All About Greyboard
Aiming to answer some of the common questions Funky Pen get asked about Greyboard.
Greyboard or Construction Board?
Quite simply, they are the same thing. Same as grayboard if you are from across the pond or greybored if you misspell it.
What exactly is Greyboard?
It’s a fantastic versatile board, grey in colour, that comes in a variety of thicknesses and therefore useful in a wide range of applications. When people ask me what greyboard is, I reply, ‘you know that grey piece of card on the back of your notepad – that’s greyboard’ and then they usually say ‘oh yes!’
What can it be used for?
Some of the main uses include packaging, in photography & art (for mounting, or for the backing in photo frames), popular with ScanNCut Users who craft all sorts out of it (see our Customer Creations Gallery for examples), Booking Binding/Covers, on pallets as a separator, as a backing for envelopes and notepads.
Is greyboard eco-friendly?
Greyboard is made from 100% recycled materials.
What are Microns?
A micron is one millionth of a metre. Greyboard is sold with ‘Microns’ being the unit of measure, relating to the thickness of each sheet of board. To convert microns into mm, simply divide by 1000. So 1000m is 1mm.
Our board starts from 500microns which is 0.5mm thick right up to 2800microns which is 2.8mm thick.
How do I know what thickness I need?
This entirely depends on what the greyboard is being used for and your personal preference so there isn’t a catch all answer.
It’s always best to get a sample of the board so you can be sure…especially as one person’s definition of what’s flexible can be different to another. Funkypen.co.uk provide free A6/A5 samples that will usually be with you within 2-3 working days. Click here to request a sample.
500Micron has quite a lot of flex. Most people who want to use greyboard for backing will use 1500m upwards. 3000m is quite thick and doesn’t have much flex. Brother ScanNCut users typically order 750m or 1000m for most of their projects.
Why does my Greyboard vary in colour between different sheets/weights?
Funky Pen use the same mills to try to ensure as consistent a supply as possible.
However as greyboard is made from recycled materials its appearance can change a little depending on the batch and the recycled materials used.
Most greyboard does look grey but sometimes it can appear as having a slight brown tinge to it when compared to another sheet.
The ‘Microns’ (relating to the thickness / caliper of the board) will always be correct to what you order but the actual ‘weight’ of each sheet might vary slightly.
Sometimes the stiffness of board can appear to differ between batches as it depends on the grain etc..
I’ve mixed my board up! How do I know what thickness I have?
If you don’t have a digital caliper (also known as a micrometer) then it can sometimes be a bit difficult to know by just looking at the construction board. It will be fairly obvious the difference between 750m and 1500m as it is double the thickness… but if you think about, the difference between 750m and 1000m is just 0.25mm and this can be hard to tell on a ruler. If you handle board a lot, you can probably tell the difference by touching and flexing it.
If you have mixed two similar micron boards up, we would suggest getting two pieces of board, laying them right next to each on a completely flat surface (table/desk, floor - not carpet!) and running your finger over the joining edges. If the edge is smooth under your finger then they should be the same thickness as each other but if you feel a slight dip then the one that is lower is the lighter weight. Amazon sell a range of digital calipers.
Grain direction?
If you are looking for a specific grain direction then it is best to contact us before ordering so we can check.
We can cut to either grain direction however we would need to know what size, quantity, weight and direction is required so we can advise if it falls under the standard website pricing or if a special quote is required. This is because the board is cut the most economical way and obviously if it has to be cut to a specific grain direction, there may be a lot of wastage.
Can I paint it or cover it?
Yes, it can be covered over or painted.
Can I cut it?
You might struggle with a pair of scissors (especially the thicker you get) or an ordinary office guillotine so it’s probably best to use a cutting mat and a craft knife, both available on our website. Don’t forget we also offer cut to size service – ideal if you find yourself needing a certain size!
What sizes do Funky Pen offer as standard?
On our product page, the measurements of each size are listed in the drop-down menu.
A2 is the largest and A5 is the smallest off the shelf. We can cut to A6 / smaller. We also offer a few other popular sizes (such as 12x12’’) Grey board is usually available up to SRA1 (640mmx900mm) - sometimes even larger and we also offer a 'cut to size' service.
The ISO paper size A standard is based on each size being half of the size of the previous one, when folded parallel to the shorter lengths. A4 is the ‘standard’ size of a sheet of office copier paper – fold that in half to get A5.
