Too Many Bones Enamel Pin Display Ideas for Collectors

Quick answer

For most collectors, the safest Too Many Bones enamel pin display is a felt-backed pin board kept out of direct sunlight, with pins pushed through the backing rather than resting on hard surfaces. Rotate a few pins at a time instead of crowding every pin into one frame, and store the rest in a padded box or a divided travel case. This keeps enamel glossy, metal edges sharp, and rubber clutches from scratching neighboring pins.

Enamel pins are small, heavy for their size, and easy to damage if you treat them like stickers. The clasp points, the metal rim, and the enamel fill all react differently to pressure, sunlight, and moisture, so where and how you display them matters more than most collectors expect.

The questions below cover the practical side of a Too Many Bones enamel pin display: what to mount pins on, how to keep them safe from dust and dents, and how to store the ones that are not currently on show. Each answer stands on its own so you can jump to the situation that matches your shelf, wall, or travel bag.

What is the safest backing for an enamel pin display?

Felt, cork, and foam-core boards are the friendliest backings because they let a pin's post sink in without forcing the enamel face against a hard surface. A felt-covered board also grips the rubber clutch, so a pin is less likely to spin or drop when you brush past it. Avoid glass, bare metal, and tightly woven fabric that forces you to push hard, since that pressure can chip enamel near the post.

If you want a framed look, mount the felt or cork layer inside the frame first, then push pins through that layer only. Do not press pins directly into drywall or a thin shadow box back panel, because the post can bend and the pin face can scratch against the frame edge when you remove it.

• Choose felt or cork over glass or bare metal.
• Push the post through the backing, not the enamel face.
• Leave at least a finger-width between pins so clutches do not collide.

How do I display enamel pins safely without scratching them?

The biggest scratch risk comes from metal clutches rubbing against neighboring pins and from pins resting face-down on hard surfaces during setup. Handle a pin by its edges, place it face-up on a soft cloth while you work, and push the clutch on straight rather than at an angle. If you use locking pin backs, tighten them only until they hold, since over-tightening can bow the post and stress the enamel.

Dust is the slower problem. A soft camera brush or a dry microfiber cloth lifts dust without abrasion, while household paper towels can leave lint and micro-scratches. Keep displays away from kitchen grease and open windows, and dust monthly rather than waiting for a visible film to build up.

• Set pins face-up on a microfiber cloth during mounting.
• Use a soft brush for dust, not paper towels.
• Tighten locking backs just until snug.

Where should I put my pin display to avoid fading and damage?

Direct sunlight is the main enemy of enamel color, and it also heats metal posts enough to loosen some adhesives over time. A wall or shelf that gets only indirect light keeps colors truer for longer. If you want a lit display, use LED strips rather than halogen or incandescent bulbs, because LEDs run cooler and put out far less UV.

Humidity matters too. Bathrooms, basements, and kitchens expose pins to moisture that can dull metal plating and encourage rust on steel posts. A bedroom shelf, a hallway shadow box, or a living-room cabinet away from vents and radiators is usually the safest home for a Chip Theory pin collection.

• Keep displays out of direct sun and away from heat vents.
• Use LED lighting if you want illumination.
• Avoid bathrooms, kitchens, and damp basements.

What are good enamel pin storage ideas for pins not on display?

Pins that are not currently displayed still need protection from dust, dents, and each other. A divided craft box with soft foam or felt inserts lets each pin sit in its own compartment, so metal edges never touch. If you prefer a binder, use pages with individual pockets and slide pins in face-up, then store the binder upright so pins do not press against the page seams.

For a small collection, a padded watch or jewelry roll works well because the compartments are already soft and the roll closes flat. Whichever route you choose, keep the storage container in the same climate-controlled space as your display so pins are not repeatedly moving between humid and dry air.

• Use divided boxes or binder pages with individual pockets.
• Store pins face-up so enamel does not rest on hard plastic.
• Keep storage in the same room as your display.

How should I travel with enamel pins or take them to a game night?

Travel is where enamel pins take the most abuse, because loose pins in a bag grind against keys, dice, and each other. A hard-shell case with foam inserts is the safest option, but a small padded roll or a dedicated pin wallet also works if each pin has its own slot. Never toss loose pins into a dice bag or a pocket with metal tokens.

If you are bringing pins to a game night to trade or show, carry them in a case that closes securely and keep that case inside a larger bag rather than clipped to the outside. That one habit prevents the most common cause of bent posts and chipped enamel.

• Use a hard case or padded roll with individual slots.
• Keep the pin case inside a larger bag, not clipped outside.
• Do not mix loose pins with dice or metal tokens.

Do I need special products to display or store my pins?

You do not need game-specific products to display enamel pins, but some Chip Theory Games accessories solve adjacent storage problems well. The 20 Strong: 20-Deck Travel Storage is built for cards and dice rather than pins, yet its drawers and magnetic lid make it a reasonable place to keep small pin-back parts, extra clutches, and a cleaning cloth in one spot. It is a storage box, not a pin display, so treat it as a supply station rather than a showcase.

For the display itself, a felt board, a shadow box with a soft insert, and a soft brush cover almost every need. If you also collect Gearloc mats, the Too Many Bones: Single Gearloc Playmat shows how Chip Theory approaches surface protection, and that same logic, a soft layer between hard surfaces and your collection, applies to pin boards.

• A felt board and soft brush cover most display needs.
• Use a lidded box for spare clutches and cleaning tools.
• Keep display supplies separate from loose game components.

Pin display checkpoints

Backing choice

Felt or cork lets posts sink in without pressing enamel against a hard surface. If your current board is glass or bare metal, add a felt layer before mounting more pins.

Light and location

Indirect light and low humidity keep colors and metal plating in better shape. Move displays away from windows, vents, and damp rooms.

Storage rotation

Divided boxes or binder pages keep undisplayed pins from touching each other. Rotate a few pins at a time instead of crowding every pin into one frame.

Chip Theory products that help with pin storage and care

• 20 Strong: 20-Deck Travel Storage: This box holds up to 20 decks and includes drawers for storing up to four different sets of dice, with a magnetic lid that can also function as a tray. The drawers and lid tray give you a dedicated place for spare pin backs, a cleaning cloth, and small tools, so pin care supplies do not get lost among game components.
• Too Many Bones: Single Gearloc Playmat: This playmat provides positioning for a Gearloc mat, loot, and dice during solo games and is designed to keep components organized on a soft surface. It demonstrates the same soft-surface principle that protects enamel pins: a felt or fabric layer between hard table surfaces and your collection reduces scratches and shifting.

A good Too Many Bones enamel pin display comes down to three habits: mount pins on a soft backing, keep them out of direct sun and moisture, and store the rest in individual compartments. Follow those and your Chip Theory pin collection stays sharp, colorful, and ready to show off at the next game night.