Wafer Board Vs. Chipboard

Durablity

• Both wafer board and chipboard offer durability, but wafer board is quite a bit more dense than chipboard because it's made from compressed wood and fibers. Traditional wafer board is used in construction and made in large sheets. However, wafer board is also cut into much smaller pieces and shapes for crafting. Chipboard is derived from cardboard, newspaper and recycled paper. The density varies, but both wafer board and chipboard create a raised appearance on projects because neither material is totally flat. You can use chipboard and wafer board to create all sorts of projects alone or create one project with both materials and other embellishments.

Textures

• Textures vary greatly, depending on the type of chipboard or wafer board. Unfinished chipboard has a rough exterior that feels like shredded cardboard. However, you can finish chipboard with paints, glazes and other materials to alter the texture. Premade chipboard kits include letters and shapes that have already been glazed over. Sometimes shiny paper is pressed onto the shapes to create a shiny, decorative effect. This changes the texture to smooth with a pop-out style. Wafer board is a smooth, thin to medium piece of wood that has been pressed into a board. You can find wafer board squares in all sizes or buy specific wafer board shapes and letters.

Best Projects for Wafer Board

• Wafer board costs more than chipboard, so choose wafer board to complement wood-working projects, wooden shadow boxes and home decor projects. Always buy wafer board kits and materials at the craft store because home improvement stores only sell large sheets of wafer board, and it would be too difficult to cut the boards into the right shapes. Wafer boad has a smooth texture, so it's easy to paint and alter. Paint wafer board letters to spell your child's name and hang these up in his room above the door. You can also paint heart-shaped wafer board pieces pink and red and glue these around a wooden basket handle.

Best Projects for Chipboard

• Chipboard works best for projects involving scrapbooks, small memory keepsakes, cards, posters and other paper projects. Chipboard is lighter than wafer board, so it can add a raised appearance without creating too much bulk or heaviness in a scrapbook. Use chipboard to create raised titles on the tops of scrapbook pages and framed collages.