Frequently Asked Questions


WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT STONE THRONE?

Stone Throne makes the best display stands on the market. 

And unlike our competitors, we allow you to order directly online, offer more personalization options like fluorescent color fills, a wider variety of supports, and direct engraving of the base itself. With Stone Throne, you can have your stand in days without your fragile items ever having to leave your possession, and best of all our bases start at just a few dollars each, rather than hundreds. Learn more about us and our products here.


General and Most Common

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes! You can find them here.

Why are your custom stands so cheap / so expensive?

Yes, we do get asked both questions! 


The reasons our prices are low are that 1) we started this company in the first place because we could not find the stands we wanted for ourselves at a reasonable price, so keeping things affordable has always been very important to us as a matter of principle. 2) We do all the work ourselves and carefully planned our production process to be as labor efficient as possible, which saves us money that we can pass on to you. 3) We offer all our customization as very granular options, so you never have to pay for bells and whistles you don't want. 


The reasons our prices can't be even lower are that 1) We are unwilling to sacrifice the quality of our products to reach a slightly lower price-point. We only use the very best acrylics, engraving equipment, paints, adhesives, and other materials for a stand that truly gives your collection a museum quality look, year after year. 2) our stands are handmade in the USA, so our costs are higher than they would be if we were to have them produced elsewhere.

What is my order status?

You can check your order status by clicking My Account here or at the top of the page, if you have created an account with us, or by clicking the link in your purchase confirmation email if you checked out as a guest. This will tell you where your order is in the process, and give you shipment tracking information once the order has shipped.

How can I track my order?

If you have an account with us, you can track your order by clicking "My Account" here or at the top of your screen, or by using the tracking number provided in the shipping confirmation email when your order has shipped.


If you do not have an account with us (meaning you checked out as a "guest"), then you can track your order by using the tracking number provided in the shipping confirmation email when your order has shipped.

What is your return and exchange policy?

First and foremost, we want our customers to be completely satisfied with their purchases from us, and will work quickly to solve any problems you may have until you are happy. If you have any problems with your order, please use the return/exchange form on the contact us page or email us at returns@stonethr.one


Our full refund policy can be found here, but the summarized version is as follows: 


For non-customized products, we accept new, unused items in their original packaging for return or exchange within 30 days of your order. You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. For exchanges, we will pay for shipping the replacement item to you.


Unfortunately, due to the cost and nature of customized items, products that have been customized can not be returned for a refund unless we made an error in producing your order, such as filling your engraving with a color different to the one you ordered or a typographic error on our part. Customized items may be eligible for exchange for the same item, at our discretion.

How do I choose the right sized stand?

In most cases, we recommend picking a size at least equal to the diameter of your object being displayed for a balanced look, but it is really up to you. Keep in mind the bevel makes the top area a bit smaller than the dimensions of the stand itself. 


The best way to pick a size is to print one of our size charts and place your object on it to get a perfect fit. We have two size charts, for square and round bases. Make sure to print them at 100% size and change the paper (standard 8.5" x 11") margins to 'narrow' or 'none'. English and metric scales are included on each so you can double check with a ruler.

Orders

How long does it take to ship my order?

Most orders placed will be shipped the same or following business day by the shipping method of your choice. We ship every afternoon Monday through Saturday. 


Factors that affect order processing speed include the time/day you place your order with respect to shipping hours, the amount of custom products in your order, the daily order volume, and the nature of your customizations (i.e. paints and adhesives must dry before they can be packaged and shipped.)


We pride ourselves on our quick service, and generally the only reason your order may take a little longer the expected day or two to ship would be if your order is very large or requires special materials at your request. We will contact you if this will be the case, and you can always contact us before or after placing your order as well for a specific figure. Other exceptions like delays caused by our attending a Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show, for example, will be prominently posted on the homepage announcements ahead of time so you can plan accordingly before you order.

Can you help me with ordering?

Absolutely, you can contact us at any time via email, phone, or even text and we will be happy to answer questions, walk you through ordering online, or even build the order for you and send you an invoice. That is what we are here for!

What is my order status?

You can check your order status by clicking My Account here or at the top of the page, if you have created an account with us, or by clicking the link in your purchase confirmation email if you checked out as a guest. This will tell you where your order is in the process, and give you shipment tracking information once the order has shipped.

I messed up my order, what do I do?

Contact us! Either via email, phone, or text message, even if it "after hours". The sooner you let us know about an error, or if you have changed your mind about an option the better. Naturally, once an order has been completed or shipped it is much more difficult to fix.

Is my personal information safe?

Absolutely. We take privacy and security concerns very seriously. Regardless of payment method, we at Stone Throne never have access to your financial information or credit card numbers, etc. It is all handled directly through Shopify's secure payment system or your chosen provider (such as PayPal), and they forward the funds to us. Your money and identity as just as secure as they would be shopping on Amazon or any other major retailer. 

Personal information you do give to Stone Throne to fulfill your orders, like your shipping and email address, is never, ever shared with or sold to third parties of any kind, for any reason, period. 


You can read our full privacy policy here.

What payment methods do you accept?

Currently we accept:
-Debit and credit cards from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club (through Stripe)

-PayPal

-Amazon Payments

-Google Pay

-Apple Pay

If you have another payment method not listed above that you would like to use, contact us and we will quickly see if we can accommodate.

Shipping and Returns

How long until my order arrives?

Most orders are shipped within a day or two of receiving your order, and arrival time from there depends generally on two factors: the shipping carrier + service you choose, and your distance from Colorado, USA. On the checkout page you will be given your shipping options and see estimated delivery times for each. We offer standard and rushed shipping options from USPS and UPS (and DHL for international customers)


If you have already ordered, you can track your package by clicking My Account (if you created an account when checking out) or from the shipping confirmation email we sent you when your order shipped.


Shipping times will vary widely for international customers, but the estimates on the checkout page from each carrier/service available in your country should provide a good estimated date of delivery before you order, and the tracking number provided when your order ships should give you an even more accurate delivery window.


For US customers, shipping time is similar for USPS and UPS and will mostly depend on your distance from us. In general, this means you can expect to receive your package approximately 3-7 business days after you place your order for eastern states, and 2-5 business days for all other states using standard ground shipping services. See the maps for each carrier below for more specific estimates for your address.

USPS

USPS Priority Shipping US Map

UPS

UPS Ground Shipping US Map

When will my order be shipped?

We ship daily Monday through Saturday. Most orders placed in the morning will ship the same day (except for Sunday orders) while later orders will ship the same or following business day. Large orders with lots of customized products may take additional time, but rarely more than an extra day or two. Any order that will take more than 48 hours to ship will receive a message from us providing the expected completion date. If you have an urgency, you are welcome to contact us and we will do our best to accommodate.

How can I track my order?

If you have an account with us, you can track your order by clicking "My Account" here or at the top of your screen, or by using the tracking number provided in the shipping confirmation email when your order has shipped.


If you do not have an account with us (meaning you checked out as a "guest"), then you can track your order by using the tracking number provided in the shipping confirmation email when your order has shipped.

What shipping carriers do you use?

For US customers, we currently use USPS and UPS. We offer all of their services, from the most cost effective ground services to overnight air. Orders that qualify for free shipping will ship via USPS Priority or UPS Ground, depending on which is more cost effective for us. For orders below the free-shipping threshold, you can get a quote for the cheapest service available before initiating checkout using the shipping calculator on the shopping cart page.


For all other countries, we offer services from USPS, UPS, and DHL Express. Like our options for US customers, we can use all of the service types these companies offer for your country, from the most cost-effective slower services to the most expedited services available. You will be able to choose your carrier and speed at checkout, and can even get a quote for the cheapest service available before initiating checkout using the shipping calculator on the shopping cart page.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes, of course! We ship all over the world. Specifically, we ship to these 240 additional countries:


Afghanistan, Aland Islands, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua And Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands, Holy See (Vatican City State), Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Islamic Republic Of, Iraq, Ireland, Isle Of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Democratic People's Republic Of, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Republic Of, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldova, Republic of, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territory, Occupied, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Cameroon, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre And Miquelon, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome And Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard And Jan Mayen, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, United Republic Of, Thailand, Timor Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, British, Wallis And Futuna, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe



How much does shipping cost?

Shipping is calculated and charged to you automatically based on the weight and volume of the products you are ordering. We special receive discounted rates from all of the carriers we offer. We want to offer the lowest prices we can, and do not charge any extra handling or service charges whatsoever. We provide a shipping calculator on the shopping cart page for your convenience that will estimate the price of the cheapest available shipping option for your address so you can plan ahead before checkout. Once you initiate checkout, you will see all the services available for your address and their prices before finalizing your order. 


Currently, orders over $99 for delivery to US customers will receive free USPS Priority or UPS Ground shipping at our expense. Unfortunately we do not have a similar offer for international customers due to the highly variable cost of international shipping at this time.

What is your return and exchange policy?

First and foremost, we want our customers to be completely satisfied with their purchases from us, and will work quickly to solve any problems you may have until you are happy. If you have any problems with your order, please use the return/exchange form on the contact us page or email us at returns@stonethr.one


Our full refund policy can be found here, but the summarized version is as follows: 


For non-customized products, we accept new, unused items in their original packaging for return or exchange within 30 days of your order. You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. For exchanges, we will pay for shipping the replacement item to you.


Unfortunately, due to the cost and nature of customized items, products that have been customized can not be returned for a refund unless we made an error in producing your order, such as filling your engraving with a color different to the one you ordered or a typographic error on our part. Customized items may be eligible for exchange for the same item, at our discretion.

What do I do if my order never arrived, is incomplete, or damaged?

If your order has not arrived and you think it should have, first track your package through the shipping carrier using the tracking number found on the My Account page or in the shipping confirmation email we sent out when your order was shipped. Sometimes delivery exceptions can occur due to weather or other factors that can make a package take longer than usual to arrive. If this does not help, contact us and we will help locate your package.


If your order arrives but is partially incomplete, first check that your shipment is not split into multiple packages. This will be indicated on the packing slip included in the package you did receive. Sometime an order will be split into multiple boxes, and may rarely arrive at a later date even if they were sent together at the same time. If this is not the case, contact us and we will make sure you get your missing item(s).


If your order arrives but has been damaged during shipping, contact us. Including a photo or photos of the damage can help accelerate our ability to help, and may be required by the shipping carrier.

Our Products

What if I want an option that isn't listed?

No problem! We love getting creative and doing custom work, and whatever it is you have in mind, we can probably make it happen. Just visit the contact us page and reach out to us via phone, email, or text. We will let you know if we can accommodate your request, and provide a no-hassle no-obligation quote, if applicable. 


If it's just a minor request that the various options on the product page don't quite address, such as wanting lines 1 and 2 on your engraving in bold font, you can just click the "Have a special request for this item not covered in the options above?" checkbox near the bottom of the options list to let us know.

What is the difference between the color fill options?

The most basic option on an engraving is "no color fill". This means the engraved areas will be the natural color and texture left by the laser engraving. Each material will leave a different mark when hit with the laser beam. For clear acrylic, this is a frosted, semi-transparent, white (really very light grey) mark. For black acrylic, it is a similar, but darker shade, more of a frosted light grey. For wood, it is a brown color similar to what you would expect from a light 'wood burning'. For stone, it is a white to light grey color, similar to powdered rock. For all materials, it is an attractive, clean, and readable look.


Color fill is the addition of paint to the engraved areas after the engraving is complete. This offers: 1) more contrast for even better readability in more lighting conditions 2) a more professional, elegant appearance and 3) the ability to add your own personal style or to better match to your object being displayed or surrounding decor. Each "swatch" next to the name is an actual daylight photograph of the color fill in question.


We offer standard, metallic, fluorescent, and glow-in-the-dark fills. 


The difference between the fluorescent and glow-in-the-dark fills is that the former will only fluoresce while a UV lamp (any wavelength) is illuminating it, while glow-in-the-dark fills will continue to glow long after the UV or normal cabinet lights have turned off. 


Fluorescent fills use a fluorescent medium as a top coat over a standard base color, and shine a bluish white under UV light. We use this medium in a precise ratio to make your engraving just bright enough to be easily read in a dark fluorescent mineral display, but not so bright it 'washes out' your specimens. Glow-dark-fills use the finest glow pigments available (Europium-based UltraGlow® powders from United Nuclear) mixed in a transparent medium as a top coat over a standard base color. They are essentially colorless in the daytime, but once the lights go out and/or the UV lamps come on will glow brightly in your selected color for many hours (overnight or longer). Unlike the glow-in-the-dark paints and products of old, these UltraGlow® powders don't wear out over time. We can make to be a subtle effect like we do with our fluorescent fill, or at full intensity, or anything in between.


The reason there is a difference in price between color fill options is due to the fact that material costs vary significantly, and some fills require more labor and/or coats to apply properly than others.

Can I mail you my stand to engrave?

Unfortunately this is not possible for us at this time. Different materials take to the engraving differently, even ones that appear similar, and destructive tests need to be run to determine the proper settings for each material. In addition, things can and do go wrong in the engraving process that can ruin the stand even when the settings are perfect. When this happens to one of our stands, we sigh heavily and start over with a new one. If it is your stand that gets ruined, however, that creates a much bigger problem!


If you already have a stand you are keen on using, we suggest checking out our engraved label wedges that we created for just this purpose. They are small, classy, and affordable. The sloped front gives them extra engraving space and makes them easy to read at any angle, and the flat back and small footprint means they will fit well with nearly any stand.

How do I choose the right size?

In most cases, we recommend picking a size at least equal to the diameter of your object being displayed for a balanced look, but it is really up to you. Keep in mind the bevel makes the top area a bit smaller than the dimensions of the stand itself. 


The best way to pick a size is to print one of our size charts and place your object on it to get a perfect fit. We have two size charts, for square and round bases. Make sure to print them at 100% size and change the paper (standard 8.5" x 11") margins to 'narrow' or 'none'. English and metric scales are included on each so you can double check with a ruler.

Specialty Orders / Bulk Orders / Wholesale

I have an idea for a custom order, can you do it?

Is there an easier way to make an order for a lot of stands at once?

For sure, most of our customers who order in bulk send a simple spreadsheet or document listing the sizes and engravings they want, and we put together an invoice or a quote in return. If you'd like to do it that way, just use the contact form and the 'large orders' subject line to send us a message with the details, and you can attach your document at the bottom.


Some customers prefer to call us, and have us put their order together on the phone, and that works too! Just give us a call at 1-(888)-411-8186 (toll-free) or 1-(970)-788-1234 and we'll be happy to help!


If you'd prefer not to have to talk to anyone or want to order right away, another option is to add one stand of each size with the option choices you want to your cart, and then increase the quantity of each to the total number you want of that size (e.g. (15) 3x3's, (12) 4x4's, and (7) 5x5's in clear acrylic). Then checkout as normal when you are ready. Once you complete your order, email us at sales@stonethr.one with your order number and a list or attached spreadsheet/document specifying your different engraving texts for each size. This also works if you just have a few of each size that will be same except the engraved text and want to save a little time building your order.

Is there a discount for buying in bulk?

Yes, buying many stands at once or in a short period of time will get you a discount! The exact amount depends on the size of the order. We will let you know the best price we can offer whenever you request a quote through our contact form or over the phone.

Do you sell your products wholesale?

Yes, contact us and we can discuss your needs and our wholesale rates.

Acrylic Care

How do I clean my stands?

Cleaning any dust and fingerprints off of acrylic is easy, provided you use the right materials. First, do not use glass cleaner. These and many other cleaners contain ammonia and/or alcohol that will ruin the finish of the acrylic, and could damage your color fill as well. Similarly, acetone will dissolve acrylic, and cannot be used for cleaning. Also do not use paper towels, sponges, or rags. They can trap grit between themselves and the acrylic that will create ugly fine scratches as you wipe. 

Use a cleanmicrofiber cleaning cloth. A microfiber cloth, some warm water, and gentle wiping will take care of most minor dust and fingerprints. A drop of mild dish soap may remove more stubborn grime. If you only have a few pieces to clean occasionally, this is probably all you need.

If you have a bigger collection, or need to clean your stands more regularly, we recommend investing in a bottle of Novus 1 or Brillianize spray to use with your microfiber cloth. These products are specially designed to be used with acrylic and won't harm the finish or color fills. In addition to cleaning, both sprays contain polishes that add some extra shine to your stand, anti-static properties that will help keep dust at bay between cleanings, and add some fingerprint resistance as well. A little goes a long way and they last a long time. Both are great sprays, but Brillianize contains a bit of silicone to supposedly better resist fingerprints fill in microscopic scratches. We use both ourselves, and honestly don't notice a big difference between the two. That said, all our stands are polished with Brillianize before shipping.

How do I prevent scratches?

Our high-quality cell cast acrylic is scratch resistant, but no acrylic is as hard as glass and can be scratched. The most frequent cause of scratches is, ironically, cleaning the acrylic. The biggest culprit here is using the wrong cloth (see "How do I clean my stands above") and/or too much pressure. 


The next leading cause of scratches is moving the stand around on its shelf/desk/etc without rubber feet, causing specks dust and dirt to slide between the acrylic and surface leaving scratches. Not a big deal with black acrylic, but can leave marks in clear acrylic that are visible from the top. All our customized stands include rubber feet, so make sure to apply them, or always be sure to lift your stand vertically then move it rather than slide it around. We also carry rubber feet for sale if you want to add them to your uncustomized stand order, label wedges, or stands you already have.


Another common cause of scratches is putting the object being displayed directly on the stand without any mounting putty or glue to act as a buffer. For some people this is no problem because such scratches can be covered by the object itself, but it can be risky. The easiest way to prevent this is to use a bit of mounting putty or hot glue to act as a barrier between the object and stand and also to keep it from sliding around when moved or disturbed, creating scratches.


The only other place to watch out is when moving house. Always clean your stands shortly before wrapping them in whatever soft, non-scratching material you're using for fragile items when packing to prevent any dust/grit present on the stand from rubbing between the acrylic and packing material during transport.

I scratched my stand, how do I remove it?

Most any scratch can be removed from acrylic, but being as hard and scratch-resistant as it is means that the deeper the scratch, the more work it will be to remove. The quickest and easiest way to remove shallow and deep scratches alike is to use a buffing wheel (either bench style, or an inexpensive buffing wheel attachment for a drill or rotary tool). 

If you this is not an option, there are creams that work well provided the scratch is not too deep. Run your fingernail over the scratch, and if it is shallow enough that your nail does not "catch" in the scratch, then these scratches can be removed with products like the phone scratch removers (also sold individually and in smaller sizes). These creams are designed specifically for removing scratches from acrylic, and work well, but can take some patience and elbow grease. 

Are the stands outdoor safe?

Yes, for a time. Eventually extended exposure to the elements may degrade the color fill (if present) but it is fine to put our stands outdoors for an event, trade show, exhibit, etc. without worry.

Mounting and Display

Should I use putty, hot glue, or something else to mount my object?

While some objects may sit at a good angle for display all on their own, many will not. Even if it does sit well without any support, this can be risky for delicate objects that may be left vulnerable to be displaced, tipped over, or even knocked off their stand when moved or bumped into causing damage to the object or adding scratches to the display stand. On the other hand, many collectors are justifiably wary of any mounting technique or material that might damage their valuable collectible if trying to remove it from its stand in the future if desired (or simply be difficult to remove it). So choosing the right mounting material for your application is important. 


The most popular and widely applicable methods are mounting putty (aka "mineral tack" and "museum putty" or "museum tack"), hot glue (aka "hot melt adhesive"), and support pegs. However, there are other techniques and materials as well. In the table below, we'll go over most of these various mounting techniques and their respective advantages and disadvantages so you can make an informed decision for your treasures. Of course, feel free to contact us if you need any advice!


***SUMMARIZED VERSION AT THE BOTTOM***

Mounting Method

Pros

Cons

Mounting Putty - a slightly adhesive rubbery substance similar to "sticky tack" used to hang posters in class and dorm rooms for decades. Unlike sticky tack, this product is a non-drying formulation that stays pliable for years and years, contains very little oil, and will not discolor or chemically react with your specimen. The most popular mounting method among collectors.

  • Easily removed from almost any surface
  • Non-permanent hold
  • Infinitely reposition your specimens
  • Reusable
  • Low cost

  • Requires more material than other methods, meaning it is more likely to be visible at the base of your display object, particularly if using it to create a "unnatural", top-heavy display angle
  • The weakest of holds, top-heavy and tall objects may sag or tip over over time, especially if handled
  • If left for many years unmonitored, may begin to dry and become very difficult to remove

Hot Glue - plastic glue sticks in various colors used in a hot-glue gun. Not all hot glue sticks are created equally, and require different application temperatures, have different holding abilities, and different clarity levels. Our hot glues are carefully selected to hold objects to acrylic well, but not too well, and have the highest clarity available anywhere. The second most popular mounting method among collectors, and our personal favorite.

  • Easy to medium difficulty removal (see removal instructions in FAQ)
  • Semi-permanent hold
  • Secure hold, can withstand movement and support more extreme display angles
  • Very low cost
  • Uses very little material compared to other methods, and can be color matched to the stand (e.g. clear or black) making it either completely invisible or nearly so.

  • Removal can be more difficult than mounting putty, requiring either careful peeling, overnight soaking in hot water, or brief soaking in acetone, depending on the object being held.
  • Can not withstand rough handling or most extreme angles that more permanent adhesives or support pegs can
  • not repositionable without removing and starting over

Support Pegs - vertical and horizontal pegs built right into the stand to support the object either entirely above the base or to assist in reaching difficult display angles. Typically made of materials matching the stand material, such as acrylic, wooden dowels, or metals such as brass, aluminum, or steel. Generic sized pegs are common on most mass-produced plastic stands, while custom-sized pegs are widely used in museum and private collections alike. We can make custom pegs in any length, diameter, and position you desire for a very reasonable price.

  • Requires little or no adhesive so removal is trivial
  • Some consider pegs to add professionalism or elegance to their display
  • Allows for nearly any piece to be displayed at nearly any angle
  • Much cheaper than engraved bases
  • No adhesive to distract from specimen

  • May still require some putty or glue where piece contacts the base to sit at desired angle securely (albeit much less than without pegs)
  • Generic one-size-fits-all pegs fit almost nothing, and can cause lots of damage trying to get the piece into position. Remains at risk of slipping or falling over, especially with the extreme light-weight of mass-produced plastic peg stands.
  • Not a secure hold for any handling or cleaning without adhesives, relying on gravity alone
  • More expensive than adhesives alone.
  • Requires a place on the piece for peg to contact that won't cause damage
  • May be undesirably visible

Custom Engraved Bases - from the simple curved base to hold round and elliptical objects to the cast-and-mold bases carved into a complex cavity to fit a particular object. Curved bases we keep in stock. The latter is not something we currently offer on our website, but can do so via custom order and is also available elsewhere.

  • Requires no adhesives
  • Very cost-effective method for displaying spheres, eggs, and other round objects securely and elegantly.
  • Bottom of object becomes hidden in the base, desirable in some pieces.

  • Extremely expensive at $200 or more per stand. Very cost-ineffective for custom milled bases for all but the most valuable objects.
  • Time consuming to produce, and often requires shipping object to the producer to get a matching fit, adding risk and expense.
  • Often far more visible and distracting than any other mounting method, especially in clear bases.
  • Display angles may be limited without additional support pegs
  • Bottom of object becomes hidden in the base, undesirable in some pieces.

Other adhesives - from basic, white school glue to more specialized products like E6000 adhesive. These are more specialized solutions depending on what is most important to you and the object you are mounting.

  • If your object will already sit at the desired angle without any adhesive on a table, and there is a decent amount of contact area available, white school glue works well to add security to your piece. It is cheap, non-reactive, dries clear, and is easily removed by soaking in warm water. 
  • If removability is not a concern (our stands will last a lifetime), but a secure hold is, then E6000 is a great option for a secure, permanent mount. Bonds well to acrylic, dries crystal clear, and will allow nearly any support angle.

  • White glue is pretty great when it works, but the applications it works on are extremely limited. For minerals and fossils, it is rarely the best choice, but may work well for displays for toys, memorabilia, and other man-made keepsakes that already sit well and have nice flat areas to glue to.
  • E6000 is great stuff if you want to mount your object once and never have to think about it moving or falling over, but do consider it completely permanent. If you're concerned about removing the object from the stand at a later date, E6000 is not an option you should consider.

Molded sub-bases - the technique of using the object to create in impression in pliable materials like clays to create a custom-molded cradle for the object to sit while on top of the display stand. Traditional stoneware clay, thermoplastic polymer clay (Fimo and Sculpey), air dry clay, and similar materials are sometimes used for this purpose.

  • No adhesives required so removal is easy provided no clay gets stuck in the specimen when making the mold
  • Low cost
  • zero to medium visibility depending on object
  • can be color matched or painted to reduce visibility

  • Object needs a pretty broad area of contact to create a suitably wide enough base to support specimen. Will not work well for small objects, objects with narrow bottoms, top-heavy objects, or objects where the center doesn't reach the base without being very visible
  • No lateral support without adding adhesives to prevent any handling, moving, or knocking the base from dislodging display object.
  • All clays shrink when dried, so fit isn't as exact as it first appears, and may require additional tooling and carving to fit at all once dried or fired.
  • Time consuming to produce, dry/fire, retool, and mount (or very carefully place)

Summary: 


For most objects and applications, we think hot-glue is the best option overall. It provides a much more secure hold than mounting putty, but is usually easy to remove completely (and still not very difficult to remove when it isn't), is cheap, invisible or nearly so, stable enough to be permanent if desired, bonds well enough to allow low stress-free handling for rearranging of displays, transport, or cleaning. Even the most extreme viewing angles are usually possible with the addition of support peg(s).


If removability is your biggest concern above all else, use mounting putty. It doesn't provide the best hold, or the most invisibility, but it won't harm your object and is as to remove as simply peeling it off. Adding support pegs allows you to use less material for a cleaner look, and/or allow for extreme viewing angles. We do recommend checking it once a year or so to make sure it isn't drying out in your climate, but our special brand of museum-grade mounting putty has been in use by collectors and museums around the world for many years on many pieces and we've yet to find a single report of it happening yet. 


If secure mounting is your biggest concern above all else, use the phone. It bonds extremely well, is invisible in most applications, is extremely stable, and remains very affordable. Again, keep in mind it is practically impossible to remove without damaging your object and/or stand! And do be careful to avoid counterfeit look-a-likes when purchasing - there are many cheap imitators around online! 


If the avoidance of adhesives of any kind is your biggest concern above all else, use custom support pegs, molded sub-bases, or custom engraved bases. Which of these you choose will depend on your budget, personal aesthetics, object geometry, and patience. 


Again, we are always here to help advise you on the best mounting method for your own needs, just contact us!

How do I remove hot glue from an object?

We find a lot of collectors are hesitant to use hot glue out of fear that it will be difficult to remove without damaging their display object. That is rarely true, especially when the right glue is used (one with medium adhesion, high flexibility, and high quality/stability like ours). Furthermore, if you think about it, its pretty unlikely you would ever really need to remove the object from the stand in reality anyway. The stand lasts forever and won't need to be replaced, and if you were to sell the object or give it away, the stand would only add to its monetary and aesthetic value. If you did ever have to remove it, it would be a pretty rare occurrence indeed, and the slightly extra effort required to remove hot glue once (if at all) we feel is definitely worth the years of perks of a such a simple, secure, affordable, and hidden mounting solution. 


One thing that helps in removal is that our hot glue really likes to bond to itself more than anything else, and will nearly always come off as a single piece. Another is that there are many different tricks and techniques that will loosen its grip entirely, or at least substantially enough to peel it off without much force. The first step is to get the stand and the object separated, and then to remove the blob of hot glue from whichever of the two halves it stuck to when separated. Try the process below, and feel free to contact us if you need any advice!


1a) The smooth surface of our stands means that a slow pull or gentle rocking motion will usually free an object from the stand without much effort. If so, proceed to step 2. If it feels like too much force is going to be needed to separate them safely, or your object is extremely fragile to begin with, try step 1b instead.


1b) Place the stand in a sink or container of warm water up to at least the level of the glue (if the object can get wet) for 12-24 hours. Water will soften the glue and step 1a) should work to remove it from the stand, and likely the object as well. If it can't get wet, but can handle temperature changes, putting it in the freezer for an hour should do it. A hot car or blow dryer can also work. If this fails, you can use rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol or denatured alcohol (ethanol) on a cotton bud to separate the two. Avoid getting it on any paint fill on the engraved stand (if present), and don't leave it soaking in alcohol. Acrylic is very slightly soluble in alcohol over time, as are some paint fills. At this point we just want to get the stand and object separated so we can proceed to step 2.


2) Once freed from one another, the glue will either have stuck to the stand or your object. If it is stuck to the stand, simply peel it off with your fingernail. You can put it in the freezer or soak in warm water if it won't come off, but it really should pop off the smooth stand pretty easily. If it is stuck to the object then use the first technique in the following list that is safe for your object:


i) Simply peel it off with your finger. Smooth materials of all kinds, and rocks or fossils with a powdery or fine-grained texture should peel off safely without much effort, and even most rough-textured objects can be pried off with just a fingernail if they are sturdy enough to be handled safely while you do it.


ii) Acetone (nail polish remover) will dissolve hot glue very effectively, so just apply and slowly peel the glue blob back to expose more of the contact area to acetone. Or simply let it sit in a container of acetone for a bit until it peels off easily. Nearly every mineral is acetone safe, unless they have been repaired with glue, and even then it can still be used if you avoid getting it on the repaired area. WARNING: do NOT use acetone anywhere on the stand. Acetone WILL dissolve paint, acrylic, and most other plastics very rapidly!!!


iii) Soak contact area in warm water for 12-24 hours until glue has softened enough to peel off.


iv) 1 hour in freezer / hot car / or blow dryer. Temperature change should cause enough expansion or contraction to allow separation of the glue blop with a fingernail. You can alternate hot and cold to amplify the results.


v) Rubbing Alcohol / Denatured Alcohol - again, safe for nearly every mineral and fossil, and most glue-repaired ones at that. Not as effective as acetone, but when used the same way, should allow for easy removal.


Again, you should only need to use one of these techniques to get the blob of glue off safely, but we are listing many to cover a variety of materials. Searching YouTube for "how to remove hot glue from " will provide a variety of tutorials for more unique objects not covered here. Also, don't be afraid to contact us if you need any advice!

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