Seeking advice on covering Big Board
 

My hubby has put together a “big board” which sits on top of my ironing board. It is 1/2 inch maple plywood. Should I put a layer of tinfoil first, then cotton batting and then canvas? Thinking that the tinfoil will help protect the wood from moisture and swelling... your thoughts?

My hubby did the same thing for me. I went to JoAnn's and bought both the board protection fabric and fabric covering from them. The woman at the cutting table knew exactly what I needed. I don't recall what's underneath the fabric I chose.

Underneath the fabric is something that is both water resistant and heat resilient. The top fabric I chose from their decorator fabrics. It has worked out great for me.

I wouldn't use tinfoil.

I also went to JoAnn’s and they have the quilted silver fabric for ironing boards. It works great. I was concerned about the quilting but it doesn’t make lines on the quilt block.

That's what I did when I made a 72 X 48 ironing table to sit over a banquet table. I saw a YouTube video that showed how to do it. It makes sense to put something down so the wood doesn't get wet. I used cotton duck cloth from Joann's. I've been using it for about a year now and while the sides are getting a bit worn, the whole thing is still stable and level.

My board is about 10 years old. I think I used old towels under the cotton duck cover. Lately I noticed the board (18” wide”) is becoming uneven (edges are curling upward) so DH will make me a new board soon. I have a wool army blanket which I plan to use under the cover for padding. I love my board.

If you put tinfoil it will not grab. Watch Sharon Schamber's "Perfect Pressing Board"
on Youtube. I have a small board like Sharon then a big board.
I just change the board/batting/canvas when it starts getting uneven.
I didn't bother with the glue for the big one...just stretch and staple the whole
thing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LGbXou_u4c
[h=3][/h]

I used outdoor plywood so that the extra moisture would not affect the wood for at least a while. I just covered mine in quilted grey ironing board cover, also got at JoAnn's. See the other thread.

Marcia

Another vote for cotton duck for the cover. I think what's best underneath is personal preference, I put 2 layers of that batting that has the metal stuff in it, someone help me out with what it's called? But I will say that for quilting and sewing, I much prefer a cotton duck cover over the silver cover. The silver stuff is a bit slippery and better for ironing clothes, while the cotton duck has a bit of a non-stick factor and holds onto blocks and fabrics a bit better, which makes it easier to press them.

I don't use steam so was not worried about water - I just used batting covered by cotton duck.

I already bought the maple plywood, I could have bought the outdoor stuff for a lot less, but was concerned about fumes when heat is applied - that stuff is full of glue. I’m probably just being paranoid.

I don’t use steam when pressing, but do often mist water on my fabric to help remove wrinkles and stubborn fold lines. So I ended up putting the foil on first, then stapled 2 layers of cotton batting. Would have liked to use the duck canvas/cotton, but try to find that around here. The staff at Fabricville look at me like I’m from Mars and show me burlap! So I used a long piece of cotton muslin I had.

Thanks for all the feedback. Hopefully my big board will last a long time, looking forward to using it when I’m putting those long rows together.