Hardboard or masonite for final skin?

[DiabloCanyon]

OK, forgive the newbie question but, for building a Woody, will Hardboard suffice for the final, outer skin (or 2 pieces of hardboard) if it is coated with enough epoxy-resin or varathane or is it too structurally weak of a material to hold up compared to plywood?

Thanks!

Tom

[48Rob]

Hi Tom,

Masonite is not as strong as plywood, but it is strong enough.

Masonite will work for the exterior skin and will last a long time if it is encapsulated, and kept that way.
Because of the way it is made; wood fiber/pulp that uses steam and great pressure to form the sheets, if moisture gets in, it will fail very fast.
Plywood can handle a few wettings before it starts to give.

Rob

[Shadow Catcher]

Marine grade plywood is the BEST choice period.

[len19070]

Tom

I use Masonite a lot, but not necessarily as an outer skin.



But every day I drive past my old High School and look up at an Observatory dome on the roof that has been there since I went to school there in the 60's....And its still used and is made out of Masonite.

With regular maintenance it will work.

Happy Trails

Len

[GPW]

I've used untempered Masonite for over 50 years , to paint on (Art) and never had any problems , save a little warping .. (unsupported ) But I did prime both sides ... Wondering how that min/poly sealer would work on this ??? ... Seems like the Old timers used it a lot ... Wonder how it worked for them ... Most of what we read , they either covered it with canvas and painted or just painted it .. Never a word of how it held up ...

[HandyAtLeast]

1/8" tempered hardboard weighs 23 pounds, which is one pound more than water resistant 1/4" lauan.

[GPW]

That's good to know HAL!! I would have thought it's heavier

[2bits]

Maybe I misunderstood, but didn't you say this was going to be a Woody and you wanted to use Masonite as the OUTER skin? So what you would actually see is sealed Masonite? I would think you would want to use something with some grain to it, but I must be misunderstanding.

[48Rob]

Maybe I misunderstood, but didn't you say this was going to be a Woody and you wanted to use Masonite as the OUTER skin? So what you would actually see is sealed Masonite? I would think you would want to use something with some grain to it, but I must be misunderstanding.

Technicalities...