How to Restart a Dry Ball Point Pen

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Ballpoint pens have smooth ink that’s resistant to drying and wonderfully responsive to different levels of pressure. Unfortunately, they also tend to suddenly stop working. If you’ve tried scribbling in circles on a piece of scrap paper with no success, don’t give up on your pen just yet. Try a simple hack like heating up the nib or dipping it in a household solvent to get the ink flowing again. Keep in mind that ballpoint pens can’t always be saved, however, so you may need to replace your pen or cartridge if these tricks don’t work.

Things You Should Know

  • Put the pen in boiling water for 5 minutes or warm it with a blow dryer. Alternatively, hold the tip close to a flame for a few seconds.
  • Dab spit on the nib to lubricate your pen or dip the point in rubbing alcohol. If the alcohol doesn’t work, dip the pen in acetone instead.
  • Scrape the nib against a rubber surface to unstick the ball. Shake the pen up and down to move the ink cartridge or push the ink down with a cotton swab.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Heat to Revive Your Pen

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  1. If you’re worried about burning yourself or your pen, use hot water to warm up the ink. [1] Heat some water to boiling in a kettle or in a pan on the stove, then pour it into a mug. Set the pen tip-down in the water for about 5 minutes, then test it out on a piece of paper.
    • If your pen has any metal components, dry them thoroughly to prevent corrosion. You can also take the pen apart and soak just the cartridge if you don’t want to get the barrel of the pen wet.
  2. If you’re worried that an open flame or boiling water will be too harsh, warm the nib and cartridge with a hair dryer on a high heat setting. For slightly more powerful heating, you can also use a craft heat gun or embossing gun. Warm the nib of the pen for a few seconds at a time, then try writing with it. [2]
    • Don’t use an industrial heat gun! They get extremely hot and will probably melt your pen.
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  3. Use a lighter, match, or candle to create a flame, then place just the very tip of your pen in the flame for a few seconds. In many cases, the heat will melt any gummed-up ink near the tip and get the pen working again. [3]
    • Be careful not to burn yourself or melt the pen. Hold just the very tip of the nib in the flame, and don’t do it for longer than 2-3 seconds.
    • If you’re worried about melting the barrel of your pen, remove the cartridge first. That way, it’s easier to just heat the nib of the pen.
    • Scribble on some paper right away to get the ink moving and check if your pen works.

    Tip: Wrapping a little aluminum foil around the tip of your pen can also help insulate it from the flame. However, it may take longer for the ink to warm up enough to start flowing again. [4]

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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Getting the Ink Flowing with Solvents

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  1. This may sound gross, but spit can act as a lubricant or gentle solvent to help unclog the tip of your pen. If you’re hesitant to actually lick the nib of your pen, put a little spit on your fingertip or a napkin and dip the pen tip in that. Then, scribble on a piece of paper to see if you can get the ink flowing.
    • Ballpoint pen ink is generally not considered toxic, so don’t worry about getting sick from licking the pen. Any mildly toxic components, such as glycols, are present in such small amounts that they won’t cause any harm.
  2. If some of the ink is dried out in the pen, you might be able to get it going by thinning it a little with rubbing alcohol . Pour some alcohol into a cup or bowl and dip the pen into it, then scribble on a piece of paper to see if you can get it flowing again. [5]
    • Most ballpoint pens have oil-based ink, which is part of the reason it’s so hard to get ballpoint stains out of clothing. Solvents, such as alcohol, are better at thinning oil-based ink than plain water.
  3. 3
    Try acetone if alcohol doesn’t work. Acetone is a more aggressive solvent that might unclog your pen if alcohol isn’t strong enough. Dip the nib of your pen in a little bit of acetone-based nail polish remover and see if that does the trick. [6]
    • Acetone releases harsh fumes, so always use it in a well-ventilated area.
    • Try to dip only the very tip of the pen in the acetone, since acetone can damage many types of plastic. [7]

    Tip: If you don’t have alcohol or acetone on hand, kerosene, odorless mineral spirits, or WD-40 might work.

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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Moving Stuck Ink with Friction and Gravity

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  1. When scribbling on paper doesn’t work, sometimes you can get a stuck ball moving by rubbing the pen on a rubber surface. Scribble on a rubber eraser or even the sole of your shoe. [8]
    • Alternatively, some people find it helpful to scribble on a glass surface (such as a hand mirror) to get a stuck ballpoint pen going again. [9]
  2. Sometimes a ballpoint pen will stop writing because there’s a space or bubble between the ink in the cartridge and the nib. Hold the end of your pen opposite the nib and give the pen several firm shakes, as if you were shaking down an old-fashioned glass thermometer. When you’re done, give it a scribble to see if it works. [10]
    • You can also try tapping the pen firmly on a hard surface, like the edge of a desk or table.

    Tip: To keep the ink from flowing away from the nib, store your ballpoint pens tip-down in a mug or pen holder.

  3. If your pen has a wide enough cartridge, you may be able to push the ink down toward the nib. Unscrew the barrel of your pen and take out the cartridge, then pull the cap off the end of the cartridge. Push a cotton swab into the cartridge and apply gentle pressure to the fluid inside. Put your pen back together and test it again. [11]
    • If the cartridge is too narrow to fit a cotton swab in, use a smaller object, like a paperclip.
    • If the cotton swab gets ink on it, toss it in the trash right away so that the ink doesn’t spread around and stain anything.
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  • Question
    How do I get a Zebra Orbit pen to work again?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    First of all, try checking the cartridge to see if it looks like there's still ink inside. If not, your pen might need a refill. You can purchase new cartridges online or from an office supply store. Otherwise, try running hot water over the nib to get the ink flowing and dissolve clogs, or shake your pen to get any bubbles out.
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  • Question
    What do I do if my dry ball point pen is dispensing ink poorly?
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    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If the ink is skipping a lot, there could be bubbles or a clog in the ink. Heating the cartridge in warm water might help loosen things up. You can also try dipping the nib in alcohol or another solvent to dissolve any clogs.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Are the Scribble Stuff pens usable for this type of process?
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    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If you're using the gel pens, dipping the cartridge in warm or hot water might work. Most Scribble Stuff pens have marker tips and are not ballpoint pens, so you might have to use a different technique for those (such as injecting water into the tips or soaking them in vinegar).
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      Tips

      • While some of these tricks might help, there’s no totally reliable method for getting a ballpoint pen working again. If your pen is still being stubborn and you can’t easily replace the cartridge, it may be time to get a new pen.
        Thanks
        Helpful 11 Not Helpful 3
      • Some fancier ballpoint pens have cartridges that can be replaced or refilled. If you’re determined to keep your ballpoint pen but you just can’t get the ink flowing, check online or visit your local office supply store to see if you can purchase a refill. Make sure to get one that’s designed for your type of pen.
        Thanks
        Helpful 8 Not Helpful 7
      • Some new ballpoint pens or cartridges have a tiny plastic cap over the nib to protect it and prevent leaks. Make sure to remove that so that your pen can write.
        Thanks
        Helpful 5 Not Helpful 6
      Show More Tips
        • If you are using a erasable/friction pen, by heating it you are making the ink "disappear". If you heat, put in the fridge or freezer for a couple minutes tip down and try pen again.
        Show More Tips

        Tips from our Readers

        The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
        • Heat up a cup of water in the microwave, and place the pen in the water for a couple of minutes. Take the pen out of the water, wipe it off, and write until the ink flows.
        • When trying the lighter tip, avoid doing it for more than a second. The tip of the pen could blow off of the plastic part and spray ink.
        • If you're using a borrowed pen and don't want to lick it, try spitting on your forearm and swirling the pen point in the wet spot.
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        References

        1. ↑ https://blog.penvibe.com/how-to-keep-your-pens-from-drying-out/
        2. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@wikihow/video/7079446896200174890
        3. ↑ https://youtu.be/3IxZYjcJYUc?t=8
        4. ↑ https://youtu.be/5kszMMIvaCA?t=64
        5. ↑ https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2013/feb/27/straight-more-ink-ballpoint-pen/#
        6. ↑ https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2013/feb/27/straight-more-ink-ballpoint-pen/#
        7. ↑ https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/npi/substances/fact-sheets/acetone
        8. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@nyxlyssa/video/6814528019894422790
        9. ↑ https://bizfluent.com/how-2383970-fix-dry-ballpoint-pen.html
        1. ↑ https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/53682/what-causes-ballpoint-pens-to-write-intermittently
        2. ↑ https://youtu.be/CQWDIFdkoH0?t=46

        About This Article

        Article Summary X

        To restart a dry ballpoint pen, first bring some water to a boil and transfer it to a mug. Then, put your pen tip-side down in the water and let it sit for 5 minutes. The hot water will loosen the ink and get it flowing again. You can achieve the same effect by heating the tip of the pen with a blow dryer, or by carefully heating the tip with a lighter for a few seconds. You can also restart a ballpoint pen by dipping the tip in rubbing alcohol or acetone. The solvent will dissolve any clogs so the ink is able to flow again. Another option is to rub the tip on something rubber, like an eraser or the sole of your shoe. Sometimes the friction is enough to get the pen working again. Or you can try shaking it and tapping it on a hard surface to move the ink down into the cartridge in case there are any gaps or bubbles that are preventing it from flowing. Remember to store your ballpoint pens tip-side down so the ink doesn’t flow away from the nib. For more easy tips on manually restarting a dry ball point pen, read on!

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        Reader Success Stories

        • Dee Barr

          Jul 7, 2021

          "I can't believe it! I touched the nib of the pen to my tongue for a couple of seconds, then immediately ..." more
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