With education costs skyrocketing and budgets being cut, we need to all make sure we spend our money wisely. When in doubt ask an expert. |
Monday, February 25, 2013
What does it cost to go to school?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Best Classroom Whiteboard
Looking
for a long lasting whiteboard that will hold up to the wear and tear of a
classroom? Let's face it no one uses their whiteboard more than teachers, lets make sure that you get the right board for your needs!
First you should know that all whiteboards are not created equal and costs vary widely. The number one dry erase board for classroom use is porcelain steel; in fact many of these whiteboards come with 50 year guaranties!
Porcelain
steel whiteboards are extremely durable and resistant to stains & scratches. The hard enamel surface doesn't wear away over time and it cleans easier. The steel backed surface allows the use of magnets and magnetic accessories, which serves double duty as a
magnetic bulletin board as well!
This
board is perfect for the classroom hazards that can occur on a daily basis.
These boards are more resistant to damage whether it is from vandalism, misuse or
neglect (leaving writing on board for extended periods of time).
Porcelain
boards provide a quality teaching tool that will not have to be replaced for
generations (or at least until current students grandchildren are in the
classroom)! If you plan on constantly using the whiteboard, it will be more
cost effective to purchase a porcelain whiteboard once, instead of replacing
multiple melamine boards over the years.
Sure there are less expensive options available and we know that often there is little to no budget available for individual classrooms on a year to year basis but do your classroom a favor and cross whiteboard off your needs list once and for all.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Having trouble erasing your dry erase board?
What good is a dry
erase board that doesn’t erase?
Many different factors can contribute to a whiteboard not
erasing, but with a little knowledge and some tips & tricks you can easily
get that board clean or at least know when the time has come to replace it.
Use the right
tools
Traditional felt chalk board erasers were not designed to be
used on whiteboards. Instead of trapping the ink, they tend to push the dry ink
around the surface of the board. They leave a trail of dry ink debris on the
surface, causing the board to look messy and dirty.
A soft microfiber cloth tends to work better than a paper
towel or a rag because the fibers trap the ink and get it off of the surface
while polishing the smooth dry erase surface. Microfiber cloths have negative charges that
actually attract dust, ink, dirt, etc.
For the stubborn
stains
If simply wiping the cloth over the stain does not remove
the stain, adding water to the cloth may be the next step. Wetting the cloth in
a way reactivates the ink. It loosens the ink particles making it easier for
the fibers to clean the board. A damp microfiber cloth should erase the
simplest of stains.
For resilient
stains
For resilient stains try using a whiteboard cleaner.
Whiteboard cleaners are designed to erase stains while cleaning and
conditioning the whiteboard. You can make your own whiteboard cleaner using a
solution of 50% water and 50% isopropyl alcohol.
If the cleaner does not seem to be doing the trick, increase
the proportion of isopropyl alcohol to water, this should erase the hardest of
removable stains. Using straight isopropyl alcohol, or isopropyl wipes should
be the next step if increasing the solution does not erase pesky stains.
Helpful Trick
Sometimes simply re-writing over the stain with a dry erase
marker and then erasing the ink will remove the stain underneath. Writing on a
stain with a dry erase marker in a way reactivates the ink and when it is
erased it pulls the old ink into the cloth along with the new ink; resulting in
a clean board. This has been known to erase permanent marker stains and is an
easy trick if you are out of dry erase cleaner, or if there is no water nearby.
Don’ts
The worst thing you can do for your whiteboard would be to
use abrasive cleaners that could potentially scratch or harm the board. Magic
erasers, tile/tub cleaners, all-purpose cleaners, bleach; harsh chemicals such
as these can ruin a board.
Resurface or
Replace?
If the staining gets out of hand and the previous solutions
do not work for your whiteboard, then it might be in your best interest to
either resurface or replace the whiteboard. See our post on resurfacing dry erase boards
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Before you make your own whiteboard
The do it yourself dud
There are a lot of do it yourself (DIY) websites instructing people
on how to create their own whiteboards. Building your own homemade whiteboard
can be a fun weekend project and can save a couple of bucks in the short run.
But before you get started, there are some factors to consider, and I am going to outline
them here.
Okay I’m ready to
start what do I need?
Many plans suggest using melamine shower board panels for
homemade whiteboards because they are cheap and can be written on and erased. The thought is that shower-board melamine is the same as whiteboard melamine. And while they are similar they are not the same, shower board is not made to be used as whiteboards and will
only last so long before it starts to ghost or stain. The hardware store material is only meant to be water-resistant and hold tile adhesive. A dry-erase board is intended to be nonporous and scratch-resistant.
So why does this matter?
First, let's explain how and why melamine boards "ghost"
Most melamine dry erase boards have some abrasive resistance in their surface
(some are UV cured to harden them) and even they eventually wears out over time.
What happens is the glossy top surface wears away from the friction of marker and eraser
rubbing on it. As the surface wears away, it becomes more and more difficult to erase the marker; then as you scrub harder and harder to erase the marker the surface wear away faster and faster until the nonporous surface is compromised and you are writing on the porous white under the surface and the board stains; this is commonly called ghosting.
With a shower board, the surface isn't made for abrasion resistance so this process will happen far quicker.
Compare these to the best and most expensive whiteboards have a surface made
of a porcelain enamel that is so hard and durable that many come with a 50-year
warranty.
But I don’t want to
spend that much!
Quite frankly not everyone needs a porcelain board, unless
you are using the board every day for long periods of time (think schools) you
probably don’t need one either. That said, if you are going to spend time and money making a whiteboard why not save yourself the trouble and money and choose
something that is guaranteed to last, instead of throwing your money away into
a homemade dud.
Obviously, you could purchase actual quality unframed dry erase panels and have them shipped to you but anything even fairly large would have to ship on a freight truck and that in itself is very expensive.
You do have another option
Opti-Rite Lite has a peel-n-stick self-adhesive backing that is easy to install onto a wall or existing board. The material comes in a 50 inch wide roll sold by the linear foot. It may be applied directly to a smooth wall or to a panel to make your own framed board. It sells for under $20/foot and ships without the expensive freight charges. And the writing surface is as good or better than any other dry erase board available.
Obviously, you could purchase actual quality unframed dry erase panels and have them shipped to you but anything even fairly large would have to ship on a freight truck and that in itself is very expensive.
You do have another option
Opti-Rite Lite has a peel-n-stick self-adhesive backing that is easy to install onto a wall or existing board. The material comes in a 50 inch wide roll sold by the linear foot. It may be applied directly to a smooth wall or to a panel to make your own framed board. It sells for under $20/foot and ships without the expensive freight charges. And the writing surface is as good or better than any other dry erase board available.
Fixing your homemade
whiteboard
If you have already made your homemade whiteboard you may cover it with Opti-Rite Lite as a preventative measure against staining or you may use it to "restore" a board that has begun to stain.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Melamine vs. Porcelain Steel
Not all whiteboards are created equal.
When you need a dry-erase board, you will have many options
to choose from. Not all options are created equal and they do not all perform the
same. Two of the most common options are
porcelain steel and melamine. If you find yourself wondering what the
differences are, you are not alone. I hope to clarify the Pros and Cons of both
melamine and porcelain boards in an effort to help you find the right board for
your needs.
Economy option:
Melamine (Non-Magnetic)
Melamine is comprised of a plastic film on white colored
hardboard. These tend to be economically friendly but are not magnetic
receptive. Over time and after repeated use, the clear coating will wear away
which will result in ghosting or staining, so melamine boards should be cleaned
immediately after every use to prolong the good condition of the boards.
If treated and maintained properly, melamine can last
several years. However, this means that the board needs to be cleaned with a dry
erase board cleaner and a microfiber cloth, rather than other harsh cleaners
can eat away at the clear coating and cut down the ‘life span’ of the melamine
board. Avoid leaving marker on the surface for extended periods of a time; this
too can eat at the surface.
Durability option: Porcelain
Steel (Magnetic)
Porcelain steel whiteboards are much more durable than the
melamine boards because the writing surface is so hard. The porcelain is hard
baked enamel that resists dents, scratches, stains and ghosting!
Additionally, a porcelain boards’ enamel surface is backed
by steel. The steel strengthens the
board while making it magnetic receptive allowing the use of magnets and
magnetic accessories. With porcelain you
get a durable writing surface that doubles as a bulletin board.
The best porcelain whiteboards come with a 50 year warranty
on the writing surface! They are perfect if you plan on using the board on a
daily basis, they can withstand the maximum amount of usage. Think about it, with a 50 year guarantee, if
a porcelain board is purchased for a classroom, the board will not have to be
replaced until current students’ grandchildren are in the classroom!
If you plan on constantly using the whiteboard, it will be
more cost effective to purchase a porcelain whiteboard once, instead of
replacing multiple melamine boards over the years.
Summary
Finding the perfect whiteboard for your needs doesn’t need
to be difficult. Melamine and Porcelain boards both have advantages and
disadvantages, either one could be the right fit for you consider your budget
but also how you plan to use and care for your whiteboard.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Dry Erase Thought Bubbles
What could be more fun and unique than a dry erase thought bubble from MyWhiteboards.com?!
OptiMA Inc. has created colorful speech and thought bubbles that are a fun and creative way to decorate any kids’ bedroom room or the office! The adhesive on the back won’t ruin your walls when you decide to take it down which makes it a perfect option for college dorm rooms.
OptiMA Inc. has created colorful speech and thought bubbles that are a fun and creative way to decorate any kids’ bedroom room or the office! The adhesive on the back won’t ruin your walls when you decide to take it down which makes it a perfect option for college dorm rooms.
These speech and thought bubbles are easy to use and
easy to apply. Peel and stick dry erase wall decals come in a set of four
speech and thought bubbles. These are perfect for reminding yourself of
appointments or meetings or to record thoughts and ideas.
They come with the option of either being all pink,
all blue, a solid black outline or you can get each one a different color! These dry erase thought bubbles look great on
pictures or posters so use them in a photograph for whimsical profile pictures!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wood Framed Dry Erase Board... In a tube?
It doesn't make sense does it? But the Opti-Rite® Print Dry Erase Decals can in fact ship in a tube. The faux frame design looks just like a real wood frame but is actually part of the decal itself so it looks cool and it saves you a bundle on shipping!
The decals have an excellent dry erase surface on the front and a re-positional self adhesive on the back. You really need to see these to believe just how great these are.
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