Why not cardboard?

[OCtoolguy]

I know I throw away a lot of good flat cardboard boxes. Amazon and Chewy come to mind. Why not cut the good flat sides from these boxes and use them for backer boards when cutting BB plywood? I would think it might work well and save a lot of good wood for other things. I myself don't do that many projects like that but I do have one coming up soon where I will be stack-cutting some 1/8 in pieces. It would be such a shame to waste some good wood as backers. What say you all?

 

Edited 20 hours ago by OCtoolguy

[rjweb]

Ray, sounds like a good idea, I have never tried that though. Tonight quaifying to see who's on the front row, RJ

[OCtoolguy]

3 hours ago, rjweb said:

Ray, sounds like a good idea, I have never tried that though. Tonight quaifying to see who's on the front row, RJ

I can at least pull for Martin Truex one more time.

[Roberta Moreton]

Cardboard will show ridges.  I tried it. Didn’t like it.  You want it to look smooth. 

[dgman]

39 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said:

I can at least pull for Martin Truex one more time.

Well, he’s made it into the race!

 

[OCtoolguy]

39 minutes ago, Roberta Moreton said:
Cardboard will show ridges.  I tried it. Didn’t like it.  You want it to look smooth. 
I'm not sure what you mean. Can you elaborate? I'm only thinking of using it to back up the underside while cutting. Not for a backer for the finished product.

[kmmcrafts]

I read that as being a backer like many paint or use as a contrasting color wood to enhance the piece..

As for a sacrificial piece that'll be cut as a sort of support for the actual wood panel it might work well but I think it'd depend on the type of cardboard you use.. I don't think you'd want to use the corrugated? like a shipping box as I feel like the bottom would fray and be catching and ripping on the edges of the saw table.. Now the type that say a cereal box or case of your beverages come in type of cardboard might work well for this.. I use the old cereal boxes to do test runs on the laser or to make a outline mark for say ornaments that are already made but I need to line it up to engrave a name or? on them so I know where to place the ornament to get it straight etc.    

[rjweb]

Ray, look at it this way the #19, got the pole, RJ

[Scrappile]

I have not used cardboard from boxes.   I have used flat black poster board as a backer on many pictures I have cut.  Have never had a problem.

 

[Denny Knappen]

I use mat boards as a backer.  As a framer, I have access to many different colors.  My next project is the Heron on the front cover of SWWC.  I will use a mat board on that project.

[Bill WIlson]

20 hours ago, OCtoolguy said:

I know I throw away a lot of good flat cardboard boxes. Amazon and Chewy come to mind. Why not cut the good flat sides from these boxes and use them for backer boards when cutting BB plywood? I would think it might work well and save a lot of good wood for other things. I myself don't do that many projects like that but I do have one coming up soon where I will be stack-cutting some 1/8 in pieces. It would be such a shame to waste some good wood as backers. What say you all?

 

Looking forward to a full report as to how it worked.   

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, Bill WIlson said:

Looking forward to a full report as to how it worked.   

Please understand that this was just a question/suggestion thing. I've never tried it but will give it a go on my next project. I don't do the type of work that generally requires a sacrificial piece of wood. So, the idea of something cheap came to mind and I thought I'd toss the idea out there. I think my wife has a Chewy order out there so if the box is in good condition, that will be my supply of cardboard. Fingers crossed. Another thing that came to mind is card stock. I had some patterns printed on card stock at FedEx and it seems like it would hold up well so that might work out too. Anything that saves on the cost of goods.

[Bill WIlson]

I get it, I was just razzin' ya a little Ray.  

[sydknee]

5 hours ago, Denny Knappen said:

I use mat boards as a backer.  As a framer, I have access to many different colors.  My next project is the Heron on the front cover of SWWC.  I will use a mat board on that project.

I also often use mat boards with success.  Luckily I have a friend who recently retired and gifted me a whole heap of it.