Revive A Dead Ballpoint Pen With These 2 Simple Tricks - Blog

Maybe your like

The store will not work correctly when cookies are disabled.

Same Day Dispatch on Engraved Pens

Worldwide Delivery with Express Option Feefo Reviews

Revive a dead ballpoint pen with these 2 simple tricks

Revive a dead ballpoint pen with these 2 simple tricks

We’ve all been there, you come to use a ballpoint pen which you’ve left sitting around for a while and it doesn’t work. Simply does not want to write. You scribble and scribble, but nothing. Don’t fret though, there’s a few simple tricks you can try which might get your beloved ballpoint working again.

USE HEAT

There’s a few ways you can do this and they all work the same. Using heat loosens the dried ink around the ballpoint tip, this should get the ball moving and the ink flowing once more. Our favourite method is using a lighter. Just put the flame at the very tip for a few seconds. Mind not to touch the tip after! You’ll get the same results from a hairdryer or from soaking in a pot of boiling water.

USE A SOLVENT

Solvents will dissolve the ink and should get everything flowing. Nail polisher remover (with acetone) and rubbing alcohol both work wonders. Simply put a little onto some cotton wool and wrap around the tip for a few minutes. Wipe clean and write!

FRICTION

The point of scribbling furiously to get your refill writing, is that friction acts on the stuck ball and get it moving again. Sometimes though the friction of pen on paper just isn’t great enough. Try scribbling on the sole of a shoe or something made of rubber. A combination of the increased friction and the pen's tip gripping more firmly to the rubber will quickly heat up the dried ink, ensuring your pen is ready to be used again. Rubber shoe sole

Still can’t get your ballpoint refill to work? Perhaps it is just time for a new one. Shop here. Not sure which refill you need? Try our refill finder.

About the Author

David Cole Why do Fountain Pens Leak at Higher Altitudes? Diamond Jubilee Competition - win x 2 journals!

Comments

Comment

Ken Stokes
please tell me if there should be a small spring at tip of Parker51 ballpoint pen. My refill is loose and unusable.
Reply September 11, 2014
- Paul Tomlinson
  Hi Ken, sorry for the late reply! We don't stock the 51 so we recommend contacting Parker directly for guidance on your pen. We can confirm, however, that most ballpoints are supposed to have a spring inside the tip, so if there is one missing from your pen, that would be the reason that it is unstable. Hope that's some help.
  Reply October 9, 2014
  - Lasane
    the first method is really useful, i use the fire all the time well my ballpoint pen doesn't pull the ink out. However, i have read an article and saw another method is put the pen into the alcohol for 10-15 minutes.
    Reply August 24, 2017
    - Gemma Plumbridge
      Thanks for the info Lasane. We're sure our other readers will find this very helpful!
      Reply August 24, 2017
    - Gemma Plumbridge
      Thanks for the info Lasane. We're sure our other readers will find this very helpful!
      Reply August 24, 2017
  - Lasane
    the first method is really useful, i use the fire all the time well my ballpoint pen doesn't pull the ink out. However, i have read an article and saw another method is put the pen into the alcohol for 10-15 minutes.
    Reply August 24, 2017
- Paul Tomlinson
  Hi Ken, sorry for the late reply! We don't stock the 51 so we recommend contacting Parker directly for guidance on your pen. We can confirm, however, that most ballpoints are supposed to have a spring inside the tip, so if there is one missing from your pen, that would be the reason that it is unstable. Hope that's some help.
  Reply October 9, 2014
Ken Stokes
please tell me if there should be a small spring at tip of Parker51 ballpoint pen. My refill is loose and unusable.
Reply September 11, 2014