Ski touring bindings displayed on 1x4x24 inch simple planks.
I’ve encountered a few ski binding collectors over the years. Generally, the theme is the same. You make some kind of “board” you mount the binding on, then hang on your wall. I’ve seen collections installed on sections cut from discarded skis (funky, but too busy for my taste). Others live on fancy boards that took master woodworking skills to create. My approach is to use simple 1×4 inch planks with the edges slightly eased. The wood is affordable clear poplar that holds screws slightly better than pine and comes quite straight. I try to mount the bindings in consistent fashion so the toe units, at least within in a brand, line up horizontally. If the ski touring binding has a brake that doesn’t stow I either tie it up with a strap, or place screws on either side of the plank to act as hooks for the brake arms.
Our museum room (otherwise known as our house entryway, hah) is done in North American “drywall sheetrock” style, thus simple drywall screw anchors with a protruding screw work well for hanging. Downside with screw anchors is they leave blemishes if they’re ever sunk or removed. That’s not a problem for me because I have a home improvement skillset that could populate a one-man reality show — including my secret drywall talents. But if you’re concerned about gouging your sheetrock you could use picture hangers that leave tiny nail holes; easy to fill and hide during a repaint.
Our museum has constant additions, presently with more than 50 bindings and counting. Making batches of new display boards is a yearly task. The 1×4 inch poplar planks shown here have just received a quick clear acrylic rattle-can hit. No matter what wood you use, clear coat so it doesn’t get smudged up from handling over the years.
To save money I use these basic screw eyes to hang the ski binding display boards. These work well with my drywall screw anchors holding a screw protruding from the wall. With picture hangers, you’d probably need to bend the screw eyes so they were closer to being flush with the rear of the board.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.
