"HARDBOARD"

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MnSue

MnSue

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Minneapolis, MN
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Framing Solutions MN
:help:

Anyone know what

"hardboard" is?
and what might be comparable to it?

It maybe an Omega product....

I've not heard of it before....and it is someones' only sustrate they use????

thanks!

(PS: not hard-head...I know that one!)
 
Untempered hardboard has been used as a painting substrate since the material was introduced. Tempered is somewhat water resistant, making it harder to get good adhesion. Traditional gesso on hardboard panels are used for egg tempera paintings, in the same way that stretched canvas is for oil paintings.
 
Hardboard and masonite are the same thing.

You'll find it at a hardware store. It is found in various thicknesses, I think 3mm and 6mm. It's a brownish colour and is very smooth on the front and rough on the backside (hope I won't get sensored for that word :) ) I suppose it's similar in texture to supawood/mdf.

Many artists will gesso it and do oil paintings on it.
 
this particular, very experienced framer is using it where others would use FC?????

this seem correct/logical?
 
A lot of photoframe/posterframe manufacturers use it as backing.

With some lightweight frames it adds to the rigidity of the package.

Better if your drilling holes, riveting or crimping hardware.

I have seen it real thin (1/16)

It can look more finished from the back if your not covering with dust paper.

I would rather use foamboard because it's lighter in weight and a lot easier to cut and handle.

Doug
 
Ding - ding - ding

I think we have a winner....!!!

Hart Board!


(well hardbaord sounds close - right!)

thanks - T G'er come through again!
 
Bron said:
Ok folks, what is Hart Board?
Click to expand...




From my understanding it is somewhat like "HARDBOARD", Bron.

:p


​Who's on first?
 
Foam center board that is made by Hart rather than one of the other half dozen competitors.
 
Bron, just to be clear...Hardboard is another generic term for Medium Density Fiberboard. Hart Board is one brand of common foam-center board. They are completely different products.
 
Very familiar with Hardboard this side of the pond. :p As mentioned, it's a compressed particle board akin to MDF. Usually 3mm or thereabouts thick. Unlike MDF it's smooth on one side only with a sort of canvas weave texture on the other. That's why it's quite popular for oil paintings.
The tempered grade is for flooring mainly to minimise bowing, but I think I am right in saying that the tempering is some sort of oily additive which could cause big probs in some framing applications. It was very popular in the '60s for panelling over beautiful period features in old houses to give that 'modern' look. Panel doors and fireplaces etc. Today people are ripping it all off and restoring the original bits. :p
It varies in quality quite a lot so don't think all hardboard is created equal. :icon11: I used to mount/laminate big o/e prints to it years ago and still have some and they have all stood the test of time. ;)
 
As I think Bron alluded to in a past post in this thread, tempered hard board, a.k.a. masonite, has a chemical impregnated in it that will prevent gesso from adhering well to the board and should be avoided for using as a painted surface. Untempered masonite is fine to use and can also have canvas adhered to it to obtain a textured surface.
 
Allow me to be a contrarian. I do not think that MDF or LDF are comparable to "Masonite" products at all and should not be referred to in the same breath. Nor do I think one could substitute either for each other.

I use all of the products in one form or another, especially in my cabinet and fixture making and they have distinctively different properties, especially their"workability". Once can do things with MDF (especially when shaping and easing of edges) that cannot be done with Masonite.

MDF is available in many more thicknesses - I have never seen Masonite available in thinknesses greater than 1/4".

MDF is hydrophobic and does not respond well to moisture. Tempered hardboard does. Untempered hardboard does not. From my experience, MDF has a uniform particle size where Untempered Harrdboard has longer strands of fiber. Tempered hardboard has edges that can be shaped and parts can be machined that hold together. Untempered hardboard will/does not. In thinner pieces, MDF will be weaker than tempered hardboard, especially if shaped. 1/4" tempered hardboard is more dimensionally stable than MDF and I use it as dividers in my mat racks.

There is a product called, Abitibi that has an expoxy like (very hard and durable) coating on one side (often called tile board) over 1/8" think tempered Masonite. I use it to fabricate dividers for my mat sample racks as it machines well and looks great.
 
READ THE WIKI!!!

Hardboard is HDF (High density fibre board) not MDF (Medium Density ....) and can come rough one side or smooth both - sounds like masonite to me, which also has a wiki and the manufacturing process seems the same.
 
I think there were two ways of tempering hardboard; an oil impregnation, or a "ironing" of the surface to bring more of the natural wood fiber resins to the surface.

Rob, when I make gessoed panels from untempered hardboard, I often chamfer the edges with a hand plane, usually quite smoothly, so some tooling is possible, though sharpness of tool may be critical.

But, since we were actually talking about "foam core", well, never mind.
 
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