Why Is My Pen Not Working? How To Get a Ballpoint Pen To Work

Cause #1: Air Bubbles

First, there might be an air bubble in the cartridge. If this is the case, you will see that there is a gap in the ink when you remove the cartridge from the pen barrel.

The solution - Strike or poke the tip of the cartridge on a hard surface, but make sure to keep an eye on the bubble. As soon as the bubble disappears, stop striking and put the cartridge back into the pen. Also, be aware that if you strike too much or too hard, there may be some ink spillage. Similarly, if this doesn’t work, try shaking the pen, which would also help remove the ink bubble.

Cause #2: Storing Ballpoint Pens Wrong

Another reason why a ballpoint pen may not write is because it is being stored with the tip upright. A ballpoint pen’s physical mechanism is very similar to that of a roll on deodorant or perfume. Essentially, it uses a ball and socket, where gravity acts as the force pushing ink from the reservoir onto the ball. Therefore, when a ballpoint pen is being stored tip up, gravity may push the ink in the opposite direction. The simple solution to this is simply to store the pen with the tip down and wait until gravity does its magic!

In contrast, a fountain pen should usually be stored with the nib upright, especially if carried in a bag or pen case.

Cause #3: Ink Clogging The Pen's Tip

One of the more difficult ballpoint pen issues is when the ink clogs the tip. Unlike rollerball pens, ballpoint pens use thicker, oil-based ink. The rolling ball mechanism acts as a cap to stop the ink from drying out, but when left out, unused for long periods of time, it can clog up and stop the ink flow.

The first method to resolve a clogged ballpoint pen is to apply more pressure and draw scribbles and vertical lines on a piece of paper. If this method does not work, then dip the very tip of the pen in rubbing alcohol. [just the tip] This will dissolve any dried up or ink that has hardened on the tip. You can also try to blow into the open end of the ink cartridge which can push the ink closer toward the tip. This method, of course, only works if the cartridge has an open end as some ink cartridges have a cap on them.

If scribbling and a dip in rubbing alcohol doesn't completely resolve the issue, you can try heating the pen tip with the lighter method.

This method entails holding a lighter flame next to the tip of a ballpoint. Do this until the ink is able to flow and the pen can write. Limit the heat contact to only the tip or else the pen will be damaged. If you do not have easy access to a lighter, feel free to put only the tip of the pen in boiling water as it will work the same way. Occasionally, check the temperature of the tip of the pen with your fingers to make sure it is not too much hotter than what you expect it to be. Then, lightly and carefully tap the pen on a hard surface to get the ink to flow.

How To Unclog Your Ballpoint Pen's Ink

If your pen still is not working by this point, we suggest to increase the friction of the rolling ball to dislodge any stuck ink. There are several ways to approach this. One is to write on a rough piece of cardboard. Since cardboard has more texture (tooth) than paper, for instance, it will likely be able to grip onto the tip of the pen and allow the ball to move freely on the surface. Other surfaces you can use aside from cardboard are rubber, such as the rubber on the bottom of a shoe, an emery board, or rough piece of fabric.

Please keep in mind that ballpoint pen parts are very easy to lose––particularly the spring. Be careful when you are taking things apart as most ballpoint pens cannot be used if there is no spring tension. Therefore, when you are reassembling a ballpoint pen, make sure everything is in its correct position and that the spring is still inside the pen if that particular ballpoint requires a spring.