Waterproofing Cardboard

hamburger helper

Hey All,

I have an idea for an art installation but I need some technical advice from you lovely people. I want to have pieces of corrogated cardboard exposed to the elements and I want to be able to write on this cardboard with sharpies. The elements include lots of rain, so I need to waterproof the cardboard.

Is there a way I can do this? Will it affect the writing surface? Are there markers that are waterproof and can write permanently on waterproof surfaces?

Thanks in advance.

Improvolone

Oh geez... most of the initial ideas for waterproofing are soaked up by the item (like woods). This would obviously destroy cardboard.

Get a big fucking think of clear drying glue (like an elmers), maybe even water it down (experiment with ratios), and paint many thin coats.

Feral

What you want is called "dry erase lamination." You can get it either as a stick-on sheet that you cut to size or in a bottle. Or you can have a printing company do it.

darkgrue

What about using corrugated plastic instead of cardboard, something like Coroplast you could write on (it comes in a bunch of colors, it would appear), and it's plastic, so it's going to be totally waterproof. Probably other brands/suppliers as well.

You could also see about scavenging the corrugated plastic display stands from convenience/grocery stores and spray paint them.

LewieP's Mummy

Paint it all with PVA glue, then use several layers of marine/yatch varnish, specially on the horizontal cut edges. It wo't last for ever but should give a fair amount of time. The PVa gives a base coat that a) is soaked up by the cardboard and b) means you have a good bonding surface for the marine/yatch varnish to stick to.

hamburger helper

LewiePs Mummy wrote: »

Paint it all with PVA glue, then use several layers of marine/yatch varnish, specially on the horizontal cut edges. It wo't last for ever but should give a fair amount of time. The PVa gives a base coat that a) is soaked up by the cardboard and b) means you have a good bonding surface for the marine/yatch varnish to stick to.

Thanks LP's Mum. I'm going to try this -would the finished surface be okay to write on with a water-proof sharpie? Would the markings bleed you think? Thanks again to everyone who suggested ideas.

fuelish

I used to get equipment shipped in corrogated carboard that had been coated with wax. It could handle outside storage for months.
You might alos consider Thompsons water sealer. If it can seal cinderblock, it can seal cardboard.

Usagi

I second the varnish idea, though clear resin would work as well (though it will probably be more expensive)

And a thought about Sharpie markers, because you mentioned this will be outside - Sharpies are not technically permanent when exposed to the elements, especially UV light. They won't run in wet conditions but they fade pretty quickly, the red fastest and the black the slowest. As a replacement suggestion, I've had good luck with Staedtler Lumocolors lasting a long time even when exposed to high light conditions and salt water.

hamburger helper

Usagi wrote: »

I second the varnish idea, though clear resin would work as well (though it will probably be more expensive)

And a thought about Sharpie markers, because you mentioned this will be outside - Sharpies are not technically permanent when exposed to the elements, especially UV light. They won't run in wet conditions but they fade pretty quickly, the red fastest and the black the slowest. As a replacement suggestion, I've had good luck with Staedtler Lumocolors lasting a long time even when exposed to high light conditions and salt water.

Kudos for the marker idea - my only concern with the markers is that it may be hard to mark the surface if it's wet or beading rain. I essentially want to be able to draw on my varnished cardboard in the rain and have that surface permanent.. for up to a week if at all possible.

LewieP's Mummy

CD pens?

Usagi

hamburger you can do that with the Lumocolors, I use them to mark things on sailboats in sometimes not so nice conditions, and the only way you can rid of them is with acetone. I've also used grease pencils will good effect but they are much less detail-capable and way messier than the Lumocolor markers.

LewiePs Mummy wrote: »

CD pens?

that's essentially what those markers are, though they were developed to write on glass, ceramics, plastics and metal and stay lightfast

hamburger helper

Usagi wrote: »

hamburger you can do that with the Lumocolors, I use them to mark things on sailboats in sometimes not so nice conditions, and the only way you can rid of them is with acetone. I've also used grease pencils will good effect but they are much less detail-capable and way messier than the Lumocolor markers.

LewiePs Mummy wrote: »

CD pens?

that's essentially what those markers are, though they were developed to write on glass, ceramics, plastics and metal and stay lightfast

Nice suggestion, I'll try this. This is exactly what I was looking for!!

ceres

Don't necropost. Make your own thread if you want advice.