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07/08/2007 11:35 AM

Custom Baseball Card Display Case

I'm in the process of designing a display case for my baseball cards
from the early 1900s (T206s). I want the case to be antique looking
and provide maximum protection for my collection. I'm a little stuck
in 3 areas and any feedback would be great.

Does anyone know of a site/woodworker where I could send my design for
some feedback?

I have some design elements that I'd like to incorporate into the
piece but I'm not a designer so I need some suggestions and input into
what is practical and what would really look "vintage".

Any feedback regarding materials (wood/glass/stain) would be great.


This topic has 3 replies

Rv

Roger

in reply to [email protected] on 07/08/2007 11:35 AM

07/08/2007 12:35 PM

On Aug 7, 7:35 am, [email protected] wrote:
> I'm in the process of designing a display case for my baseball cards
> from the early 1900s (T206s). I want the case to be antique looking
> and provide maximum protection for my collection. I'm a little stuck
> in 3 areas and any feedback would be great.
>
> Does anyone know of a site/woodworker where I could send my design for
> some feedback?
>
> I have some design elements that I'd like to incorporate into the
> piece but I'm not a designer so I need some suggestions and input into
> what is practical and what would really look "vintage".
>
> Any feedback regarding materials (wood/glass/stain) would be great.

For an antique looking wood, choose any good quality hardword that
has already been distressed or weather aged. Usually resawed boards
from old buildings or barns will work. Just be sure that when mounting
the cards use acid free backer board, corner pockets, and to keep the
cards out of direct sun light. It may even be best if you can creat a
door or shudders on the display.

AD

Andy Dingley

in reply to [email protected] on 07/08/2007 11:35 AM

07/08/2007 6:51 AM

On 7 Aug, 12:35, [email protected] wrote:
> I'm in the process of designing a display case for my baseball cards
> from the early 1900s (T206s). I want the case to be antique looking

Make it from white oak, ammonia fume it, then finish with shellac over
oil. All common stuff, all easy, all web searchable.

> and provide maximum protection for my collection.

http://amol.org.au/recollections

Good site (sometimes a flakey server!) lots of useful advice on
conservation-grade mounting and framing.

> what is practical and what would really look "vintage".

Wandering a library or bookshop will find you lots of "Arts and
Crafts" style advice. It's an easy style to manufacture, looks good
and has aged well. it would fit well with any pre-WW1 collectables.

AD

Andy Dingley

in reply to [email protected] on 07/08/2007 11:35 AM

07/08/2007 9:59 AM

On 7 Aug, 13:35, Roger <[email protected]> wrote:

> Just be sure that when mounting the cards use acid free backer board,

This may be a local issue, but in the UK it's important to avoid "acid
free" backer board.

Good materials are not just acid free, they're buffered with a base
(little more than chalk filler) so that they _remain_ acid free over
time. Only the worst sorts of woodpulp paper still contain acid from
the fibre digestion process, the problem for archival work is when
celluose degrades over long times, so as to _form_ an acid residue.
It's usually this that does the damage, unless you're trying to
conserve newsprint, pulp paperbacks etc.

(There's also an issue with colour film and print paper in that they
don't like excess of bases either, i.e. "buffered" materials. Read the
usual resources on how to deal with these.)

So when you buy archival materials, don't just look for "acid free",
look for "buffered" materials. Good quality mounting boards, Daler-
Rowney etc. will be no problem.

However there's now some "cheap crap" mounting board on the market
(guess where it's from). It's labelled as "acid free", and in fact the
labelling and packaging looks better than the good stuff's does!
However "acid free" here means no more than "not made with acidic
woodpulp" and it's certainly not long-term stable. Don't trust it,
certainly don't use it for archival-grade work or with anything
valuable.


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