Corkboard Alternative?

October 31, 2006 2:00 PM

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!

posted by cgs to Media & Arts (11 answers total)

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.
posted by chrominance at 2:32 PM on October 31, 2006

Response by poster: i called Pearl Paint (here in nyc)... they didn't know what i was talking about. :-/
posted by cgs at 2:34 PM on October 31, 2006

Best answer: 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.
posted by mrleec at 3:02 PM on October 31, 2006

Best answer: mrleec, You talking about Homasote?
posted by hydrophonic at 3:10 PM on October 31, 2006

Best answer: 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.
posted by MsMolly at 3:11 PM on October 31, 2006

rubber-tak?
posted by sergeant sandwich at 3:21 PM on October 31, 2006

Self-healing foam?
posted by boo_radley at 3:27 PM on October 31, 2006

Best answer: 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.
posted by Dick Paris at 4:07 PM on October 31, 2006

Best answer: 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.
posted by LionIndex at 5:29 PM on October 31, 2006

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!
posted by bystander at 10:12 PM on October 31, 2006

Response by poster: 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!
posted by cgs at 10:56 PM on October 31, 2006