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Is there any way to unclog the fine tip on a marker?
I have found that many markers with dual tips have a clogged fine tip and it's driving me nuts. I don't usually use the fine tip, but in some cases (as in the case of a black marker) I buy it so I can fill in lines on stamped images that don't stamp cleanly. It seems to be the case with almost every brand I've gotten, except for Tombow.
I've just resigned myself to only using the brush or large tip end but recently wondered if there is a way to unclog the fine tip? I think that the fine tip part can be pulled out with tweezers, and I've actually refilled some of my dye markers. However, how would I go about trying to unclog the fine tip? Since they never worked to begin with, I can't lose if I just try something.
How is the tip clogged? Do you mean dried out? I use a black Copic multi-liner to fill in stamping lines and have never had a problem with it.
I don't know if they are dried out inside the barrel leading up to the tip, or just dried out at the tip. I can't get even a faint line with them so can only assume that ink has dried in the tip or the barrel. I've had problems with gel pens and ball point pens, and have been able to start them up by scribbling over and over but I don't want to damage the marker tips by doing this.
Are they alcohol or water-based markers? What brands? Do you store they vertically or horizontally? Usually storing markers horizontally is best. But you could try putting the marker vertically with the dried out tip down for a day or two to see if the ink will flow down to the dried out tip. If they are alcohol-based then try refilling the barrel. If water-based maybe soak the dried out tip end in water for a short time?
I have found that many markers with dual tips have a clogged fine tip and it's driving me nuts. I don't usually use the fine tip, but in some cases (as in the case of a black marker) I buy it so I can fill in lines on stamped images that don't stamp cleanly. It seems to be the case with almost every brand I've gotten, except for Tombow.
I've just resigned myself to only using the brush or large tip end but recently wondered if there is a way to unclog the fine tip? I think that the fine tip part can be pulled out with tweezers, and I've actually refilled some of my dye markers. However, how would I go about trying to unclog the fine tip? Since they never worked to begin with, I can't lose if I just try something.
Any suggestions? Thanks.
karen
Same problem here, Karen, so you're not alone. I've given up on these types of markers (I have the full Distress line and a ton of Stampin Up).
Its like the fine point is dried up. I've had many where both ends have dried. Old Olive from Stampin Up and Picket Fence from Distress were the biggest problem children for me. I bought multiples of both, thinking I got a dud and the next would be ok. Nope. Now, I store all my markers brush side down so at least I can use some of them that way. I've tried using the Distress Ink Refresher and that didn't help. I wanted these marker for the fine tip so my writing would coordinate with the card color scheme, too. Frustrating.
Are they alcohol or water-based markers? What brands? Do you store they vertically or horizontally? Usually storing markers horizontally is best. But you could try putting the marker vertically with the dried out tip down for a day or two to see if the ink will flow down to the dried out tip. If they are alcohol-based then try refilling the barrel. If water-based maybe soak the dried out tip end in water for a short time?
The markers that are the worst are Distress Ink dye markers, and I also have a black and red Stampin' Up marker with a fine tip that has never worked, even when brand new. I store all markers horizontally. I know the markers are not dried out because the brush ends work perfectly, so it's frustrating.
I might try soaking the fine tip in water overnight but I may already have tried that in the past..can't remember.
Same problem here, Karen, so you're not alone. I've given up on these types of markers (I have the full Distress line and a ton of Stampin Up).
Its like the fine point is dried up. I've had many where both ends have dried. Old Olive from Stampin Up and Picket Fence from Distress were the biggest problem children for me. I bought multiples of both, thinking I got a dud and the next would be ok. Nope. Now, I store all my markers brush side down so at least I can use some of them that way. I've tried using the Distress Ink Refresher and that didn't help. I wanted these marker for the fine tip so my writing would coordinate with the card color scheme, too. Frustrating.
Yes, the brush ends all still work just fine on all my markers so it's strange that the fine tips seem to be a problem. After reading these suggestions, and some on another similar thread that I posted about the Picket Fence marker , I decided to try adding a homemade ink refresher that was suggested. I combined distilled water and glycerine, and took the brush tip off a Distress marker. Then I used an eyedropper to add some of the water/glycerine into the barrel. When I removed the brush end I was surprised and pleased to see that the brush end has two brush ends, and I flipped it when I replaced it..just to see if that helped at all. Not sure if it was the flipping part, or the liquid that I added, but I got them to work again. We'll see how long it works, but so far it's much better than it was. The fine tip end though, still doesn't work!
Something I tried on an older Stampin up marker..that worked for me! I googled for ideas...the one that worked best was to stand up the fine end, in a small container of rubbing alcohol for 5 min.( make sure your ink inside wasn’t empty first..) Remove from alcohol, and scribble on some old cardstock. Repeat if necessary. I had success with it!
I had the same problems as well, both with SU and another brand I had. I tried filling up my SU markers with ink, probably a bit too much!! It still didn't seem to help with the fine tip ends.
__________________ Brenda
<-My sibling kitties, Milo and Rousseau
I had the same problems as well, both with SU and another brand I had. I tried filling up my SU markers with ink, probably a bit too much!! It still didn't seem to help with the fine tip ends.
Something I tried on an older Stampin up marker..that worked for me! I googled for ideas...the one that worked best was to stand up the fine end, in a small container of rubbing alcohol for 5 min.( make sure your ink inside wasn’t empty first..) Remove from alcohol, and scribble on some old cardstock. Repeat if necessary. I had success with it!
Oh, I hadn't even thought to do this but since I already have rubbing alcohol, it can't hurt to try it!
I have some of the very old SU markers (from 199 that are still working fine (although the brush end is a bit worn). It's the new markers that stop working after a few uses, or never worked in the first place. I'm finding this to be true of the ink pads as well. The newer (but not newest) linen pads don't ink evenly and seem to need reinking before some of the older clam shell style that are still going strong. What's happened to the quality I used to depend on?
I have some of the very old SU markers (from 199 that are still working fine (although the brush end is a bit worn). It's the new markers that stop working after a few uses, or never worked in the first place. I'm finding this to be true of the ink pads as well. The newer (but not newest) linen pads don't ink evenly and seem to need reinking before some of the older clam shell style that are still going strong. What's happened to the quality I used to depend on?
I know what you mean because I have some of the really old original ink pad (clamshell type) that are still inky and going strong, when I've had to re-ink my newer ones multiple times.
Also, why did the newer red inks cause crystallization and mold to form on the ink pads, when Really Red has been just fine all these years? I was so sad when I had to toss my Riding Hood Red ink pad out because it was covered with a crust that can't be cleaned or scraped off.
I know what you mean because I have some of the really old original ink pad (clamshell type) that are still inky and going strong, when I've had to re-ink my newer ones multiple times.
Also, why did the newer red inks cause crystallization and mold to form on the ink pads, when Really Red has been just fine all these years? I was so sad when I had to toss my Riding Hood Red ink pad out because it was covered with a crust that can't be cleaned or scraped off.
Karen
Wow! We have had the same experiences. I had to toss my Riding Hood Red pad, too, but I made a new one of a "Cut 'N' Dry pad and used my reinker to fill it up. I had enough reinker to give it another dose recently, as the plastic box I put it in must not be completely air tight. My old Real Red (clam shell) has crusted around the edges, but my Ruby Red is just fine. Could it be the new reinkers don't work in the old pads?
Is there any way to unclog the fine tip on a marker?
