making a blackboard

[joggerjayne]

I need a big blackboard, bigger than the ones you can buy in toy shops.

Do any of you helpful men out there know how to make one?

Is it just matt black paint on (say) chipboard? or MDF?

[chrisrob]

You can buy "blckboard paint" (which you can get in black or green). Depending on the board you wish to paint, you will most probably need to prime it first which can usually be done by painting with a coat of the paint thinned down with turpentine substitute if it's oil based.

[chrisrob]

I've also discovered this if it's helpful:
http://mydeco.com/the-magazine/buyers-guide/ar ticles/weekend-decorator/how-to-make-a-blackbo ard

[legend_mark5]

Mdf with a coat of perhaps Pvu sealer .
Then a few coats of blackboard paint .sanding between coats of course to keep smooth.

D T H ?�

[legend_mark5]

i suggest the sealing because mdf can fur up , giving a rough surface .may be better with 3 coats blackboard paint too.

[joggerjayne]

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate your help.

(don't want anything "furring up" now, do we!)

[puddicat]

Need the blackboard for diagrams jayne!!!!

[joggerjayne]

puddi ... I can't think what you might mean !!!!!!!

blushes

[joggerjayne]

By the way, puddicat ...

... how did you stumble across this thread?

What were you doing in "How It Works" ?

[puddicat]

The mind boggles lol

[Buenchico]

As others have indicated, you should use special blackboard paint.

You need to paint it onto a smooth, non-absorbent surface. Just choose what is cheapest as long as it meets those two criteria (i.e. both smooth and non-absorbent). The wall-mounted blackboards used in many university lecture rooms (which are far, far better than those normally used in schools) are made of plate glass.

Chris

[weeal]

awww reminds me of when I was wee (even more wee than I am lol) and dad made me a blackboard, but it squeaked when chalking on it and set my teeth on edge haha