When I started **Junk Wax Journey: 1987**, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had a format in mind, a bunch of boxes lined up, and a very clear emotional goal: celebrate junk wax, team collecting, and the era that made a lot of us collectors in the first place.
What I didn’t have was certainty. I wasn’t sure which parts of the format would actually land, how people would react to bounties and bonus rips, or whether anyone would really want to commit to a year-long idea built around cards that are often written off as “worthless.”
By the end of JWJ 1987, I had some of those answers. Here are 12 of my biggest takeaways from the first year-month of the Junk Wax Journey:

Lesson #1: Bonus Rips Matter More Than You Think

One of the biggest takeaways from 1987 is how much people genuinely love bonus rips. Not just because they’re extra cards, but because they introduce surprise and variety into the stream.

The oddball sets in particular were a hit. A lot of those designs aren’t things people see every day, even if they’ve been collecting for years. Watching chat light up when a strange design or forgotten brand shows up was a reminder that junk wax still has plenty of mystery left in it.

That sense of discovery is something I want to lean into even more in 1988.

Lesson #2: Wax Bounties Were a Home Run

Wax Bounties ended up being one of the strongest parts of the entire format. People loved having something specific to root for, especially when it tied directly to the crown jewels of the year.

It wasn’t just about value. It was about anticipation. Everyone knew what the big cards were, and every pack felt like it could be the one. That collective tension and celebration is exactly what I hoped bounties would create.

They’re absolutely staying, and they’ll continue to be a core part of Junk Wax Journey.

Lesson #3: Structure Beats Chaos (But Chaos Still Wins!)

Bounties and Jokers are fun, but 1987 taught me that it’s very easy to miss a trigger in the moment. When you’re ripping, watching chat, and keeping things moving, bonus activations can slip by.

Batching the bonus rips turned out to be a really good change. Doing Jokers at the end of a specific product and Bounties at the end of the stream gave us the best of both worlds. The excitement was still there, but the pacing was smoother and nothing got forgotten.

That said, this is a shared experience. If I miss something, call it out. Seriously. That back-and-forth is part of what makes the streams fun.

And yes: bonus rips inside bonus rips are elite chaos. We’re leaning into that.

Lesson #4: Box Selection Really Matters

One thing I’m really glad I did was take my time selecting boxes for 1987. Junk wax has a reputation for bad condition, and while centering is always going to be an issue, the overall quality of what we opened was excellent.

Corners were sharp, gum damage was minimal, and surfaces were clean. That matters, especially when we’re talking about gem rates and long-term collecting. It proved that junk wax doesn’t have to mean junk condition if you’re careful about sourcing.

Lesson #5: The Chase Box Build Stream Was a Surprise Hit

The Chase Box Build Stream ended up being way more fun than I expected. Slowing things down and talking through the cards, gem rates, and values gave us a completely different vibe than the chaotic energy of a normal JWJ break.

It gave us a preview of the cards, space to talk gem rates and values, and a slower, more analytical vibe that balanced the energy of live breaks. That format is definitely sticking around.

One important lesson came out of it though…

Lesson #6: When I Hit a Bounty, It Belongs to the Community

During the Chase Box Build Stream, I actually pulled a few bounty cards myself — and honestly, it didn’t feel great keeping them.

It effectively removed cards from the pool that everyone else was chasing. In the end, I gave those cards away in the first Rookie Level Break of the month.

So let’s make it platform official: going forward, when this happens , those cards will be used as giveaways during the breaks for that year-month. The bounty system works best when it stays communal.

Lesson #7: Two Break Levels Is the Sweet Spot

We experimented with a middle-priced break level in 1987, and the interest just wasn’t there with my small audience. That’s useful information.

Going forward, we’re sticking with two clear options: All-Star and Hall-of-Fame. It’s simpler, easier to understand, and easier to support consistently. When and If the audience grows enough for more breaks or more levels, we will add some!

Lesson #7: We’re Scrapping the Leaderboard (For Now)

The leaderboard was an ambitious idea, but in practice it’s just too complex to manage as a one-man operation. Between tracking hits, bounties, bonuses, and everything else that happens during a stream, it became more of a distraction than a value-add.

With a smaller audience, the return on the time investment just doesn’t make sense right now. That doesn’t mean it’s gone forever — just that it’s not the right tool at this stage. Simpler is better, and I want to keep the focus on the cards and the community.

The rewards I envisioned for the leaderboard (personal rips, bonus breaks, etc.) will still be given out, just not based on the leaderboard . We’ll have a big celebration when we finish the run!

Lesson #8: Whatnot Is a Useful Pressure Valve

Whatnot turned out to be a great tool for filling remaining spots close to break time. That flexibility helped ensure streams stayed full and lively, and we’ll absolutely keep using it as part of the JWJ ecosystem.

Lesson #9: The Show Setup Is Still a Work in Progress

I’m still actively iterating on the how of the show. Camera angles, face cam placement, overlays, graphics, transitions — all of that is very much evolving in real time.

I’m not an expert in streaming production, and I’m okay admitting that. This stuff takes practice, trial and error, and a lot of tweaking. If you’ve noticed things improving week to week, that’s intentional. And if you are good at this kind of thing and feel like contributing ideas or feedback, please reach out. Junk Wax Journey works best when it’s collaborative.

Lesson #10: The Format Is Growing (and That’s a Good Problem)

Each year brings more products, and without increasing the number of breaks, it’s getting harder to include everything. For now, I’m still committed to finding ways to represent every product from a given year.

At some point, we may have to make tougher decisions. When that happens, it’ll be a community conversation, not a silent change behind the scenes.

Lesson #11: The Hard Truth: Cash Flow Matters

We didn’t break even on materials for 1987. That’s the honest truth.

Because of that, I didn’t have the cash flow to buy every 1988 box up front. Instead of forcing it or cutting corners, we’re taking a one-month pause.

Junk Wax Journey: 1988 will start in March.

That break gives me time to reset financially and make sure 1988 gets the same care and attention as 1987. The margins are razor thin, and whether we continue every month or every other month depends a bit upon how many break spots we sell.

Lesson #12: Sponsors Can Help Keep This Going

With a small but growing audience, sponsorships can play a real role in helping fund future breaks. Even modest support can go a long way when you’re buying sealed wax year after year.

If you have a favorite card shop, feel free to tag them in posts or streams. And if you run a brand, shop, or channel and want to sponsor a Junk Wax Journey break, absolutely reach out. I’m very open to working together and finding something that makes sense for both sides.

This project only grows if the ecosystem around it grows too.

Let’s Not Forget Why Junk Wax Journey Exists

At the end of the day, Junk Wax Journey isn’t about flipping cards or chasing the hottest hit. It’s about community, team collecting, and celebrating an era that shaped how many of us fell in love with the hobby.

If this project grows, it’ll be because people talk about it. Because someone tags a friend, shares a clip, or says, “You should check this out.”

So if you’ve enjoyed 1987, help spread the word. Like the posts. Comment during streams. Share a reel. Hang out in chat. Every little bit matters.

1987 showed us what this can be.
1988 is where we build on it.

And I’m really glad you’re along for the ride.

12 Lessons Learned from Junk Wax Journey: 1987