Damaged boxes - To tape or not to tape?

[RickR]

Question:  How do you feel about using tape on boxes?  I'm talking about boxes that have some serious tears or squishing issues.  Do you use tape or some other less destructive form of restoration?

 

Case in point is the Chiplifter box I acquired lately.  It was flattened in the worst possible way...with a crease right down the center of the sides.  Pretty much impossible to get it back into a "box" form without some help.  I ended up adding some tape to the bottom to help stiffen/flatten it, then used a glue stick to get the bottom back "sealed" (which gave it some structural integrity).  Also, I taped the top flap -- you see this kind of tear in a LOT of 5200 boxes.  The top does stay closed now, but yes, you can see the tape on the outside.

 

Anyways, in my opinion, I took something that was basically trash and made it more presentable.  Yes, the tape is now a part of the item....it can't be removed without damage. 

 

What do you all think?

 

 

[Rowsdower70]

My stance on taping, or altering things in any way depend:

If this is an item I plan on keeping for my own collection, I will tape it up nicely.  I don't care about its resell value, I just concern myself with the longevity of the packaging.

If this is an item for trade or for flea market/conventions, I won't ever use tape.  I will only make changes I HAVE to make to make transporting the item.   I figure the best bet is always to let the person who gives the item its final home make that call.

[Atari 5200 Guy]

I'd tape it and hang it on the wall for art

[jmjustin6]

I have had to use tapes on my boxes to make them look good again. But if i am going to trade them i leave them alone and let the new owner decide

[AlamoAtari]

The only tape I take issue with is that horrible grey or brown packing tape. The inventor of that crap needs to be wrapped in his or her own invention and thrown off a cliff.

[mbergeron]

I tape from the inside whenever possible.  Otherwise, if it's something that'll be seen on the exterior I find another way to make the repair.

[Atari Adventure Square]

I have a few scrunched boxes and always figured I could give their proper form back by cutting a box-shaped styroform form to fill em back up and take it from there.

 

Personally, the boxes are the most valuable thing in some way.

Just seeing them brings the feels and the vibes to life.

 

If any tape was to be used, it'd be transparent scotch or an even spread of wide cardboard tape.

 

Although, I did a Modge Podge project for a relative over the holidays and it's rather great for creating a transparent protective shell (it's a glue that dries quickly enough and can be used for collages and such).

I'd bet you could fill out the box with styrofoam (or anything) to flatten out the surface then use Modge Podge to harden it up.

There are different types of this glue for smooth, textured or matte surfaces.

 

But yeah, these groovy old game boxes are works of art.

They deserve preservation.

 

...

 

They...

 

...

 

...Belong In A Museum!!!

[DegasElite]

I have a few scrunched boxes and always figured I could give their proper form back by cutting a box-shaped styroform form to fill em back up and take it from there.

 

Personally, the boxes are the most valuable thing in some way.

Just seeing them brings the feels and the vibes to life.

 

If any tape was to be used, it'd be transparent scotch or an even spread of wide cardboard tape.

 

Although, I did a Modge Podge project for a relative over the holidays and it's rather great for creating a transparent protective shell (it's a glue that dries quickly enough and can be used for collages and such).

I'd bet you could fill out the box with styrofoam (or anything) to flatten out the surface then use Modge Podge to harden it up.

There are different types of this glue for smooth, textured or matte surfaces.

 

But yeah, these groovy old game boxes are works of art.

They deserve preservation.

 

...

 

They...

 

...

 

...Belong In A Museum!!!

I agree that they need to be preserved. I wonder if a paper restorer can do that. But, it would be hundreds of dollars per box. That's my guess, anyway. Maybe, in the future, preservation of boxes will become commonplace as they age.

[DegasElite]

By the way, Atari 5200 boxes are notorious for getting easily damaged. It was about the shipping and the heavy cartridges. It did not jive with the box design. Bummer. You should count yourself lucky that you have an original Choplifter box. A boxed Choplifter is extremely rare.

[DegasElite]

I tape from the inside whenever possible.  Otherwise, if it's something that'll be seen on the exterior I find another way to make the repair.

That sounds like a wise way to do it, so you can mask the repair. Man, I wish that there was a cheap way to restore old Atari game boxes professionally. Hey, maybe someone can come up with that idea someday and get rich doing it. Ah, the possibilities…

[DegasElite]

Question:  How do you feel about using tape on boxes?  I'm talking about boxes that have some serious tears or squishing issues.  Do you use tape or some other less destructive form of restoration?

 

Case in point is the Choplifter box I acquired lately.  It was flattened in the worst possible way...with a crease right down the center of the sides.  Pretty much impossible to get it back into a "box" form without some help.  I ended up adding some tape to the bottom to help stiffen/flatten it, then used a glue stick to get the bottom back "sealed" (which gave it some structural integrity).  Also, I taped the top flap -- you see this kind of tear in a LOT of 5200 boxes.  The top does stay closed now, but yes, you can see the tape on the outside.

 

Anyways, in my opinion, I took something that was basically trash and made it more presentable.  Yes, the tape is now a part of the item....it can't be removed without damage. 

 

What do you all think?

I like the look of it. At least it fills out again. Question: do you also have the game "Choplifter?" If you do, as I stated in an earlier post, that's pretty extraordinary. Because, there are few boxed copies of the game left.

[RickR]

I do have choplifter. It's a fun game. Very challenging. I had no idea it was rare.

[Arenafoot]

Question:  How do you feel about using tape on boxes?  I'm talking about boxes that have some serious tears or squishing issues.  Do you use tape or some other less destructive form of restoration?

 

Case in point is the Chiplifter box I acquired lately.  It was flattened in the worst possible way...with a crease right down the center of the sides.  Pretty much impossible to get it back into a "box" form without some help.  I ended up adding some tape to the bottom to help stiffen/flatten it, then used a glue stick to get the bottom back "sealed" (which gave it some structural integrity).  Also, I taped the top flap -- you see this kind of tear in a LOT of 5200 boxes.  The top does stay closed now, but yes, you can see the tape on the outside.

 

Anyways, in my opinion, I took something that was basically trash and made it more presentable.  Yes, the tape is now a part of the item....it can't be removed without damage. 

 

What do you all think?

have you tried: http://retroprotection.com/product.sc?productId=7&categoryId=40

[RickR]

have you tried: http://retroprotection.com/product.sc?productId=7&categoryId=40

That's not a bad idea.  The main issue I have with covers like this is that it gets even harder to get the game and manual out.  But it may help shore up boxes that are crushed.