Erasing Permanent Markers from Plastic Name Plaques

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of removing permanent markers from plastic name plaques used in a classroom setting, particularly when students mistakenly use permanent markers instead of dry erase markers. Participants explore various methods and the peculiarities of marker interactions with different surfaces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a method where tracing over permanent marker with a dry erase marker allows for easy removal, but questions the logic behind the inability to erase dry erase markers once applied.
  • Another participant confirms that dry erase markers can effectively remove permanent ink but states that nothing can remove dry erase markers from plastic surfaces.
  • Some participants express confusion over the original post's clarity and content, indicating a lack of understanding of the situation described.
  • A suggestion is made to use rubbing alcohol to clean dry erase markers, with a participant reflecting on the general lack of awareness regarding the use of permanent markers on dry erase surfaces.
  • There are humorous remarks about unconventional methods of marking students, including writing names on foreheads with a Sharpie.
  • Participants discuss the potential reasons behind the failure of dry erase markers to be removed, speculating on the material properties of the plaques.
  • One participant mentions a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol as a potential cleaning solution for stubborn marks.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that dry erase markers can remove permanent markers but disagree on the effectiveness of removing dry erase markers themselves. There is confusion and lack of consensus on the clarity of the original problem and the proposed solutions.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the original post's content and clarity, indicating that assumptions about marker behavior and surface interactions may not be universally understood.

BobG
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So, students are supposed to write their name on the plastic name plaque using vis a vis markers. After the class, it should be a simple matter to wipe the names off with a paper towel and water.

Except that, somehow, a Sharpie from the last class is placed in the vis a vis can and one of the students writes their name on the name plaque in permanent marker. :frown: Not a problem. I simply trace over the student's name with a dry erase marker and then erase everything. Works great! Problem solved! :biggrin:

Problem 2: Instead of accidentally writing on the plastic name plaque with a permanent marker, this student writes his name with a dry erase marker. :frown:

What do you mean you can use an erasable dry erase marker to remove a permanent marker from a plastic name plaque, but there's no way to erase the erasable dry erase marker unless the student had enough foresight to accidentally write on the plastic with an unerasable Sharpie before accidentally writing on the plastic with an erasable dry erase marker?! :mad:

What the heck is up with that??
 
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Did you by any chance write the ground nuts regulations?
 
I read the last paragraph three times and I still cannot make the slightest bit of sense of it!

- Warren
 
mgb_phys said:
Did you by any chance write the ground nuts regulations?

Are you speaking of the electrically grounding the nuts that go on bolts; health codes for processing of peanuts (groundnuts); or health codes for processing of nuts, other than groundnuts, that happen to have been run through a grinder?
 
chroot said:
I read the last paragraph three times and I still cannot make the slightest bit of sense of it!

- Warren

It's unbelievable.

A dry erase marker will remove permanent ink from a Sharpie from a plastic name plaque. You trace over the Sharpie writing and everything wipes off easily.

There's nothing that will remove a dry erase marker from a plastic name plaque (not even a Sharpie).
 
BobG said:
Are you speaking of the electrically grounding the nuts that go on bolts; health codes for processing of peanuts (groundnuts); or health codes for processing of nuts, other than groundnuts, that happen to have been run through a grinder?

I can't find it on Google but there is a famous (possibly apocryphal) example of British Civil Service prose to classify peanuts as nuts for import duties, that goes something like:
"Nuts(ground) other than ground nuts when not ground shall be considered to be nuts (ground) unless unground when ... " and goes on for several pages.
 
BobG said:
It's unbelievable.

A dry erase marker will remove permanent ink from a Sharpie from a plastic name plaque. You trace over the Sharpie writing and everything wipes off easily.

There's nothing that will remove a dry erase marker from a plastic name plaque (not even a Sharpie).
Probably a light alcohol solvent in the dry-erase markers. I sometime mis-mark a CD or DVD with a Sharpie, and Isopropyl alcohol strips it off easily.
 
chroot said:
I read the last paragraph three times and I still cannot make the slightest bit of sense of it!

- Warren

Same thing here, got a slight headache out of it.

And lol @ the ground nuts hahahaha.

@OP

That's pretty rediculous now I think I know what your talking about... Is it because of the material the marker was written on that it won't come off as its supposed to?
 
Did you try a little rubbing alcohol? That'll usually clean dry erase marker. I'm still baffled that people don't have the sense to know a dry erase board shouldn't be written on with a permanent marker. Though, a plastic surface, I could understand someone thinking should be written on with a dry erase marker. Transparencies are such old "technology" that most students don't even know what a wet erase marker is.
 
  • #10
If the class before wrote their names on the plastic plaques with a dry erase marker and it came off, why wouldn't it come off the second time?

I understand everything but the last paragraph.
 
  • #12
50% water / 50% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Along with a soft rag or some paper/shop towels. For those occasions where somebody insists on using permanent markers / the really cheap dry erase markers (or just on standby if you're a particularly cynical teacher / TA).
 
  • #13
In this day and age, when even markers are stupid, you know the United States has problems.
 
  • #14
I just write the student's name on his/her forehead with a Sharpie. It's good for about 4-5 days of training depending on how often they shower and exfoliate.
 
  • #15
I'm disappointed. I was hoping this thread was to announce a new way to label and identify morons.
 
  • #16
negitron said:
I'm disappointed. I was hoping this thread was to announce a new way to label and identify morons.

:smile: "Heeeeere's your sign!" :biggrin:
 
  • #17
Math Is Hard said:
I just write the student's name on his/her forehead with a Sharpie. It's good for about 4-5 days of training depending on how often they shower and exfoliate.

Sweet. That'll also get half the class to drop (confirming you as a nut of a professor, whether ground or unground) and then there won't be as many student names to remember anyhow.
 

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