materials_properties

Common Materials and Their Properties

Paper and Card

Material	Properties	Best Uses	Working Techniques	Considerations
Printer Paper	Thin, flexible, accepts ink/pencil	Sketching, prototyping, origami	Cutting, folding, gluing	Low durability, sensitive to moisture
Card Stock	Stiffer, more durable than paper	Cards, small structures, models	Scoring, cutting, folding	Can crack if folded against grain
Watercolor Paper	Textured, absorbent, heavy	Wet media, dimensional paper crafts	Painting, cutting, folding	Expensive, warps when wet unless stretched
Corrugated Cardboard	Lightweight, structural, insulating	Prototyping, packaging, structural models	Cutting, scoring, laminating	Directional strength, exposed edges can look unfinished
Bristol Board	Smooth, rigid, durable	Illustration, signs, presentation boards	Drawing, cutting, mounting	More expensive than regular card

Textiles and Fibers

Material	Properties	Best Uses	Working Techniques	Considerations
Cotton Fabric	Soft, absorbent, breathable	Clothing, bags, soft goods	Cutting, sewing, dyeing	Shrinks when washed, wrinkles easily
Felt	Non-fraying, insulating, soft	Crafts, appliqué, soft toys	Cutting, gluing, hand sewing	Low durability when thin, limited drape
Canvas	Durable, textured, stiff	Bags, sturdy crafts, painting	Sewing, painting, stretching	Heavy, can be difficult to sew by hand
Yarn	Flexible, varied textures	Knitting, crochet, weaving	Knitting, crocheting, knotting	Different fibers have different properties
Elastic	Stretchy, returns to shape	Waistbands, fitted items	Stretching while sewing, special stitches	Degrades over time, requires special sewing techniques

Wood and Plant Materials

Material	Properties	Best Uses	Working Techniques	Considerations
Balsa Wood	Very lightweight, soft	Models, crafts, prototypes	Cutting, carving, gluing	Dents and breaks easily, limited strength
Pine	Soft, lightweight, inexpensive	Beginner woodworking, general construction	Sawing, nailing, screwing	Prone to dents, visible knots, warping
Bamboo	Strong, flexible, sustainable	Structures, garden items, decorative elements	Cutting, lashing, drilling	Splits easily, requires special techniques
Cork	Lightweight, insulating, water-resistant	Bulletin boards, coasters, crafts	Cutting, gluing, pinning	Crumbles at edges, limited strength
Plywood	Strong, stable, comes in sheets	Furniture, structures, backing	Sawing, drilling, finishing	Edges need finishing, quality varies widely

Plastics and Synthetics

Material	Properties	Best Uses	Working Techniques	Considerations
Acrylic Sheet	Clear, rigid, weather-resistant	Displays, signs, templates	Cutting, drilling, heat forming	Scratches easily, edges need finishing
Craft Foam	Soft, lightweight, colorful	Kids’ crafts, padding, costumes	Cutting, gluing, punching	Low durability, limited structural strength
EVA Foam	Flexible, durable, insulating	Cosplay, floor mats, padding	Cutting, heat forming, gluing	Can be difficult to paint, special glues needed
PVC Pipe	Strong, waterproof, uniform	Structures, garden projects, fixtures	Cutting, joining with fittings, gluing	Requires special cement for joining, toxic if burned
Styrene Sheet	Thin, flexible, accepts paint well	Models, prototypes, signs	Cutting, gluing, painting	Can be brittle, edges can be sharp

Adhesives and Fasteners

Material	Properties	Best Uses	Working Techniques	Considerations
White Glue (PVA)	Water-based, dries clear, repositionable when wet	Paper, wood, fabric, general crafts	Applying with brush or directly	Not waterproof, takes time to dry
Hot Glue	Fast-setting, thick, forms its own bond	Quick assembly, temporary holds, uneven surfaces	Applied with glue gun	Forms thick seams, can be removed, temperature can damage some materials
Super Glue	Very strong, quick-setting, thin	Small parts, repairs, non-porous materials	Tiny applications, accelerator for faster setting	Bonds skin instantly, brittle when dry
Wood Glue	Strong, slightly flexible, sandable	Woodworking, strong paper bonds	Applying to both surfaces, clamping	Longer set time, not for non-porous materials
Double-Sided Tape	Instant bond, clean application	Paper, temporary positioning, flat surfaces	Applying to clean surfaces, burnishing	Varies in strength, can damage some surfaces when removed

Metal and Wire

Material	Properties	Best Uses	Working Techniques	Considerations
Aluminum Foil	Flexible, reflective, conductive	Crafts, molds, reflectors	Folding, shaping, embossing	Tears easily, holds creases
Copper Wire	Flexible, conductive, holds shape	Jewelry, electronics, armatures	Bending, twisting, soldering	Tarnishes over time, work-hardens
Paper Clips	Pre-formed wire, consistent	Small fasteners, simple structures, impromptu tools	Bending, linking, unfolding	Limited strength, can scratch surfaces
Aluminum Sheet	Lightweight, corrosion-resistant	Signs, decorative elements, simple metalwork	Cutting with snips, bending, riveting	Edges can be sharp, dents permanently
Steel Wire	Strong, rigid, available in various gauges	Structures, heavy-duty crafts, garden projects	Cutting with wire cutters, bending with pliers	Rusts unless coated, requires stronger tools to work

Digital Materials

Material	Properties	Best Uses	Working Techniques	Considerations
Raster Images	Pixel-based, detailed	Photos, complex illustrations	Editing in Photoshop or similar	Resolution-dependent, doesn’t scale up well
Vector Graphics	Math-based, scalable	Logos, illustrations, designs for cutting	Creating in Illustrator or similar	Less photorealistic, steeper learning curve
3D Models	Three-dimensional, can be viewed from any angle	Product design, 3D printing, visualization	Creating in Blender, SketchUp, etc.	Complex to learn, requires good spatial thinking
Fonts	Consistent text styling	Typography, logos, documents	Selecting, pairing, customizing	Licensing issues, overwhelming variety
Audio Files	Sound-based, temporal	Multimedia projects, sound design	Recording, editing, mixing	Technical requirements, file compatibility

Found and Recycled Materials

Material	Properties	Best Uses	Working Techniques	Considerations
Cardboard Tubes	Cylindrical, structural	Structures, storage, crafts	Cutting, painting, connecting	Not water-resistant, can crush
Glass Jars	Clear, waterproof, heat-resistant	Storage, lighting, display	Cleaning, decorating, filling	Breakable, edges can be sharp
Plastic Bottles	Lightweight, waterproof, transparent	Containers, craft projects, planters	Cutting, painting, joining	Degrades in sunlight, can look “crafty”
Fabric Scraps	Varied textures and colors	Patchwork, stuffing, appliqué	Cutting, sewing, gluing	Inconsistent sizes, may need pre-washing
Bottle Caps	Small, uniform, colorful	Mosaics, jewelry, games	Flattening, drilling, stringing	Sharp edges, need cleaning