FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[clarkymk]

i would like to make some inserts for my cabinet to elevate some of the specimens.
does ayone know where do these white boxes come from and how they are made?

[Tobi]

I don't know how these certain shelves on the photo are made, but there is not only one way to build such a kind of display. You need some solid material like wood that you have to arrange in different levels, maybe stable cardboard boxes will do the job as well. And then you need a layer of something that covers the solid material and covers gaps, that looks dull and unobtrusive and doesn't detract from the mineral specimens you want to present. I recommend some white or pale grey drapery. And of course, if you can afford a lot of money, you will always find a professional manufacturer who offers such things ;-)

Hope I could help :)

Tobi

[John S. White]

An inexpensive way to do this is to buy styrofoam in large linear pieces of various desired thicknesses and cut or have them cut to size. They are then covered with an attractive cloth. Very simple.

[Bob Harman]

These are very easy to make and are called "risers".
The simplest is as your picture shows a simple straight length of riser from one end of the case to the other. Carefully (!) measure your case from the inside of one end to the inside of the other. Very careful measurement is important as the riser will not fit if the measurement is even a fraction of an inch/centimeter too long. Then go to your nearest lumber yard and have them cut a proper length of light weight and inexpensive wood (usually from the scrap pile) for you. Go to a craft store and get a sheet of velvet of any color that your minerals would look good upon. Cover the wood with the velvet and there you have it.

The trick is to become creative. High or wide risers, triangle shaped risers at the back corners of your case. Different color velvet coverings (black or dark purple/blue) always go well with many colorful minerals. All very easy to do and enhance any display case. Besides wood, you might start using covered cardboard or plastic boxes; anything that can be covered and supports a mineral specimen is fair game for use in a display case. CHEERS.......BOB

[Les Presmyk]

Risers can be made out of wood (heavier) or various types of Styrofoam and then covered or painted. I have used some of these spray paints that simulate stone and provide a bit of texture. I have also used rough sawn mine timbers for bases - heaviest of the bases I have used.

Styrofoam works well and you can go from the foam available at Home Depot of Lowe's (relatively inexpensive) to very high density foam used for shipping (more expensive). You will need to have it cut where you buy it, unless you have a table saw (messy) or a hot wire cutter.

Then it is just finding the color and texture of material you want to use. Burlap has a lot of texture and works well for larger specimens but probably not thumbnails. Get a material that has a little stretch to it. Start by securing one side of the fabric to the back of the base with pins, white glue and duct tape. Then the opposite end and do the same.

If you send me a personal message I can provide you with additional information.

[Reinhardt van Vuuren]

The white box on the right is a large egg box usually made from recycled cardboard and is available at your local grocer. haha couldn't resist the temptation.

On a more serious note my 5 cents is that if you decide to cut it from a Styrofoam block I've heard local crafters say they use a steel guitar string that they heat with the flame of a candle, seems to be the best/cheapest way for them.

[James Catmur]

You could also use MDF (medium density fibreboard) as that is easy to shape and takes a good matt paint finish? The version I have has the shelves fitted together with a hinge on the top shelf. So I can store boxes under the shelves (clearly before adding the specimens themselves). That way the boxes are stored with their specimens.

[clarkymk]

I finally got around to making them. thanks everyone!

this is my shelf of chinese minerals.

[Tobi]

[clarkymk]

the photo? sorry, i took it on my phone. i've been making a few more shelves today so i'll charge my camera and upload higher quality pictures of them.

[clarkymk]

i hope this is a little better.