Material guide
What are our cutouts made of? How much does the material weigh? What can you paint or glue it with? You'll find the answers here, with a separate page for each material.
Our materials compared
| Material | Thickness of our cutouts | Weight | Surface | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poplar plywood | usually 3 mm | approx. 410 kg per m³ – around 1.2 kg per m² at 3 mm | light, hardly any grain | very light, takes almost any paint |
| Birch plywood | 3 mm | a little heavier than poplar, much lighter than beech | light, with a decorative grain | denser and more robust; prime before painting |
| HDF | 3 mm | over 800 kg per m³ – at least 2.4 kg per m² at 3 mm | smooth and hard, no grain | doesn't splinter; sand lightly before painting |
| Bookbinding board | 1.2 mm | 755 g per m² | grey, slightly rough | can be cut with scissors or a craft knife, easy to glue |
| Polyester felt | approx. 2.5 to 3 mm | – | soft, slightly rough | washable, water-repellent, dries quickly |
| PLEXIGLAS® | depends on the item, for example 2 or 3 mm | – | smooth, clear or coloured | never wipe it dry, don't use glass cleaner |
Which material for which project?
- Painting and crafting: Poplar plywood – light in colour and weight. It works with pens and paints alike.
- When it needs to take more: Birch plywood – denser and more robust. Our coloured clipboards are made from it too.
- Smooth surfaces for varnishing: HDF – no grain, with clean edges.
- Cutting with scissors and a craft knife: Bookbinding board – stiff, but easy to work with.
- Soft and washable: Polyester felt – in 15 colours, for sewing, sticking things on and printing.
- For indoors and outdoors, clear or coloured: PLEXIGLAS® – how to clean and care for it properly.
You can find out how our measurements are meant under Sizes & quantities.