Record storage - do you remove the shrink wrap?

Hi,

I bought good quality plastic bags to store my records in. I am just wondering is there an argument for removing all your records from their shrink wrapping - given that they would be stored in plastic?

I know after a certain age the shrink wrap can actually harden and stick to the LP casing.

Advice would be appreciated.

Noochieboochies
Hi,

I bought good quality plastic bags to store my records in. I am just wondering is there an argument for removing all your records from their shrink wrapping - given that they would be stored in plastic?

I know after a certain age the shrink wrap can actually harden and stick to the LP casing.

Advice would be appreciated.

I leave it on the sleeve. If properly stored, the shrinkwrap will not affect your covers.

Having said that, I recently bought a record at a thriftstore and the shrinkwrap didn't look like anything you want on a sleeve. I took it off and I just stayed on this side of acceptable.

Funny thing is, whenever I have a problem like this, you can bet your bottom Dollar (or whatever) that this is a used item from unknown sources.

I remove the shrink wrap.

When the shrink wrap has become dirty, scuffed, sticky, incomplete.
It has stickers/price tag that ruin seeing the art work in full glory.
In case I need to take a clear picture of it.
When it has a fold out sleeve.
When a shrink wrap shrinking in cold could warp the whole thing.
In other cases I leave it on as extra protection.

I always remove the shrink wrap. I've picked up used records in the thrifts that have the shrink still on them and oftentimes they're yellowed and brittle. I cut out any hype stickers on them and tape those to index cards that I then tuck into the plastic outer sleeve of the album.

trachi
I remove the shrink wrap.

Always

In over 50 years of collecting I have almost never been sorry to have left it on. Only exception I found was some of the UK imports (I am in US) in the '70's had sleeves that were quite flimsy and tightly wrapped shrink seemed to put the sleeve corners under stress. In those cases I removed the wrap. Just considered it another layer of protection.

Noochieboochies
I am just wondering is there an argument for removing all your records from their shrink wrapping - given that they would be stored in plastic?

IMO a better question to ask is whether there is an argument NOT to remove the shrink wrap. The only reason I can see is to preserve stickers, but usually (at least with recent releases), you can just peel the shrink wrap off the sticker and then put the sticker on a plastic sleeve. If you can't manage to peel the shrink wrap off without damaging the sticker, or if the sticker isn't sufficiently sticky anymore when you do, you can just use some glue to put it on the plastic sleeve.

For me a far bigger issue would be keeping, but replacing the paper inners. I generally leave the shrink intact with an opening to access the records. 50 + years of success.

Always off. I like the light usage the covers get from my use, and in my opinion look much better without it.

After finding a used 1967 Canadian Surrealistic Pillow opened but still with the shrink wrap, i loved the cover condition, it looks new, so now i am leaving the shrink on my new record buys. And i always use a quality inner sleeve and an outside sleeve.

EzraZebra
The only reason I can see is to preserve stickers

Nearly. Bootleg LPs, those with not a full printed sleeve but with a loose stencilled sheet,
(an inner -not so sticker called- one ;-) letting the shrink wrap on to hold it in place.
And that kind of black sleeves that hold finger prints forever once touched.
I have still sealed LPs I only play the files of.

Always remove the shrink wrap, it is evil. Sometimes it keeps shrinking, warping the sleeve ... sometimes it reacts with the print and colours of the artwork, an unholy union, removing it then rips pieces from the sleeve ...

... sometimes it reacts with the print and colours of the artwork,
an unholy union, removing it then rips pieces from the sleeve ...

I never had that problem Parysatis but thanks for the tip.

moonhazle Then you are lucky.

Here is the release, which really got badly damaged by the shrink wrap:
Stranger - Rolling Thunder

The sleeve is glossy, the glossy finish and the shrink wrap ed. When I removed the shrink wrap, which had already began to warp the sleeve, it ruined the glossy finish and some colour came off as well. Lesson learned: If you see shrink wrap, kill it with fire.

My oldest in factory shrink looks perfect 54 years later.
https://www.discogs.sitioby.com/release/2660452-ZZ-Top-ZZ-Tops-First-Album

Resurrecting this thread to share my recent experience with factory sealed shrinkwrap on a record.

A few days ago at the local HPB, I bought a brand new Doors record (LA Woman repress) still sealed in the shrink. When I was debating buying it, I did notice that the shrink was so tight on the cover that it bowed it a little bit. I didn't think it was bad enough to affect the record, so I bought it.

Got it home and carefully opened the record but left the shrink intact. I always wipe down even brand new vinyl because it can sometimes have dusty bits on it, and while cleaning it I noticed that it felt like it was warped. One side even felt like it was dish-warped. I put it on the turntable and it was HORRIBLY warped and completely unplayable.

I ended up taking it back to HPB today and getting my money back. I told the manager it was warped and showed her how the cellophane had bowed the cover, so she said she'd have their record guy go through the other records to make sure they didn't have any others that were like that.

Bamboozlepig
I always remove the shrink wrap. I've picked up used records in the thrifts that have the shrink still on them and oftentimes they're yellowed and brittle. I cut out any hype stickers on them and tape those to index cards that I then tuck into the plastic outer sleeve of the album.

^^^ THIS!! 100%

Yes.
Here in the UK in record shops albums were never shrink wrapped. I never encountered shrink wrapping until I started buying online.
I always remove and bin the shrink wrap and cut off any hype stickers and keep them inside the sleeve.