Picking out a vinyl storage system for your beloved record collection can be as hard as picking out the albums themselves. Every audiophile seems to have strong opinions regarding the best way to store records, and exchanges involving these opinions can quickly become quite heated. No one single solution would work for every single vinyl collector, which makes this an even more complicated question to answer. Chances are that you’ll need something custom-tailored to your specific situation.
Depending on the type of records you collect, you might be fine using reclaimed boxes or crates. Make sure that you clean them out before using them to store albums. Even the slightest amount of grime can eventually start to stick to the jackets of the records you put in them. It’s almost impossible to clean them off once this starts to happen. Fortunately, it shouldn’t be too hard to find clean pieces to work with that would be perfect for whatever you collect. Keep in mind that long-playing records will naturally take up quite a bit more room than 45s or 78s would.
Anyone wanting to take their records around needs a professionally made mobile vinyl storage system. These units are fully customizable, so you can buy the exact number of modules you need to store your whole collection and then assemble it yourself. Adding new pieces as you go isn’t hard at all, which makes this the best choice for those who are only just starting to build their collection. Experienced audiophiles will appreciate the ability to post dividers in them that spell out artists and genres the same way it would have been done at a vintage record store.
You may want to consider investing in a few pieces of hard cardstock you can use to divvy up your collection into several categories. This will make it much easier to find a certain LP later on after you’ve had them stored away for some time. Collectors who really appreciate having a large number of 45 singles on hand at any given time might instead want to try investing in a spindle system, which can safely hold these in piles that are always ready for transport. Seasoned collectors who might be balking at the idea of putting vinyl records on top of one another don’t have to worry as much about this kind of unit since it avoids putting too much pressure on them.
Larger pieces of vinyl should always be carefully protected, however. Regardless of which system you end up investing in, you’ll want to consider getting a dust cover or another type of housing that can help protect your collection from the elements. No matter how you have it set up, you’ll also want to be certain that the room you store it in is safe from sudden temperature or humidity changes since these can do far more damage to quality albums than even physical stress can.
Taking the time to pick out the right storage system for your vinyl collection will save you from suffering from heartache in the future. By making the time to find the right storage system for your vinyl collection, you’ll be able to enjoy them for years to come.
