What are Wobble Boards made of?

Subject: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 06:28 PM

I've become interested in the wobble board (used in "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" by Rolf Harris). What is the best material to make them out of? Sheet metal?, formica?, other? Best size? Anyone with experience out there?

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Helen
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 06:41 PM

From memory it was made from a sheet of something called Masonite, which is a type of "wooden" sheet made of compressed wood shavings/sawdust. It comes in different thicknesses but the wobble board was probably only about 1/4 inch thick. It looks like thin, hard, preserved sheets of brownie fudge.

An Art lexicon says:

Masonite ® - A trademark used for a type of fiberboard employed as a surface for painting, but manufactured principally as wallboard for use in insulation, paneling, etc. It is dark brown, with one side that is very smooth, and the other bearing the texture of an impressed wire screen.

If you can't get Masonite then maybe thin sheets of plywood might work.

Helen

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST,Google
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 06:43 PM

"The first wobble board was made of 2 foot by 3 foot 1/10th inch thick hardboard, although they can be made slightly smaller. There is a slight indentation in the middle of each short side so the hands don't slip when playing. This needs to be as wide as the hand and about 1/4 inch deep. It is played, not by gripping the board with the fingers, but by propping it between the palms of the hands and bouncing it, accenting every second beat, or off beat, as it's called. If you haven't got a really good sense of rhythm, don't try to play one. I've found tempered hardboard works best, or more recently, MDF board, but it must be really thin, or it's too hard to bounce."

The first wobble board was created by Rolf when he was trying to dry the background board for a painting. The painting was on hardboard and in an effort to dry the painting he used a heater to heat the hardboard and dry the base paint. As it was drying Rolf felt the board and it was so hot he burnt his finger. To prevent the board busting into flames Rolf picked up the board and held the board between his palms and wobbled it to cool it. Rolf kept the painting wobbleboard and it toured the world with him. This all happened in 1957. In 1960 the wobble sound was included on the record "Tie me Kangaroo down Sport" which became an instant international hit for Rolf. When the orginal wobbleboard began to crack Rolf replacd it with the "Stairway to heaven" board currently in use

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Joybell
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 06:48 PM

At first they were made of light flexible wood-fibre. The sort used for partitions etc. Stuff we call "Masonite". My True-love is still in bed or I'd ask him for the American equivelent.
I've seen them improvised using any light material. Sheet metal sounds suitably weird for some space-age effects or horror.
You need to match the board's size to yours, so that you can hold it with your arms out a bit wider than the width of your body. Hello! he's up. "Masonite" he says. Same name. Good luck. Big Jim. Joy

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST,google
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 06:54 PM

Masonite is a leading manufacturer of a product made from wood fiber, wax and resins that is widely known as hardboard siding.

Masonite siding is distributed both in lap (board) and panel (sheet) applications, each available in various external textures designed to look like conventional lumber siding. Masonite markets its siding products for a variety of external construction uses, including exterior siding for residential and other structures.

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 07:10 PM

Thanks, all. Looks like a trip to the hardware/lumber yard store for me tomorrow.

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Deckman
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 08:04 PM

Check out your small town newspaper office. Here, in the Northwest corner of America, I will often see small sheets of metal for sale, usually at 50 cents each. These are the metal plates that has been photo etched with the day's newspaper printing. They make grand "wobble boards." They are also very handy in my woodshop for a variety of uses. CHEERS, Bob (and ... they can be tuned by cutting them down).

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 08:25 PM

G'day Jim,

The wobbleboard I was given by Rolf Harris (whatever Sunday followed my 14th birthday, in 1959) ... when he appeared at Taronga Zoo, Sydney - to promote his new 'single' with Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport on one side and Nick O'Teen and Al K Hole on the B side ... was thinner than quarter inch ... more like 3/16" or 5/32".

It needed to be thinner as it was a lot smaller than Rolf's painting. Unfortunately I don't have it t0 check up ... I left it behind when I went off the Tasmania in 1965 ... and my little brothers played it to death!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Dead Horse
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 08:03 AM

If ya git the "beaded" variety, you could also double as a zydeco musician.
http://www.laheritageandgifts.com/rubboard.html

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 09:11 AM

You should note that in the US Masonite comes in two varieties.

The common variety, used mostly for wall surfacing, is somewhat susceptible to cracking when something hard hits it, and has a "nominally smooth" surface on one side. It's used mainly where you need something relatively "cheap" to fill a space in a building wall surface. Color is usually a "dark tan."

The "tempered masonite" is much "harder" and has a finished surface on the face side that's almost what you'd call "slick." It's much denser and doesn't crack nearly as easily. It's usually a significantly darker "brown" in color. Although it's not really a recommended use, the tempered board is sufficiently resistant to scuffing to be used for something like a counter top or other work surface, especially for one used on an occasional basis and not subjected to too much "heavy" stuff. I've seen the tempered stuff used bare as a "temporary" patch to cover up a rough spot in flooring, in relatively high traffic areas. It starts to look a little "shabby" fairly quickly, but remains "servicable" for surprisingly long if you don't care too much about appearance.

The majority of "masonite" stocked and sold is as "pegboard," and has a rectangular grid of rows of holes on 1 inch centers in rows 1 inch apart. It's intended for use as a "storage board," and there are quite a number of "hooks" you can stick in the holes to make a place to hang stuff. The untempered board will usually be nominally 1/4 inch thick and will have holes about 1/4 inch in diameter. Pegboard made from "tempered masonite" will normally be about 5/32 inch thick, and the holes will be more like 5/32 inch in diameter. (The "hooks" are NOT interchangeable between the two kinds.)

The pegboard usage is so common that you may have difficulty locating sheets without the holes at smaller shops, but any larger lumber supply place should have it, and will quite likely have "ends" in 2 foot by 4 foot, 4' x 4', and possibly other sizes.

Either of these materials, but especially the "tempered" variety, is extremely "abrasive" to cutting tools, so carbide edged tools are strongly recommended for any extensive use with them. For the amount of cutting you'd do on this project, "ordinary" cutting tools will do the job, but by the time you run a router around a 2-foot diameter circle you can probably throw that bit away if it's not carbide edged. (And resin build-up on the tool edges can be a real problem with this stuff, especially with high-speed cutters.)

The material is essentially the same stuff as what's called "underlayment," but underlayment is mostly applied to stuff for flooring use, and is usually 5/8 inch or thicker and doesn't have as smooth a surface. A standard 4'x8' sheet of floor underlayment is also likely to be more than 90 pounds per sheet as it's quite dense. Something more like typical masonite may sometimes appear as "counter top underlayment."

Since stuff of this sort is sold under a variety of trade names, many ® trademarks, you may find something suitable as masonite, pressed board, PrestBoard, hard board, particle board, or counter underlay(ment).

It's very hard to find "real" wood in large surface thin sheets. Most building supply outlets here don't stock plywood in less than nominal 5/16 thick, and that's usually a rather shabby grade intended for "wall filler." The only plywood you're likely to find thinner, and of better quality would be intended for "veneer" use, and would likely be much thinner than you want.

If you don't find it at the lumber yard, you might check with your local art supply outlet, since people do still paint on panel, and you might also find something like a "palette" board about the right size. (But note that most of the places that advert as "art supply" are really "craft supply" and odds may not be so good there.)

John

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 08:30 PM

I'm pretty sure the original board was made from the stuff used mainly for indoors in Australia (and artists painting board) - it was softer - the outside of cheaper housing of the period was clad with "fibro" - a fibro cement sheet - when at that time contained asbestos, and masonite was used for interior walls - it was used I think externally, but had to be kept well painted - fibro didn't need to be - until the problems surfaced - when it came to be accpted as safe if painted and not disturbed.

Robin

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 09:09 PM

G'day Foolestroupe,

I think Masonite did turn up as an indoor cladding, here in Australia ... but plaster sheeting was more common. Tempered Masonite certainly would work, especially with a good coat of outdoor paint ... there's a 2-room, verandahed bush hut still standing in Clarence, in the Blue Mts, back of Sydney, that was built 33 years agon by fiddler Ralph Pride and myself.

The frame is sapling poles and the outer cladding is recycled Masonite. The building is holding up ... if rather sagging where a 15 metre gumtree fell across the kitchen a couple of years back!

Back to wobbleboards: I reckon the one I got in 1959 was a thin grade of the tempered variety ... possibly no longer made. Anyway, you could make a wobble board from any board-like material that had the right amount of flexion ... and you just listen for the best-sounding material. Some plastic material for screen-prining outdoor sings works well.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 09:12 PM

I got some good sounds from large sheets of cardboard that my dad used to get as advertising material when he was an Arnotts country rep - but it is fragile and not too loud.

Robin

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Amos
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 09:41 PM

Wobble Boards are usually composed of a number of senior Wobbles who are invited to sit because of their valuable experience and wisdom.

A

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: open mike
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 09:54 PM

i have made use of a metal ad sign like you might find on the sidewalk out side a filling station advertising cigarettes. I find that camel ones make the best sound. makes a great thunder sound for theatre.

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Teresa
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 10:22 PM

Amos: "Wobble Boards are usually composed of a number of senior Wobbles who are invited to sit because of their valuable experience and wisdom."

Not to be confused with wobblies? ;);)
Teresa

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: JennieG
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 12:29 AM

Do you sit on a wobble board when you want to chuck a wobbly?

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 04:07 AM

Bob Bolton

on second thought, if plaster sheeting was more common in your area, then you grew up in a higher class (richer) area than I did. Also plaster sheeting was more common in brick houses, but masonite was more common in wooden construction (which was more common in Qld). It was also used to "tart up" (modernise) many VJ internally clad houses by nailing it over the VJ boards - in areas that did not prefer plaster sheeting (one of my uncles was a plasterer by trade and it didn't get popular in Qld until the 1970's or very late 1960's) - Qld was perhaps more the home of fibro and masonite than southern states.

Robin

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 05:10 AM

G'day Foolestroupe,

When Dad built the family home - in Greenacre (a fairly proletarian south-western suburb of Sydney) in the 1950s he used plasterboard ... as did Grandfather and uncle Fred, who built in the same cluster cooperatively. I don't know what the Housing Commission used in all the homes they subsequently built round us ... but I'm not familiar with Masonite as an indoor facing board.

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 09:50 AM

Fair enough Bob. :-)

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Bobjack
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 03:50 AM

Wobble of course, you silly billy!

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Helen
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 05:27 AM

Our house has masonite lining in the dining & sitting rooms. It probably covers old weatherboards. These two rooms could have originally been the back verandah. My last house had masonite lining boards in the dining room as well, but had lath & plaster in the lounge room, hall & bedrooms.

Helen

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 08:01 AM

The original mortgage date on my house deed is 1957. The house was built with proper lath backed plaster ceilings in main bedroom, lounge and intervening hall. Those rooms have plaster walls, apparently not "plasterboard", but plaster.

The difference is that "plasterboard" is two sheets of thin cardboard sandwiching a plaster core. The sheets are affixed to ceiling and wall, then given a surface 'plastering' of white plaster.

The rest is masonite, but some walls have been "plasterboard" covered, and some with that imitation 'VJ T&G' cladding stuff. There seem to have been various modifications over its previous liefe before I arrived.

BTW: "Plasterboard" does not a good wobble board make...

Robin

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 11:26 AM

The Wombles never had a board. Uncle Bulgaria just told everyone what to do, apart from Madame Cholet who did her own thing. Oh - And MacWomble the terrible who was not there much and was the only Womble not named after a place...

:D
(On a slow Manchester afternoon)

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 12:29 PM

Wobble.

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 01:20 PM

You can also cut it (masonite) by scoring one side with a sharp knife and then bending away from the scored line. Similar to cutting glass.
It does however leave a really dog rough edge, which if you were using for a Wobble board you would have to clen up. Try a Suform or a plane or sndpaper or whatever.
JohnB

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 06:55 PM

There seems to be quite a difference in building practices in our differing localities. The "masonite" that I usually think of is generically a "hardboard" (the softer kind) or "tempered hardboard" (the really hard, slick stuff).

While it is used some in the "bare" form as interior panelling, few in this country would consider it for an exterior siding because the generic material does not stand moisture very well. Since it's significantly more expensive than (2x to 3x) plasterboard here, it's seldom seen even as a general interior siding, so far as I have observed, since sometime in the mid/late 40s.

The Masonite Co has produced a line of decorative panels, usually "wood-grained" or some such, on which a decorative surface is applied to the tempered (usually) hardboard. Although this can be applied directly to a framework, in my area the wall is usually "panelled" with plasterboard and the decorative panelling is applied over that just for the decorative effect. I would suspect that the "unsurfaced" tempered hardboard would be a better choice for the wobbleboard than one of the deco ones.

I was not aware of any significant usage for exterior siding, but an attempt to find "masonite" on the web got me:

"The masonite.com site has been moved to masoniteclaims.com"

At the new location, one finds:

"On January 15, 1998, the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, granted final approval to a Settlement in the lawsuit known as Naef v. Masonite, CV-94-4033.   The Settlement provides a program for eligible claimants to recover the costs associated with damage caused by the installation and incorporation of Masonite Hardboard Siding."

Apparently their exterior(?) siding line wasn't too successful here. (I'm assuming exterior because interior use would typically be called "panelling" rather than "siding" here.)

A little further search does find a "still functional" Masonite Co producing the decorative interior stuff - but they've moved it to Zaire(?).

JohnB - you can, sort of, guide where the tempered hardboard breaks by scribing it; but unlike glass you get a much cleaner "break" if you scribe both sides, and you're unlikely to get a very good profile unless the "score" on each side goes about 1/4 of the way through the sheet - for the stuff with which I'm familiar. The tempered board is hard enough to be somewhat hazardous when attacked with a sharp knife. I've found a sharp corner of a broken piece of hacksaw blade makes a better (and safer) "scribe" for scoring.

For cleaning up a broke-off edge, a good cabinet rasp (wood rasp) would be my preference. The high resin content "loads" sandpaper so fast as to make it almost useless for removing any significant "deviations from profile" on the edges, and the stuff is too hard to do much to the flat surfaces with sandpaper.

It's not too much of a hazard on most construction jobs, but if you're working the stuff in an enclosed work space I'd note that some people find the "sawdust" quite irritating to "personal breathing apparatus," so a face/nose mask should be considered, especially if power tools are involved.

John

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 06:57 PM

G'day again,

Come to think of it, I supplied a friend with a chunk of thin MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) to use as a 'wobbleboard' for a recording gig. MDF has about the right 'wobble' and a reasonable sound ... but only comes in sheets thin enough to wobble when it is used as protective packing around something like sheets of acrylic sheeting (Plexiglas® and similar. I was able to saw the MDF with a normal ripsaw and glean up the edges with a Surform tool and sandpaper.

Unfortunately, I have no idea of how well the bonded wood material would last ... The recording studio got him to give them a few representative "sample" wobbles ... then sucked the sound file into their synthesiser ... and used digitally synthesised and modulated "wobbleboard" in the recording!

Regard(les)s,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Splott Man
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 07:47 AM

Has anyone mentioned plywood?

When I was a kid in the early 60s, my dad made a board to do jigsaws on out of a thin sheet of ply painted with gloss. It became known as the wobble board in our house for obvious reasons. A small piece of it still survives in its original battleship grey livery as a clip board.

Don't ask me for technical details on plywood suppliers, just go to your nearest skip / dumpster.

regards

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Pied Piper
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 10:43 AM

The original wobble boards of cause, were made of Mammoth scapulars, these had to be left for about a year in wet peat to remove a lot of the Calcium and thus render them sufficiently flexible for the purpose.

PP

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Mar 04 - 06:37 PM

Currently in the Powerhouse Museum, they are preparing a display for the centenary of Australian TV which started in Sept 1956. Supposedly one of Rolf Harris's original wobble boards will be part of the display - it is currently in the Australian Museum of Modern Media.

Doubtless, there it will keep future generations safe...

Robin

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Claire M
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 03:33 PM

Hiya!! We used to make our sheets of plastic into them in design lessons. I can't use anything too heavy. If you've got a book you've finished w/ that nobody else wants (I've plenty) you could use the cover, cos when it flaps it makes pretty much the same noise. I found this out when I got too hot. I was so pleased. It made my day !! J (little things, etc.) Just be careful of shaking it too hard when wearing certain clothing, esp. if you're a woman --- cos it's not just yer board that wobbles! (   .)( .   )

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 31 Jul 14 - 05:49 PM

And don't do it if Rolf is around!

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 03:20 AM

Hardboard works fine! Or go into local hardware, diy shop and try the wobble test on all available offcuts!

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Claire M
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 09:35 AM

Hiya !! I have to try to do the noises, too. I just have to…..but not too loud/too hard, cos I get out of breath, mind you I can't breathe that well anyway. To me said noises go hand in hand w/ this type of thing. Dear me.

To Steve: esp. not if you're covering
this song.....

To Bob: You LEFT IT BEHIND ??!!

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Aug 14 - 09:42 AM

Here's a video with the sound of a wobble board. This board is thinner and whippier than the Masonite I'm familiar with. I like the sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNVv7zF63bQ

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Aug 14 - 02:14 AM

Wobble Boards are made of wood from the Australian Wobble tree. The best wobble boards are made from Kimberley Wobble although Tasmanian Huon Wobble comes a close 2nd. The Kakadu Wobble from the far north of the Northern Territory is a much inferior Wobble and is in point of actual fact, a hybrid Wobble crossed with the Northern Kimberley Boab tree. Boards from this source give a much more hollow sound with much less sustain. More like a "Blobble".

I hope this is of some assistance and should anyone wish to purchase a genuine Wobble board. I can supply them (in kit form) specially laminated in your choice of colours. (Please check Bunnings Laminex Chart for your prefered colour, then forward a money order for AU$200.00 to me at "One Born Every Minute Promotions"

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Bugsy
Date: 02 Aug 14 - 02:23 AM

ps. I' also running a SPECIAL OFFER on Left Handed Wobble Boards

REDUCED from $199 to $250, or 2 for $600.

HURRY, Numbers are strictly LIMITED.

Cheers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Claire M
Date: 03 Aug 14 - 09:51 AM

Hiya!

That could be a song, too.

"I 'll sing w/ you, if you sing w/ me, sitting under the old Wobble tree……"

I think in that case I'd try to play said board better, just for him. & I'd ask to do some blues songs, too.

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 03 Aug 14 - 09:25 PM

The trouble with those Left Handed Wobble Boards is, you bring 'em up to the Northern Hemisphere, they turn into Right Handed Wobble Boards. Be careful out there.

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 03:18 AM

I Never thought of that Gerry! Thanks for the Heads Up.

Sorry Folks, the Left Handed Wobble board special is now FINISHED!

Cheeers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 05:40 AM

Bugsy, do you do a cutaway version to get those high notes easily?

RtS

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Andrez
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 07:27 AM

Dunno 'bout Bugsy but I use a capo :-)

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:33 PM

Board

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Bugsy
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 07:25 PM

Come one now Gentlemens. Let's not get silly about this.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: What are Wobble Boards made of?
From: Don Firth
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 09:09 PM

Legend has it that a playwright needed sound effects for a play that was about to go into production.

In one scene a storm is in progress, and he wanted the sound effect for thunder. So he got a big sheet of metal, and when the script called for a rumble of thunder, two stage hands backstage would "wobble" the metal sheet. Worked like a charm!

Then the producers decided to cancel the play.

Some time later, the playwright attended another play put on by the same producers who had cancelled his play. And lo! There was a storm scene complete with the rumbling of thunder. Yup! Two stage hands backstage wobbling the metal sheet.

The miffed playwright was heard to say, "They didn't like my play. But they stole my thunder!!"

Supposedly the origin of the expression.

Wibble wibble!

Don Firth