A couple of years ago, a question arose within the pages of Woodworker’s Journal concerning the origination of “Masonite®.” Masonite was the brand name of a product invented in 1924 by William H. Mason in Laurel, Mississippi. Mass production began in 1929, and it was produced in Mason’s hometown right up until the 1990’s.
Archive for the ‘Sheet goods’ Category
Hardboard: the All-Natural Wood Product
November 25th, 2011 by Tim Knight4 Comments »
There are two basic processes used to manufacture hardboard: the wet method and the dry method. They both start out the same way; the wood is chipped and then broken down into raw fiber by steaming and grinding. The fibers are put back together with the fibers rearranged lying in either two dimensions parallel to the surfaces or three-dimensional with some parallel and some perpendicular. All hardboard goes through these steps. The end result is two different types of hardboard. One has two finished sides and the other only has one side finished, but I’m getting ahead of myself. 
Life is a Progression
May 27th, 2011 by Rob Johnstone4 Comments »
Have you ever noticed how simple tasks can quickly become complicated far beyond what you would consider possible? For example – the other day I decided to start some seeds for my garden. Up here on the frozen tundra, that means planting them inside, because apparently seeds do not germinate well in the permafrost.
So, having procured said seeds and potting soil and containers of varying sizes and styles in which to plant my future bounty, I ran into a small problem. The folding tables that I was planning on using for this project were missing. (Borrowed by my progeny …)
Using Cutting Diagrams
May 23rd, 2011 by Chris Marshall4 Comments »
Ever wondered how to figure out how much material you need to buy for a project? A board foot estimate is a start, but consider laying out your parts on cutting diagrams as well for greater estimating accuracy. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Banding Together
January 29th, 2010 by Chris Marshall4 Comments »
Remember those old Wisk detergent commercials where the announcer would disdainfully point out “those dirty rings!” Here’s the woodworking equivalent: those dirty plys.
With the exception of Baltic birch and its various likenesses, where the plys are generally uniform and pretty enough to show off, we don’t want to see those “bad” plys on most projects. Particleboard edges are just as much a faux pas to leave bare. You can get away with it on a shop project, but not on a finished cabinet. At least MDF edges, which are generally left au naturel, kind of blend into their surroundings unnoticed.
