How to Line a Display Case for Minerals

Always properly store your mineral collection.

If maintained correctly, mineral collections can increase in value through appearance and variety. According to John Betts Fine Minerals, you should properly store and care for your mineral collection; protection and preservation of your minerals should be a high priority. Lining a display case for your minerals isn’t a complicated task when utilizing self-adhesive velvet available at craft and hobby stores. Since most display cases contain wood or cardboard separators, it’s a wise idea to precisely measure each divider and cover it to match the rest of the box’s interior.

Things You'll Need

• Washcloth
• Self-adhesive velvet
• Ruler
• Pen
• Scissors
• Craft knife

Instructions

1. Remove the dividers in the display case. Clean the display case before you begin your lining project. Wipe it with a dry washcloth to remove dust.

2. Place the self-adhesive velvet onto a flat surface with the paper backing facing you. Place a divider on top of the paper backing. Use a pen to trace the divider. Trace any slots that need to be cut away from the velvet for the divider to slide onto another divider. Trace two pieces of velvet for each divider, one for each side. Repeat for all dividers.

3. 

   A lined display case protects minerals from undue damage.

   Cut the divider linings from the self-adhesive velvet. Don’t remove the paper backing. Keep the pieces of velvet with the corresponding divider so the velvet will be an exact fit for the divider from which it was traced.

4. Remove the paper backing from one divider lining, and press it firmly to the divider. Trim any velvet overlapping the divider edges or slots. Repeat for both sides of each divider. Set lined dividers aside.

5. Use a ruler to measure the length and width of each interior side within the mineral display case.

6. 

   Cut lining pieces from self-adhesive velvet.

   Use a ruler to measure and draw, according to the measurements in Step 5, the four interior sides onto the paper backing of the self-adhesive velvet. You’ll only need one lining for each interior side of the display case.

7. Measure the bottom of the display case. Using a ruler, draw the bottom of the display case according to these measurements onto the paper backing of the self-adhesive velvet.

8. Remove the paper backing from the case bottom’s velvet lining. Firmly press the sticky side down onto the case’s bottom. Smooth the wrinkles/air bubbles from the velvet by rubbing your hand from the center of the box out toward the edges.

9. 

   Self-adhesive velvet is available in many color choices.

   Remove the paper backing from the velvet lining for one interior side. Press the velvet firmly into place within the display case. Smooth all wrinkles/air bubbles outward, working from the center of the side toward the outer edges. Repeat this process for all of the interior sides.

10. Return the velvet-lined dividers to the display case. Place your minerals in your lined case. According to John Betts Fine Minerals, “Don't store minerals in drawers without separators between minerals to keep them from touching.”

References

• John Betts Fine Minerals: Maintain Your Collection for the Future