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How do you keep the ink flowing? I have several and they are rather new and not dried up but halfway through writing or coloring with them and the ink flow stops. Just curious if anyone had any tips before I end up throwing them away. Thanks
I always store mine with their tips down. I used to have trouble with them when I stored them like the markers, laying flat, but now they work great. I have the Sakura, I don't know if the brands are any different in performance.
__________________ Sue GKD Center Stage Spotlight DT Alumni http://qvande.blogspot.com Just Us Girls Challenge DT
I always store mine with their tips down. I used to have trouble with them when I stored them like the markers, laying flat, but now they work great. I have the Sakura, I don't know if the brands are any different in performance.
I store mine tip down, it helped some but I still have problems. Has anyone ever heard of putting them in the refrigerator for a few minutes to get the ink flowing again? I can't remember now where I heard that.
I store mine tip down, it helped some but I still have problems. Has anyone ever heard of putting them in the refrigerator for a few minutes to get the ink flowing again? I can't remember now where I heard that.
Ok the freezer...that's where I heard it then I watch that show too. Well I guess I'll give that a try and see if I have any luck, cause putting them fridge didn't help, lol.
I have heard many things from using an alcohol wipe on the tip to soaking the pen with the lid on it in hot water. Nothing works. If I had the money from bad gel pens I threw away I would be rich. The only pens you can count on are the white gel pen from www.jetpens.com (same as SU pens but cheaper) and the Sakura stardust ones. I use Sharpie Metallic markers too.
For heaven's sake, housefan, how could you do this to me?! I just *had to* go to jetpens. I just spent $25.74 in the blink of an eye. The only reason I can justify it is that I bought some things for stockings, not just for myself.
(Okay, time for the truth. I'm glad you shared the link. Thanks!)
I was told in a demonstration at a scrapbook convention that you should be careful to not press too hard when writing with gel pens. This was a sakura demonstration, so not sure if that is only for that company or all gel pens. Anyway, they said that the lightest pressure on the paper gives the best results. Hope that helps.
By the way - LOVE my sakura gelly roll stardust clear pen! Awesome!
I appreciate everyone's input. The freezer technique didn't really do anything to help so I'm going to try the other suggestions...even sitting on them if I have to! LOLOL
I have heard many things from using an alcohol wipe on the tip to soaking the pen with the lid on it in hot water. Nothing works. If I had the money from bad gel pens I threw away I would be rich. The only pens you can count on are the white gel pen from www.jetpens.com (same as SU pens but cheaper) and the Sakura stardust ones. I use Sharpie Metallic markers too.
housefan, will you share the name of the white gel pen you're referring to? There are more than one and I don't have a SU! catty to compare. :( TIA
__________________ StormyElf'd '07Humble Ink Smears If at first you don't succeed, talk to God! Then, go put on your big girl panties!
I appreciate everyone's input. The freezer technique didn't really do anything to help so I'm going to try the other suggestions...even sitting on them if I have to! LOLOL
I sure hope you let it warm first. I got the cheapest ones at Wally World and they had better metallic look and worked- but that could be a fluke.
The ones that I have the least problems with are the Sakura ones. I store them tip down too. The white one gives me the most fits though. The black one and Stardust both work great. Also, back in school days, we used to roll pens between our hands to warm them and get the ink flowing. Worked great on Bics, so it may work on gel pens too.
I haven't found any brand that works well. Over the weekend I went through 2 brand new gold gel pens trying to sing my Christmas cards. Finally just gave up!
I am so glad I found this thread.. I too have this problem regardless which Gel Pens I buy.. I have thrown so many out it isn't even funny anymore..
Will try the sitting on them and see if that works..
Thank you
~Chris~
If it's sticking, try holding it vertically (as if you were going to write), and tap the end of the pen (writing part) against some scrap paper several times ... it seems to dislodge anything that is causing a problem.
The Sakura white gel pens that SU! sells have never given me a problem ... and I have some that I've been using for a year and a half (on and off). Still write like a charm when I need them without any problems ... and they're stored sideways, upside down, however they are left ... :rolleyes:
Oh my gosh, sitting on the gel pen really worked for me. That's so funny! I was all ready to write on a tag with my gel pen and just couldn't get it to flow. Checked on real quickly for some help and read this thread and sure enough sat on it for a few minutes and now it's flowing like it should.
This thread is hilarious as just yesterday I tried about 8 different gel pens (from Cosco) and they didn't work. I pounded the tip on paper as suggested above and it did work but not for long. I just will have to "sit" on them to see what happens. I have stored them flat like SU pens in the case do but it doesn't seem to work with gel pens that way. So, up they go in a jar! Next I will have to pay for SU pens! Cheap isn't always cheap!
FYI--The white gel pen SU! sells is manufactured by Signo.
__________________ Jennifer, SU Demonstrator
"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment" -Ben Franklin
I turned all my Gelpens upside down but have not used them yet.. Will sit on them when I get ready to use them since it seems to work, lol.. I can just see Dh's Face when I get the pile of Pens and put them on the Chair and flop my big Booty on them, lol.. I think he will really believe I have lost my Mind then.....
I don't use them much (yet...dd is getting Cosco ones for Xmas) but I have some trouble w/ the SU white. It does stop flowing while writing so I just keep a scrap piece of paper and scribble about 10 circles until it begins to flow again.
I have a problem with most gel pens I've ever used.... so I'm going to try some of these ideas. I thought it was just me! LOL!
When I use the SU! white for faux stitching, it works well, probably b/c the pen stroke is short... but I tried to sign my x-mas cards this year with the white pen (on night of navy CS) and it skipped all over the place! I was like, WTHeck! It must be me! But now I'll store it tip down and see if that helps.
Love this place, no issue or love or technique or whatever is not discussed here, no matter how small, and it's so super to have such a great resource. Thank you all for your help this year!
Adriene
I've noticed that you can't handle the paper you're writing on too much while you're writing. I think the oils from your hands interfere with the gel (like a resist?). Also, there are many inferior brands of gel pens on the market. I find the best ones to be the Gelly Rolls by Sakura. HTH.
what's the trick with Gel pens?
Sitting Works
