Question Any one notice any difference?

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Cornered One

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
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Nov 19, 2010
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Mississauga, Ontario Canada
I have been cutting Banibridge Alphamat in our shop for decades but for the past year or so it seems to be different in the way it feels and cuts. Has anyone else found this to be the case or am I crazy?
 
I had on oversized Bainbridge a few weeks ago where I couldn't get a clean cut (seemed very soft). When I ordered the second one it went slightly better, as in acceptable.

I have had less problems with Crescent. Maybe it's B's turn now.....I hope not!
 
I think a lot of this has to do with the matboard vendors (who are convertors, not really manufacturers) having problems sourcing their cores because of changes and downsizing in the paper industry. (The other possibility is that they changed their specifications, which I hope they did not.)
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
 
Can't say I've noticed anything over here in the U of K, but I think our stuff is made in Europe (Germany?) - but that's with a CMC. With a manual cutter I'd maybe notice more resistance etc; with a CMC I'd have to notice more frequent blade changes and I don't pay a lot of attention to that.
 
Rick Granick said:
I think a lot of this has to do with the matboard vendors (who are convertors, not really manufacturers) having problems sourcing their cores because of changes and downsizing in the paper industry. (The other possibility is that they changed their specifications, which I hope they did not.)
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
Click to expand...

Yes, all matboard suppliers are converters who laminate layers of purchased paper. The paper mills manufacture the paper to fit the buyers' proprietary specifications, and samples are routinely tested. There is no way the paper mills could get away with shipping paper that does not meet the buyers' specifications.

I have no knowledge about the specifications of particular matboard suppliers, but let's consider a few facts: 1. The major matboard makers have suffered contraction of their markets in recent years, and certainly have made significant changes to cut costs and improve profits. 2. Paper is sold by weight. 3. Reducing the density of paper fibers in the core paper can reduce weight, and thereby reduce cost significantly. 4. Reducing fiber density can be done without changing the published specifications of the matboards, since fiber density is not advertised. 5. Side-effects of reducing fiber density are lighter weight, softer paper and shredding of fibers at the bevels.

Matboard brands are not all the same, even if specifications match. You decide.


I am a picture framer, a satisfied user of matboards, and an occasional consultant to Peterboro.
 
Anyone have the ability to weigh a sheet of matboard to a suitable accuracy?

Must have a 5 year old board that hasn't sold in your stock somewhere against a new one you got last week.

I suspect the changes to mat boards are more likely to come from changes in pulp fiber.

long fiber, strong paper
short fiber, weak paper
long fiber - soft paper
short fiber - hard paper

Pulp from hardwood trees runs out and mill changes to pulp from softwood trees - hard matboard becomes soft matboard

Adding recycled fiber is notorius for reducing strength as the fiber get shorter when paper is repulped
 
Bandsaw said:
Pulp from hardwood trees runs out and mill changes to pulp from softwood trees - hard matboard becomes soft matboard. Adding recycled fiber is notorius for reducing strength as the fiber get shorter when paper is repulped
Click to expand...

What you said is generally true: Cotton fibers, which are inherently cleaner and require less processing, make longer fibers and softer paper. Alpha cellulose fibers from purified pulp require more processing, which makes shorter fibers and harder paper. In matboards, the density of longer cotton fibers is usually less than the density of shorter alpha cellulose fibers. If a sheet of alpha cellulose board weighs 1.8 pounds, a sheet of cotton board might weigh 1.6 pounds. But in any case, fiber density can be manipulated.

Tear-resistance of fibers in matboard is not an issue, since the multiple layers make a much stronger assembly than a single sheet of paper, and matboard is made to be cut, not torn.

The species of tree from which alpha cellulose fibers are extracted probably would not have much effect on the hardness or softness of the fibers, due to the processing involved.

For a couple of reasons, the difference of weight according to fiber density may not be easily measured in a single sheet of matboard. The difference would be slight, maybe only a few grams, but when multiplied by truckloads of paper, it adds up. Also, moisture content of the board might affect weight more than fiber density, and that factor constantly changes according to ambient conditions.
 
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