Display Case Help

[KMayUSA6060]

I bought this Curio Cabinet for a steal of $30 over the weekend. Love it, and once I get more card displaying supplies, it will be home to more cards (I'm planning on getting a larger cabinet for my memorabilia). However, the lighting sucks as you go down the shelves. I'm looking to add some LED strips, or other lighting sources to this. Anyone have any suggestions? If you have a similar setup, please post a pic so I can see examples!

I wouldn't use direct lighting for cards as it could damage them over time, just my opinion. I just use indirect room lighting not directly on them.

[KMayUSA6060]

Originally Posted by rgpete

I wouldn't use direct lighting for cards as it could damage them over time, just my opinion. I just use indirect room lighting not directly on them.

Beautiful display.

I know constant direct light is harmful, but what about an LED strip that's only on for part of the day?

Originally Posted by KMayUSA6060

Beautiful display.

I know constant direct light is harmful, but what about an LED strip that's only on for part of the day?

I dont know, maybe someone else can answer that from the forum, and your curio cabinet was a good find, hard to get at that price

[CxG Seven Dust]

From what I understand UV cases and frames can eliminate 98% of the UV light (such as UltraPro). So if you're using lighting sources that still emit UV, even after an extended and prolonged period time those UV cases and frames will still allow for deterioration.

Switching to LED only lighting sources will help to eliminate deterioration even more. Some industry sources claim that LEDs produce no UV radiation. This actually isn’t true. LEDs do produce a small amount of UV, but they emit even less. That’s because the small amount that is produced is converted to white light by the phosphors inside the lamp.

Additionally 3M makes window films that can be applied to glass. They claim these films block up to 99% of harmful UV rays.

IMO, your best bet if you decide to display your pieces is this:
Use a room with zero sunlight and use LED lighting only.
Place all items in a individual UV cases or holders (ie UltraPro)
Place all cased/holdered items in a display shelf/case with the 3M UV window film applied over the glass.

This is the best you can do to eliminate fading and deterioration if you decide to display your collection.

Hope this helps.


Copy and pasted from an older post by Mark Fox.