31 out of 31 people found this review helpful.
Say "No" To Yellow - Sanford Expo Dry Erase Marker Yellow Ink Chisel Tip
Date of Review: Mar 1, 2004
The Bottom Line: All-in-all, Expo markers are the way to go. As for the yellow marker, you're better off not getting it.
An Expository On Expo:
.....Expo has been around for a while, making high-quality dry erase markers and other white board products. I know I am getting a good item when it has the Sanford name on it. If memory serves me right, the term EXPO derives from the word exposition, a term which means "to set forth in intent or meaning." EXPO dry-erase markers greatly hold true to this definition of their name. They let you write with such boldness that your writing gets through to everyone. Now that we know the definition of EXPO, let's move on to the review.
In The Classroom And At Home:
.....Expo markers are used widely at my school, seeing as to every classroom has a whiteboard. So there are about a thousand Expo markers at my school alone. It is the only brand that they trust to use for teaching. But the classroom isn't the only place for these Expo markers to be found. I use them at home on my smaller board to practice my Japanese characters among other things. So I need a marker that will write well and last a while. I also need a marker that will erase with ease, because smaller dry erase boards are made of a different material, as opposed to the classroom ones, and marker is harder to erase off of them. Expo fits this area well. So wherever you are - home, work or school - Expo dry erase markers are just what you need.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~The Yellow Marker~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
The Mellow Yellow Marker:
.....And I really mean 'mellow'. The Expo markers are great, but who in the right mind would purchase a yellow marker? Yellow, of all colors, does not show up on a white surface. Well, it shows up, but not enough to be seen by a classroom or barely up close. It is too bright of a color to show on a white background and there aren't any other color backgrounds that you could write on either. So, even though I chose Expo over most other brands of dry erase markers, I could not, would not purchase a YELLOW marker to use on a white board. And without further ado, I present the good sides to the Expo marker:
The Expo Marker:
…..The best part to owning Expo markers, the writing and drawing. When you write with the Expo dry erase markers, they leave behind a thick, full, shiny, abundant line. These markers aren't skimpy in that area at all. They glide smoothly across the board with ease with a vibrant color, unless you're using black markers. And with the nice, thick fat body you get an excellent grip while writing, making it good for those teachers that have arthritis or something. This is where no other marker compares for the most part.
.....And you can't have a good marker without a chisel tip on it. A chisel tip allows you to write in varying thicknesses. I like using the thickest line just because it's a habit that most people do, also. By holding it the normal way you will get a full quarter-inch line of ink. In a different position you can achieve a thinner, more medium-like line for a more detailed line. And on the tilted edge you will get a fine, or mostly fine, line. Chances are you will use the thickest line for most things, including writing text and drawing big pictures. However, if you are a science teacher or something that needs to draw an intricate deoxyribonucleic acid molecule on the board, you might a smaller line for the intricate stuff.
.....An important thing to remember while using Expo markers, or any marker, is to recap your marker after use. Expo markers will dry out on you if left open to the air for an extended period of time. That's why you can keep the cap on the back of the marker while using so you don't forget. If a marker ever goes dry because you left it open, just recap and put it in something that will keep it upright with the tip facing downward. After a day it should work again.
Odor In The Air:
…..One thing you find with these excellent markers is that they come along with that pesky, brain cell killin' odor. The odor of the Expo markers is not too noticeable at first. It takes a few minutes of writing before you actually notice it in the air, rushing past your nose. I will admit that I'd rather have the odor in the markers than to have a YELLOW marker.
Gone With The Text:
…..One important fact about Expo markers is that they erase very easily. I have used other markers that couldn't be erased worth crap. I would write on the board and immediately go to erase it and it were as if I hadn't done anything to erase it. But Expo doesn't play that way. With one swipe of the eraser, the marker marks are gone. They do not leave any outline behind like most other marker brands. If you happen to leave marker on the board for a long period, then you may need some Expo white board cleaner to get it completely off.
Other Info:
--Certified AP Non-Toxic (still doesn't mean you can eat it, though)
--Conform To ASTM D4236 (Whatever that means)
My Epinionated Opinion:
…..For Expo as a whole, I would definitely give it a five star rating. However, I am supposedly reviewing the YELLOW marker only. So, for the yellow marker alone, I can't say that I'd recommend it because it does a bad job of getting the idea through on the board. JUST TOO BRIGHT. In the end, the whole Expo concept is great, but the yellow single handedly isn't.
Finally, my 40th review. ^_^
