in the back not used (can't use them in the warehouse - the metal gets hot & guess what having posters in them would do to the posters) so I don't need more. (no room for them in the office. I need to move into a house again)
Plus people selling know that there is a bit of a second hand market for those collectors looking for them.. hence the price jacks. :-\
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that was for (2) cabinets! full sized
Fuck! That what I get for living in a big metropolis.
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Fuck! That what I get for living in a big metropolis.
Las Vegas has a population of 2million.. not big enough for you?
and widen your search.. drive 50 or 100 miles to save $200
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I've occasionally heard people storing their posters flat (when they were either originally rolled or folded) in large flat filing drawers. (And yes...I know that putting both previously folded and rolled posters together is a bad idea that will ruin the rolled ones). My question---since I've never seen these filing cabinets and know nothing about them, is where do you get them? how much do they run? What, exactly, are they called? Which ones would you recommend and which ones would you avoid? THANKS!
Agree with Jay. Buy locally, I found several at auction in my local auction house (UK) price range was £75. I always look out for vintage cabinets and files to see whats on offer.
If anyone in the UK is interested I can pass on the details of the auction house in case there are more available.
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I bought a flat file for 100 bucks on craigslist. I feel like unless you have A LOT of posters, it is overkill. I wound up framing or storing them flat in a moving box, so I sold the flat file on craigslist and got my 100 back...
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Good to hear you broke even on the all around deal, Connor. thumbsup.gif
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GOGO.... I like this one because of the size of the drawers. These are of course brand new...... I look about every week for one locally...no luck yet.
Wasting time looking for these dang things.....
http://www.wayfair.com/Sandusky-Cabinets-Flat-Files-5-Drawer-Filing-Cabinet-244879-SN1317.html (http://www.wayfair.com/Sandusky-Cabinets-Flat-Files-5-Drawer-Filing-Cabinet-244879-SN1317.html)
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Wow...everything about it sounds great...except the price. Jeepers. It will be a few months yet (late May / early June) before I am back in my house...but I do need to get me some of those ( used and cheaper) cabinets. Wow! Poster access. What a concept. Cheers.
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GOGO.... I like this one because of the size of the drawers. These are of course brand new...... I look about every week for one locally...no luck yet.
Wasting time looking for these dang things.....
http://www.wayfair.com/Sandusky-Cabinets-Flat-Files-5-Drawer-Filing-Cabinet-244879-SN1317.html (http://www.wayfair.com/Sandusky-Cabinets-Flat-Files-5-Drawer-Filing-Cabinet-244879-SN1317.html)
Compared to those, the $350.00 model I found on CL earlier sounds like a real bargain. And they looked brand new, too.
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I bought a flat file for 100 bucks on craigslist. I feel like unless you have A LOT of posters, it is overkill. I wound up framing or storing them flat in a moving box, so I sold the flat file on craigslist and got my 100 back...
Probably true. I started with a flat cardboard box stored under bed before graduating to my first flat file. Then another. Then another. ;D
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They may well be listed different in the States, we call them Plan Chests over here... A flat File is something we shape metal with.
Oh, and I'm looking for another (plan chest) if any UK people come across one, preferably up North...
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Ignore the surrounding mess, but this is the setup I will eventually have for mine:
(http://i.imgur.com/Zsarpu7m.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/VYwJ6Y2m.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/jnmQhl2m.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/e6bS65im.jpg)
Purchased on Craigslist last summer from a print shop that was closing. The owner's daughter was selling the flat files for $25 each and the stands for free, until demand was so great she raised the price to $50 for a file and $15 for a stand. I had a stand and file lined up for $25, but miscalculated how big it was so couldn't fit the stand in my minivan. Went back after removing the seats to get another file, this time for $50, and a stand for $15. All told, $90, and some elboqw grease to get some ink off the cabinets. Still haven't actually put in posters in there, but I will and hopefully soon.
Patience is key, but yeah CL will be your best bet.
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Great find there, hepcatpunk. NICE!!
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They may well be listed different in the States, we call them Plan Chests over here... A flat File is something we shape metal with.
Oh, and I'm looking for another (plan chest) if any UK people come across one, preferably up North...
Check http://www.criterionauctioneers.com/ and get shiply.com to deliver it to you there. Vintage and really nice.
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Shawn, here's another thread that discussed some "aftercare" and prep of used flat files that may need some TLC and/or cleanup:
http://www.allposterforum.com/index.php/topic,8047.0.html
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OOOOoooo Thanks!
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Hi there. Dumb question time again. I think I may have found a flat file---waiting to see if the price drops before I buy it. Anyway, the question is, when you have a flat file, do/can you store the posters vertically or horizontal? How do you make the rolled posters stay flat? Thanks!
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Hi there. Dumb question time again. I think I may have found a flat file---waiting to see if the price drops before I buy it. Anyway, the question is, when you have a flat file, do/can you store the posters vertically or horizontal? How do you make the rolled posters stay flat? Thanks!
what I do.
I put a poster down. on top of that poster, I layer a plastic one-sheet bag (a full sized bag), another poster, another bag, another poster, another bag
the weight of the bag will help folds flatten and prevents any folds from one poster from impressing into the next poster
I DO NOT PLACE THE POSTERS INSIDE THE BAGS
if you do that, they become difficult to handle and when you do handle them - if they are inside plastic bags flat - you will create those dings that look like thumbnail impressions.
posters can only be handled well inside bags if they are backed with a board
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Great idea about the bags keeping them safe and from causing further wrinkling from the folds. THANK YOU.
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A few thoughts from someone who owns 8 flat file cabinets.
1. Do not mix rolled posters and folded posters in the flat file. They do not like each other. One drawer for each.
2. 27x41in US OS posters align perfectly on top of each other. I can stack up to 350 in one drawer, no plastic bags needed. Folds will attenuate over time.
3. Rolled posters live in tubes. That's where they thrive. You can just add them one inside the other until your tube is full. You can usually put 40-50 posters per tubes. I keep my tubes vertical to avoid waving.
4. Try to keep posters of the same size together... ie. German A1 together, French medium together, Italian locandinas together, etc. Do not mix them up. It will prevent posters from impressing into each other.
T
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I used magnets to keep them flat, BUT I never had many stacked. I would follow Thierry and Rich's advice if you have a few hundred.
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THIERRY Wow! AWESOME advice. THANK YOU!
CONOR Hundreds of posters? Try THOUSANDS. I've got them stashed in boxes all over---after all I've been collecting since I was 11 (and I turn 51 next week). 40 years worth of paper... I gotta get some of these flat file thangs ASAP (well, asap once I move back into my house). THANKS though.
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THIERRY Wow! AWESOME advice. THANK YOU!
CONOR Hundreds of posters? Try THOUSANDS. I've got them stashed in boxes all over---after all I've been collecting since I was 11 (and I turn 51 next week). 40 years worth of paper... I gotta get some of these flat file thangs ASAP (well, asap once I move back into my house). THANKS though.
If you had to guess... how many thousands do you think you own, in total? (even a ballpark estimate).
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I don't know... Too many. Hopefully I can go through them this summer once I move back to the house. I wonder how many I bought just in the last year? I can look through my thread I guess. However, when I was younger, I was not able to buy all that many. My buying picked up in my late 20s and just kept increasing until now. But I was never really able to afford really good ones. And now that I have a bit more money, poster prices have skyrocketed!
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I don't know... Too many. Hopefully I can go through them this summer once I move back to the house. I wonder how many I bought just in the last year? I can look through my thread I guess. However, when I was younger, I was not able to buy all that many. My buying picked up in my late 20s and just kept increasing until now. But I was never really able to afford really good ones. And now that I have a bit more money, poster prices have skyrocketed!
you probably have lots of cool posters and many that mean something to you.
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I don't know... Too many. Hopefully I can go through them this summer once I move back to the house. I wonder how many I bought just in the last year? I can look through my thread I guess. However, when I was younger, I was not able to buy all that many. My buying picked up in my late 20s and just kept increasing until now. But I was never really able to afford really good ones. And now that I have a bit more money, poster prices have skyrocketed!
Then maybe it actually isnt thousands... but what only seemed so, in your wild and carefree youth. ;D
And where were you buying movie posters at ages 11-15? Did you go to flea markets, garage sales, shows or that kind of thing?
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I've been collecting for 16 years and I'm almost at 12,000, so can you imagine 40 years of collecting. POW! My brain just exploded.
T
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RICH : I don't remember a lot of what I have---but my budget never allowed me to buy the A-list stuff...or the B-list stuff!
JEFF : No, it's in the thousands. I just did a quick, not-so-super-accurate count of the posters i bought last year (thanks to my thread) and it was more than 700...maybe closer to 800? That's just ONE year. I have more than 200 in frames (such a dumb idea trying to frame everything---there's no place to store them!) alone. I have a LOT of posters.
THIERRY : Unfortunately i never had much buying power. Even now, I freak about spending the $$. I have thousands--most of it is trash, I'm sure (but I dig trash! Ha!). I'd be surprised if my collection was as big as yours though. So put your brain back together! Ha!
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RICH : I don't remember a lot of what I have---but my budget never allowed me to buy the A-list stuff...or the B-list stuff!
JEFF : No, it's in the thousands. I just did a quick, not-so-super-accurate count of the posters i bought last year (thanks to my thread) and it was more than 700...maybe closer to 800? That's just ONE year. I have more than 200 in frames (such a dumb idea trying to frame everything---there's no place to store them!) alone. I have a LOT of posters.
THIERRY : Unfortunately i never had much buying power. Even now, I freak about spending the $$. I have thousands--most of it is trash, I'm sure (but I dig trash! Ha!). I'd be surprised if my collection was as big as yours though. So put your brain back together! Ha!
Now Im really curious, Shawn. Im sure that will be a blast, in many ways, to go a see exactly what you have, and the stuff you might have forgotten you had! It will be like getting them all over again. Very exciting, for sure!!! thumbsup.gif
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Well, it won't be THAT exciting. I know there's no hidden Universal monsters or things like that. But, yes, it will be nice to have my stuff in one place and organized finally.
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Im meaning exciting in the idea that once you can really go thru your poster goodness, you might be seeing some things again for the first time, in a lot of years.
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I'm sure that will be true. I'm just concerned I'll have been buying the SAME POSTERS over and over all of these years. UGH! Ha!
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I'm sure that will be true. I'm just concerned I'll have been buying the SAME POSTERS over and over all of these years. UGH! Ha!
That's what excel is for!
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I'm sure that will be true. I'm just concerned I'll have been buying the SAME POSTERS over and over all of these years. UGH! Ha!
Well the good news is you're probably adding value to a poster by taking every copy off the market like that
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RICH : I don't remember a lot of what I have---but my budget never allowed me to buy the A-list stuff...or the B-list stuff!
JEFF : No, it's in the thousands. I just did a quick, not-so-super-accurate count of the posters i bought last year (thanks to my thread) and it was more than 700...maybe closer to 800? That's just ONE year. I have more than 200 in frames (such a dumb idea trying to frame everything---there's no place to store them!) alone. I have a LOT of posters.
THIERRY : Unfortunately i never had much buying power. Even now, I freak about spending the $$. I have thousands--most of it is trash, I'm sure (but I dig trash! Ha!). I'd be surprised if my collection was as big as yours though. So put your brain back together! Ha!
why does collecting require you to spend vast sums on expensive posters? It was never the meaning to me. I always collected what I liked - period. I sold/sell the rest. Of course, being a dealer allowed me to collect at a higher level, but I don't seriously believe my collection is 'better' than others, in part because each collection is unique to it's owner. Why should my Blue Dahlia one sheet have a greater meaning against someone else's Barbarella re-release or My Buddy poster?
at the same time, it would be hard for me to believe that you can have thousands and not have some really good ones, especially if you're collecting for 40 years.
nah.. don't fool yourself for one minute.. your collection is just as good as anyone elses, it's just unique to it's own
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JAY : I KNOW! It will happen. I'm moving back into my house this summer. Sometime after that it's poster inventory time!
CRAZY VICK : Ha! That would be GREAT--but I doubt countless copies of whatever i have would be cornering any market.
RICH : Oh no---I DO collect because I love the posters. It's just that the posters i still want are the ones I could never afford before...and those are getting pricier than ever! And you've seen my thread, so you have an idea of what my collection would consist of. I framed my favorites back in the early 2000s (as seen in my crappy video). Not many hidden gems left in my collection, I'm sure--just lots of schlock (which i totally like)...stuff like CAULDRON OF DEATH, MARK OF THE DEVIL, MOTEL HELL, FOOD OF THE GODS, or TOURIST TRAP, etc. I never had the sense (or taste) to buy stuff that would make a poster lover drool. I passed up an original STAR WARS for $25 or so back in the 70s--just because I wasn't a fan really. My collection is whatever it is---just nothing major. Thousands (but that is no brag---I've been buying forever), but not all that impressive over all--at least not to any one else. I like my collection--and I'm happy with it. It's just that i also had some of those expensive/hard to find posters I've wanted all of my life.
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My collection is whatever it is---just nothing major. Thousands (but that is no brag---I've been buying forever), but not all that impressive over all--at least not to any one else.
OH STOP..
Listen, I would love to own some stuff that I don't have. I still need a Double Indemnity one sheet (and half sheet and half sheet and insert) for my Raymond Chandler collection. Price has 100% been the reason I haven't gotten one, although I was an underbidder at about 3k once
but my feelings? if I get it.. great.. If not, that's life.
your collection is great.. Don't downgrade yourself.
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Well, it won't be THAT exciting. I know there's no hidden Universal monsters or things like that. But, yes, it will be nice to have my stuff in one place and organized finally.
If there were, I doubt they would be hidden (or forgotten about), right? ;)
And now back the the regularly scheduled programming (flat files).
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After searching for a flat file cabinet for a while, I finally got one.
10 Draws.
I wouldn't recommend moving these things every day!!
Richie
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Nice! I still need one (one? Probably several...), but it will have to wait until after i move this summer.
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After searching for a flat file cabinet for a while, I finally got one.
10 Draws.
I wouldn't recommend moving these things every day!!
Richie
Nice, Richie. How many posters do you figure these 10 drawers will comfortably hold?
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Cheers guys,
finished cleaning it yesterday so haven't started filling it yet.
Will start today.
Each draw is a little over 1 inch in height so it'll be interesting to see how many I can fit.
Will depend on the poster.
I can put 4 daybills across.
If I can get all my daybills in one draw, that would be awesome.
Richie
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Alright so I was able to fit 238 Daybills in one draw easily.
Room for a heap more.
I was a little concerned with the height of the draws not being that great, but you can fit heaps.
Onto the next poster type.
Richie
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/Walley_World/IMG_20160422_120159.jpg) (http://s18.photobucket.com/user/Walley_World/media/IMG_20160422_120159.jpg.html)
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Lookin' good there, Richie.
All tucked in and resting comfortably. cool1
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Lookin' good there, Richie.
All tucked in and resting comfortably. cool1
Yep, that was goal thumbsup.gif
Richie
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Well done!
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So i got my very first flat file. It's in storage at my brother's little house until I move back into my house in (now late--long story) September. What do i need to do with it once I get it set up? Do i need to put anything between the posters? Is it for rolled or folded posters (or both---but NOT together--I know)? I'm curious and anxious to see how it will work out.
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So i got my very first flat file. It's in storage at my brother's little house until I move back into my house in (now late--long story) September. What do i need to do with it once I get it set up? Do i need to put anything between the posters? Is it for rolled or folded posters (or both---but NOT together--I know)? I'm curious and anxious to see how it will work out.
MAGG, congrats on the pickup. Did you find it on CL? Or was it bought new?
I dont think I would try laying just unrolled posters in a drawer. They might curl up a bit and then get caught when you try to open that particular drawer. Formerly folded posters would be very happy in there, no doubt about it.
I think you will find a number of previous threads in this section about what some folks opt to put between their posters (or not).
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Hi. Yes, it's used--a CL find. My first--so I hope I did okay getting it. We shall see.
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So, bought another Plan Chest, but needed to swap it with one already in my poster room..
Here's the grey one being emptied.. which is now going in the garage.
(http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p501/PaulWaines/PICT0521_zps2ypzpiik.jpg) (http://s1153.photobucket.com/user/PaulWaines/media/PICT0521_zps2ypzpiik.jpg.html)
And the new one in and filled back up...
(http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p501/PaulWaines/PICT0543_zpsy8rn46jk.jpg) (http://s1153.photobucket.com/user/PaulWaines/media/PICT0543_zpsy8rn46jk.jpg.html)
The whole job took 2 full weekends, so I'd hate to move house again.... ;)
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Where did you buy that new wooden file cabinet.
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A local building firm that was shutting down had it for sale, amongst a host of other items..
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Lookin good! Dang, those are nice Paul. You almost have to get these from the liquidation market considering the retail cost. Childproof?
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I have been quite fortunate with these, as the 3 I have, I've picked up very cheap, one at £30, one at £50, and this one the most expensive at £120... and free delivery on all of them...
Not Child-proof as such, but both the kids have left home, so it's all good... ;)
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So If i made DYI flat file and put all my rolled poster together with acid free tissue paper in between and laid them at the bottom now (unrolled) and then put a piece of acid free cardboard (or something smooth so as to note cause an impression on the posters) on top of them and then laid all my folded posters now (unfolded) on top in the same manner would that be cool?
Would it be good or bad to have an even pressure on them, on top of the whole system to help flatten them?
thanks
D.
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That set up would totally work in helping to have rolled posters to eventually lay flat. Adding evenly distributed weight would speed up the process but it will still take time, too.
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Don't mix rolled and folded posters, as the rolled one's can pick up the imprint of the folds from the folded ones. Always keep them separate...
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I made a single flat box a few years ago which lives under the bed. Very easy - I used a sheet of 6mm MDF http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-General-Purpose-MDF-Board-6-x-1220-x-2440mm/p/110410 and some pine for the sides (about 20mm x 100mm . The lid is a little larger with a 20mm x 20mm lip. (The finished box is about 36" x 46" x 4" for quads).
Think large flat chocolate box with a lid that just overhangs a little.
Add two handles so that you can 'pull it out' easily.
Don't allow any good posters to come into contact with the MDF or pine.
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Sounds like a great set up and creation, Huey. Did you line your drawer with acid -free tissue or paper of any kind?
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I made a single flat box a few years ago which lives under the bed. Very easy - I used a sheet of 6mm MDF http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-General-Purpose-MDF-Board-6-x-1220-x-2440mm/p/110410 and some pine for the sides (about 20mm x 100mm . The lid is a little larger with a 20mm x 20mm lip. (The finished box is about 36" x 46" x 4" for quads).
Think large flat chocolate box with a lid that just overhangs a little.
Add two handles so that you can 'pull it out' easily.
Don't allow any good posters to come into contact with the MDF or pine.
Got any pics? I've been planning doing something similar for awhile now. Wasn't sure what was the best wood to use though. I think I read somewhere that Cedar was good...
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No, but none of the stored posters come in to contact with the box. At the bottom I have about 5 unwanted quads, and all the other posters are on top of them, with inches to spare all around.
Sounds like a great set up and creation, Huey. Did you line your drawer with acid -free tissue or paper of any kind?
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I have a pic, it shows the box with the lid up on its side. This was when I first made it, so not many posters in there at that time. What look like hinges in the photo are actually the handles (Ikea kitchen handles!) - the top is not attached.
Got any pics? I've been planning doing something similar for awhile now. Wasn't sure what was the best wood to use though. I think I read somewhere that Cedar was good...
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Looks nicely constructed, too. And the "unwanted, quad buffer" in the bottom of the drawer sounds like a good idea and way to keep the collection from making contact with the wood.
And thanks for posting the pic!
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I have a pic, it shows the box with the lid up on its side. This was when I first made it, so not many posters in there at that time. What look like hinges in the photo are actually the handles (Ikea kitchen handles!) - the top is not attached.
Huey, that looks like a tidy job. Is the lid pine as well?
Marc
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The lid (and base) are 6mm MDF - the lid is larger than the base, with a 20mm run of pine around the edge, acting as a lip.
Huey, that looks like a tidy job. Is the lid pine as well?
Marc
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So the one I moved into the Garage is now filled with new stuff only...
(http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p501/PaulWaines/game%20pics/IMG_0020_zpsnhj4bbfl.jpg) (http://s1153.photobucket.com/user/PaulWaines/media/game%20pics/IMG_0020_zpsnhj4bbfl.jpg.html)
(http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/p501/PaulWaines/game%20pics/IMG_0021_zpstbxrybop.jpg) (http://s1153.photobucket.com/user/PaulWaines/media/game%20pics/IMG_0021_zpstbxrybop.jpg.html)
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So i am just now starting to put things in my flat file--finally. And that means NEW QUESTIONS! Ugh! How do you keep previously rolled items FLAT in the flat files? i am having a LOT of trouble with that. Thanks!
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So i am just now starting to put things in my flat file--finally. And that means NEW QUESTIONS! Ugh! How do you keep previously rolled items FLAT in the flat files? i am having a LOT of trouble with that. Thanks!
Might be best to unroll the posters and then press them under some weight for a while before trying to put them in the drawers?
Ive read, too, that some people reverse roll them for a period of time and that this can help ease up the curl.
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Maybe a flat sheet of acrylic/perspex to weigh the stack in the drawer down
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Discussed here too:
http://www.allposterforum.com/index.php/topic,9356.0.html
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A few thoughts from someone who owns 8 flat file cabinets.
1. Do not mix rolled posters and folded posters in the flat file. They do not like each other. One drawer for each.
2. 27x41in US OS posters align perfectly on top of each other. I can stack up to 350 in one drawer, no plastic bags needed. Folds will attenuate over time.
3. Rolled posters live in tubes. That's where they thrive. You can just add them one inside the other until your tube is full. You can usually put 40-50 posters per tubes. I keep my tubes vertical to avoid waving.
4. Try to keep posters of the same size together... ie. German A1 together, French medium together, Italian locandinas together, etc. Do not mix them up. It will prevent posters from impressing into each other.
T
And how often do they need to be watered? ;D
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MORE questions! Okay---for the file, I know I keep folded and flat/rolled separate, but do I just unfold and layout the folded posters on top of each other? Do I need to line up the fold lines? Do I need something in between each poster (i.e. acid-free tissue paper or something like that)? If so, where can I buy the proper size in bulk? THANKS
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I would actually press them flat beforehand such that they lie so flat that the folds arent even an issue. Like investing in some foamcore boards maybe 12 and putting a single folded poster in between and letting some set for a while under a good bit of weight. Then your flat file wile hold more and they will always be perfectly flat.
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Flatten EVERYTHING? This is going to take forever... THANK YOU though.
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Flatten EVERYTHING? This is going to take forever... THANK YOU though.
Maybe it is bad advice...but I already gave some bad advice this week about backing a folded NOES quad so I think I got giving out bad advice out of my system for now ha ha. :-X.
I used foam core with some quads and they are perfectly flat.
I too feel your pain. So many that the task feels impossible. You have so many cool ones. Maybe do just flatten some of the better folded ones. And for rolled ones you can sneak several between foamcore or a hard surface and weigh them down really well for a few weeks. Hard to get enough weight on them inside the drawers sometimes.
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Shawn i would think that many of your more vintage (those not on glossy, slightly firmer paper) will begin to relax and lay flat once you unfold them and lay them in the drawers. The paper is more relaxed and "soft" (for lack of a better word) to begin with.
And the added weight of those on top will only speed up that flattening process, Im thinking.
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Thank you, JASON and JEFF. Do I need the acid-free tissue paper between each poster? That will be another small fortune. I'm starting to dig through my rolled posters now---some awesome treasures here and there (and a lot of junk...and others that are ruined. Waaagh!). Once I go through everything, see what I have, condense it down, etc. I hope to "thin out the herd" a bit. (Well, a LOT.) But thank you so much for your help.
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Thank you, JASON and JEFF.
Do I need the acid-free tissue paper between each poster? That will be another small fortune. I'm starting to dig through my rolled posters now---some awesome treasures here and there (and a lot of junk...and others that are ruined. Waaagh!). Once I go through everything, see what I have, condense it down, etc. I hope to "thin out the herd" a bit. (Well, a LOT.) But thank you so much for your help.
I think you may receive various POV on this question, Shawn. Some collectors do this and others don't see it as all that critical (based on posts I've read here on the forum).
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Well, I ordered a bunch. (An expense I don't need now, but...). I'll use what I get for my better stuff and then, when I'm out, the other stuff can fend for itself. EEK!(I know I'll end up buying more...ARGH.) Thanks!
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I also went ahead and am trying the micropaper Darian was talking about (just saw his thread about this):
Microchamber paper:
https://www.bagsunlimited.com/product/7408/microchamber-paper
Do you think that if I put the paper behind my framed posters in the frames with the foamcore boards that are NOT acid-free, it would help me from having to replace all of the foamcore? Hmm.
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It sounds like it would act as a bit of a barrier, so I'm thinking that it certainly couldn't hurt.
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It might just be less expensive to linen back every poster you own. Nice and flat that way.
laugh1
That microchamber paper can get expensive. I use it on the comics I collect and they recommend 3 sheets per comic covering the whole page, One inside the front cover, one in the center and one inside the back cover. All cut to the size of the comic (I think CGC uses these in the comics they grade before finally sealing them). I don't know if a small sheet would protect a poster from a "non-acid neutral" foam core board. The microchamber paper is kind of used in comics (so I've heard) to help leach out and trap the gasses the paper releases and to help halt any further deterioration.
The comics also, get stored in Mylar and with an acid neutral board in each. So hopefully that collection of mine is as good as it will ever be.
It would be crazy to try to store each poster in Mylar. Just too expensive. Although that would help the flattening issue.
So maybe linen backing is your best bet after all (as long as you steer as far away from Posterfix as possible)? mesmrized
Also, I've heard that some flat files have tops over the drawers to prevent papers from curling and getting caught when the drawers are opened and shut. (I can imagine this in my head as I've seen similar things on a smaller scale). So maybe you could just get some really thin plastic to lay across the top of the drawer in lieu of them having an "anti-curl" cover built in?
I am so going to build some of these in the near future. All of this flat file talk has got me hyped up about having a few for myself. And I can't wait to try to build them exactly how I imagine would benefit poster collectors.
Let's see... That will be #999 on my list of things to do now. ;D
I can't wait to hear what you decided to do and how it all turns out! Good luck!
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...It would be crazy to try to store each poster in Mylar. Just too expensive. Although that would help the flattening issue.
It depends how you use it. 95% of my collection (around 3000 posters) is stored flat in mylar but some pockets have up to 25 low-value posters within them. There is nothing that beats a combination of mylar pockets and plan chests in my opinion.
Mark
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Shawn, what Jason says is correct, do flatten them. It don't take as long as you think, and it's not a one at a time kind of thing, I do up to maybe 20 at once for a couple of days, then the next batch...
As for anything between, I never bother. I keep any poster with stains, etc away from the heard, other than that just bung them in. You will always get a slight rise where folds are in the pile, but over time it helps flatten them more. I do find people can be quite obsessive with paper, but bear in mind these have lasted tens of years without our help...
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Can someone post a link to a foamcore board that can be used for flatting posters? I can't seem to find one that is the right size, they all seem a bit small. I only need 2 also, any help appreciated.
thanks
D.
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Can someone post a link to a foamcore board that can be used for flatting posters? I can't seem to find one that is the right size, they all seem a bit small. I only need 2 also, any help appreciated.
thanks
D.
Darian,
Are you storing your posters in a flat file? Just my opinion, but if you are only looking to flatten, consider magnets. If you are stacking, many collectors stack posters on posters.
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hello,
I don't have a flat file but it's a large archival museum box made for posters that allows you to store them flat. I have about 100 posters all on top of each other with the once rolled ones on the very bottom. I don't have any weight on top on them but, the posters at the bottom are getting the weight of the others on top. I rotate the posters position in the stack a little to try and even them out. I'm just looking for a better way to get them flat.
thanks
D
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I don't use the microchamber paper, but rather plain unbuffered, acid free tissue paper in between. It's still not cheap (12qty 30x40" for b/w $10 & $12), but fairly cheaper than the aforementioned alternative.
I don't know if it's better or worse, or how much it actually does, but it gives my type-A warm fuzzies, so I roll with it.
You can find it on Amazon here: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KNPLLU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KNPLLU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
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YOU are AWESOME for the link. THANK YOU!
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YOU are AWESOME for the link. THANK YOU!
Happy to help! thumbsup.gif
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hello,
I don't have a flat file but it's a large archival museum box made for posters that allows you to store them flat. I have about 100 posters all on top of each other with the once rolled ones on the very bottom. I don't have any weight on top on them but, the posters at the bottom are getting the weight of the others on top. I rotate the posters position in the stack a little to try and even them out. I'm just looking for a better way to get them flat.
thanks
D
Might I suggest a piece of acrylic then? It's just as thin as foam core but considerably more dense so it should work better for flattening. And its transparent to boot 8)
Several years back I started to keep all my framing scraps to use for flattening. Mostly odds and ends but you can arrange them easily and get the folds sufficiently pressed.
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My 6 flat file cabinets are completely full. And I mean full of Italian and French paper. Heavy stuff. Right now, I have them stacked up two by two, so 10 drawers x3. I just ordered 3 new cabinets and plan on stacking them up on top on the others, so each of the 3 stacks will have 15 drawers (45 total.)
I think Dale said it was fine, but does anyone know how many cabinets of 5 drawers can be on top of each other. Is 3 okay, even completely full?
T
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My 6 flat file cabinets are completely full. And I mean full of Italian and French paper. Heavy stuff. Right now, I have them stacked up two by two, so 10 drawers x3. I just ordered 3 new cabinets and plan on stacking them up on top on the others, so each of the 3 stacks will have 15 drawers (45 total.)
I think Dale said it was fine, but does anyone know how many cabinets of 5 drawers can be on top of each other. Is 3 okay, even completely full?
T
That's probably thousands of pounds in a very small space. Sounds like you need to talk to a structural engineer!
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Don't forget you'll need one of these for easy access
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQy6OW2TKCk09RRf9pvPSzmrgNLb7ChYGPc-0AyfAgj2OegEpR_mQ)
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15 drawers high is very accessible. Past that, yes, I might need a crane ;)
And the total weight is fine. It's sitting on concrete. I'm more concerned about the bottom cabinet.
T
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Well, back in the day when we actually did physical engineering drawings, it was common to stack 4 high. We would fill them, but it was generally vellum which weighs a lot less.
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Thanks Jay.
Yeah, I just called Mayline (the manufacturer) and they said 3 flat files on top of each other is fine. Basically no more than 500 pounds per flat file. 100 pounds per drawer. So 1,500 pounds would be the limit. It was super heavy moving those suckers drawer by drawer a year ago, but I don't think the drawers were more than 100 pounds, even filled with French paper.
Yeah, 15 more drawers coming tomorrow!!! That gives me a few more years worth of collecting.
woohoo
T
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Thanks Jay.
Yeah, I just called Mayline (the manufacturer) and they said 3 flat files on top of each other is fine. Basically no more than 500 pounds per flat file. 100 pounds per drawer. So 1,500 pounds would be the limit. It was super heavy moving those suckers drawer by drawer a year ago, but I don't think the drawers were more than 100 pounds, even filled with French paper.
Yeah, 15 more drawers coming tomorrow!!! That gives me a few more years worth of collecting.
woohoo
T
thumbsup.gif
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I wish I'd got the room for just one :(
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Delivered and ready to be filled :) I'm ready to start collecting.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4373/37074230642_4318e4ab65_z.jpg)
T
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Damn T - that is awesome!
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whats up with the color scheme? Do you sort by shades of beige? ;D
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Yeah, it's a fun little set up. You should see what's on the other side. Tubes galore. All perfectly organized because that's the only way I know how to collect. I calculated that my current setup allows me to store about 25,000 posters :). So I'm not quite done yet. Hahaha... so sick.
T
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whats up with the color scheme? Do you sort by shades of beige? ;D
You know, that's actually not a bad idea. Maybe I should organize my collection by the color of the cabinet. Omg, I can't even deal with it. It would take forever.
T
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Looks like it will be impossible to clean the insides of the windows... Yeah, less house work!
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Just bought 2 more flat files. #10 and 11. That's 55 drawers of folded movie posters. Rolled ones are somewhere else.
Collection is expending.
T
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Wow. Impressive. That is a lot of weight.
It looks like they are on a concrete slab in your garage which should easily support the load distributed over the base flat files.
Being in CA, are you doing anything to protect the flat files from seismic events? If the earth starts a-shaking, they could potentially slide off the top of the stack. Are they affixed or anchored to any structure or tethered?
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Yeah, I moved since that picture was taken. They are still on concrete though.
And no, I haven't done anything re: earthquakes. To be honest, I have been living in Southern Cal since college, some 20+ years, and I have yet to experience anything of consequence. Not saying it won't happen, but it is so seldom.
What I did though is remove 500 of my most pricey posters and they are now stored in a climate controlled storage facility. Posters like Vertigo, Rear Window, Laura, etc... I still have some quality posters at the house, but nothing that would be hard to replace. Well, a few ;) I'm much closer to the beach, so I was a little concerned with humidity, but it's a non issue, though. I would be much more panicked if I was living in Florida.
T
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I need some flat file drawers. I cannot find these anywhere for a good price.
EVERYWHERE i look in the UK they are £300 plus >:(
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I need some flat file drawers. I cannot find these anywhere for a good price.
EVERYWHERE i look in the UK they are £300 plus >:(
For ebay UK, I had success with the term 'plan chest' as a saved search...then waited for the right one to come along. I used www.shiply.com to get mine delivered quite cheaply from a seller that was miles away. If you bide your time, you should be able to get one for less than £300
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A0-Plan-Chest-6-Drawer-Architect-Map-Poster-/183991244836?hash=item2ad6bb9824%3Ag%3Ag%7EIAAOSwPsFdoG6t&nma=true&si=R3ROzTwQ7BPrfJV03My%252Fux8Wog4%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Drawing-Plan-6-Drawer-Chest-A0-Used-25-years-Old-129cm-x-95cm-x-83cm-H/163935910092?hash=item262b5778cc:g:JJEAAOSwcDBdxWRF
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For ebay UK, I had success with the term 'plan chest' as a saved search...then waited for the right one to come along. I used www.shiply.com to get mine delivered quite cheaply from a seller that was miles away. If you bide your time, you should be able to get one for less than £300
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A0-Plan-Chest-6-Drawer-Architect-Map-Poster-/183991244836?hash=item2ad6bb9824%3Ag%3Ag%7EIAAOSwPsFdoG6t&nma=true&si=R3ROzTwQ7BPrfJV03My%252Fux8Wog4%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Drawing-Plan-6-Drawer-Chest-A0-Used-25-years-Old-129cm-x-95cm-x-83cm-H/163935910092?hash=item262b5778cc:g:JJEAAOSwcDBdxWRF
Tob,
How much was the shipping through shiply?
Thanks for the heads up on the search help.
Marc
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Tob,
How much was the shipping through shiply?
Thanks for the heads up on the search help.
Marc
I live down South and the flatfile I bought was up in the North East...it was £60 for delivery which I thought was reasonable considering the distance/size (it was an A0 ten drawer flat file). Shiply works by you posting your job, then receiving quotes from various drivers - so it can vary a bit depending on availability/distance/mainstream locations etc. If you spot a flat file you like in a far off location, perhaps get the Shiply quote first before bidding/buying it.
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I was looking for one on eBay for a couple of years, trying to get the right size, style etc. In the end I found one on Facebook marketplace. I also found that second hand office furniture shops occasionally have plan chests too.
I will agree with Tob on using Shipley. Mine was picked up from Cornwall and delivered to London for £60. Considering it weighs 175Kg I thought that was a pretty good deal.
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Yeah, I moved since that picture was taken. They are still on concrete though.
And no, I haven't done anything re: earthquakes. To be honest, I have been living in Southern Cal since college, some 20+ years, and I have yet to experience anything of consequence. Not saying it won't happen, but it is so seldom.
What I did though is remove 500 of my most pricey posters and they are now stored in a climate controlled storage facility. Posters like Vertigo, Rear Window, Laura, etc... I still have some quality posters at the house, but nothing that would be hard to replace. Well, a few ;) I'm much closer to the beach, so I was a little concerned with humidity, but it's a non issue, though. I would be much more panicked if I was living in Florida.
T
You said that you moved. I'm interested in how you moved your paper in the flat files. Did you leave stuff in the files during the move? I have some stored this way and will be moving (again) next summer. I honestly wish I had not put anything in the files and left everything in tubes or boxes because the thought of moving the paper our of the files is daunting.
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You said that you moved. I'm interested in how you moved your paper in the flat files. Did you leave stuff in the files during the move? I have some stored this way and will be moving (again) next summer. I honestly wish I had not put anything in the files and left everything in tubes or boxes because the thought of moving the paper our of the files is daunting.
DO NOT leave anything in there flat files! I had a moving company who did this (insisting they were "professionals") and it ended up in disaster; suffice to say the damages they eventually paid me went somewhere near the down payment on a new house...
Pack the posters separately or let a reputable company do it. There are special "art boxes" which can comfortable fit hundreds of posters flat, or you can simply sandwich the flat posters between large sheets of Plexiglas or plastic.
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what a horror story :o
I wasn't planning to leave them in there, but was curious if anyone had. I would be a nervous wreck imagining that they would tip it on its side.
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I left everything in the flat files and it went smoothly.
A friend of mine came to help, I rented a U-Haul, we moved 45 drawers full of poster crap, it took the entire afternoon, we took the drawers out one after the other, put them back into their respective cases inside the truck, then out again at the new place. Really easy.
I bought him a nice dinner ($300 for 2 with wine, not bad). Super cheap and effective.
Done!!!
T
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what a horror story :o
I wasn't planning to leave them in there, but was curious if anyone had. I would be a nervous wreck imagining that they would tip it on its side.
Hi iojabba, I've slid the drawers out full and put the flat file empty on a moving truck. Then, we loaded the full drawers back into the flat file and strapped it all down. I had a wooden flat file made about 20 years ago that I really like. Okie
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Finally got round to buying one of these A0 size so I can still store with my sleeves , Still haven't loaded it up yet though......
(https://i.imgur.com/5jatMyZ.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/a7tQsy0.jpg)
Got it from ebay, guy had it up for £200 buy it now or bid, Offered him £150 via pm and settled on £160 as I was paying for shipping which was an extra £76 by shiply.
Love it bed1 though it do takes up some space !
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I left everything in the flat files and it went smoothly.
A friend of mine came to help, I rented a U-Haul, we moved 45 drawers full of poster crap, it took the entire afternoon, we took the drawers out one after the other, put them back into their respective cases inside the truck, then out again at the new place. Really easy.
I bought him a nice dinner ($300 for 2 with wine, not bad). Super cheap and effective.
Done!!!
T
Bargain! Although I may be movie across the country, so it may be worth an extra bottle.
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Hi iojabba, I've slid the drawers out full and put the flat file empty on a moving truck. Then, we loaded the full drawers back into the flat file and strapped it all down. I had a wooden flat file made about 20 years ago that I really like. Okie
That definitely sounds like an option for a short trip.
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Bargain! Although I may be movie across the country, so it may be worth an extra bottle.
As long as you get to drink it too, make that two and enjoy.
T
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That's a given
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How many flat files are you taking across country?
T
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only one with 5 drawers. It's actually been converted into a large coffee table. Pretty sure I'm going to pull everything out and sandwich the paper between acrylic or MDF for the move.
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Old thread, but figured I would weigh in on the moving of flat files specifically full-ish ones. First of all, I would NOT trust movers to move a flat file with any poster in it. But when I moved to OK from CA, I had a U-Haul trailer. I custom cut foam core "lids" for each drawer. After putting one of those on top, I then shoved pool noodles in there to keep everything tight and prevent sliding around. A couple of drawers were full enough that I used half pool noodles. I put one on each side edge front to back, 2 supporting between those running front to back, and one in the front runing side to side. I also ran shrink wrap around the whole thing to keep the drawers from trying to slide open. The whole setup cost me about $15 bucks and it worked perfectly. No sliding, no damage.
I actually still use the foam core lids to prevent any damage from opening/closing, and it especially helps for being able to store a rolled poster until it is sufficiently flattened.
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Good idea on the foam core lids, Schan. I'm going to do that if I move again. Okie
Old thread, but figured I would weigh in on the moving of flat files specifically full-ish ones. First of all, I would NOT trust movers to move a flat file with any poster in it. But when I moved to OK from CA, I had a U-Haul trailer. I custom cut foam core "lids" for each drawer. After putting one of those on top, I then shoved pool noodles in there to keep everything tight and prevent sliding around. A couple of drawers were full enough that I used half pool noodles. I put one on each side edge front to back, 2 supporting between those running front to back, and one in the front runing side to side. I also ran shrink wrap around the whole thing to keep the drawers from trying to slide open. The whole setup cost me about $15 bucks and it worked perfectly. No sliding, no damage.
I actually still use the foam core lids to prevent any damage from opening/closing, and it especially helps for being able to store a rolled poster until it is sufficiently flattened.
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A couple of drawers were full enough that I used half pool noodles. I put one on each side edge front to back, 2 supporting between those running front to back, and one in the front runing side to side.
This is good stuff. A little late for me, but I wish I had thought of it. I moved 45 drawers full of posters 2 years ago and spent a couple of months (a little bit here and there) realigning everything. Now, I like everything perfectly aligned, so it probably took me longer than it should, but that little trick from Schan would have helped a lot.
T
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Old thread, but figured I would weigh in on the moving of flat files specifically full-ish ones. First of all, I would NOT trust movers to move a flat file with any poster in it. But when I moved to OK from CA, I had a U-Haul trailer. I custom cut foam core "lids" for each drawer. After putting one of those on top, I then shoved pool noodles in there to keep everything tight and prevent sliding around. A couple of drawers were full enough that I used half pool noodles. I put one on each side edge front to back, 2 supporting between those running front to back, and one in the front runing side to side. I also ran shrink wrap around the whole thing to keep the drawers from trying to slide open. The whole setup cost me about $15 bucks and it worked perfectly. No sliding, no damage.
I actually still use the foam core lids to prevent any damage from opening/closing, and it especially helps for being able to store a rolled poster until it is sufficiently flattened.
I had the same concerns. I took all the drawers out and stacked them. Had the movers setup the bases and then I moved posters for about a week and finally brought the drawers. Still haven’t recovered from that. Just ended throwing them in whatever drawer.
I had mine in sleeves, so one problem was they kept sliding around when I made any attempt. I could see if it was paper on paper but once the poly start slipping - it’s gone. I dropped a stack in one attempt.
(https://vintagemoviepostersforum.com/uploads/editor/05/28cl0fgjho9z.jpeg)
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Charlie, I'm wondering if it's less painful for you to drop the stack or the movers? What a haunting moment for a collector! Okie
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This picture was posted a few years ago.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51364536778_5536608bab_o.jpg)
My setup has changed quite a bit. I moved a few flat files to a climate controlled storage facility (along w a few other things of value) and filled them w my most expensive stuff. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say. Then I had to buy a few more flat files to replace the ones that I moved.
I think I will probably do a yearly visit to the storage place (or maybe every other year), add whatever I care about to the flat file there and keep the cheaper stuff at home.
T
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Nice looking stacks, T! How many file drawers do you have for your collection? If there's a coveted no-prize (like Marvel Comics awarded in the old days) for guessing closest to the number, my guess is 101. Best, Okie
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That's an old picture, Okie, but I think 60? 101 would be difficult since they come in 5s :)
T
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Hi T, I wasn't even close as I was thinking each individual drawer. That means you are around 300 individual drawers at 5 drawers x 60 stacks. Boy, was I way off or what?! Okie
That's an old picture, Okie, but I think 60? 101 would be difficult since they come in 5s :)
T
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Hahaha No, 60 drawers, Okie.
T