refreshing permanent marker pens

Expensive in comparision, but look for "dry safe" permanent markers. You can leave the caps off those without problems. ISO rated for 554 days!

e.g.

Meths? or if you don't have any a small drop of Gin or Vodka

Malcolm

Method; Drink Gin or Vodka, go & buy new pens next day.

Get a Sharpie. Squeeze contents out and into old pen. Use old pen.

Or just throw out old pen. I have several Sharpies of varying ages - all at least a few years - and all still work fine. They do not cope with being left open, but IME the caps do work properly.

Try innoculating them with phenoxymethyloleanicdihydrophenylhydrazine

But it's messy. The French call it "Brie" BTW. :-)

And then buy new ones 5 for 80p.

Derek

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Adrian C saying something like:

I've had a couple of Staedtler CD markers. Bloody useless.

I guess the solvents used in waterproof pens vary. Cellulose thinner is the most widely effective, but that would eat the plastic pen too - so just try a few solvents and see what works. Alcohol, paraffin, white spirit, trichloroethylene, whatever youve got.

NT

I *think* that says rated to "ISO 554" - not that it can last 554 days!

OK my mistakke, several days most dry safe pen manfacturers claim under ISO 544 (Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing - Specifications)

Usual ISO problem. Can't find a download link for that doesn't want a credit card number. Chances of a prospective pen purchaser actually viewing the standard before making an informed purchase is slim ...

Absolutely! You'd think they[1] would publish summaries. We don't need the detailed 'how this must be measured' - just what it covers and basic details. Half the time you have no idea what the standard is about. I can imagine a 13-amp plug having a BSnnnn which covers the shade of white rather than its design or electrical safety.