Interlocking Card Frames Make a Great Wall Display
By Sal Barry
You put a lot of time, passion, and money into your collection. So, it is only natural that you would want to display your best cards – either graded or ungraded – on your wall. BCW Interlocking Card Frames are a great way to display your cardboard treasures for the world to see. They are versatile, easy to hang, fit together nicely, and add a touch of class to your display.
If you want to display your favorite ungraded cards, check out the standard-sized Interlocking Card Frames. These come in a package of six frames and measure 4-1/2” by 5-1/2”. Each box frames also includes six standard-sized 20-point toploaders, so you can frame and hang your cards right away. However, these frames will also fit BCW Magnetic Card Holders for 35-point up to 180-point cards. I recommend using these, as Magnetic Card Holders offer protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays.
If graded cards are more your jam, then BCW has frames that fit those, too. The Interlocking Graded Card Frames come in a pack of four and have an outer dimension of 5” by 7”. The frames hold all standard-sized graded cards, including PSA, BGS, KSA, and CGC, or any other slab that measures up to 3-7/16” by 5-1/2”. These frames are also deep enough to fit thicker slabs that measure up to 5/8” thick, so these will work for graded jersey or game-used cards.
Both the standard Interlocking Card Frames and Interlocking Graded Card Frames can be hung vertically or horizontally – should you have a “sideways” card that needs to be displayed. And the best part is that you don’t need any additional hardware to snap the frames together; all that’s required is a flathead screwdriver to twist the locking mechanisms into place.
Here are some tips to get the most out of your Card Frames:
- Skip the hammer and nails. Instead, use Velcro picture hangers, such as Command Picture Hanging Strips. The Narrow-sized hanging strips are thin enough to be put on the frame without getting in the way of changing the cards or connecting the frames. Each strip can hold up to 10 lbs., which is more than enough, since a card in a frame weighs less than 6 oz. And use a small level to make sure you hang your frames straight. When you decide to rearrange your wall display, you can easily remove the picture hanging strips without damage to your wall or the frames.
- Back in black. If hanging graded cards and you do not want to see the wall through the clear parts of the slab, put a piece of black paper or posterboard (measuring 3-1/4” by 5-1/4”) between the graded card and the backing brace. This also gives some uniformity if your display mixes clear-slabbed PSA or BGS graded cards with black-slabbed SGC or KSA graded cards.
- Light is not your friend. Unfortunately, cards exposed to light will fade over time. Never hang cards in direct sunlight. Even cards exposed to normal indoor light – unless in a Magnetic card holder, which offer protection from UV rays – can fade over time. So, make it a point to change up your display every month or so. Even museums regularly change what’s on display.
- Be creative! Sure, you can go with a modular display of two frames by two frames, three frames by two frames, and so forth. But you can also arrange your frames in “stair step,” “zig zag,” “diamond,” or other configurations. With enough frames, you could spell out the name or initials of your favorite player.
Do you frame your favorite cards? Post a photo on X (formerly Twitter) and tag @bcwsupplies, or on Instagram and tag @bcw_supplies. We’d love to see what creative ideas you’ve come up with.
Sal Barry is the editor of the hockey collectibles site Puck Junk and the host of the Puck Junk Podcast. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.