Where Can I Find Translucent Blackboards?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for translucent blackboards, specifically focusing on where to purchase or how to create one. Participants explore various materials, costs, and DIY options, as well as the practicality of using such boards for problem-solving in academic contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention the high cost of commercial translucent blackboards, with prices exceeding $1000 for full-size options.
  • Others suggest using glass or plexiglass as alternatives, noting the importance of compatibility with dry erase markers.
  • A participant proposes making a DIY board using materials found on Craigslist, highlighting the challenge of transporting larger pieces.
  • There are discussions about the cost of acrylic sheets, with varying prices reported from different sources.
  • Some participants argue that glass may be more cost-effective than acrylic for the same strength.
  • One participant questions the necessity of a translucent blackboard, suggesting that traditional pen and paper could suffice.
  • Another participant defends the use of boards for isolating problems and enhancing visibility during problem-solving.
  • There is a suggestion to use windows as an alternative writing surface, emphasizing cost-effectiveness.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the necessity and value of translucent blackboards, with some advocating for their benefits while others view them as an unnecessary expense. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to obtaining or creating such a board.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss various materials and their properties, but there are limitations in terms of assumptions about the suitability of materials for specific uses and the availability of certain sizes.

Singularity
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Hey guys, I have been watching some old numbers episodes and I saw they have this really cool translucent blackboard. Anyone know where I can buy one of those?
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
I've seen some glass ones online. But even those are $1000+ for a full size.
 
They're probably just a large pane of glass or plexiglass (before going with plexiglass, I'd make sure that's appropriate for the solvents found in dry erase markers, which is what I assume you plan to use with it, though "wet erase" transparency markers would probably work equally well on a surface like that).
 
Thanks for the replies. $1000 is a bit much for my pocket. Guess I will have to stick with the regular stuff.
 
Gotta love Numb3rs...

You can look for some plexiglass on craigslist and make your own.

It won't be as pretty as the 1000 dollar boards, but the functionality will be the same.

I'm thinking about making one myself, just waiting for the right stuff to come up on craigslist. The biggest problem is finding a piece that will fit in my car.

I know when I first saw the show, I thought, "I got to get some chalkboards!"
 
You can also pick up sheets of acrylic (aka plexiglass) at Home Depot/Lowe's, but I don't know how much it would cost.
 
Gokul43201 said:
4' X 2' X 3/8" acrylic is about $240 at www.mcmaster.com

I went online and looked, that stuff is expensive.

I found a 4'x8'x1/8" sheet for 50 dollars on craigslist.
 
At 1/8" it will acrylic not have the flexural rigidity to support 4' X 8' dimensions. That will need an additional frame made of something stronger.
 
  • #10
Come to think of it, for any given surface area, glass is going to be way cheaper than acrylic, for the same strength.

For instance, from the same site, 50" X 20" X 1/4" glass sheet is $125.
 
  • #11
http://www.acrylic.co.uk/ doesn't look to bad (certainly relatively cheap, although very little is available at large sizes). I'm quite interested in the 0.9x2 m sheet though.

V
 
  • #12
Is there something wrong with pen and paper?
 
  • #13
Cyrus said:
Is there something wrong with pen and paper?

It's not as cool?

If I'm working on a problem and I'm having trouble with, it can help me to write it out on a board so that it is more isolated, and allows me to stand back and look at it.

Definitely not necessary, but can be nice to have around.
 
  • #14
chasely said:
It's not as cool?
If I'm working on a problem and I'm having trouble with, it can help me to write it out on a board so that it is more isolated, and allows me to stand back and look at it.

Definitely not necessary, but can be nice to have around.

yeah okay...
 
  • #15
Cyrus said:
yeah okay...

Exactly...
 
  • #16
Seems like a huge waste of money to me if it costs more than $50 bucks.
 
  • #17
Whiteboards are worth every penny. I think its similar to having 2 or 3 monitors at your computer. It sounds silly and wasteful at first, but after you use it for a while and get used to using the extra space, you would never go back.
 
  • #18
Ok...I have decided to do the DIY thing and get some glass and see what I can conjure up. Now on to the next problem : Finding the stationary. I am assuming I can pick these up from a standard stationary outlet. Hopefully one doesn't have to have them specially ordered.
 
  • #19
Singularity said:
Ok...I have decided to do the DIY thing and get some glass and see what I can conjure up. Now on to the next problem : Finding the stationary. I am assuming I can pick these up from a standard stationary outlet. Hopefully one doesn't have to have them specially ordered.

You mean dry erase markers? You can get them at any office supply store.
 
  • #20
Save some money and just use your window. It's works the same and will look sweet from the streets :biggrin: and it is way cheaper, becasue I can only hope everyone has a window or a few to use. :biggrin:
 

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