Hello, I believe the Dow soundboard is called that exactly. Sound board
Its a real light weight fiberous panel, that is very fragil, as you can break it with your hand. They used to use it exposed for SOUND absorption, hence the name, and prior to the new foams and aualux type rubber seals, was use as various types of narrow strips for under wall plates, between floating floors and walls, etc. etc. Probably didn't work that good. Seems kind of weird under wall plates, but I have an OLD studio construction book that called for it. I've seen it specified for a layer behind or in between two layers of sheetrock. But if I'm not mistaken, thats a triple leaf and shouldn't be used that way, but I'm no expert. Cheap maybe.
Next is some similar stuff, with 1 compressed face that is sealed with a white primer and is called Celotex.(correct me on that if wrong, its been long time since I used it,)Comes 1/2"x 4'x8' Lightweight, bullitin board stuff, sucks though, cork is better. Cheap.
Next is homosote. Grey color. 1/2" thick. usually available 4'x8' Much heavier, and I would think it would be better than soundboard, if used behind sheetrock. Again, I'm no expert on the STC stuff. Or vibration vs stiffness principals. Can also be used as absorbers, like John said, but having used it for other applications, I don't know how good it would be for that application. Usually covered with fabrics I would think, 703 would be better. Maybe I'm full of shit. We used it for fabric covered pads for showcases. Not so cheap.
Next, OBS, or wafferboard. Like ply, but no discriminate layers, as it is wood chips layered in horizontal orientation, in 360 degree pattern, is VERY strong, and is used for a myrad of construction applications, from roofs, walls, floors, forms, structural engineered beams, truss's, and many others. 3/8",7/16", 1/2",3/4" and 1 1/4". Usually 4 x 8 panels, although I beleive its available in other sizes on a special order basis.
Next Ply. Well, you could write a book. You know what it is. A million sizes, grades, some with a variety of species as face veneers etc etc etc. One type worth mentioning is Luan ply. 1/8" to 1/4". Used for curved stuff such as polycyldrical diffusers, membrane absobers and many other things. Some comes with a face veneer. Core is italian poplar.
Next Masonite. 1/8" to 3/8". Usually 1/4". One sided smooth with dimples on rear face is called Tempered 1 side. Light brown, 4 x 8. Pegboard is usually machined from this, or you can get it plain. Used for many things. Econo drawer bottoms, cabinet backs, etc.
Next Masonite double tempered. Dark brown, almost redish ebony. 1/8" to 1/4", smooth and hard. Sometimes refered to as hardboard. Used for any number of things , like cheap imitation tile for bathrooms etc, quality drawer bottoms and cabinet backs, cubby hole cabinet accessorieds, dividers, etc. 4' x 8', although 4' x 10' is available.
Great stuff for templates, prototypes, etc.
Next- Particle Board. Made from saw dust, chips and epoxy. Comes in 1/4", 3/8",1/2",11/16", 3/4" 1", usually 4 x 8, but available up to 5' x 12' Used for econo construction and cabinetry, underlayment, countertops, millwork with plastic laminate finishes, etc. etc. Usually found in cheap furniture the world over. Crappy for screwing into the edge. Good face strength. Comes in sheets with printed wood grains etc or plain. Gives off fomaldihyde fumes sometimes. UGGGGGGHHH!! Good gluing qualitys on edge if in dados and face to face.
Next GOOD OLE MDF. Ha. My favorite.(besides hardwoods!) comes 1/4" to 1 1/2" thick. 4' x 8', 4' x 10', 5' x 12' to a whopping 5' x 16' on special order(3/4" only).
Made from fine sawdust and epoxy. Ultra smooth faces. Machines very nice. Was developed for painted finishes as the edges require very little sanding, and comes natural or with a Melamine finish 1 or 2 sided, which is like a very thin laminate, which is thermofused to the face. Can be ordered with a million different veneers, laminates, chemetals, etc. Great gluing qualitys, but screwing to it requires a tapered pilot hole as the screw fractures the epoxy bonds. Terrible edge screwing on 3/4", MUSt HAVE PILOT HOLE, and long screws, as without it, will split very easily on edge. NO compressino of fibers.
Used on fine store fixtures, furniture, cabinetry, walls, floors(with a veneer of real wood or laminate wood finishes) andgreat for monitor enclosure if 1 1/2" is used
Just looked at a couple of unusual things at HOME DEPOT today, one is a 1/4' panel, 4' x 4, that is fireproof, cement board, for tile underlayment, woodstove pads, etc. REAL heavy and strong. Stiff too. I don't know how you could use it in studios. Expensive too. Any suggestions? I use a piece of it for a temporary barriar to flamable backgrounds when I solder copper pipe in walls etc with a propane torch. Works GREAT.
And last, a form of siding panel, that feels like double tempered masonite, but much heavier is 7'16" thick, with embossed woodgrains. Comes like 1x dimensional lumber
also. Seems like for mass, it would be better than MDF for walls, maybe behind sheetrock, but I don't know. HEAVY shit though.
Well, thats about it. Unless you want to get into lumber, gluelams etc.
Hope that helps
fitz
