Masonite
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2021) |
Masonite (also called Quartboard[2] and pressboard) is a type of hardboard (a kind of engineered wood) made of steam-cooked and pressure-molded wood fibers in a process patented by William H. Mason.[3]
History
In 1898, a product resembling Masonite (hardboard) was first made in England by hot-pressing waste paper.[4]
In 1924, Masonite was patented in Laurel, Mississippi,[5] by William H. Mason, who was a friend and protégé of Thomas Edison.[6]
In 1929, the company initiated mass production of its product.[citation needed]
In the 1930s and 1940s, Masonite was used for applications including
In 1972, the Masonite Corporation entered the door business as a supplier of facings.[7]
In 2001, the Masonite Corporation was purchased by Premdor Corporation, a door maker, from its former parent International Paper. It no longer supplies generic hardboard.[citation needed]
Production
Masonite is formed using the Mason method,
Use
Artists have often used it as a support for painting,[9][10] and in artistic media such as linocut printing. Masonite's smooth surface makes it a suitable material for table tennis tables and skateboard ramps.[citation needed]
Masonite is used by
Masonite is widely used in construction, particularly in renovations where floors are finished prior to other work and require protection. Sheets of 1⁄8-or-1⁄4-inch (3.2 or 6.4 mm) Masonite are typically laid over
Masonite is used extensively in the construction of sets for theater, film, and television. It is especially common in theaters as the stage floor, painted matte black.[citation needed]
It is considered one of the best materials for making a musical wobble board.[citation needed]
Masonite 4-by-8-foot (1.2 by 2.4 m; 120 by 240 cm) panels are sometimes sawn into 4-inch (100 mm; 10 cm) by 8-foot (2.4 m; 240 cm) strips. These strips are used to form the edge of sidewalks where curved shapes are desired when pouring concrete.[12]
Masonite is a popular choice for cake boards for professional cake decorators, since it is a natural product and is strong enough to support multiple-tiered creations such as wedding cakes.[citation needed]
To a lesser extent, Masonite is used in guitar bodies, most notably by Danelectro.[citation needed]
Due to its low cost and flexibility, Masonite is widely used as the curved surface of skateboard ramps.[citation needed]
Masonite was a popular protective backing for wooden console stereo and television cabinets from the 1960s to the 1980s.[citation needed]
Due to its flexibility, Masonite is commonly used by
Deterioration
Masonite swells and rots over time when exposed to the elements, and may prematurely deteriorate when it is used as exterior siding. In 1996, International Paper (IP) lost a class action suit brought by homeowners whose Masonite siding had deteriorated. The jury found that IP's Masonite siding was defective.[13]
See also
- Fiberboard – Engineered wood product made out of wood fibers
- Oriented strand board (OSB), engineered wood similar to particle board
- Paintings on masonite – Series of paintings by Joan Miró
- Particle board – Pressed and extruded wood product
- Plywood, "plies" of wood glued together
References
- ^ Quartrboard. First Use Anywhere Date: 1927-05-13
- ^ Masonite: insulation, presdwood, quartboard, lath, tempered presdwood, tempritile, cushioned flooring. (1935)
- ^ "The History of Masonite". Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ Akers, 1966, p. x
- ^ "1925 - Masonite Europe". Masonite Europe. Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
- ^ SouthBear (March 23, 2002). "William H. Mason: The Man Who Went to Lunch". Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
- ^ "The History of Masonite". Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
- ^ U.S. Patents 1,578,609 and 1,586,159.
- ^ "Joan Miró: Painting and Anti-Painting 1927-1937". Online exhibition catalogue. MoMA. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- ^ Christie's, Louis Valtat, "Child on the Carpet", 1910
- ^ "How Movers Prepare and Protect a Home". moversville.com. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
- ^ Home Depot Prodesk
- ^ "Jury finds International Paper's Masonite siding defective". Thefreelibrary.com. September 13, 1996. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
External links