In the June, 2010 Garden Railways Magazine, page 69, Jack Verducci shows how to build a structure using wood planks over Masonite. Since Jack is an experienced garden railroader, I assume it will survive outdoors for a reasonable time. I believe Jack lives in California; has anyone in the Midwest, with real winters, tried Masonite? I am in central Indiana and would like to know more about Masonite since I am just getting into scratchbuilding.
Thanks,
David
I have used "tempered masonite" for several outdoor projects (not necessarily garden railroad) over the years with good results. A good coat of enamel paint (inside and outside) will protect it quite well. I have a birdhouse (for finches) that has been home to at least 15 generations of fledglings. It is exposed year-round to semi-desert, coastal fog, rain, wind, earthquakes, and other local environment conditions.
Tom Trigg
Ttrig is correct that tempered masonite will tolerate high levels of humidity. But ordinary masonite, like that used for perferated peg board, does not like water at all!
Art
I was a bit taken aback by Jack's use of the stuff, too. I used it last summer for some "quick-and-dirty" roofs for some buildings I put together in time for the convention. They're all quite warped after just one winter. Replacing them is on my "to-do" list.
On the other hand,the siding on my house is a masonite product, and holds up very well. Perhaps that's the difference between "tempered" and the regular stuff. Never investigated it much to be honest. My guess is that Jack's using "the good stuff," and I'm not.
Personally, I wouldn't take the chance. There are some other products out on the market which work better. One of them is a product sold by Ozark Miniatures/Precision Products called "Perfec Panels." This is a styrene foamcore board. They sell it in 16" square panels. The stuff cuts like butter, and is very easy to work with. (Look for a review in an upcoming GR.) I need to look around to see if I can find a source for larger panels.
Later,
K
There's a huge difference between "regular" masonite, and tempered masonite.
Regular is pretty much like compressed cardboard, in obvious layers, absorbs moisture, and is not very strong.
Tempered is treated with oil I believe and compressed under heat and pressure if I remember right. It's a totally different animal.
http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/Main/Articles/Regular_vs_Tempered_Hardboard_6340.aspx
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
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Peg board (with or without the holes, aka: press board, fiberboard, particle board, masonite) will survive outdoors untreated for about 2.5 days before it becomes unusable for anything. Tempered Masonite is much stronger due to different glues and oils used; it is formed under much more pressure and a whole lot of heat. Tempered Masonite weighs about twice as much as the same size piece of pressboard. It is easily identified by the following, it is brown through out (color of oils and glues), the "top" side is extremely smooth, the "bottom" side has a slight "cross hatch" look and feel, a manufacturer’s mark will appear on the bottom side in the corner of a full 4x8 sheet and it will have the words "Tempered Masonite".
Comparing the two products would be like gluing up seven or eight layers of cardboard box and comparing that to a kiln dried piece of Teak.
I'm glad to see this discussion. I was amazed to see Masonite suggested for an outdoor project. I had never heard of tempered Masonite. Good to know.
Matt
Tempered masonite is not new; it's been around for a long time.
In the late 30s, my oldest brother decided to add public address stuff to his radio store which he had started in 1930 (he had turned 21 and 6 months into the depression quit his job to start repairing radios; really wanted to be his own boss!).
He couldn't afford to buy PA equipment so he built the horns for the outdoor loud-speakers from tempered masonite. I still have scraps; they're thin - maybe 1/8 inch thick and thus curvable. His speakers were rectangular, flaring from the speaker enclosure to probably to a 3 foot plus square on all sides. He'd hang them from tree limbs for politcal meetings, picnics, whatever. Even during the depression, he could find ways to earn more money.
After WWII, commercial stuff was cheap, available, and not nearly so heavy, but the demand had gone down to next to nothing.
The only thing constant is change.
the "top" side is extremely smooth, the "bottom" side has a slight "cross hatch" look and feel, a manufacturer’s mark will appear on the bottom side in the corner of a full 4x8 sheet and it will have the words "Tempered Masonite".
Hmm, that's exactly what the stuff I used looks like, save for the words "Tempered Masonite." Perhaps that wording is the differentiation? (That, and I would expect price.)
BTW, the "Perfic Panels" I mentioned above from Precision Products are similar (identical?) to a product called GatorPlast. It's not cheap, expect to pay between $60 - $80 for a 4' x 8' sheet, but according to the manufacturer's specs, it's designed for outdoor use. (That price is on par for similar coverage of the Perfic Panels, and shipping the 16" square panels will be decidedly cheaper than buying/shipping a case of 10 sheets of the GatorPlast if you can't find a local source for a single sheet. Most of our building walls can fit on a 16" sheet anyway...
kstrong Hmm, that's exactly what the stuff I used looks like, save for the words "Tempered Masonite." Perhaps that wording is the differentiation? (That, and I would expect price.)
Difference in price, YES. One very unscientific test is to attempt to press your thumbnail into the sheet. If your thumbnail leaves a mark (depression) it is standard" masonite, if your thumbnail shatters and no mark on the masonite it is "tempered".
Edit: Using thumbnail, try to "flake off" a piece from the edge. If tempored your thumbnail will break, if the board chips it is not tempored.
I just bought a sheet at the Oceanside Lowe’s last week. Haven’t seen it at HD in a while. The gut at Lowe’s said they get it in occasionally and suggested a "LUMBER YARD" as a source as they would have the contractor/house builder grade material. The one I got has a "Warehouser" Logo with Pat# on it, sorry but I tossed the UPC. The non-tempered stuff at Lowe’s has some oriental markings (Chinese? Alphabet) or no markings at all.
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