"Help me understand Cork Tile" Topic

I've always wanted to try to make cork buildings like Matakishi
link
& spurred on by Cacique Caribe's recent cork post
TMP link
I tried yet again today to find some to try out.

Unfortunately, I found plenty of the "craft" cork that's quite bendy, & the very dark brown but very coarse cork that's not so bendy, but nothing that seems to be what Matakishi describes in his Cork Basics.
matakishi.com/corkbasics.htm

What I've found is about 3/8" & a 6x6" piece can easily be bent into a U.

The recommended cork floor tile is also about the same thickness, but it sounds like it's pretty rigid. So how flexible is the cork floor tile? Is it just glued together with something stronger? Or is it a lot denser?

Thanks for any help

The floor tile I've found (in the US at Lumber Liquidators) has kind of a finish on one side, which makes it stiffer. It's 4mm thick, came as 10 1'x2' tiles for $20 USD-25. Unfortunately I haven't used it yet- it's bendy enough that I don't think it would really work in longer than 6-8" lengths without reinforcement.

I've pretty much lumped cork tiles with copydex, cork bark, rubberized horsehair, and document boxes as UK things that you can almost, but not quite find the equivalent of in the US.

Rich

Zagloba, I did find the tiles at Lumber Liquidators, but they wouldn't sell it in smaller than 116 sq ft boxes for $150. USD You were able to buy it in a 10 tile pack directly from the store?

If I were to use cork tiles as a modular playing surface I would have to go with the treated and stiffened cork FLOOR tiles:

link

I would also check out some of the pricier cork WALL tiles. They have a lot of texture and enough support backing that, if cut with a bandsaw, some could be used to create incredible cliff backdrops.

But, for making 15mm (1/100) buildings, ruins and hills, the different cork options found at hobby and craft stores work just fine. Plus, you can add strips of the thinner adhesive cork to stiffen up somewhat.

Check out this amazing 1/100 scale project, done back in the day when there were none of those exotic floor and wall tiles I mentioned above:

TMP link
TMP link

Dan

I've pretty much lumped cork tiles with copydex, cork bark, rubberized horsehair, and document boxes as UK things that you can almost, but not quite find the equivalent of in the US.

Cork bark can often be had from pet suppliers, as it's used for decor in vivaria.

Doug

Zagloba, I did find the tiles at Lumber Liquidators, but they wouldn't sell it in smaller than 116 sq ft boxes for $150. USD USD You were able to buy it in a 10 tile pack directly from the store?

Unfortunately it was a couple years ago- I ordered a single package through the web site and had it delivered to the store. THe thicker stuff is available in single packages, I'd try calling the store.

Rich

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I do this with cork that is used for save the tables from the dishes, may be in IKEA or similar could be find…