Gel pens are known for their versatility and their ease of use, but it is important to know troubleshoot these pens when something goes wrong. Gel pens are pretty simple, but some tricks can make them easier to use and extend their useful life.
Exercise the Tip
Most of the time a gel pen will be quite easy to use, but these pens can sometimes be hard to start. One of the best ways to get a reluctant gel pen to start writing is to gently bounce the tip against a table, desk or other hard surface. This action will help to loosen up the gel and get the pen writing again. It may be a good idea to tap the pen against a hard surface each time you start to use it--this will help keep the ink loose and prevent the gel from hardening between uses.
Heat it Up
If your gel pen still does not write it may be because the gel has become hardened and is unable to flow freely. This is especially likely to happen if the pen has been stored in a cold room; the gel in a gel ink pen can quickly solidify if the pen is kept at a cold temperature. In order to warm the gel pen up and get the ink flowing you can gently heat it up by holding it over a hot stove (not too close to the heat). You can also rub the gel pen vigorously in your hands to warm it up. Keeping the pen warmed up will keep the ink flowing freely and extend the life of the pen as well.
Too Much Ink
While most of the time a gel pen will put out just the right amount of ink, there are times when the pen is new that it will put out way too much ink, potentially ruining the document you are working on. That is why it is important to start the gel pen using a piece of scrap paper. After the pen has been started it should write smoothly again.
