coroplast

[printmaker]

Oh wise framerinos, please illuminate my dim way:

It's been years since I tried using coroplast as a final backing board. We had purchased a few large sheets from one of our suppliers, but found it to be too flimsy and flexible, and very "staticy" - it attracted dirt, dust, hair and you-name-it like a magnet...

There are a number of sources around here for coroplast and, judging by the grumbler postings, it seems that we should, perhaps, take another look at this stuff:

- Is ALL (or any) "coroplast" archival?

- Are there certain brand names to look for, or from which to stay away?

- What thickness works best as a backing board? (We currently use 3/16" Bainbridge Artcare foamboard).

- Aside from price, what advantages/disadvantages are there to using coroplast over foamboard?

Any and all pearls of wisdom, in this matter, are anxiously and gratefully anticipated!!!

 

[wpfay]

Much is available in the archives, but in a nutshell:

Corrugated polypropylene panels, AKA Polyflute. name brand Coroplast (and others that I can't recall right now).

Archival grade is pure polypropylene...no additives like UV inhibitors, anti-static agents, colors. Panels are a translucent pale green color. Available in 4, 6, and 8mm thicknesses up to 60" x 120" in size.

Certain additives are considered non-donor, so some of the colored panels (white) are used as support/filler boards in archival framing, but knowing what additives are and are not present is the conundrum.

Other advantage over foam centered board other than cost is that the panels are ahydroscopic (I think I spelled that right), meaning that they are unaffected by changes in humidity.

The name brand Coroplast archival product is manufactured in Canada or by special order from the US plant in Texas. The generic material is more readily available in the US (at least for me).

 

[Framerguy]

Wally,

The "generic" coroplast you mentioned, is it archival or plain flavored?

If archival, who are you buying from?

Do you suppose they deliver in the panhandle?

I am down to my last few sheets that Mark and I bought and am looking for the archival stuff to try.

Framerguy

 

[wpfay]

Tom, It is archival and I buy from SmallCorp in Greenfield, Ma. They will deliver to the panhandle, but you gotta pay for it. A 32 x 40 box will cost about $30.00 for shipping, last I checked.
What I do is to make bulk orders for rag board from them; they have Rising boards. Once I get an order for 6 cases of boards I can then piggyback the polyflute on to the order and get free shipping (I usually order a few boxes of 32 x 40 but will probably stick to the 48 x 96 from now on). This is where I get the majority of my oversized boards (40 x 60 and 48 x 96 4-ply rag). It takes a chunk of change, at least for me, but I also get excellent pricing on quality boards.