Finding the right toploader thickness is essential for protecting trading cards—especially modern memorabilia, relics, medallions, and booklet cards that come in a wide range of depths. While standard 20pt–35pt cards fit easily in traditional toploaders, thicker cards require holders designed specifically for their increased size.
This guide explains card thickness, how to measure it, how to use coins as quick references, and which BCW thick toploaders match each card type.
With blockbuster albums from U2, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Guns N’ Roses dominating the 1987 cultural landscape, it was easy for innovative, left-of-center releases to slip through the cracks.
Meanwhile, college radio, indie labels, and international scenes fostered bands who pushed boundaries, experimented freely, and laid the groundwork for the 1990s alternative explosion.
These five albums didn’t receive the widespread attention they deserved at the time, but each has since proven to be a vital part of the decade’s musical DNA.
Guadalcanal Diary – 2×4
Released in May 1987, 2×4 found Georgia’s Guadalcanal Diary honing a darker, sharper sound while maintaining the jangly Southern charm that made them standouts in the early college-rock scene. Their blend of wiry guitar lines, surreal lyrical imagery, and emotional depth helped set them apart from the more straightforward jangle-pop emerging around them. Constant comparisons to R.E.M. overshadowed the band’s uniqueness, and without major-label promotion, they struggled to break nationally despite critical acclaim and strong songwriting. Still, the album stands as one of the Southeast’s great alternative records — a moody, imaginative release that continues to resonate with indie artists who blend melody with melancholy.
Standout tracks: “Litany (Life Goes On),” “Under the Yoke,” “Get Over It.”
Moving a large vinyl record collection is something every collector dreads. Records are heavy, fragile, and often irreplaceable. Once you’ve lived with a collection for years, the idea of packing it all up can be overwhelming.
If you have to move, remember that protection in every stage matters. Clean, new inner sleeves can help prevent scratches and static when records are packed tightly. Our outer sleeves protect jackets from scuffs, dust, and other contaminants during handling. Starting a move with properly sleeved records adds an important layer of insurance.
Box choice determines whether a move succeeds or fails. Vinyl weighs more than most people expect, and standard moving boxes often use a taped bottom seam that can split. The recent move by Vinyl Latte’s Louis V. emphasizes why record-specific boxes matter. BCW Record Boxes are made from heavy-duty cardboard and use a strong banker’s box design with a one-piece bottom and no taped seam to blow out. That extra strength makes lifting, stacking, and transporting records far less stressful.
To show what a vinyl move really involves, Vinyl Latte’s Louie V. documented the process of relocating his 4,500-plus record collection. Throughout the series, he shares what worked, what was challenging, and what he learned along the way. While the scale of his collection is larger than many, the lessons apply to any record collector preparing to pack up shelves of vinyl and move them safely to a new home.
Game stores attending GAMA Expo in Louisville, Kentucky, March 3–7, 2026, are invited to connect with BCW Supplies. We’ll be showcasing BCW and Spectrum game accessories with modern designs and vibrant colors, built to protect, display, and organize trading card games, board games, and RPGs—plus new product launches and wholesale opportunities to help increase accessory sales and margins.
Andrew Phillips introducing the Card Catalog to seminar guests at a previous GAMA Expo
Attend the BCW Supplies GAMA Expo seminar on Thursday, March 5, at 9:00 a.m. Hosts Justin Cloke and Andrew Phillips will highlight new product launches, fast-moving accessories, and proven storage solutions, while sharing practical ideas to help game stores increase sales on game accessories.
