The Sinclair QL Forum

Over the last few years I've been collecting all the systems I had as a teenager (Atari 2600, ZX80/81, C64, ZX Spectrums, QL, TI-99/4a) along with a lot of software (on Cartridges, Microdrives, Cassette Tapes, Floppy disks) and various books and the like

However I've decided I need to put most, if not all of it, into medium to long term storage (I'll use a MacBook & MIST.1010 for emulations and maybe keep 1 QL available) while I continue to be a 24/7 carer

But I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how best to preserve everything in storage please? (initially it will be indoors, but may have to go to a storage unit for a short time in the future)

I'm intending to purchase a load of large stackable plastic boxes with lids. I guess I should use moisture bags (or whatever they are called) and obviously I'll keep anything with a magnet well away from magnetic media

But I have concerns about polystyrene burn (as all my systems have original boxes) so am planning to put cables and other stuff in separate plastic boxes but don't know if I should wrap the the systems (like ZX80/C64) in something to protect them from the polystyrene or is that likely to make things worse? Should I then seal the boxes in plastic to protect them or is that more likely to cause damage to the boxes/contents from moisture/etc please?

Basically am wondering if anyone has any tips and do's or don'ts I should follow please?

I'll probably sell and/or give away any duplicates (or anything I no longer want, like a TheC64Maxi) to reduce the amount of storage I need

Many thanks in advance for any thoughts

Polyethylene provides sufficient protection from polystyrene deterioration.
Just place everything into poyethylene bags and polyethylene zip bags, including cables, which are very sensitive to contact with polystyrene.
Then You can place it all into original polystyrene/paper boxes very safely.

dex wrote: Mon Nov 18, 2024 5:31 pm Polyethylene provides sufficient protection from polystyrene deterioration.
Just place everything into poyethylene bags and polyethylene zip bags, including cables, which are very sensitive to contact with polystyrene.
Then You can place it all into original polystyrene/paper boxes very safely.

So would polythene “cling film” be a good choice for odd shaped items (to better fit in the polystyrene) please?

Yes.
It is a bit thiner than usual polyethylene bag, but several layers will do it.

If I had to put something computers into long-term storage, I would try and avoid putting plastics of unknown origin into direct contact with each other - This can lead to nasty inter-reactions. Don't put computer parts directly in plastic bags, use a thin layer of, for example, paper (not the newspaper printed type, of course, but rather acid-free wrapping tissue, for example) to wrap the parts before you put them in a plastic bag.

This is useful information. Although I was vaguely aware of issues placing some items in polystyrene for a long time, I'd never fully realised the problem. Great as ever to have information like this shared on the Forum.

Thanks all. I’ll probably leave packing things up until the new year, but will take all this on board

Many thanks