Why Inner Sleeves Are A Non-Negotiable For Collectors
Every record collector aims to preserve the appearance and sound quality of their vinyl. But removing the shrink wrap opens the door to dust, moisture, and gradual deterioration.
So, how do you fight back and keep your records pristine?
The Answer: High Quality Inner Sleeves
Most LPs will come with a paper inner sleeve, which makes a good attempt at stopping dust from coming into contact with the record. However, 12” and 7” singles often only come with an outer sleeve, leaving them more vulnerable to damage, because they are less protected. Often due to this lack of protection, the record quality can quickly decrease, making the records sound static, or creating crackling/popping noises as the record is played. To best protect all of your records, we recommend that they are all housed in inner sleeves.
I already have the paper inner sleeves my records came with, why do I need anti-static inners?
As paper ages, it starts to fall apart. Even in modern records, we see glossy paper inner sleeves with tearing at the sides, exposing the record to the elements. Paper is a non-durable substance, which means that it cannot protect your record in the way that you want it to. Over time, paper can break down, leaving dust on your records, which can be a contributor to the staticky sound that many older records have that have been stored in paper inner sleeves for a long time.
In addition, paper is incredibly porous, which means that any moisture that gets inside the sleeve will be trapped there, making the inside of the sleeve a perfect place for damp to grow. Once a record starts to grow damp, it can lodge itself in the grooves of the record and be incredibly difficult to remove. This can severely affect the sound quality of the record, making it highly undesirable due to its aesthetics and sound.
As a record collector, you want to be able to keep and play your records for many years to come, which means they should be adequately protected. Your records are an investment to be cherished, so giving them protection so they can be enjoyed for years to come should be an investment too. In order to give your records the best protection possible, the best inner sleeves to use are ones made from rice paper and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), because of their durability, which means that they won’t break down or trap moisture, resulting in a better-protected record.
The inner sleeves we sell are archival quality, providing the best protection for your record collection so you can continue to enjoy your records at their best for years to come.
Inner Sleeves At Atlas Records
What about paper sleeves with an anti-static lining?
Lots of releases will have come with a paper sleeve that has an anti-static lining, which is pretty good, but still not quite up there with an anti-static rice paper sleeve.
These sleeves tend to be made from a regular paper sleeve on the outside, with an anti-static lining stuck to the inside. This means that the paper is still vulnerable to the elements, which can break down over time or attract and trap moisture. The other issue we encounter with this style of sleeve is the anti-static lining coming unstuck from the paper, making it impossible to take the record in and out of the sleeve carefully.
On an older record, simply the age of the inner tends to be reason enough to replace it, as it will have seen decades of wear and tear and will no longer be fit for protecting your records.
What is our process here at Atlas Records?
When we process a record, we separate the record from its original inner and outer sleeve, thoroughly clean the record and house it in a brand new HDPE/rice paper inner sleeve. We highly recommend that when you buy our products, you keep the record in this sleeve to give it the best chance at longevity. Storing your records in HDPE/rice paper sleeves will not only keep them clean, but also protected, as they are soft enough not to damage the record while they are being stored.
Regardless of whether a record flies off the shelf the moment it comes onto the website, or whether it has been in our stock for years, the record will not have deteriorated because of the high-quality nature of the inner sleeves we use.
Anti-static archival rice paper inner sleeves are a must-have for any collector who wishes to keep their collection in the best condition possible. If you would like to protect your records in the same way that we do, why not pick up some of our archival inner sleeves?
