To make ink flow in a ballpoint pen, one effective method involves using oil to lubricate the tip, followed by vigorous scribbling. This technique can help loosen dried ink or free the ball at the pen's tip.
Reviving Your Ballpoint Pen with Oil
Sometimes, a ballpoint pen stops writing because the ink near the tip has dried out, or the tiny ball at the point isn't rotating smoothly. A simple household remedy using cooking oil or baby oil can help restore the ink flow.
Here’s a breakdown of the steps based on a proven method:
The Oil Method for Ink Flow
This technique uses common household oil to help get the ink moving again. It’s straightforward and can often resolve issues with a pen that seems to be dried up or clogged.
- Choose Your Oil: Take cooking oil or baby oil. Any oil will do for this purpose.
- Dip the Tip: Carefully dip the tip of your ballpoint pen into the chosen oil. Ensure the very point is submerged.
- Soak and Swirl: Let the tip soak for about a few minutes, swirling it around in the oil. This allows the oil to work its way into the mechanism around the ball.
- Scribble Vigorously: After soaking, take the pen and scribble vigorously on a piece of scrap paper. Continue scribbling until you notice the oil disappear and the pen starts dispensing its ink.
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preparation | Get cooking oil or baby oil (any oil). | Prepare the lubricant. |
| 2. Application | Dip the pen tip into the oil. | Introduce oil to the tip. |
| 3. Soaking | Let soak for a few minutes, swirling the tip in oil. | Allow oil to loosen dried ink/lubricate. |
| 4. Activation | Scribble vigorously on paper. | Push oil through and encourage ink flow. |
This process helps clear potential blockages and lubricate the ball, allowing the ink to flow freely once more. Be patient, as it might take a little vigorous scribbling for the ink to fully replace the oil at the tip.
