To Steve Clark (Buccaneer)
eadams24
Posts: 139
Can you explain how you made your PSA display cases?
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eadams24
Posts: 139
Comments
Here's what I did for the 36x36 display - with all supplies that can be bought at your local Michael's store
1. Bought 2 packs of 36" Gallery Shadow Box Sectionals - Black Metal (they come two in a pack) Sectionals
2. Bought 3 packs of 36" Regular Sectionals - Black Metal
3. Bought a Premium Foam Display Board - Black Display Board - this is for the backing. Since all non-custom foam cores or mat boards are 32x40, we need 36x36. This is actually a folded 36x48 display and by removing one of the panels, we can get 36x36.
That's it as far as puchased supplies. The rest of the stuff you need are basic handyman type stuff (metal saw blade, drill and bolts)
4. I put the 3 sides of 36" shadow box sectionals together using the supplied hardware (very easy to do). This makes a nice 36x36 shadow box frame which is 1" deep with a recess that normally would be for a glass.
5. On the 36x36 foam core, pinch all of the edges so that it can slide into the recess of the U-shaped shadow box.
6. Add the 4th side of the shadow box to complete the frame with the backing tucked in on all sides. (Note: You can buy ready-made shadow boxes but the largest they can go are 24x30).
7. Here it gets a little tricky. At this size, you can have 4 rows of graded and 2 rows of raw (in a One Touch or something like that) or you can have 3 and 3 but you can't have 6 rows of graded - only 5 at this size. Now you need to space out the shelves as you want them.
8. The 36" regular sectionals will go in upside down so that it provides a "groove" to rest your cards on. The reason for the 1" deep shadow box is so that the cards lean back without falling over. But since they are 36" long, you will need to cut off about 1/4-1/3" or so from an end (or a little from both). The reason is that you can place them inside the frame.
9. Once you have the rails spaced out, you will need to drill a hole at precise locations and insert a bolt/nut so that the rails can rest on them. This also supplies the support for the weight of the cards. Make sure that the holes are drilled equally on both sides so that the rails can rest perfectly level.
10. I also place a rail at the bottom of the frame since the lip of the frame is quite not deep enough to hold the cards.
I know this is a poor-man's way of doing it but as you saw from the bad quality photos, it works for me. The main thing I wanted to accomplish was a display that I can get at the cards easily. That rules out have anything with a door or glass front. And since I am not set up for a workshop, this was actually done in my office.
Also, I built 3 smaller displays for my Sampler set that measures 24x30. I bought the ready-made shadow box and then placed the rails as the same as above.
I hope this makes some sense but I am not sure if I would recommend anyone doing it this way. Thanks for asking.
Thanks