As I mentioned in another thread, I have a pile of loot in my Joe room sitting unopened. The cause for this is because we're trying to find a new house and move. However, we've been looking for some time (close to a year now, and still no prospects. So much for it being a buyer's market.) so I'm in kind of limbo, where I get stuff but cannot open it. Right now, I'm frankly embarrassed by my collection room.

I'm thinking about getting some rubbermaid type containers, packets of dessicant, and loads of gorilla tape to box a lot of it up and store it in our shed. The concern for me is that the shed is not climate controlled and I've no idea how long they'd sit in it. Temps around here can range from -5F to 105F, depending on the season, and humidity is a hostile wench.

So my questions are: For those who've had to store their stuff for extended periods, did most of it make it through okay? Did any of it become dry and brittle or tacky and rubbery? Do you have any tips on how to store it to minimize potential temp/humidity change damage?

A few years ago I pulled my old toys out of my parents attic. The Joe stuff was in cardboard boxes and the temp also would range greatly (central Wisconsin). For the most part everthing came out great. Stickers were in perfect shape with the exception of the helo pad on the battle platform. I don't know if I got lucky or what. My collection now resides in my basement in clear plastic totes with the handles that snap the lids in place. Everything seems to be staying fine, but I don't know if they would handle the heat like cardboard did. In the basement I'm more worried about moisture. I'm not sure if moisture control packs would be worth the investment, but the new plastics may react differently to humidity.

If you put them in that shed, you can kiss half your o-rings good-bye. The constant contracting and relaxing of the rubber will cause the rubber to eventually snap.

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Thanks, guys. As far as the dessicant, I'm thinking of it more for the stuff that's still in package, just to help keep the cardboard from drawing moisture and going moldy. With the O-rings, it'll be a pain for them to break, but it's not a big deal to replace them, and I've got enough of them on-hand I shouldn't have to buy more.

I wouldn't worry TOO much about the backer boards. I store them in magazine bags with a board to preserve the rigidity of the card itself. Then, I seal them and store them in a magazine/comic box. The mold issue I guess I would worry about if these are being stored in an outdoor shed, with the rain, humidity, and heat coming and going. Is boxing the stuff up and storing it around the house in various closets an option? Or perhaps hitting up mom and dad for some garage space?

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Unfortunately, it's an outdoor shed, and mom and dad's place doesn't have any better storage. I've thought about putting them in our garage, and may do that with some of the stuff I want to make sure is okay, but I don't want to fill our garage. I'm really hoping I'll get lucky and we'll finally find the right place before too long. If our place had a little more acreage and/or wasn't quite as old as it is (she wants a newer model), I'd do some major work on it.

Actually, I just thought of something. We've a smaller shed on our property that is currently just full of lumber from various projects I have going on. I may try to finish it out and put some sort of climate control in it. Then, problem solved. Plus, it'll help add to the property value, as the shed could then be used as an office.

Is strongly suggest putting the loose items in the shed, and the MOC/MIB stuff in closets or in the garage. Worse case scenario, youll have to clean up the loose stuff from any filth that works its way in, and the MOC/MIB stuff will be as safe as possible, unless silverfish get to them.

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Thanks, I wasn't even thinking of destructive critters, but that's a good point. Plus side of the smaller shed: It's sided with asbestos, so it's fireproof!

I may be able to scrounge up some space for the MOC/MIB stuff, then the loose can go out to the shed. I'll probably put the stuff that's to-be-opened-but-still-sealed in the shed, with some dessicant. I don't care so much if the packaging gets destroyed on some of it, I just don't want it hosting some mold and stuff that'll latch onto the contents making them a pain to clean.
Any suggestions on which storage containers seem better? Ie, which ones hold more for their size, which ones aren't as likely to have leaching agents in them, etc?

Sterilite containers are cheaper but become brittle in no time under adverse conditions. Rubbermaid is the way to go, especially when Target has a sale.

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Thanks. I saw some nice Rubbermaid ones made to slide under a bed or something like that that I think would be good for holding stuff without stacking things too deep inside (for easier unpacking later). May have to pick some up.

Beware of rodents and insects. My parents tucked my vintage vehicles into their loft of their workshop. I ended up with half-eaten, roach pooped on vehicles that I was only able to salvage a few pieces out of. Still my Nylint diecast trucks remained clean in their attic. If only parents know what we know.

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I just went through this this past Spring. I got almost everything into Big rubbermaid tubs, including 90% of the Flagg. I'm talking a TON of stuff too. (see picture). I then found the closet in the house that would attract the least amount of attention, and put it all in there. I have one really heavy wooen unti full of figures that I left in the room with the figures on it. The only risk there was if the hosue was showing and there were kids, they could swipe one. I only left stuff on that one that was easily/cheaply replaceable. What I could not fit, I had a fellow toy collector keep at his house. Which wasn't much, and stuff that I wasn't too worried about (like VvV stuff)
Something to keep in mind is, no one really looks in every closet when the realtor is showing the house. The closet I put most this stuff was the one under the staircase leading to the basement.
It sat this way from the time we started getting the house ready to the time it sold (jan-May 1st). I ended up with a broken antenna off the battle barge and about 20 figures that needed a new o-ring.
the best tubs were gray ones with wheels by rubbermaid. I'm 5"7 and I could just about sit in one. They were around $20 each.

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