I’ve been making parts of my pack with cardboard and I wanted to now if you guys have tips, pointers, good ideas, bad ideas not to do or general info.
Please and thank you!
Well, I’m a bit of an outsider, but I use anything that isn’t moving or nailed down on my packs. I coat any cardbord-like stuff with Drylock water proofer. This may be overkill, but you get a crisp, white, flat surface. Drawback is it can be crumbly and crack off if blunt force trauma hits the pack. I try to use as little as possible, but corrogated cardboard is very strong. A coating of epoxy would work well, too.
Have you considered Foam Core board instead of Cardboard?
I’ve never herd of it, so no, but I’m willing to learn. especially if it gets me a better pack.
will there be room for electronics?(sorry if this is a dumb question, but i want to cover all my bases.[I feel like a noub 
])
Phil
Didn’t want to step on AJ’s toes or anything, but foamcore is available at most retail stores (Target, Walmart, Craft stores, etc.) It’s cheap (a dollar a sheet at the dollar store for a 2’ by 4 ’ sheet), light weight, and can be cut with an Zacto blade (keep your blade sharp! Dull blades will drag out the foam core in the middle) It’s two pieces of thick paper glued to a 1/4" piece of styrofoam board. I used a few pieces on my pack, too. I built a trap with it for my son, and it was fairly durable. It’s great for places that won’t get bumped since it can wrinkle or chip with enough force. Hope that helps!
Dude, Matte Board is definitively your friend. You can find it at large hobby shops. The foam inside is more dense and makes and gives it more durability. Plus it’s really easy to cut. Only downside is that it comes in 4 by 4 sheets and runs about 15 bucks. But usually one sheet is all you need.
I don’t know about matte board.
But foam core is definitely a good substitute to cardboard. It is alot smoother.. and stronger.
For awareness of material and costs…you have to decide what’s best with the skills you have and tools available to you.
This material requires many tools.
2’ x 4’ mdf board 1/8" thick is less than $3.00 in my area.
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Rigid if constructed properly and flexible enough to make curves.
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Rough on one side and slick on the other.
The stuff I’m referring to is the same material as the gloss signing that you see down the aisles at Target. They sell it at Hobby Lobby. I’m not actually sure why I call it mat board
Thanks for all the help I’ll look in to which one i can use, and were I can find them, because I live in the great white north and we don’t have a Target or Hobby Lobby. we got Canadian Tire and Rona.
Phil
I’ve been using foam core on my pack!
Easy to work with and using wood glue and foam insulation support blocks makes it suprisingly durable!
Cheap too!
My pack is mostly mat board. And even my spartan armor started off as mat board.