[fast93bird]

Any idea what the price will be on these smaller inspection pieces + shipping?

Probably around $20 shipped for a small inspection board as I pictured above. Stay tuned though, I'm doing a larger one for a customer that you might like better.

[fast93bird]

So had to get a new frame clamp for the inspections boards. The aluminum one I currently have is too tall and hits the center board. Enter my newfound best friend, the framing strap clamp!



And this above and below is the custom inspection board I'm working on. It's NOT glued yet, just mocked up. Figuring how I'm going to tackle assembly with the board pre-covered in the cloth on both sides. Figuring on staining the inside first, assembling, then staining the outer surfaces. But this is a custom request and a really good size for inspecting multiple cards at once.



I also have a two row 14 card case I'm going to start building for another order tonight. No pics there unless requested.

[fast93bird]

Got the backboard (or is that centerboard on this one?) covered!

Light Side:



Dark Side:



Still not glued, going to stain the inside edges before assembly so the cloth doesn't get messed up.

---

I think this was the right move. Staining the inside perimeter before assembling so that's done when I finally assemble the frame. Keeps the cloth mint doing it this way.

[fast93bird]

Got a couple of good coats of stain on the inner perimeter of the inspection board (top pieces) and wile I'm clear coating those I cut and routered and am staining the inner perimeter of a two row case order I am currently filling also.



The little piece at the lower left I'm using as a test chip because I'm switching stains. I've been using Minwax Polyshades, and want to get away from it because it doesn't soak into the wood well and gets tacky so fast that it's nearly impossible to get anything out of it if dust or a hair drifts in. So I'm moving to true stain. Only thing is, the colors are NOT the same. So I'm searching for that deep deep red that a lot of people seem to like. The chip there is "red mahogany" from Minwax, and it's not very red at all. More of a walnut with a hint of red tossed in. Just going to grab stains as I can and make these chips so I know exactly what I'm going to end up with from each color. Fortunately menards right down the road sells "test" packets for a buck a piece. Perfect for my needs!

[fast93bird]

Ok folks, don't hate me, but I bought a couple of PSA cards because I recently made the discovery that the normal PSA cases are in fact, slightly taller than the BGC cases, and heaps thinner.

The good news? All my cases fit the PSA stuff. At least the normal stuff. I don't even want to try the PSA "thick card" cases......those look like monsters.

Right now I'm finish staining the inspection board pictured above, sanding a two row case, have a three row case I'm going to begin cutting tonight, and a pending case for one touch holders (two row, 10 cards total) for someone once I get a one touch in hand (which the customer sent to me today, awfully nice of him). Lots of pics to come once I get things presentable again.

[branesergen]

Sounds like you're doing pretty good!

[fast93bird]

No complaints other than I'm not really making any money off of them. But I definitely enjoy the challenge of building them and it's letting me get better and better while I go along. Folks seem to be happy with them, I'm happy building them, so all is well. Gives me stuff to do in my idle time, and I HATE having idle time, lol.

[branesergen]

Good thing is as you get better you get faster which means making more money lol

[fast93bird]

Very true. Except like today when I had a bombshell dropped on me, and with that on my mind I routered the wrong piece of the frame and had to scrap it. Doh!

[fast93bird]

Here's some progress to show:

First, the Inspection/Staging board going together. As mentioned before, I stained and cleared the inside perimeter so I wouldn't risk damaging the fabric. Pretty happy with the results.



White side (yes, this is glued and setting):


Black side:



Working on 3 at once. The far left is a simple two row case. The unassembled piece is a three row case, customer wanted it in black, and the stain is going on better than I ever hoped for. Then the inspection board is the front and center piece because I just laid a coat of stain on it.



Now the waiting game, lol. All three were freshly stained as of this pic just a few minutes ago. I usually accelerate the drying process when we have a fire going and set everything in front of it, but not right now unfortunately.