I am getting ready to build a display case for my collection. I currently have them in an antique spool drawer and of course, a couple of cigar boxes. I would love to hear what some of the rest of you have done for display.

Fly

One of the worst enemies of copper and brass cartridges can be wood. Especially some woods like Oak that have high degrees of acid in them. Likewise many cardboards and paper. The best bet is metal drawers and plastic or acid-free paper or corrugated cardboard. Naturally, both of these things are hard to find. If you use wood make every effort to find older wood that has aged and even then seal it as much as possible. The same for any paper and corrugated cardboard. Depending on where you live, even the air can be hazardous. High humidity and dirty air can cause cases to change color and darken. A 100% cure for all of this is to store your cartridges in sealed plastic tubes but then you can't really display them with pride so it's all a trade-off. Good Luck.

Ray

Especially stay well away from anything made from MDF/chipboard/compressed sawdust type board . The formaldehyde in the glue will destroy your cartridges faster than you would imagine.....

Old map/plan cabinets ( steel type ) are ok too.

Thanks, being a wood butcher, I was thinking of making this project out of some really old pine that I had salvaged from an old factory that was being torn down. They are really wide clear pine boards. They were in the factory for at least seventy five years. Since they some resin smell when I planed them, do you think I should change direction, and buy a metal case?
Bfly

Fly

Many years ago I made some display cases from some lumber that I salvaged from a very old corral. When it was planed down it was a beautiful yellow color and made a very impressive display and backdrop for the brass and copper cartridges. However I did completely seal the wood with one of the modern epoxy based finishes. I never had a cartridge deteriorate from it.

Ray

i went out and got what's called a shadow box from a hobby store and some white lining for the back. i put some latches on the side that opens up and put the cartridges in there. looks nice. just a thought!