Is my whiteboard actually porcelain/ceramic steel?

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The discussion centers around the purchase of a 4x8 ft whiteboard, believed to be porcelain, for $150. The seller, unsure of the board's specifics, mentioned it was acquired from a government building clearance. Upon inspection, the buyer noted minor imperfections, including a small scratch and tiny donut-shaped flaws, possibly from the enameling process. The buyer tested the board's durability, finding it resistant to scratching with a knife, which suggests it may be ceramic enameled steel rather than painted steel. The discussion also highlights the potential value of the board, estimating it could retail for over $500, and suggests verifying its material composition by scraping and checking for a manufacturer's mark. A magnet test was also mentioned to confirm if the board has a steel backing.
zernikepolynomial
I got this 4x8 ft whiteboard for $150, and it is supposed to be porcelain. The guy I bought it from didn't really know much about it, but he thought it was porcelain because it was very heavy. The guy told me that his wife got it from a used sale for some government building that was being cleared out. The board was old, but it looked in ok shape, so I bought it. Upon closer inspection, there are a few imperfections. There is a tiny scratch or nick near one of the edges, and there is a couple tiny donut shaped imperfections in the surface, with a possible pin hole in the center of them. These imperfect are so small you wont notice them unless you really look for them, such as at a steep reflective angle.

Now, I am not a expert on ceramic enameled steel, but one thing I do know is they are supposed to be difficult to damage and resistant to scratching. I wonder if the donut shaped imperfections were a flaw in the enameling process? Like a trapped air bubble escaping, leaving the tiny ring shapes during the enameling process?

I tried picking at the tiny nick to see if it was stable or not, and I cant make it any worse, so the coating seems super tough. It must have been a pretty strong impact.

Furthermore, I tested the board using a knife to try and scratch the surface (near the edge), but I could not seem to produce a visible or palpable scratch. As far as I know, painted steel boards can be scratched by a metal knife and leave visible damage, while ceramic will generally not unless repeatedly attacked by an abrasive.

Do you think I scored big? This board would probably retail >$500. It looks closest to a best-rite porcelain whiteboard, which is really expensive.
 
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Welcome to PF.

You might test it with a magnet, to determine if it has a steel backing.
 
Baluncore said:
Welcome to PF.

You might test it with a magnet, to determine if it has a steel backing.

I forgot to mention that was the first thing he presented. More importantly, I actually tested both sides, and it is made using the same foil backed MDF wood with a steel top. But is it ceramic or paint? Is paint really that easy to scratch with a metal knife?
 
If you can scrape some white coating off with the edge of a razor blade, then it is probably an organic paint or a powder coating of polymer, not a ceramic. Does the material you scrape off burn?

If you can find the manufacturer's name, brand, advertisement, or patent number, then you can search the web with that information.
 
https://www.newsweek.com/robert-redford-dead-hollywood-live-updates-2130559 Apparently Redford was a somewhat poor student, so was headed to Europe to study art and painting, but stopped in New York and studied acting. Notable movies include Barefoot in the Park (1967 with Jane Fonda), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969, with Paul Newma), Jeremiah Johnson, the political drama The Candidate (both 1972), The Sting (1973 with Paul Newman), the romantic dramas The Way We Were (1973), and...
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