--And how about dry erase markers? [Archive] - Wizards Community

--And how about dry erase markers? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tellack
06-29-07, 02:42 AM On my Chessex battlemat, I used generic dry-erase markers with a fine tip point.
The grid was not able to be cleared with water and nail polish remover did not even help :\

A few days later, I suppose it "hardened" and easily came off with the nail polish remover.

Which dry-erase markers would you recommend?
Lupo
06-29-07, 07:52 AM On my Chessex battlemat, I used generic dry-erase markers with a fine tip point.
The grid was not able to be cleared with water and nail polish remover did not even help :\

A few days later, I suppose it "hardened" and easily came off with the nail polish remover.

Which dry-erase markers would you recommend?

no, dry erase pens DO NOT work well on the chessex battlemaps.

you need to get water erasable "non permanent" pens, the best working brand is "staedler lumocolor".

some claim that very cheap no name "washable kid's felt tips" work as well.

for cleaning - apart from simple water - those "wet kleenex" types tissues are really good working.

for somehow messed up battlemaps, just throw them in a tub and clean with lots of warm water and some drops of liquid soap or dish liquid.

ciao

martin m.
Bogjob
06-29-07, 08:03 AM I use the Staedler ones and they are perfect, I bring baby wipes with me to clean the mat if I am at a con or whatever, at home water and kitchen towels work a treat. One word of warning any red markers for some reason seem to stain worse than others. I tend to stick to blue and green.
Southernskies
06-29-07, 09:00 AM A much better idea (and forgives *any* mistake), is to buy some plastic tablecloth from your local hardware/fabric store.

Cut to size and roll up with your battlemat and you can write with anything. If the pen "goes off" (and I have seen this with both dry and wet erase markers) your battlemat isn't ruined when it doesn't clean off.

Also handy in allowing you to pre-draw entire dungeons and just throw down the plastic sheet you need.
kenobi65
06-29-07, 10:30 AM no, dry erase pens DO NOT work well on the chessex battlemaps.

To be clear: DO NOT USE ANY DRY-ERASE MARKERS ON A CHESSEX BATTLEMAT! The odds are very high that they'll act like permanent markers.

You need wet-erase or washable markers. I use Sanford's Vis-a-Vis wet-erase overhead transparency markers, and they work quite well (though I never use a red marker, because something about red markers tends to stain). I've also seen people have good success with Crayola washable markers.

As a general rule of thumb, don't leave any marks on a Chessex battlemat for a long period of time (e.g., overnight or longer); it increases the odds that the marks won't want to come off.

If you get a mark that "sets in", if you write over the mark with a wet-erase marker, it will often act as a solvent and "loosen" the old mark.
NeSoDak
06-29-07, 10:48 AM Because I don't like looking like the Hulk :yuck: with green hands and forearms after using a wet erase marker, I found a way to use dry erase. I took the original battlemats from my D&D mini starter packs (Harbringer and Aberrations? starter packs) and had them laminated. Dry erase works great on these mats. I use a common kitchen washcloth to erase with. If you leave it on, it is a little harder to get off, but you just have to scribble over with a new marker anything dried on and it usually comes off. I've had a lot of luck with these, I also have laminated my site specific mats from the fantastic locations. It's not too expensive, and I imagine you could even make your own battlemat if you had access to a large printer. The local print shop in town charges $1.50 per linear foot for laminating, but they can't do anything wider than 36 inches.
Britt
06-29-07, 01:11 PM If you apply wet erase on top of dry erase, it will usually come out. The wet erase marker has an additional solvent in it or something like that.
Tellack
06-30-07, 01:27 PM I bought some washable Rose-Art markers. I got a pack of about 40 for $4.99. They work well so far :)
Tiberien
06-30-07, 02:59 PM I like the vis-a-vis markers for transparencies personally, but any wet erase has been good.

One suggestion:

If you are trying a new brand or color pen, make a small mark on the edge of the matt and wait until it dries then try to remove it. That way even if you get a stain (mine has several on the edge from the last 20 years) it isn't in the middle of the mat shaped like an old dungeon. ;)
AOSOL
06-30-07, 06:46 PM I use white board markers pens for my maps. Just make sure to clear off red marking before two days after you've drawn it on your map or else you'll have a pink room drawing that your players will continuely break you stones over :rimshot: .

And about those markers.....I'd like thank the School board for all those markers:shocked: :tongue:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tellack 06-29-07, 02:42 AM	On my Chessex battlemat, I used generic dry-erase markers with a fine tip point. The grid was not able to be cleared with water and nail polish remover did not even help :\ A few days later, I suppose it "hardened" and easily came off with the nail polish remover. Which dry-erase markers would you recommend?
Lupo 06-29-07, 07:52 AM	On my Chessex battlemat, I used generic dry-erase markers with a fine tip point. The grid was not able to be cleared with water and nail polish remover did not even help :\ A few days later, I suppose it "hardened" and easily came off with the nail polish remover. Which dry-erase markers would you recommend? no, dry erase pens DO NOT work well on the chessex battlemaps. you need to get water erasable "non permanent" pens, the best working brand is "staedler lumocolor". some claim that very cheap no name "washable kid's felt tips" work as well. for cleaning - apart from simple water - those "wet kleenex" types tissues are really good working. for somehow messed up battlemaps, just throw them in a tub and clean with lots of warm water and some drops of liquid soap or dish liquid. ciao martin m.
Bogjob 06-29-07, 08:03 AM	I use the Staedler ones and they are perfect, I bring baby wipes with me to clean the mat if I am at a con or whatever, at home water and kitchen towels work a treat. One word of warning any red markers for some reason seem to stain worse than others. I tend to stick to blue and green.
Southernskies 06-29-07, 09:00 AM	A much better idea (and forgives any mistake), is to buy some plastic tablecloth from your local hardware/fabric store. Cut to size and roll up with your battlemat and you can write with anything. If the pen "goes off" (and I have seen this with both dry and wet erase markers) your battlemat isn't ruined when it doesn't clean off. Also handy in allowing you to pre-draw entire dungeons and just throw down the plastic sheet you need.
kenobi65 06-29-07, 10:30 AM	no, dry erase pens DO NOT work well on the chessex battlemaps. To be clear: DO NOT USE ANY DRY-ERASE MARKERS ON A CHESSEX BATTLEMAT! The odds are very high that they'll act like permanent markers. You need wet-erase or washable markers. I use Sanford's Vis-a-Vis wet-erase overhead transparency markers, and they work quite well (though I never use a red marker, because something about red markers tends to stain). I've also seen people have good success with Crayola washable markers. As a general rule of thumb, don't leave any marks on a Chessex battlemat for a long period of time (e.g., overnight or longer); it increases the odds that the marks won't want to come off. If you get a mark that "sets in", if you write over the mark with a wet-erase marker, it will often act as a solvent and "loosen" the old mark.
NeSoDak 06-29-07, 10:48 AM	Because I don't like looking like the Hulk :yuck: with green hands and forearms after using a wet erase marker, I found a way to use dry erase. I took the original battlemats from my D&D mini starter packs (Harbringer and Aberrations? starter packs) and had them laminated. Dry erase works great on these mats. I use a common kitchen washcloth to erase with. If you leave it on, it is a little harder to get off, but you just have to scribble over with a new marker anything dried on and it usually comes off. I've had a lot of luck with these, I also have laminated my site specific mats from the fantastic locations. It's not too expensive, and I imagine you could even make your own battlemat if you had access to a large printer. The local print shop in town charges $1.50 per linear foot for laminating, but they can't do anything wider than 36 inches.
Britt 06-29-07, 01:11 PM	If you apply wet erase on top of dry erase, it will usually come out. The wet erase marker has an additional solvent in it or something like that.
Tellack 06-30-07, 01:27 PM	I bought some washable Rose-Art markers. I got a pack of about 40 for $4.99. They work well so far :)
Tiberien 06-30-07, 02:59 PM	I like the vis-a-vis markers for transparencies personally, but any wet erase has been good. One suggestion: If you are trying a new brand or color pen, make a small mark on the edge of the matt and wait until it dries then try to remove it. That way even if you get a stain (mine has several on the edge from the last 20 years) it isn't in the middle of the mat shaped like an old dungeon. ;)
AOSOL 06-30-07, 06:46 PM	I use white board markers pens for my maps. Just make sure to clear off red marking before two days after you've drawn it on your map or else you'll have a pink room drawing that your players will continuely break you stones over :rimshot: . And about those markers.....I'd like thank the School board for all those markers:shocked: :tongue: