Comments on: Corkboard Alternative?

Question: Corkboard Alternative?

cgs — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:00:11 -0800

Arty substitute for corkboard? Building a nice looking bulletin board...

I was at a gallery opening and a photographer had these long bulletin board type things on his walls. Picture corkboard wrapped in white canvas, but the inside being both denser and slightly gummy. I asked the artist what it was and he replied, "Oh, that's ______. You should find it at any supply store." But I've since forgotten what he called it. I like to make large bulletin boards and normally use ceiling tiles...but they dry out and crumble.

Any clues to this mystery material, or suggested alternatives, are appreciated!

By: chrominance

chrominance — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:32:22 -0800

The only thing that comes to mind is foamcore, which can't be it because the holes don't close up like they would on a corkboard. But I betcha the art supply stores will know what you're talking about if you say what you said to us.

By: cgs

cgs — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:34:51 -0800

i called Pearl Paint (here in nyc)... they didn't know what i was talking about. :-/

By: mrleec

mrleec — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:02:45 -0800

I use a product found at Home Depot. I don't recall the trade name of it but it comes in 4' X 8' sheets for less than $10. It is about 5/8" thick, light weight, dark brown, and fibrous. Cuts easily into any shape. I cover mine with a coarsely woven fabric. They seem to last forever.

By: hydrophonic

hydrophonic — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:10:01 -0800

mrleec, You talking about Homasote?

By: MsMolly

MsMolly — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:11:41 -0800

Is it called homasote? I knew I read something about this in a recent comment on Apartment Therapy. Check out the comments in this thread for suggestions.

By: sergeant sandwich

sergeant sandwich — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:21:43 -0800

rubber-tak?

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:27:23 -0800

Self-healing foam?

By: Dick Paris

Dick Paris — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:07:27 -0800

Third (or so) on Homasote. My father made bulletin boards with it when I was a boy; he would wrap the board in a fabric of our choosing. I now use it without the fabric, sometimes painted, mostly not.

By: LionIndex

LionIndex — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:29:03 -0800

Fourth on Homasote. The walls of my architecture school were covered with it, and I think the only treatment it got was a coat of gesso.

By: bystander

bystander — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:12:00 -0800

Similar stuff in Australia is Canite, a board product made from compressed sugar cane fibres. We usually cover it with hessian for a nice look, but we just painted it when I was a kid.
The only trouble is, it used to be just about the cheapest board product, but I believe it is now used in office ceilings (those removable panel ones) and last time I bought a sheet it cost more than ply wood!

By: cgs

cgs — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:56:00 -0800

woohoo! "homasote" is what the artist said. and that second thread is perfect for me too... you guys rock! all homasoter's get best answers!