Ask HN: What kind of whiteboard does not use dry erase markers?
46 comments
·March 15, 2025vladsanchez
I bought this 4'x3' Black Glass Board back in 2017 for $150! I write with white and neon colored liquid chalk markers and it's the best!
Here: https://a.co/d/hlrwPHQ
Enjoy it.
saurik
Wow! Do you then use white board erasers, chalk board erasers, paper towels, microfiber clothes, squeegees ;P, or what do you use then to erase?
myvoiceismypass
Is there a particular advantage to getting the black version of this versus the ultra white version?
aaron695
[dead]
MathMonkeyMan
In a previous apartment, I painted a wall with several coats of blackboard (chalkboard) paint and then used fancy chalk on it, and a chalkboard eraser. Worked pretty well. The landlord even let me keep it up when I moved out, because the next tenants liked it.
snailmailman
Different purpose than a whiteboard, because its much smaller and not really for sharing with a group. But I've used a Rocketbook 'reusable notebook' off and on for a while for any random notes at my desk. I used to just fill up a whiteboard by my desk with random notes instead of wasting paper, but now I scribble things in the Rocketbook instead. You write in it with an erasable pen, and can clean the pages off with a bit of water and a cloth.
I just flip to a blank page and write down anything i need. Then once in a while i go through and erase all the pages and start fresh again. I like that i can write very small and detailed - unlike with a whiteboard. But it also isn't a complete waste of paper. (and its still physical, unlike taking notes on an iPad)
firefax
Slightly off topic, but if you ever write on a whiteboard with a sharpie, you can write over the text with an erasable marker and then wipe it away.
LeoPanthera
This works because the solvent base for the ink is alcohol, so a much simpler method that doesn't waste ink is to use a small spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol. Ideally 99/100%, if you can get it. (Try eBay.)
This doubles up as an effective whiteboard cleaner.
fahrnfahrnfahrn
You can do the same with a Sharpie. All inks contain a solvent for their pigment, so you can use the same marker to remove the same ink. Just mark over it and immediately wipe it off.
brudgers
If you want to remove Sharpie, use IPA...isopropyl alcohol...India pale ale remains useless.
MathMonkeyMan
Your pale ale clearly isn't strong enough!
echelon
Isopropyl removes all inks and glues. It's incredible.
It's also fantastic to wash your hands with when doing cell and tissue cultures and trying to avoid contamination.
j_bum
Ideally used to sterilize while gloves are on your hands… be mindful of your skin microbiome!
Two4
It's also similarly great for killing braincells when auto-applied orally
BleakButBold
Even better, sunscreen (I just use old, expired ones). Don’t know why, but it does a great job.
Avshalom
hartator
What would be the fancy modern buyable version of this?
dandrew5
Keeping it classic, nice. How do you manage the dust?
snackbroken
1) Try a few different "dustless" chalk brands. Pick the one that's the least dusty. It probably won't write as nicely. 2) Erase with a damp cloth, not a dry felt eraser. 3) Use a blackboard with relatively low surface roughness. It won't write as nicely.
farseer
Perhaps with multiple vacuums attached on the bezels.
DAhelloNG
I write directly on the drywall, it's a lifehack that forces you to accept your past ideas and thoughts.
yjftsjthsd-h
...Permanently? You just keep everything indefinitely?
DAhelloNG
Until I move out yea
conductr
Your comment reminds me of my 18~25 year old self when I never renewed an apartment lease as a way to avoid cleaning my bathtub.
It was my least favorite childhood chore and I’m mid40s and still haven’t done it once myself. At this point it’s petty but I refuse to do it on principle alone, to keep the streak alive
solardev
> some kind of magnetic board
Sounds like a giant Etch-a-sketch?
There are these small electric blackboards that you can push a button to reset: https://myboogieboard.com/pages/blackboard-smart
I wonder if they make a giant wall mountable version?
gharper
I have a couple boogie boards, and they're very handy for making notes or single-session scribbles, but their major drawback is the "all or nothing" reset.
I don't think I realized how often I need to erase or update a small section of a list or diagram without erasing the entire thing until using these.
totetsu
https://smartboardandbeyond.com/products/boogie-board-55-wal...
This is 55inch one
tlb
Get a real blackboard made of slate and quality chalk. Much higher resolution than markers.
ipdashc
I'm glad they work for you, but out of curiosity, does anyone else find... just about everything about blackboards unappealing? The feel of chalk scratching on the board, the sound, drawing the characters (making curves feels awkward to me), even the chalk dust. I prefer whiteboards in almost every way except for markers drying out. It's one of those things I've kinda never understood why so many people prefer chalkboards.
klodolph
Scratchy chalk is low-quality chalk or poor technique. Every writing instrument has its own techniques. Like how fountain pens work better at a lower angle and lower pressure, and ball-point pens work better at a higher pressure and the angle doesn’t matter so much.
aconbere
Or poor quality boards. I know I didn’t use a real slate board until later in university and it makes a world of difference. Really you need both, great chalk and a great board. But when you have both the feel is superb :)
tlb
I enjoy those sensations, presumably because it’s associated with solving problems. I recognize that objectively they’re slightly unpleasant, although nowhere near as bad as other things people learn to enjoy like cigarettes.
khazhoux
But on the other hand, it dries out your hands!
bickfordb
If you use glass, whiteboard material / laminate (formica eg) you can use any kind of marker and then dissolve it with alcohol or acetone.
thex10
I recently learned whiteboards can also use wet erase markers. This has the benefit of not getting utterly destroyed if you graze it slightly.
wombatpm
Crayola make dry erase crayons. No fumes, cool colors
Rotundo
White boards, or rather the markers, are barely legible.
I'm using a glass board with glass markers. Good contrast, good colors and the board lasts forever.
I've been using a dry erase whiteboard for decades and am in the market for something different. Someone mentioned in another thread they were using some kind of magnetic board (maybe it wasn't magnets, I can't remember 100%) but I can't find anything like this online.
Anybody have any recommendations?