What is blockboard?.

[brianivor]

Its OK, I made my kitchen worktops from it 25 years ago, but two timber merchants in my locality (Basildon) said "Whats that then?

Another two didnt stock it saying that people have moved towards MDF.

Well I believe its better than MDF for shelving (more rigid) and I hear of health issues regarding the giving off of formaldehyde fumes by MDF, not to mention the particles when cutting.

So, my question really is - is blockboard still available?

Any advice welcome.

Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

Certainly I haven't seen it in the sheds for ages, but it is still available through specialist timber suppliers.
Isn't blockboard the material made with equal size strips of timber and then veneered, but when wider strips are used its called battenboard?
Takes me back!
John

 

[maltaron]

Do a search for blockboard and several suppliers will show.

 

[brianivor]

I don't recall "battenboard" but your description is right about blockboard.

I was all set to start another shelving project and am really bothered about the seeming non-availability of this product.

Still hoping someone can recommend a supplier.

 

[merlin50]

use cheap plywood better than MDF

 

[stevethejoiner]

In the 70s when I did my apprenticeship we used blockboard all the time. Lovely to work with but mega expensive to produce I don't doubt, presumably why its not sold a lot today. As allredy mentioned ply is a good alternative.

 

[Jasonb]

Blockboard has the strips wider than they are deep so on an 18mm board they will be about 12x20 with a 3mm ply on each face. Then Laminboard had much narrower strips about 12mm x 5mm.

You don't see the birch faces stuff that was used a lot 20-30 years ago as MDF ha staken over but you can still get it with veneered faces but the cost puts a lot of people off.

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/Sheet-Materials.aspx

J

 

[stevethejoiner]

Blockboard has the strips wider than they are deep so on an 18mm board they will be about 12x20 with a 3mm ply on each face. Then Laminboard had much narrower strips about 12mm x 5mm.

You don't see the birch faces stuff that was used a lot 20-30 years ago as MDF ha staken over but you can still get it with veneered faces but the cost puts a lot of people off.

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/Sheet-Materials.aspx

J

Those were the days. Quality blockboard edge grooved to accept tongued deal lippings, which were glued on with hot animal glue and then cramped on all round. And then carefully planned off smooth being ultra careful not the remove the birch face with the edge of the plane iron. as an apprentice I did get moaned at for doing that.