I've come across another option for removing CDs from their jewel cases.
I was looking for something as thin as possible to permanently store the
discs and all their associated insert materials as archival backups,
with the likelihood that I will never access most of them ever again.
(My collection of about 1000 CDs is all digitized for multiple
Squeezeboxes and iPods. These days, I might look at a couple of CD
inserts a month, and the only CDs I've played in months have been a few
brand new ones that I played in my car before I digitized them.)

"Jewel Sleeves" would have been ideal, except for their price of $0.40
apiece, or $400 for 1000 pieces. The JazzLoft.com sleeves are more
reasonably priced at $0.15 each, and look like an excellent solution if
you still want frequent access to your CDs. But the four layers of 4 mil
plastic in the JazzLoft sleeves seemed bulkier than was necessary for my
purposes.

Then I discovered the super thin (1-2 mil) mylar plastic resealable
sleeves used to protect entire CDs in their jewel cases. Turns out that
they're ideal for minimalist storage without the jewel case. Everything
fits nicely in these mylar sleeves, including one or two discs, the
front booklet, and the rear insert with the flaps folded out flat. They
can still go on a shelf with the text on the flaps easily visible just
by running your fingers across them. They take up even less space than
the JazzLoft sleeves. If you're worried (I'm not) about the CD surface
touching the mylar or printed materials, you can always put the discs
in super cheap paper sleeves before putting them in the mylar. For
mini-LP style cardboard CD covers, the whole thing fits inside the
mylar, helping preserve the cardboard from degradation. And the best
part is that the mylar sleeves are quite inexpensive. At Sleevetown.com
for example, 500 of them sell for $18 (less than $0.04 each) plus
shipping. Sleevetown even notes "This sleeve may also be used to store
the entire contents of a typical jewel case including back tray card
and booklet for perfectly flat storage." (See "Resealable Mylar Single
Outer" at http://www.sleevetown.com/plastic-cd-sleeves.shtml).

For me, it seems like the best solution I've encountered thus far. I've
experimented with a few I already have around, and I have a large
quantity order on the way. If it all works out, I'll be hauling a
couple hundred pounds of jewel case plastic to my local recycling
collection facility.


-- 
TiredLegs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=80369

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