Storing Retro Games and Consoles

Optimus Prime

Looks like ive to give up my game room soon, Kid No3 on the way. So im going to have to put my stuff up in the attic, until i get the attic converted, thats the plan anyways in a year or two..

So what do guys recommend for storing stuff? I was thinking of getting a load of plastic containers from homestore or something and putting all my stuff in them, its fairly cold up in the attic so not sure. anyone have to store there stuff like this for a while? I dont want to fade or worse any of my boxed nes and consoles.

o1s1n

I've had 70% of my stuff in attic storage for 3 years now. I've inspected it all a few times and it's been perfectly fine.

I used those Tesco delivery crates. They big, extremely sturdy and can be stacked on top of each other while not damaging anything underneath. Plus they were free. (I'm not sure if Tesco let you hold onto them anymore though)

Before stacking them, I covered the contents of each crate in plastic wrapping.

Here they are before they left for the attic.



I did look into sealed containers, but it worked out really expensive. I only got a couple of them for my cardboard and rarer stuff.

James Howlett

keithgeo wrote: »

Looks like ive to give up my game room soon, Kid No3 on the way. So im going to have to put my stuff up in the attic, until i get the attic converted, thats the plan anyways in a year or two..

Congratulations Dude

Steve X2

Congrats dude:)

On the storing of games, those silica gel sachets are good but I think only effective if the stuff is air right or close to it.
Also, if you have power in the attic it opens up some other options for making sure things are ok. As in, lights on a cheap timer to help with temperature and dampness. You can special lights but normal ones would help.

Optimus Prime

Thanks guys, dont think i can get my hands on tesco crates, they do deliver our shopping but take them with them.

I was thinking about that silica gel stuff alright, assuming you can buy a bag of it on the net? I have limited space in the top of one wardrobe in our room that im thinking of keeping my NES boxed games and consoles in. the rest will be in the attic.

Dont have any electricity up there though, I do plan on getting it converted in the next year or two, its a huge attic with a high roof and will make a great games room eventually! That was always the plan anyways long term.

The Last Bandit

Those vacuum clothes storage bags and a bag of rice.

CathalDublin

I used these when I had mine in storage for a couple years.
Ikeas finest, come with lids/wheels and are stackable too.

My mint condition NES came out like someone had pissed all over it
Not sure if it was the 2 years in the cold or dark that caused it

Myrddin

CathalDublin wrote: »

My mint condition NES came out like someone had pissed all over it
Not sure if it was the 2 years in the cold or dark that caused it

Really? I thought it was the UV in sunlight that more or less was the trigger for 'yellowing'...

CathalDublin

Myrddin wrote: »

Really? I thought it was the UV in sunlight that more or less was the trigger for 'yellowing'...

so did I, I was shocked.
That or while I was away my parents had the thing out in the garden every day trying to play it

Myrddin

CathalDublin wrote: »

so did I, I was shocked.
That or while I was away my parents had the thing out in the garden every day trying to play it

Hmm, doesn't fill me with confidence now as I'm about to pack away my unboxed consoles. I was actually thinking of those exact IKEA containers myself...

Steve X2

The flame retardant added to ABS and other plastics is also another cause, no sunlight required.

CathalDublin

I'm guessing the cold brought out the yellow, dunno how, my snes was always a little yellow so hard to tell if that was affected but my nes definitely was destroyed, kinda put be off buying another as worried if I store it away the same will happen

Retr0gamer

CathalDublin wrote: »

I'm guessing the cold brought out the yellow, dunno how, my snes was always a little yellow so hard to tell if that was affected but my nes definitely was destroyed, kinda put be off buying another as worried if I store it away the same will happen

*Puts on science lab coat*

In fact cold should slow the yellowing of the plastic by a little bit.

Steve X2

Retr0gamer wrote: »

*Puts on science lab coat*

In fact cold should slow the yellowing of the plastic by a little bit.

Should slow the thermal oxidation a bit all right, and there are steps that can be taken to prevent the photooxidation by coating the consoles or whatever in UV clear.

The Last Bandit

Forget the sciency stuff, maybe mice p1ssed on it ?

Los Lobos

Retr0gamer wrote: »

*Puts on science lab coat*

In fact cold should slow the yellowing of the plastic by a little bit.

I hope it helps carts and consoles, I have the rad turned off in the gamesroom all the time, its like an icebox

Steve X2

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Forget the sciency stuff, maybe mice p1ssed on it ?

Well, I had an mint condition Atari Jaguar(box and console) stored in my mothers attic and forgot about it for about 5 or 6 years. Came across it while looking for something else and mice had eaten their way in and basically turned it in to a mouse house
The console and bits were destroyed with mouse poop and i guess wee wee

Still best use for a Jaguar I've seen yet though.

CiDeRmAn

Science coat be dammed,
The CDi has been scientifically proved to be improved with the addition of mouse p1ss and dung.
Retr0 knows this but his devotion to the CDi Zelda cult prevents him.

And congrats on the new arrival...
Now the big question about the delivery...

Maternity Hospital?

Home Birth?

Or

Parcel Motel?

Steve X2

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Science coat be dammed,
The CDi has been scientifically proved to be improved with the addition of mouse p1ss and dung.
Retr0 knows this but his devotion to the CDi Zelda cult prevents him.

And congrats on the new arrival...
Now the big question about the delivery...

Maternity Hospital?

Home Birth?

Or

Parcel Motel?

Well, you can return items via Parcel Motel now

CiDeRmAn

Tried it in the Coombe, they didn't find it as funny as the voices in my head said they would.
Not a reliable narrator those voices..

Jack burton

if you want some Tesco crates I could get you a few no problem.

I use the same crates in work and I must agree they have some great uses, Have all my timber for the fire in one outside my door right now

If you're down in my neck of the woods at all give me a shout

In regards to the "pissy" consoles. I'm almost pretty sure if has to do with the see through container allowing condensation. Now I'm no "scientition" but I had a problem with the petrol for my tools getting watery a while ago and I man in work told me never store anything in see through containers because of the condensations getting through it. I have my petrol in coloured containers now and never had a problem. Even though I cant explain it there's my 2 cents

Optimus Prime

wow, putting stuff in boxes is complicated! Cheers for the offer of the crates, ill have a look into storing these things and see what ill do.

CiDeRmAn

Keithgeo's house, sometime in the near future

tazmission

keithgeo wrote: »

Thanks guys, dont think i can get my hands on tesco crates, they do deliver our shopping but take them with them.

I was thinking about that silica gel stuff alright, assuming you can buy a bag of it on the net? I have limited space in the top of one wardrobe in our room that im thinking of keeping my NES boxed games and consoles in. the rest will be in the attic.

Dont have any electricity up there though, I do plan on getting it converted in the next year or two, its a huge attic with a high roof and will make a great games room eventually! That was always the plan anyways long term.

Super Value have the crates and you can keep them , I usually go in and buy a few small things and ask for crate and there is no problem.