Best Hardboards for Crafters and Woodworkers

Hardboards are required for many DIY tasks. Its high-density, smooth-faced composition makes it suitable for a wide range of applications. It is a fantastically versatile material. A hardboard sheet can be used as robust and economical frames for furniture, such as gates, paneling, closet backing, cupboards, and drawer bottoms. While they may not be included in the art supply kit, investing in a pro art hardboard can be a perfect gift for an art lover as they are often used as back support for watercolor paper.

You’ll find a variety of hardboard sheet sizes, from white-faced hardboards to sanded or even unfinished ones. To help you buy the right one, we have jotted down some critical aspects to consider.

Which Factors of Hardboards To Consider?

Sizes of sheets

You will come across plywood in various thicknesses and dimensions to choose from to suit your project requirements. Many types of sheets are available, some of which are thin and flexible enough to form a uniform shape over structures, while others are quite thick and designed to endure things like pressure and wind. The length of the sheets may be an issue, but most hardware and lumberyards can trim the lengthy ones for you. Moreover, a lot of suppliers are now offering hardboard sheet of standard sizes to paint your favorite design.

This can make purchasing hardboards even more difficult if the fabrication shop labels its sizes in millimeters rather than inches. Keep your phone nearby so you can quickly convert the unit’s size before you use it.

Resilience

The hardboard’s surface should be resilient enough to withstand higher pressure and support your artistry equipment. You can use acrylics, watercolors, and oil paints on most of the hardboards without worrying about the end results.

On the other hand, this feature adds to the durability of the hardboard and makes it long-lasting. So, invest in a product from a reliable manufacturer that has a resilient surface to be sure of investing in the right place. If you are interested in hardboard wood painting, panel that is untempered are to be considered as they are more fibrous and absorbent.

How Are Hardboards Advantageous?

In comparison to other materials, hardwood plywood has advantages like solid wood or wood veneer. Plywood is really more durable than solid wood, in case you didn’t know. It is also less expensive to use hardboard than it is to use solid wood, and it can look just as good if you choose ornamental plywood or veneered plywood.

However, when comparing industrial hardboards to other materials better suited for furnishing and art, utility sometimes takes precedence over aesthetics. Because commercial sheets aren’t acclaimed for their visual appeal, understanding the different varieties is critical before making a purchase. Be mindful of this the next time you buy a hardboard for any purpose.

What Criteria Did We Use When Making Our Hardwood Selections?

Our readers look to us to help them make purchasing decisions. Therefore we take this very seriously. We see this as a huge duty. Thus, we make sure to keep the following things in mind when making our selections:

Testimonials from previous customers

To make a smarter buy, look at consumer reviews on sites like Amazon, eBay, and many others that sell online. Customers who have used hardboard sheet before have provided honest feedback in the form of reviews.

You should read these reviews before making a purchase to ensure you are well-informed. You’ll gain a decent grasp of the product’s advantages and disadvantages.

Brand

The brand comes next on our list of factors to be mindful of when purchasing hardboards. The identity and value of a company’s brand are critical. Purchasing from a well-known brand is always the finest option.

You should always settle on a brand that has a good reputation and a track record of delivering on its promises. Customer reviews regarding a certain brand are an excellent resource for learning about a brand’s market reputation.

Price

When it comes to putting forward products to our readers, we consider the price tag to be an important element. A certain spending limit is set by each individual when making a purchase decision. If you want to buy something for a reasonable price, shop about and compare the prices of two or more different brands.

A product from a company within your price range will be ideal. If you’re confident in the product’s quality, don’t be afraid to spend a bit more.

What Type of Hardboard Should You Buy?

Tempered hardboard

Among all types of hardboard, only tempered hardboards can be called truly tough. To make it, little wood particles are cooked in steam until they dissolve and release their flavor. Hydraulic presses, still hot, flatten the material into sheets. Heat and pressure re-join the wood fibers, resulting in the hard, flat, and smooth conventional hardboard surface.

The slight bending of the tempered hardboard increases its tensile strength. It’s ideal for closet drawer bottoms, templates, and other applications that need a strong, long-lasting surface.

MDF

The most common type of hardboard is medium-density fiberboard, sometimes known as MDF. Even though it’s tougher than chipboard, it’s not as tough as tempered hardboard. 3/4-inch MDF is commonly used for cabinets and storage because of its affordability.

It’s tough, smooth, and leaves a crystalline sheen on the inside of cabinets. Other than its light brown hue and lack of distinctiveness, MDF is a common building material. It’s the ideal size, won’t warp, and has absolutely no flaws to it at all. Medium density boards are mostly used for manufacturing composite furniture, kitchen cabinets, and laminating floors.

If you may be are wondering, which type is best – MDF or plywood, then remember there is no definitive answer. The choice depends on the type of tools being used while matching the right material for the right job. Check the video from ‘The Honest Carpenter’ for the pros and cons of using MDF and plywood.

HDF

Builders, cabinetmakers, and furniture makers employ high-density fiberboard (HDF) as their premium form of hardboard. Builders and construction workers use fiberboards that are of at least 1-inch and high-density to construct stair treads. Regardless of how many people or how much weight are placed on it, this flooring won’t give way under their feet or creak.

A handheld multifunctional tool with a routing bit or a rotary tool can be used to add bullnose borders to high-density fiberboard stair treads, and the treads can then be sanded and finished. Any shape that is carved or routed into high-density fiberboard will remain.

Carpenters favor using hardboards as they can be cut, shaped, and drilled easily with standard tools available. Thereafter, they are secured using a short nail, screws, and staples.

Economy or low-cost hardboard

Buying a hardboard at a lower cost is also an option. Sheets of 1/4-inch hardboard, the less expensive alternative, are commonly available. The technique of making tempered hardboard uses steam and heat to make microscopic particles.

However, the time required to create an economical version has been shortened. It’s almost black in color with a high gloss finish on real tempered hardboard. The color of the economy hardboard is medium brown, which is noticeably lighter than the color of the tempered hardboard. It is also glossy.