Whether model building or something else, there are a wide variety of materials available. Finn cardboard is very interesting. The machine wood cardboard is the easiest-to-use modelling material that even beginners can easily work with. But what exactly is Finnish cardboard, how is it made, and what is Finnish cardboard made of? What properties does it have, what can you use it for, how and with which glue to process it? What are the differences of Finnish cardboard to grey board? The following comprehensive guide addresses these questions.
What is Finn board?
Finnish cardboard or Finnish machine wood cardboard is pure ground wood cardboard. It is characterized by the low specific basis weight and high material volume. The areas of application of the material, which impresses with its special feel, are diverse. The acid-free Finnish cardboard consists of unbleached wood pulp. Waste paper materials or cellulose are not included. The material is sometimes confused with plywood due to the visible wood fibres. Finn cardboard is available in unglued or glued form. The unglued version is very smooth on one side and slightly rougher on the other. The stronger Finn cardboard is glued, so that several thinner layers are glued to the thicker one on top of the other.
How is Finnish cardboard made?
It doesn't require a great deal of chemical or physical knowledge to make it. The raw material for Finnish cardboard is ground wood. It is mainly obtained from the wood of fir and spruce. The material is cheap and shatter-proof. The wood is cut and debarked, and then ground to a fibrous pulp underwater using a whetstone. Individual webs are scooped up and brought together wet on a machine. The layers felt together. This creates the high strength of the felt cardboard. You can no longer roll them once they have dried. At the end, the web is cut into different formats.
What is Finn board made of?
The Finnish machine wood cardboard is comparatively sustainable because it is obtained from the renewable wood and processed purely mechanically without the use of chemicals. It is acid-free and consists of pure ground wood.
What properties does Finn board have?
The natural-coloured cardboard is made of unbleached wood, is not light fast and has a yellowish colour. When exposed to sunlight, the fairly loose, airy and light cardboard darkens. The advantages are the extremely high density, which makes the material very strong, stable and tear-resistant. The low basis weight is also an advantage. Depending on the thickness, it is 460 to 1,890 grams per square meter. The surface is smooth, and the feel is pleasant. With the optimal material properties, the Finnish cardboard can be used in many different ways.
What can Finn board be used for?
Thanks to its easy processing, exceptional feel and warm colour, Finnish cardboard is very popular in model making of all kinds. Whether architectural models, aeroplanes or various vehicles, almost everything is available as a cardboard model. Cardboard is also very popular in handicrafts : you can use it to design a doll's house, for example.
Finnish cardboard is also suitable for packaging, storing and shipping items, as a backing board for framing and in bookbinding.
You can buy the popular material in different sizes and strengths. The advantage is the sorted disposal as waste paper when not required.
How can Finnish cardboard be processed?
Since the material is easy to process, for example by cutting or milling, you don't need any special tools. It suffices:
- cutting mat
- Knife
- Scissors
- cutting ruler
- triangle ruler
- Pencil
- glue
In some cases, several cuts are necessary to cut through the material. Always guide the cutter perpendicular to the cardboard. You can remove minor imperfections, such as rough edges, with very fine emery paper. Laser machines are ideal. You can use it to cut and engrave the Finn cardboard. This also applies to thicker and more stable cardboard. You cannot work more precisely than with a laser cutter.
Which glue is suitable for Finn cardboard?
For example, if you are involved in model building, the cardboard must be glued. You can use white glue and universal glue to glue the pieces together. Liquid glue from a spray can is also well suited for the material. Finn cardboard convinces with a high absorbency. You can fasten the edges with masking tape while it is drying.
There are also glue sticks that use post-it technology. Here it is possible to loosen the adhesive again, which is useful when sticking photos, among other things.
Hot gluing with a hot glue gun is also an ideal way to work with pinpoint accuracy and create stable connections. The hot-melt glue liquefies at a high temperature and is suitable for gluing cardboard. When the glue has cooled, it will harden. But keep in mind, especially when doing handicrafts with children, that it can be very hot.
For heavier cardboard, you can use wood glue, which scores with a very high adhesive strength.
What is the difference between Finn board and Grey board?
Finn cardboard is stable and tear-resistant due to its very high density. The same applies to solid board, such as grey board, which consists of waste paper and cellulose. But cardboard does not warp as much and is much lighter. It is most commonly used in architectural model making. But gray cardboard is also suitable for this. It is rougher and therefore has a different appearance. As the name suggests, it is gray. Gray cardboard is also available in various sizes and thicknesses. It can be cut and glued just as well.
Conclusion on Finn board
Finn board is a cardboard-like, acid-free material made from pure ground wood. It is not light fast. The main area of application is architectural model making, but it is also used in many other handicraft and design work. Choose from different sizes and strengths. The Finn cardboard is very light in relation to its volume. The very stable, durable and absorbent material can be cut very well with the cutter in combination with a metal ruler and glued optimally with white glue, for example. In addition to the great properties, another advantage is the environmental compatibility, because the natural-coloured wood cardboard is made from recyclable materials. After use, it can be returned to the recycling cycle.
