I am a long-time user of Math SE but first time user here.
I have a small corner of my home turned into a studio where I do math tutoring via video conferencing. I have a big wall-mounted melamine panel served as my dry-erase whiteboard. Melamine panel works fine for my purpose and it costs only about $15 per 4'x 8'piece, but it gives out too much glare that lighting is always big issue. I am thinking about replacing it with a chalkboard. In the meantime I know these much about chalkboard:
(a) The best one is made of porcelain-on-steel, it is the one we usually see at school classroom. It's extremely durable (warrantied for 50 years,) makes good writing, erases cleaner but it is expensive.
(b) There are substitutes though, and the two that I know of are Masonite tempered hardboard and Dura-slate. They are non-magnetic, lighter and cheaper but won't last that long.
(c) Then there is special paint for chalkboard, but I ain't warm to the idea. First off, my wall is textured and I prefer method that does little harm to the wall. Secondly, I doubt hand-painting will produce smooth surface.
(d) Finally there is glass whiteboard, but it gives out same amount of glaring.
And here are my two questions:
(1) I think you can buy Masonite easily from Lowe's or HD. Do you know where to buy Duro-slate?
(2) Do you know of any other substitutes? I am not harboring any unrealistic expectation: As long as it is affordable, writes well with regular white chalk, erases easily with a regular eraser without having to resort to damped clothes each time, then I will be a happy camper.
Thank you for your time and help.
Best Answer
Duraslate will get you a roofing system, so stick to Duroslate if you want chalkboards.
[walmart, amazon and staples all claim to have those; others do as well.]
Adjusting light positioning, type (possibly adding diffusers) and camera angle on the whiteboard might be simpler/cheaper/faster. Not to mention less dusty.
The paint works fine if done right and can be applied to a piece of hardboard or plywood or even one side of your melamine board (might need to scuff sand first) rather than to the wall. Use a roller for best results.
Surplus chalkboards are dirt-common at every school remodeling project and presumably would be found in at least some architectural reuse (or salvage) facilities.