Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Writing on fumehood sash

Hexavalent - 26-3-2012 at 10:01

I, like many people, like to draw my reaction structures down in front of me when experimenting, and I have noticed that professional labs just write with whiteboard markers on their glass fumehood sashes. My fume hood, however, has an acrylic sash and this this type of pen is not appropriate. Can anyone suggest an alternative - i.e., an erasable pen for acrylic?

GreenD - 26-3-2012 at 10:24

Look up wax pencils or something.

watson.fawkes - 26-3-2012 at 17:29

Quote: Originally posted by Hexavalent  
[...] professional labs just write with whiteboard markers on their glass fumehood sashes. My fume hood, however, has an acrylic sash [...]
You might consider laminating some glass to the front surface of your sash. I haven't tried it yet (though it's on my list), but I'm fairly sure that water-thin cyanoacrylates would work just fine as a laminating glue. Plastic-glass laminates are the essence of safety glass already. The limiting factor is how cheap and easy it can be done OTC.

absolute zero - 27-3-2012 at 04:00

A dry erase marker should work just fine on acrylic.

Hexavalent - 27-3-2012 at 07:53

Quote: Originally posted by absolute zero  
A dry erase marker should work just fine on acrylic.


No, I have tried it and it stays on forever, short of using acetone or another solvent on it.

Bot0nist - 27-3-2012 at 07:59

Grease pens, as GteenD said. We use in porous tile at work because the dry erase gets into the pores. You'll still need a cleaner, like isopropyl alcohol, but a dry sponge or scrub pad gets 95% of in just a few wipes. Ill post a pic when I get to work tonight of what I use. They are cheap.

Hexavalent - 27-3-2012 at 08:14

Thanks, but how well can you see the marks?

Bot0nist - 27-3-2012 at 08:31

Its solid black and 1/8-1/4" wide. How wells your eye site?. I work in 4 hours. Ill upload a pic of the pen, and its mark.

GreenD - 27-3-2012 at 08:35

They are great, about as opaque as you can get.

Hexavalent - 27-3-2012 at 08:37

Thanks, can you suggest any local sources? I am reluctant to buy off eBay if they are cheaper elswhere . . .

Bot0nist - 27-3-2012 at 08:39

WalMart, home depot, Michaels crafts, etc.

Hexavalent - 27-3-2012 at 08:42

Erm . . .OK, I'll look in the UK equivalents:)

GreenD - 27-3-2012 at 08:57

amazon.com babay!

TheChemINC - 28-3-2012 at 19:52

i bet your local hardware store would have them