How to Install a Whiteboard in the Clay Studio

This is how I did it.

1. Obtain a Whiteboard

I got mine at a garage sale!

2. Prepare Wall for Installation

I wanted something sturdy. I could have tried the industrial strength velcro. I’m sure it would have worked for the pinboard at least. But then I wouldn’t get to use all the power tools! I could have put it on the other wall where there are visible studs… but that would have been too easy! And I would have had to move some shelves.

So I used my hammer drill to drill some holes into the concrete wall. Then I used some masonry screws to attach the boards.

3. Mount the Whiteboard

I just put a couple 1 inch drywall screws into the boards since my whiteboard had attachments on the back for hanging on a screw or similar device. I thought about trying just the masonry screws sticking out of the wall. It probably would have worked fine but the concrete wall is far from flat. The boards offered a flat surface and some separation from the wall.

To make sure the bottom was solidly against the wall I used a couple spare hooks and some of that industrial velcro. Probably overkill but if the earthquakes start rumbling later this year my whiteboard should stay on the wall.

4. Optional: Add a Pinboard

It’s like real-life Pinterest! I put together a quick DIY pinboard for my classroom at the beginning of last school year so I thought it might be useful to have one in my clay studio

I added another board and then put some styrofoam, which was the perfect thickness, between the boards to support the middle of the pinboard. I had some foamcore collecting dust so I doubled it up and stuck it together with some spray adhesive. Then it was ready to mount on the wall.

Again, I probably could have used the velcro but I opted for some short screws with fender washers to screw it down. It seems more industrial that way… Before I attached it to the wall I wrapped the foamcore in yellow paper. Just for looks.

Materials and Tools

Here’s what I used:

• masonry screws
• drywall screws
• boards cut to length
• hammer drill with masonry bit
• cordless drill
• level
• whiteboard
• hammer
• industrial strength velcro
• foam core
• styrofoam
• screw hooks

I’m looking forward to using this thing. As soon as I get a dry erase marker I’m going to write some things from MC6G. Such as: the maximum recommended amount of each oxide, notes about some of the glazes, drinking water standards? and maybe a few recipes.