I find that trying to use cereal or shirt boxes they just aren't big enough, and in my experience that cardboard is also a little bit too thin. I found the cardboard I was using was about .060 thick. Also, it helps quite a bit when it is white.

After being disappointed on line, I finally found what I was looking for at a Michael's craft store (I guess they are somewhat of a chain). It was called "Mat Paper" and used for framing pictures. Nice white, .060 cardboard in large 38*28 pieces.

As usual though it was expensive, I think $6 a piece. But it just works so much better than anything else. I have not looked online yet for "Mat paper" but looking online for chipboard was a bust for what I wanted.

Besides, the employees and customers at the craft store were a pleasant surprise, if you like that kind of nerdy arty cute library glasses type.

glad i found this post :thumbsup:

I just use old cereal boxes (larger ones from costco), as well as soda can cases, etc. It's "chip board". For anything larger I'll tape it together, or, if I have saved any other old boxes. It's cheap and abundant.

Chipboard is very common at art supply stores and is generally very inexpensive. Used it all the time in architecture school for study model building. There are various thicknesses available depending on how rigid you want. The thin stuff is easy to cut with scissors.

Uline.com sells chip board in thick and thin sizes. I buy the thicker type I think it ends up being about $1 a sheet for 70 sheets with shipping for the 38x26 size. Good stuff.

I get my template cardboard 36"x36" from a few different local upholstery suppliers. I pay $1.50 a sheet for it, comes in a pack of 10 sheets usually.

That's the cheapest source I found, craft stores are way to much money IMO.

Make nice with the local printing company. I got a 4' stack of white chipboard that is about 24" x 36"......for free. This printer uses it as a separater between actual paper I guess and they just recycle it.

I do the same, but at Sams Club.

Donny i have a printing shop few doors down from our new shop, i will have to go talk to them about the paper.

I second the cereal boxes and other packing boxes. We have just told all our family members to save them, it works well. We also stop by the local recycling depot and grab thin cardboard, it is always broken down into flat sheets!

Interesting on the Costco tip, I will try it out!

Hey! Why shop anywhere else??
:unibrow: