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Thread ID: 86819 2008-01-29 23:45:00 Fixing ball Point pens, what actually works Morgenmuffel (187) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
635276 2008-01-29 23:45:00 Ok i have a pile of non-working ball point pens that don't work, they appear to have ink in them, but their Balls don't turn (don't even think dodgy thoughts there), I have tried

What has actually worked for you

I fully expect lubrication jokes, but what actually works
Morgenmuffel (187)
635277 2008-01-29 23:57:00 Googled:


If you have a ballpoint pen which has stopped working although there is still a quantity of ink remaining. Heat the ball point for a few seconds over a small flame (eg. cig. lighter) and this should restore their functionality.


Take out the ink cartridge inside your pen.
Take a piece of lead (best to be 0.7) and insert inside the opening of your ink cartridge.
Then take another piece and swivel the lead which is already inside. Make sure your lead touches the floor of the ink cartridge.


Personally I have so many pens I just chuck them and use a new one. Banks, shops, etc give them away so I haven't had to buy pens in years.
pctek (84)
635278 2008-01-30 00:27:00 Cheers

i have googled and do know the lighter trick, the glass trick etc, but 90% of the time they don't work for me, so i was wondering if anyone had a tried and tested method

and i know i should throw them out but it seems a waste
Morgenmuffel (187)
635279 2008-01-30 00:34:00 One of my favourite pens stopped working after not being used for quite a while so I tried the lighter trick. It worked a treat but it didn't work for another of my good pens.

Seems like you can't win with pens. If you store them upright they sometimes leak everywhere and if you lay them flat they dry up and die. :(

I have tons of them but only write best with a couple since my writing is pretty scribbly at the best of times.
FoxyMX (5)
635280 2008-01-30 01:17:00 glass. try writing on glass, usually starts up again. Don't forget the CGA:rolleyes: plod (107)
635281 2008-01-30 01:27:00 Yes one of the simplest tricks to get them working again is to scribble on a coarse surface say like the rubber sole of your shoe etc.
:)
Trev (427)
635282 2008-01-30 01:31:00 Long method:

1. Try all the recommended methods
2. Throw the pen away

Short method:

1. Throw the pen away


:D
Graham L (2)
635283 2008-01-30 02:12:00 Plan B. Stop buying junk pens.
Allow any brand / model 2 failures, then never buy another of that brand / model.


Take all the old dead pens and give them to Roger Douglas to write down his good ideas.
R2x1 (4628)
635284 2008-01-30 02:13:00 We used to make "tick" marks all over the windows, then throw the pen away.

Lurking.
Lurking (218)
635285 2008-01-30 02:14:00 Do what the Russian astronauts do - use a pencil. dvm (6543)
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