Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

If your ballpoint pen dries up or air gets into the ink cartridge just above the nib, you will not be able to write. However, you can quickly fix this problem in the following ways.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Manual fix

1. 

   Scrawl hard on scratch paper for a while. Sometimes, this is all you need to do so that the ballpoint pen can rewrite as usual.

2. 

   
   
   If your pen is the one that can take the cartridge out and does not have a cap on the opposite end of the nib, you can blow into that end once or twice. Here is a flexible fix.

3. 

   You can also remove the ink cartridge and blow it into the open end. When the blow is finished, you will attach the ink cartridge to the pen case.

4. 

   
   
   Gently press the pen against something (paper is best) and see if the pen can write.

5. 

   Press the pen down vertically, then move the pen while holding the nib on the paper. This will cause the ball to roll in the nib.

6. 

   
   
   Put pen to paper. When you see ink appear, draw curves to check if the pen can write.

7. 

   Shake the pen. Hold the top end of the pen - the end facing the nib - and shake the pen like you shake the thermometer. Since there is air inside the ink cartridge, shaking the ink down the nib is a good remedy.

8. 

   Attach the appropriate ink cartridge. If that pen is a particular favorite for you and you don't want to swap out another one, you can either buy a new one or get ink pumped at a stationery store and attach the ink to the pen. advertisement

Method 2 of 2: Use household items

A lot of household appliances can be used to assist in fixing this problem.

1. 

   Insert the ballpoint pen into the sole of the shoe. Then test the pen on the draft paper.

2. 

   Tap the nib on a table or other hard surface. Place the paper under the pen so the ink does not stick on the flat surface. At this point the ink will begin to flow down the nib.

3. 

   Write on an eraser or other rubber surface. This will help the ball in the nib move easily.

4. 

   Take out the nib and soak it in rubbing alcohol. You will soak the nib for about 5 minutes.

5. 

   Use a lighter and light the flame from the nib. However, do not overheat as the plastic will melt and damage the pen. Then, press the nib of the pen into the sandpaper and scribble until the ink drips.

6. 

   Place the clogged nib on the nail file.

7. 

   Put the pen in a plastic bag with a zipper. Place the bag in the pot of boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the plastic bag from the pot and let it cool. When the bag is cool enough to be touched, take the pen out of the bag and tap the nib vigorously on the paper. After a few taps, the pen will write.

8. 

   Put a drop of nail polish remover into the ink cartridge, then put the wire into the tube until it reaches the dry ink and remove it all. This will be very dirty. When you can put the wire under the ink cartridge, use a 0.2mm diameter guitar string to do the same thing until you reach the ball. Nail polish remover acts like solvents and helps the pen to write as normal.

9. 

   Pull out the nib of the metal pen and push the ink down from the other end with a paperclip or a metal thread if there is air at the tip. You can replace it with a small sponge. Once the ink has been pushed down, you attach the nib to the ink cartridge and push it against it. Use a scribble pen until the ink flows evenly.
10. Use water. Hot or cold water can also be used to make the ballpoint pen write as normal.
    • Place the nib under running water. If dry ink chokes the nib, this may stop the ink choking. Water will lubricate the tip of the ballpoint pen to dry out.

      

    • Place the nib under warm, running water. The heat will dissolve the dry ink.

      

    • Take a wet rag and try to write on it, press down strongly with the pen - this will make the ball move and the pen can write. You should use an old rag so you don't get the ink on the rag that you are still using.

      

11. 

    Microwave the ink cartridge. Place the ink cartridge on a small paper towel. Adjust microwave for short duration until the ink tanks are slightly warm.
    • With an old microwave oven, run twice for 10 seconds at a time, but if you have a newer microwave you will need a shorter time. Be careful not to melt the plastic.
    • Observe the ink cartridge very carefully if using this method; Usually the ink cartridge can explode or melt, causing the ink to stick inside the microwave.

12. 

    Use an erasable brush to dab at the nib.
    • Non-erasable brushes usually contain strong solvents that dab into the nib will dissolve the dry ink.

13. 

    Use a nasal aspirator for babies. You can find this device at drugstores or mom and baby product stores. Simply attach the tip of the ink cartridge to the nasal aspirator and squeeze. Do this until the ink comes out. advertisement

Advice

• Sometimes, even though you try your best, the pen still can't write. Don't be afraid to buy a new pen if you've tried all of the above.
• Always blow and do not suck ink or your mouth will have a new color!
• Take out the ink tank and observe. The cartridges are usually transparent, so you may find the ink inside is exhausted or there are air bubbles. In this case, scribbling on paper is also ineffective.
• Be sure to prepare a spare pen in case you cannot get the pen dry to rewrite as you normally would.
• If your ballpoint pen still writes well and you can't find ink to fill it with, you can pump ink from another pen. Use a cotton swab to push ink from tube to tube. Stick the ends of the ink cartridge with tape as you go, or you can hold it with your hand.
• Note when shaking the pen to avoid the ink on other objects if shaking in the room. Try shaking the pen outside or where there is an open space.
• You can spin the centrifuge by tying a string to the pen and spinning it like a jump rope. Remember to cover when recording. This way is cleaner.

Warning

• If you decide to blow into the tip of the ink tank, be careful not to suck the ink, as you can poison ink.
• Tapping or shaking the pen can also cause ink to spatter. Move the pen away from you and others and be careful not to get the ink on your clothes or other surroundings.