2/6/2016 An
Introduction To Block Board
An Introduction To Block Board
Updated on July 27, 2013
What Is Block Board?
Block boards are not recent invention. In fact the Egyptians had conceived and built furniture with block boards in their pyramids dated
back thousands of years ago.
Block board (also known as lumber core) is a manmade board similar to plywood but the center layer or core is made from strips of
softwood.The strips are put edge to edge and sandwiched between veneers of softwood, hardwood, particleboard or MDF (medium
density fiberboard), pasted under high pressure and heat with glue.
In terms of construction, there are three main types of block board , i.e. 3ply, 5ply and 7ply.
A 3ply block board consists of a core sandwiched between two layers of veneers whereas a 5ply and 7ply block boards are made of a
core and covered with 2 layers and six layers of veneers on each side respectively.
The first one is normally used for hidden application. The second is preferred to build furniture that requires decorative quality. The last is
utilized more in manufacturing doors and construction.
The picture below shows an example of block boards.
An exploited view of a 5layer blockboard is illustrated below.
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2/6/2016 An Introduction To Block Board
The following pictures show some good examples of what block boards can be utilized for so far as furniture are concerned.
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2/6/2016 An Introduction To Block Board
Dimensions
Depending on the market, the most common sizes are:
2070x5200mm (German), 1850x3660mm (Italian), and
1220x2440mm (Chinese). Thickness varies from 13mm to 60mm.
Manufacturers can fabricate a variety of applied finishes for block Bobkona Hungtinton Microfiber/Faux Leather 3Piece Sectional
board such as plastic laminate surfaces, wood veneers and Sofa Set, Saddle
melamine papers.
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Classification Of Blockboards
Basically block boards can be classified based on: (1) types of
wood used i.e. softwood and hardwood, and (2) composition and quality, i.e. grades.
(1) Classification Based On Core:
Softwood Core
The cores, which consist of softwood strips placed adjacent to each other lengthwise, are sandwiched with one or more hardwood
veneers.
Hardwood Core
The cores and veneers are both made of hardwood. Not only are they heavier, they are more expensive in general.
(2) Classification Based On Grade:
Interior Grade
MoistureResistant (MR) grade block boards are used to fabricate furniture and doors.
Exterior Grade
Comparing to MR grade block boards, BoilingWaterResistant grade ones provide superior quality for exterior applications.
Advantages Of Block Boards
Besides being a poor conductor of sound, heat and electricity, block boards are light, stable, easy to cut, reclaim and to preserve in sea
water than most competitive materials. In addition, these boards are cheaper, lighter, stronger and more resistant to warpage as compare
to raw wooden planks. Owing to their light weight, block boards extend furniture and door life span as they exert less stress onto hinges.
Manufacturing Process
Basically there are 6 steps in fabricating block boards:
1. Mixing glue using a glue mixer with water and powder resin proportionally.
2. Spreading the glue on core and veneer by using a glue spreader.
3. Setting different layers of core and vaneers on wooden batten frame and followed by compressing under high pressure and
temperature with a hydraulic press.
4, Drying the boards.
5. Using a saw cutting machine to perform side cutting.
6. Finally, top layer finishing is done by a sanding machine.
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2/6/2016 An Introduction To Block Board
As this article is meant for the general public, I have skipped the technical aspects such as mechanical/physical properties, specifications
and quality standards.
Knape & Vogt Mfg Bracket Shelf Stlhd 22In Titmn 208TI550
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