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#1
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
Or, more specifically - how to keep the ink from drying out? I read a pen-related blog wherein the author suggested storing them in zip-lock plastic bags from which air was removed with a straw prior to sealing, in order to create a partial vacuum. No followup on whether it works. Thinking it through, the object seems to be to prevent the slow evaporation of solvent(s) from the ink. Sealing it in something airtight and low volume makes sense, but it would seem to me that the initial use of a vacuum would (at least temporarily) _increase_ evaporation of solvent. Any real-world experience here? Any better suggestions? |
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#2
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
In ,
Mike S. wrote: Air would bleed back into a zip-lock, and volatiles would bleed out. If nothing else, polyethylene is porous (which is why sealed fountain pen cartridges gradually lose ink volume). With a metal BP refill, you could try dipping both ends in something like paraffin, I guess. If it's plastic, you'd have to really cocoon it (a glass or metal tube?). Brian -- |
#3
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
"Mike S." wrote in message
... Or, more specifically - how to keep the ink from drying out? I read a pen-related blog wherein the author suggested storing them in zip-lock plastic bags from which air was removed with a straw prior to sealing, in order to create a partial vacuum. No followup on whether it works. Thinking it through, the object seems to be to prevent the slow evaporation of solvent(s) from the ink. Sealing it in something airtight and low volume makes sense, but it would seem to me that the initial use of a vacuum would (at least temporarily) _increase_ evaporation of solvent. Any real-world experience here? Any better suggestions? Mike, I have always stored them point-down. The theory is, this keeps the ball inked, and the column of ink stays unbroken. If you store them point-up, it seems more likely that air bubbles will get into the ink, and the ball may dry out, which will make the refill impossible to start. As a real world example, I have a metal Parker "T Ball" refill from the early 1970s that still writes. They can survive a long time. You could store them in an airtight tin, with silica gel to absorb moisture. I *think* the ink is oil-based, so it should not dry them out. Brian's suggestion of coating the ends seems like a good idea. I have noticed that some rollerballs have a little clump of sealant on the point, which you have to peel off before you start using them. -- Alan |
#4
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
On Feb 20, 4:37*pm, "Jimmy" wrote:
"Mike S." wrote in message ... Or, more specifically - how to keep the ink from drying out? I read a pen-related blog wherein the author suggested storing them in zip-lock plastic bags from which air was removed with a straw prior to sealing, in order to create a partial vacuum. No followup on whether it works. Thinking it through, the object seems to be to prevent the slow evaporation of solvent(s) from the ink. Sealing it in something airtight and low volume makes sense, but it would seem to me that the initial use of a vacuum would (at least temporarily) _increase_ evaporation of solvent. Any real-world experience here? Any better suggestions? Mike, I have always stored them point-down. The theory is, this keeps the ball inked, and the column of ink stays unbroken. If you store them point-up, it seems more likely that air bubbles will get into the ink, and the ball may dry out, which will make the refill impossible to start. As a real world example, I have a metal Parker "T Ball" refill from the early 1970s that still writes. They can survive a long time. You could store them in an airtight tin, with silica gel to absorb moisture. I *think* the ink is oil-based, so it should not dry them out. Brian's suggestion of coating the ends seems like a good idea. I have noticed that some rollerballs have a little clump of sealant on the point, which you have to peel off before you start using them. -- Alan Yes, pen refills from the 1970's made by Parker have a propensity to last a long time, but not pen refills made in the 50's and 60's. One trick I use to loosen ink in a refill is to hold it briefly over a open stove flame a few seconds and then scrawl on a scratch pad nearby. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not and then I discard the refill in trash. Every refill is different as you do not know how long they will last. James |
#5
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
"James" wrote in message ... On Feb 20, 4:37 pm, "Jimmy" wrote: "Mike S." wrote in message ... Or, more specifically - how to keep the ink from drying out? I read a pen-related blog wherein the author suggested storing them in zip-lock plastic bags from which air was removed with a straw prior to sealing, in order to create a partial vacuum. No followup on whether it works. Thinking it through, the object seems to be to prevent the slow evaporation of solvent(s) from the ink. Sealing it in something airtight and low volume makes sense, but it would seem to me that the initial use of a vacuum would (at least temporarily) _increase_ evaporation of solvent. Any real-world experience here? Any better suggestions? Mike, I have always stored them point-down. The theory is, this keeps the ball inked, and the column of ink stays unbroken. If you store them point-up, it seems more likely that air bubbles will get into the ink, and the ball may dry out, which will make the refill impossible to start. As a real world example, I have a metal Parker "T Ball" refill from the early 1970s that still writes. They can survive a long time. You could store them in an airtight tin, with silica gel to absorb moisture. I *think* the ink is oil-based, so it should not dry them out. Brian's suggestion of coating the ends seems like a good idea. I have noticed that some rollerballs have a little clump of sealant on the point, which you have to peel off before you start using them. -- Alan Yes, pen refills from the 1970's made by Parker have a propensity to last a long time, but not pen refills made in the 50's and 60's. One trick I use to loosen ink in a refill is to hold it briefly over a open stove flame a few seconds and then scrawl on a scratch pad nearby. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not and then I discard the refill in trash. Every refill is different as you do not know how long they will last. James Dad taught me that scribbling on newspaper was best because it got the ball rolling more times than other paper. If that failed, a match was employed just like your stove flame, then back to the newspaper. If that didn't work, the refill went into the trash. -- ~~Bluesea~~ Spam is great in musubi, but not in email. Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply. |
#6
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
"James" wrote in message
... On Feb 20, 4:37 pm, "Jimmy" wrote: "Mike S." wrote in message ... snip Or, more specifically - how to keep the ink from drying out? snip Any real-world experience here? Any better suggestions? Mike, I have always stored them point-down. The theory is, this keeps the ball inked, and the column of ink stays unbroken... snip As a real world example, I have a metal Parker "T Ball" refill from the early 1970s that still writes. They can survive a long time. -- Alan Yes, pen refills from the 1970's made by Parker have a propensity to last a long time, but not pen refills made in the 50's and 60's. One trick I use to loosen ink in a refill is to hold it briefly over a open stove flame a few seconds and then scrawl on a scratch pad nearby. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not and then I discard the refill in trash. Every refill is different as you do not know how long they will last. James I notice the Parker broad refills are back in production. Demand, or just marketing whim? Originally they did broad, medium, fine and extra fine - I tried them all in school. -- Alan |
#7
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
"Bluesea" wrote in message
... "James" wrote in message ... On Feb 20, 4:37 pm, "Jimmy" wrote: "Mike S." wrote in message snip Or, more specifically - how to keep the ink from drying out? snip Any real-world experience here? Any better suggestions? Mike, I have always stored them point-down. The theory is, this keeps the ball inked, and the column of ink stays unbroken... snip Alan Yes, pen refills from the 1970's made by Parker have a propensity to last a long time, but not pen refills made in the 50's and 60's. One trick I use to loosen ink in a refill is to hold it briefly over a open stove flame a few seconds and then scrawl on a scratch pad nearby. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not and then I discard the refill in trash. Every refill is different as you do not know how long they will last. James Dad taught me that scribbling on newspaper was best because it got the ball rolling more times than other paper. If that failed, a match was employed just like your stove flame, then back to the newspaper. If that didn't work, the refill went into the trash. -- ~~Bluesea~~ The other method is to dip the metal refill point-first into hot water for a few seconds. It should not be boiling - think hot tea temperature. I've noticed that Parker and Papermate are both much tougher to write with when they are cold than when they have been in a shirt pocket. -- Alan |
#8
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
"Jimmy" wrote in message ... "Bluesea" wrote in message ... "James" wrote in message ... On Feb 20, 4:37 pm, "Jimmy" wrote: "Mike S." wrote in message snip Or, more specifically - how to keep the ink from drying out? snip Any real-world experience here? Any better suggestions? Mike, I have always stored them point-down. The theory is, this keeps the ball inked, and the column of ink stays unbroken... snip Alan Yes, pen refills from the 1970's made by Parker have a propensity to last a long time, but not pen refills made in the 50's and 60's. One trick I use to loosen ink in a refill is to hold it briefly over a open stove flame a few seconds and then scrawl on a scratch pad nearby. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not and then I discard the refill in trash. Every refill is different as you do not know how long they will last. James Dad taught me that scribbling on newspaper was best because it got the ball rolling more times than other paper. If that failed, a match was employed just like your stove flame, then back to the newspaper. If that didn't work, the refill went into the trash. -- ~~Bluesea~~ The other method is to dip the metal refill point-first into hot water for a few seconds. It should not be boiling - think hot tea temperature. Hot tea that's at a drinkable temperature? Black teas are properly brewed using boiling water. I've noticed that Parker and Papermate are both much tougher to write with when they are cold than when they have been in a shirt pocket. That makes sense because temperature affects viscosity and a shirt pocket lends bodily warmth. -- ~~Bluesea~~ Spam is great in musubi, but not in email. Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply. |
#9
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
"Bluesea" wrote in message
... snip thread back-story The other method is to dip the metal refill point-first into hot water for a few seconds. It should not be boiling - think hot tea temperature. Hot tea that's at a drinkable temperature? Black teas are properly brewed using boiling water. I've noticed that Parker and Papermate are both much tougher to write with when they are cold than when they have been in a shirt pocket. That makes sense because temperature affects viscosity and a shirt pocket lends bodily warmth. Hot tea must be *less* than 100 deg C. After 3 minutes infusing, it might be 98 deg, or 95 deg. It's not boiling. The point is to avoid creating bubbles if there's any moisture in the ink. Are you a tea fan? I like Whittard (UK), which came perilously close to failure. What's going on with Papermate? You can buy the metal refills anywhere here, but if you want the pens, you have to buy second-hand on eBay, or (as I did) find a pristine boxed sample in a charity shop. -- Alan |
#10
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Long-term storage of ballpoints
Thanks for all the thoughts, folks. In trying to strategize I'm first trying to understand the nature of the process that makes ballpoint refills dry up and stop working. For instance: is it evaporation of solvent? chemical reaction with oxygen (oxidation), ozone, or other component of the air? a self-sustaining chemical change that is smewhat independent of the environment? My understanding is that ballpoint ink contains a mixture of volatile and non-volatile solvents. If the evaporation of solvent is what causes aging, then anything which prevents that should help. I came into this quoting a web site that advocated placing refills in evacuated zip-lock bags. To my mind, that would _increase_ evaporation of solvent by increasing the vapor pressure of the solvent in an evacuated environment. A _pressurized_ storage vessel might do better. If it's reaction with oxygen or other component of ambient air, then (as was pointed out here) an "airtight" container made of a material that actually allows slow diffusion of air would not do very well in the long term. For my part, I'm trying zip-lock bags which are then placed in a food storage tub having rubberized seals along the mating surfaces. |
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