Mcdavid Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 I am a teacher and was commissioned to make a few classroom sets of whiteboard slates. I got the melamine sheets from the home center and cut them up but the surface isn't quite the same at a commercial whiteboard. The dry marker doesn't come off very easy. I was thinking about coating the board with shellac or laquer to give it a more glossy/erasable surface. Do you guys think this would work or possibly have another solution in mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 Buy a large cheaply framed white board at an office supply place and cut that up. The magnetic ones are expensive and hard to cut but the cheap ones have the right kind of surface on a Masonite type board. The cheap aluminum frame is easy to get off. You have to use white board markers, Sharpies are semi permanent (but it cleans off with acetone) My dad had an office supply company and I made custom sized whiteboards with a wooden frame to match the office furniture. Cutting the magnetic whiteboards and building a case with doors was a lot more work ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodbutcher74 Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 I have used what I call bathroom paneling. It comes in 4'x8' sheets and is in the paneling section at the big box. It's not as good as a regular dry erase board but I think it would work better than melamine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 As mentioned, melamine is not "whiteboard" material and is not well suited to your task. the coating needs to me smoother and more non-porous. Cutting up actual whiteboard material to your required size is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 I think the solvents in dry erase markers would erode a lacquer or shellac coating. Better to use real whiteboard stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prov163 Posted September 28, 2016 Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 I bought sheets of blackboard and whiteboard material at Home Depot. Glue it to a substrate and you're set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted October 4, 2016 Report Share Posted October 4, 2016 I rescued a white board from a school that was pitching it due to a damaged frame. Its some type of white painted metal. I simply repaired the frame, and now it's in my shop! It's a real waste what schools and companies throw out. That board was at least 75 - 100 dollars. 5 mins and a bit of epoxy and it was as good as new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.