How to Restart Dead Ballpoint Pens
The ballpoint pen is made up of a cartridge that is filled with ink and tipped with a ballpoint apparatus. The ballpoint is like a small ball bearing that spins freely in its casing. When the ball rolls, it becomes covered in ink from the reservoir cartridge. This ink is then transferred to the page on which you are writing. Sometimes the ballpoint of the pen will stop working. This happens because the ball is either stuck or ink has dried just behind the ballpoint.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Lighter Method
-
1
Hold the pen in one hand and your lighter in the other.
-
2
Light the lighter and hold the flame to the ballpoint tip. Do not hold for too long, especially if the pen is made of plastic instead of aluminum.
-
-
3
Press the tip of the pen to the scrap paper and scribble with it until the ink flows.
Warm Water Method
-
4
Turn on the hot water from your sink.
-
5
Run the water over the tip of your ballpoint pen. The heat will loosen dried ink and the water will lubricate the ball.
-
6
Test your pen on the scrap paper.
Rubbing Alchohol Method
-
7
Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a Q-tip swab.
-
8
Rub the Q-tip on the ball of the pen. The alcohol should break down any dried ink and lubricate the ball again.
-
9
Test your pen on the scrap paper.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Modern ball-point pen image by terex from Fotolia.com
