I spent 3 years making protest signs with the wrong kind of cardboard

I always used that thin corrugated stuff from cereal boxes cause it was free, but last week a guy at the rally in Atlanta pointed out it flops over after 20 minutes in any wind. He showed me how the thicker double-wall stuff from appliance boxes holds up way better and doesn't make you look like you're waving a napkin. Has anyone else had their sign turn into a limp noodle halfway through a march?

3 comments

3 Comments

calebc405d ago

Figured out the hard way that cereal box cardboard is basically just thick paper pretending to be useful. That double-wall stuff from a washing machine box or a furniture delivery is the real deal, holds straight even in a decent breeze. Also helps to bring a roll of duct tape and a couple of thin wooden sticks from a hardware store to reinforce the edges. Makes a world of difference when you're standing there for an hour and your message is still readable instead of flopping over on itself.

taraross5d ago

Oh man, @calebc40, I gotta push back on that "cereal box cardboard is basically just thick paper" take. I've actually had way better luck with the thin, flimsy stuff because it's lighter and easier to tape to a pole without dragging everything down. That double-wall cardboard from a big box is so heavy and stiff, it catches the wind like a sail and tries to yank the sign right out of your hands. I've had a furniture box fold over at the crease after five minutes in a gust. A little duct tape on the edges of a cereal box and it stays flexible enough to flap instead of snap.

margaretramirez5d ago

This is just like how thin pizza crust holds up better than thick doughy stuff.