Help with Versa-mark and wheel cartridge, please...?

[malindaplace]

I recently purchased an empty ink cartrige to fill with VersaMark refill. Does anyone have some insight to share on getting this to work? Should I pop out the little roller and put it in a dish of the refill? I squeeze on the ink and rub it in - but can't get much of a result when I roll a wheel. Help! Pretty please?!

[justheather]

I would leave the roller in the cartridge. When I refilled an embossing cartridge with Versamark, I think I squeezed a line of the refill onto the roller, then turned it with the tip of the dropper and repeated until I'd been around several times.

I'd also let it set for a bit before trying to use it so the ink can all spread out.

If it's not soaking in at all, maybe you could mist it with a little, little, tiny bit of water just to moisten the roller? Kind of like a dry sponge, maybe it's harder to wet a very dry roller?

[sandrahoyt]

I found that I had to put lots of versa mark on it to get a result. I also find that it dries out quickly so I have to reink before each use. Hadn't thought of letting it soak in a dish. If you can get it out safely, that might be worth trying. Let us know if you do.
Sandra

[CreativeDiva]

I know with the white reinker they say to store the roll in a plastic baggy when not in use so it doesn't dry out... maybe that will work to keep the versamark ink from drying too.

[durhamzoo]

I inked a roller with Versamark the other day and had a hard time getting it to ink evenly, so kept adding a bit more Versamark. After finally using it and storing it, I noticed that some of the Versamark had leaked out onto the cartridge case. Now, I'm not sure if I put too much Versamark in it. I think soaking it in Versamark in the beginning sounds like a good idea, as long as it doesn't soak up too much.
And thanks for the tip to put it in a baggie, I will do that to prevent any leaks onto my other supplies.

[malindaplace]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I like the baggie idea - I think that might work to confine the roller to soak up more of the versa mark, too. I'll try it, and let you know how that works. So far, even reinking just before use only gets me about 3 rolls on a regular card. My fingers are crossed!