Sticky coating on ink pen -how to remove?

goonlord

Hi All,

I know this is very specific and maybe a bit odd (!) but I have a lovely Stypen ink pen (apparently the ones French school children use) which I've had for about 8 years and it has a sort of rubberized coating on it which has now gone all sticky.

If you scrape it with your nail it rolls off but this is very tedious and it's still leaving a slightly sticky residue.

Any ideas from you wonderful OS'ers? I don't want to chuck the pen but I can't use it as it is!

I was wondering about nail varnish remover but not sure if that would be too harsh?

GL

TheToothfairy_3

Not sure if it would work in your case but I've always found rubbing a tiny bit of WD40 onto sticky residue patches removes them easily.

goonlord

Thanks Toothfairy - I might give it a go!

culpepper

You could try ecover washing up liquid and then clean with meth if any is left on the pen.
I can't use rubber gloves with ecover as it dissolves them.It seems to be fine with plastic and metal.
Bit worrying when you think that you put your hands in it and it dissolves rubber though isn't it ?

goonlord

Hmmm...I use ecover washing up liquid and have just started with rubber gloves as my hands get so dry in the winter. Will wait to see if they dissolve! Thanks for this tip culpepper.

Actually, I emailed the company in France and got a very nice (immediate) reply saying if I sent it to them, they would try to repair it and it is usually free. Great customer service!

Will try some other things first though to avoid the hassle and postage costs.

16011996

def try the washing up liquid, i have a similar pen, and it worked a treat with that.

best of luck

160

Bibendum

Wouldn't want to damage the pen, but popping sticky bits in the freezer often makes them easier to remove (I would take the ink cartridge out first!)

janb5

You can buy some stuff called Sticky Stuff Remover-about £3 and it takes off sticky residue like you describe and marks left from prices etc. Available DIY shops.