Is there a material out there that is similar to masonite?

I use GoBoard from Menards to make samples here at work. Very sturdy and stable and easy to cut. Waterjetting gives a pristine edge if you need to go that far.

@Vignette -Is it a cement board kind of thing?
I am looking for an alternative material to make bats for my potter’s wheel.
What is it made of? A 3×5 sheet only weighs 6 lbs!

To cut with a saw, or a knife?
What is a bat (for a potter’s wheel)?

@rebbel -I have used a reciprocating saw to cut bats out of masonite in the past.
A bat is just a disc with “drive holes” that is placed on the wheel head. They enable one to remove their freshly thrown ware without handling the pot.
when I went to find an image for you,imagine my surpise when I saw they were selling them made of masonite. Lol

@lucillelucillelucille My guess is it is a cement based product with glass bubbles to make it light weight. It might be too absorptive to make bats. Might function as a durable drying surface for hand building over drywall. I have had crazy good luck with 90 lb roofing paper cut to size and use slip to hold it to the wheel head and wires right off when you are done throwing.

I’ll have a YouTube search for pottery to see what that bat exactly is used for.
Before I find it, I would say…, is concrete plex (thin) not something to consider?
Watched some… : my first idea was maybe weird, but how about go to a thrift store and buy lp vinyls?
Or are they not rigid enough?

@rebbel -I will have to look that up. It can’t be crumbly.
Here is a photo of a freshly thrown pot on a bat.
Bats simply make the transfer of the pots to a drying rack much easier with no damage.

What about plexiglass?
You would just need one of these.
It can cut up to ¼” thick acrylic.

@raum -Interesting idea but I think the material needs a little more tooth so the clay doesn’t slide easily.
I had no idea that plexiglass could be cut and would respond similar to glass on a straight line cut.

By the way, @lucillelucillelucille, what is the reason you are looking for a substitute to masonite?
It appears to be doing the job, for a reasonable price (I would think).

@rebbel – It’s just that the ones i have made years ago are finally starting to warp a bit.
I suppose I will make them again out of the masonite unless…
A friend did make me some out of a plywood & they are alright but kind of bulky and have to be thicker and sealed to avoid warpage.
I need about 50 so in order to save $, I will make them myself
besides, tools are fun—woof!

I see.
In case you want to go with plywood indeed, think about 6mm (¼”) or 9mm poplar sheets.
Very light, and cheap(ish).
Of course you’d need to make it water tight/resistant.

@Yep!Not gonna do it buuuutt I have seen shallow poplar “boxes” that one can use in place of canvas for paintings. I have yet to try this but I bet I’d like it as I want a smooth surface to paint on.
Poplar is fine grained, isn’t it?

That I don’t know, to be honest.

@rebbel -Do you work with wood a lot?