When the ball point pen stops working while you’re jotting down something in a rush, it is a highly agonizing situation. No matter how many time your jerk the pen, or scribble in a corner in circles, the ink won’t come out. Ball points tend to stop working when either the ink in it has dried out, or when air has entered the ink tube. It is very easy to make the pen start working again.

 

 

  • Scribble on a rough piece of paper vigorously to jump start the pen.

 

  • Take out the cartridge and see if it is open from the end. If it is, blow into it for a second. Reattach the cartridge and check if it works.

 

  • Press the pen on a paper strongly. Then, move it vertically, while pressing it firmly down.

  • Tap constantly on the paper to form dots.

 

  • Shake the pen by holding it from the end. Shake it down towards the tip.

 

  • Rub the pen against the bottom of your shoe.

 

  • Write over an eraser or rubber surface to get it started.

 

  • Soak the pen in rubbing alcohol for 5 minutes.

 

  • Hold the flame of a lighter next to the ball point’s tip.

 

  • Rub the pen over an emery board.

 

  • Place the pen in a Ziploc bag, and close it. Put it in a pot of boiling water for 3 minutes, and take out the bag.

 

  • Use a drop of nail polish remover in the cartridge. You will need a wire that fits into it to get the remover inside.