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    I, Sharpie

    (www.commonplace.org)
    45 points delichon | 13 comments | 15 Oct 25 23:57 UTC | HN request time: 0.999s | source | bottom
    1. profsummergig ◴[22 Oct 25 22:54 UTC] No.45676179[source]▶
    I don't understand the appeal of Sharpies. Even if left unused, they die out in a relatively short time. The ones meant for paper are not meant to be used on whiteboards. And they don't write (flow) particularly well on either (the colored ones are particularly terrible on whiteboards).

    Maybe I'm using them wrong. Happy to be corrected, and to hear your recos on better alternatives.

    replies(9): >>45676287 #>>45676315 #>>45676717 #>>45676767 #>>45676836 #>>45676980 #>>45677944 #>>45677993 #>>45678332 #
    2. happytoexplain ◴[22 Oct 25 23:06 UTC] No.45676287[source]▶
    I'm a little confused about your reference to white boards. I didn't know that there are sharpies intended for white boards. Isn't their whole point that they're permanent?

    Separately - try "super permanent" sharpies. I love them.

    replies(3): >>45676721 #>>45677027 #>>45677978 #
    3. tonyarkles ◴[22 Oct 25 23:09 UTC] No.45676315[source]▶
    I use them frequently for marking non-writing-paper things like aluminum brackets, tape labels on wires, circuit boards, spray bottles of chemicals, boxes, etc.
    4. FridayoLeary ◴[23 Oct 25 00:08 UTC] No.45676717[source]▶
    I think they are the best permanent markers out there, i've never had your problems. It's odd because all the other good stationary products are japanese, french or german.
    5. ◴[23 Oct 25 00:09 UTC] No.45676721[source]▶
    6. driverdan ◴[23 Oct 25 00:14 UTC] No.45676767[source]▶
    Jobsite permanent markers are better in every way and are the same price or cheaper.
    7. o11c ◴[23 Oct 25 00:25 UTC] No.45676836[source]▶
    > Even if left unused, they die out in a relatively short time.

    Out of all the markers I've ever reached for, I think I've seen every kind except Sharpie go dry.

    8. Mistletoe ◴[23 Oct 25 00:50 UTC] No.45676980[source]▶
    Do you put the lid back on? I’ve had Sharpies decades old still write like new.
    9. fragmede ◴[23 Oct 25 00:59 UTC] No.45677027[source]▶
    Thoroughly semi permanent if you use the sharpies to write a template, for example a tic-tac-toe board use the whiteboard markers play the game and the regular race shirt who is just the moves and you’re left with the sharpie. In order to get it off you write over the sharpie with a whiteboard marker and then eraser with a regular eraser and then it’ll go away.
    10. SanjayMehta ◴[23 Oct 25 03:42 UTC] No.45677944[source]▶
    I have a pack of Sharpies which I bought in 2011. Lightly used. Not dry. I store them horizontally.
    11. ◴[23 Oct 25 03:48 UTC] No.45677978[source]▶
    12. bcoates ◴[23 Oct 25 03:51 UTC] No.45677993[source]▶
    The only complaint I have about sharpies is the crap ergonomics on the barrel, causing people to wrap tape around it just to get a nice grip, which inevitably gets super gross:

    https://www.science.org/do/10.1126/science.aan7026/full/lanl...

    13. imp0cat ◴[23 Oct 25 05:08 UTC] No.45678332[source]▶
    Most acrylic markers have similar problems (clogging, drying out too quickly especially if the cap is not perfectly sealed...), but the end results are worth it.