class37418stag Posted December 12, 2017 Author Share Posted December 12, 2017 Homebase do a cutting service. no sell 12mm from Homebase Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffP Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 HAVE YOU TRIED ANY LOCAL WOODYARDS/TIMBER SUPPLIERS??????????????????? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junctionmad Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I stand over my "horizontal " comment , mdf is this regard is even worse then chip , even with quite extensive sub framing you will detect sagging over time , the same is true for chip even though it's not quite as bad , but it's a terribly heavy construction I now use bb/bb Russian birch ply in all my baseboards and yes I used to use everything from mdf to chip in the past Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 There is no definitive "Good" baseboard material, ply, Mdf, Fibreboard, Sundela, concrete, Oak, I have tried most with reasonable results but chipboard, it is heavy, weak, absorbs moisture and disintegrates, can't be sanded to a decent finish, splinters, the sharp edges rip your trousers and skin, and it transmits noise, This evening while recycling materials from a skip I chucked several sheets of 12mm Chipboard back in. However don't let me put you off, It does stay flat unlike most materials, doesn't usually come with live woodworm and as a base plane rather than a track bed on a permanent layout it can do a good job, especially the tongue and groove 18mm flooring grade.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazynitwit Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 There is no definitive "Good" baseboard material, ply, Mdf, Fibreboard, Sundela, concrete, Oak, I have tried most with reasonable results but chipboard, it is heavy, weak, absorbs moisture and disintegrates, can't be sanded to a decent finish, splinters, the sharp edges rip your trousers and skin, and it transmits noise, This evening while recycling materials from a skip I chucked several sheets of 12mm Chipboard back in. However don't let me put you off, It does stay flat unlike most materials, doesn't usually come with live woodworm and as a base plane rather than a track bed on a permanent layout it can do a good job, especially the tongue and groove 18mm flooring grade..Concrete! How did that work then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted December 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2017 Concrete! How did that work then. Large aggregate or Self levelling such as Agilia ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted December 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2017 Large aggregate or Self levelling such as Agilia ? So how can I do track on a gradient with self levelling concrete? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 So how can I do track on a gradient with self levelling concrete? Lift up one end of the baseboard or garden Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I stand over my "horizontal " comment , mdf is this regard is even worse then chip , even with quite extensive sub framing you will detect sagging over time , the same is true for chip even though it's not quite as bad , but it's a terribly heavy construction I now use bb/bb Russian birch ply in all my baseboards and yes I used to use everything from mdf to chip in the past I do agree that Ply is the best material for most jobs, but with MDF if it is braced appropriately and sealed against moisture it is more than adequate. I repeat I had 3 boards for a narrow gauge layout in our damp Club Room, it had been sealed with silk emulsion paint and showed no signs of deterioration. Plus I used Latex glue rather than PVA. If it had been made out of Ply I still would have treated it the same in those conditions Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
landscapes Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Are you sure you want to use chipboard? Many not be the best choice! 9mm ply worth looking at Phil Hi Fully agree with Phil, use 9mm thick Birch Plywood much better and less weight than chipboard which also acts like a sponge to moisture. Regards David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Hi Fully agree with Phil, use 9mm thick Birch Plywood much better and less weight than chipboard which also acts like a sponge to moisture. Regards David What about exterior grade 9mm plywood? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to using exterior grade? I was going to use sundeala board but have now converted to 9mm ply. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2017 What about exterior grade 9mm plywood? Are there any advantages or disadvantages to using exterior grade? I was going to use sundeala board but have now converted to 9mm ply. It depends what kind of exterior ply you source, and where from. Generally it has a rougher, less even surface with thicker cut facing veneers. Some places call shuttering ply exterior grade, but this is even rougher, having knot holes in the surfaces, not always filled, and not always flat due to the poor quality veneers in it. Back in the early 80's, when obtaining quality wood wasn't as easy as nowadays, I constructed a folding layout without any cross bracing underneath from shuttering ply. It was well glued and screwed and is still on the go, having survived various house moves, being stored in garages, lofts and outhouses, and surviving a few exhibition jaunts too, so it isn't the worst thing you build baseboards from. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Thanks Mike, so as in most things, there is ply and then there is ply. I will have a look at my local merchants and see what they look like , exterior is £22.60 a sheet but birch is £39.90 a sheet which is quite a difference, bit they will only need to be bought once so will probably get the birch and make sure I seal it well.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free At Last Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 (edited) royaloak, on 14 Dec 2017 - 14:49, said:royaloak, on 14 Dec 2017 - 14:49, said: Thanks Mike, so as in most things, there is ply and then there is ply. This 12mm WBP ply was perfectly flat when I bought it from a local timber merchant, this is what it was like the next day... Edit, It needs no supports to stand up though... Edited December 14, 2017 by Free At Last Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNER4479 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 (edited) The sort of technique used on 4479's Shap could work quite well with chipboard for a permanently fixed layout.. For what it's worth... My Dad has used half inch (oh, go on then - 12mm) chipboard, suitably braced, all his modelling life - but he has never made an exhibition layout. Like father, like son, I started off using 12mm chipboard and my previous layout was constructed of the stuff. Then I heard about plywood and - for me - it was the 'road to Damascus' moment, especially as I was considering transportable, exhibition layouts. Rather like the post above, the only lousy piece of ply I've had in my time came from a builders merchant. Some of the Grantham boards were made from it. One I replaced (before tracklaying started), the others I had to add extra bracing to but otherwise live with. These days, I generally get my ply from a well-known DIY place of a distinctly orange hue (other DIY chains are available - this one happens to be 5 mins from home) but always have a good rummage through the pieces they have there to select the flattest and true-est piece I can find. Always worth forking out a bit extra for a decent piece of baseboard as everything else on your layout depends on the robustness and straight-and-true-ness of the foundations, Edited December 14, 2017 by LNER4479 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Three pages for Where can I get some 12mm Chipboard. Thank goodness he didn't ask OO, OOFS, EM or P4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 This 12mm WBP ply was perfectly flat when I bought it from a local timber merchant, this is what it was like the next day... Far Eastern Shitwood..jpg Edit, It needs no supports to stand up though... That would be adequate for my track laying abilities. Okay you have convinced me to get the 'proper' stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Three pages for Where can I get some 12mm Chipboard. Thank goodness he didn't ask OO, OOFS, EM or P4 I agree, I was thinking a few days away from RM web and it's still going, poor bloke, all this 'advice'.... There should be a Harry Enfieldesque, "You don't want to do it like that........" section!!!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coppercap Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I agree, I was thinking a few days away from RM web and it's still going, poor bloke, all this 'advice'.... There should be a Harry Enfieldesque, "You don't want to do it like that........" section!!!!! He appeared on post #39 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew575 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I see that the new Bunnings Warehouses have a timber cutting service, if you have one in your area it may be worth a phone call to see what sheet materials they offer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junctionmad Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I avoid all the common mass markets : builders providers and seek out specialist sheet material stock holders, they are usually cheaper, actually know what they are talking about , often have CNC cutting services ( at least a CNC saw etc ), even if it means in my case driving 80 miles to collect the sheets , after all what else so you do with a Navara pickup truck !!. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegr Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Can I post a 'What signals I need for my layout' question here? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2017 Can I post a 'What signals I need for my layout' question here? Near enough! Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joppyuk1 Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Remember when CJF recommended half inch insulation board? My very first 2 rail layout used this but it was not successful and was replaced with chipboard.I think I've still got some of this buried in the depths of the garage. Unless it's soaked up the damp from the concrete floor by now. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted December 14, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 14, 2017 Can I post a 'What signals I need for my layout' question here? So long as you make your semaphores from ply! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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