Buzz
Ballpoint pens use smooth ink that resists drying out and performs well under varying pressure. Unfortunately, they sometimes get clogged. If drawing circles on scrap paper hasn't worked, don't discard the pen just yet. Try simple tricks like warming the pen tip or dipping it in a household solvent to get the ink flowing again. Keep in mind that not every issue can be solved with these methods; you may need to replace the pen or ink cartridge if these tips don't work.
Steps
Using Heat to Restore Your Ballpoint Pen
Soak the pen in hot water for 5 minutes instead of using a flame. If you're concerned about burns or damaging the pen, you can use hot water to warm the ink. Boil water in a kettle or saucepan, then pour the hot water into a cup. Immerse the pen tip in the hot water for 5 minutes, then remove it and test it by writing on paper.
- If your pen has metal parts, make sure to dry it thoroughly to prevent rust. You can also disassemble the pen and soak only the ink cartridge in water if you want to keep the pen casing dry.
Use a hairdryer or a heat gun to gently warm the pen. If the flame or boiling water seems too harsh, you can warm the pen tip and ink cartridge with a hairdryer on high heat. For a bit more heat, you can use a heat gun. Warm the pen tip in short bursts of a few seconds, then test it by writing on paper.
Heat the pen tip over a flame for a few seconds to unblock the ink. Use a lighter, match, or candle to create a flame, then hold the pen tip over the flame for a few seconds. The heat from the flame may melt the dried ink near the tip, allowing the pen to write again.
- Be careful not to burn yourself or melt the pen. Only heat the very tip of the pen, and don't hold it over the flame for more than 2-3 seconds.
- If you're worried about melting the pen casing, remove the ink cartridge first. This will make it easier to heat the pen tip.
- Immediately test the pen on paper to see if the ink flows.
Tip: Wrap aluminum foil around the pen tip to create a barrier between the tip and the flame, but you might need to heat it for a bit longer to get the ink warm enough to flow again.
Using solvents to loosen the ink
Apply a bit of saliva to the pen tip to lubricate the ballpoint. It may sound a bit odd, but saliva can act as a lubricant or a mild solvent to free the clogged tip. If you're not comfortable licking the pen, dab a little saliva on your fingertip or a tissue, then press the pen tip into it. Write on paper to check if the ink flows again.
- Ballpoint ink is not considered toxic, so don't worry about any health risks from licking the pen. The components, such as glycol, are present in such small amounts that they are not harmful.
Soak the pen tip in rubbing alcohol to dissolve the dried ink clog. If part of the ink in the pen has dried, you can get it flowing again by diluting it slightly with rubbing alcohol. Pour a little alcohol into a small cup or bowl and dip the pen into it, then try writing on paper to see if it works.
- Most ballpoint pens use oil-based ink, which is one reason why it's hard to remove ballpoint ink stains from clothes. Solvents like alcohol help dilute oil-based ink more effectively than water.
Unclogging the ink using friction and gravity
Rub the pen tip on a rubber surface to get the ball rolling. If you’ve tried writing with the pen and it didn’t work, sometimes rubbing the pen tip on a rubber surface can get the ballpoint moving. You can rub the tip on an eraser or even the sole of a shoe.
- Some people find that rubbing the pen on a glass surface (like a handheld mirror) also helps get the ballpoint pen writing again.
Flick the ballpoint pen to help the ink flow down the ink tube. Sometimes a ballpoint pen won’t write because there’s an air bubble or gap between the ink in the tube and the pen tip. Hold the end of the pen and flick it a few times, like you would with an old-fashioned mercury thermometer, then try writing again to see if the ink flows.
- You can also try tapping the pen on a hard surface, like the edge of a table.
Tip: To keep the ink flowing from the pen tip, you should store the pen tip down in a cup or pen holder.
Use a cotton swab to push the ink down in a larger ink tube. If your pen has a thick ink tube, you can gently push the ink towards the tip of the pen. Remove the pen's casing and take out the ink tube. Then, remove the cap from the tube. Use a cotton swab to carefully push the ink inside the tube. Reassemble the pen and test it out.
- If the cotton swab doesn't fit because the ink tube is too narrow, consider using something smaller, such as a paperclip.
- Dispose of the ink-stained cotton swab immediately to avoid smearing ink on other surfaces.
Advice
- Some high-end ballpoint pens have refillable ink tubes or allow you to add more ink. If you want to keep your pen but can't get the ink flowing again, search online or visit an office supply store to purchase a new ink cartridge. Make sure to choose one that is compatible with your pen.
- Some ballpoint pens or ink cartridges feature a small cap on the tip to protect the nib and prevent drips. Be sure to remove this cap before testing your pen.
- While some of these tips might help, there's no guarantee that they will get your pen working again. If your pen still won't write and replacing the ink cartridge isn't easy, it might be time to buy a new pen.
