HOW TO CHANGE AND CLEAN BALLPOINT TIPS AND FRESHEN OLDER OIL-BASED PAINT

For freshening any oil-based paint and soaking its tips, you will need some
original tip cleaner/solvent or a solvent substitute.  If you do not have any,
you may buy and use tip cleaner (#M300 @/$3.50) from us.  Use caution when using
these products.  They can be absorbed by your skin and be dangerous or fatal to
kids.  Switching to new water-based paints is advisable.  See Cameopaints.com
for info on the best water-based, ballpoint paints on the market.  A color con-
version chart is available there that shows which replacement colors to purchase.

TO FIND OUT HOW SALVAGABLE ANY BALLPOINT TIP IS:

1. IF you have a metal tube, make sure you have "burped" the tube well before
starting OR keep a steady squeeze pressure on plastic tubes as they are worked on.
"Burping the tube" is merely depressing the metal crimped tubes where the paint
ends in it and to press the paint all into the tip end and away from the crimped
end. It is squeezing all of the paint forward to bring the most amount of
pressure to it.  Do NOT fold or roll tube. Do not flatten or crease the sides of
the tube either since that may cause them to split. With Tri-chem tubes, a Flow
Control Clip can be used to keep pressure going.

[Do not roll metal tubes...they may split and leak if rolled and it is not
necessary since the tubes will hold their shape without rolling or folding.
IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT IF THERE PROBLEMS WITH PAINT FLOW THAT THE TUBE MAY
NEED TO BE OPENED AND STIRRED OR THE PAINT MAY NEED THE TIP TO BE CLEANED IN A
TIP BATH OVERNIGHT.  I will soon be releasing a video on doing all of this.]

[Do NOT UNROLL any metal tubes that have already been rolled and do NOT roll them
further...merely burp them past the rolled area as you go along.  Unbending them
will increase the chance of tube splits. As the tubes get used down, I sometimes
bend the empty area of the tube forward just a couple of degrees to help keep
the flow going, but I do not fold or roll them.] 

2. Doing one tip at a time, of course, First: A) find out if the ball bearing in
the end will press in when it is pressed in with the end of a regular paper clip.
If it does, the tip may be salvagable...provided that the spring does not fail
during this procedure or cleaning.  B) Keep depressing the ball in and out just
enough to the point that the ball stops...do NOT press in too hard. Any that do
not press in at all will need to be replaced with a new tip and some that do will
need one if the spring fails.  C) Repeat and hold in for a second or two to allow
fluid paint that is behind the tip to help dissolve dried paint.  Be patient and
keep trying.  D) Stop frequently to wipe the end of the tip off.  The in and out
motion will free up the paint around the ball and spring and eventually clear
the way for paint to flow in unless paint is solidly dried behind the tip or spring.
E) Once paint is flowing out of tip, roll paint onto a clean piece of Decoron
(pellon), or well-washed piece of cotton fabric until the paint flows normally.

[NOTE: You will know when the spring fails because you will be able to easily press
the ball in past the stop point inside the tip. At that point, you must change
the tip...put a new tip on.  Directions are given below on how to change the tip.
Be sure to find and remove the spring and ball bearing so they do not remain in
the paint tube.]


Often times, you can get an old tip going by rolling the tip over a solvent/
thinner soaked piece of scrap cotton material, like a folded piece of an old,
well-washed pillowcase or sheet until all the dry paint is rolled out of the
tip.  If this doesn't work, you will need to follow the instructions below:

Of course, you will need a Tip Changer, Tip Pliers, or Tip Wrench for your
particular brand of tips in order to remove or change the plastic ballpoint tips.
For Tri-chem tubes, you may wish to purchase Handy Tube Plugs to keep your tube
paint fresh while you soak old tips.  These are available from us by phone or
mail order see our website, CameoPaints.Com/access.htm for details.

The easiest way to prepare ballpoint-tipped paint tubes to be opened, is to
place them, one at a time, into a small sock or small plastic bag with their
tips up (nearest the top opening).  Grab the sock or bag by its opening,
closing it with your hand (fist).  Now then twirl (spin) the sock or bag
around rather quickly for about 10-20 seconds so that the paint will be
forced into the opposite end of the tube and any air will be near the tip.  

You should then be able to remove the tip without a gush of paint to meet you.
With a little practice, you will master this seemingly ridiculous technique
and obtain much success with it.  Just make sure the sides of the tube are
not overly flattened and that there are no creases (except the manufacturer's
fold at the stamped end), so the paint will flow back into the stamped end.

After spinning the tube, slowly untwist the plastic ballpoint tip from the
tube with your tip changer or tip pliers. When you have almost have it off,
check to see if a lot of paint is going to come out.  If so, you can always
twist the tip back on and try spinning the tube again.  Many times, however,
there will be only a small amount that will gush forth and then the paint will
stop flowing.  This is because air bubbles will back up behind the neck of
the tube and force the small amount in the neck to be under pressure.  This
is normal and only a tiny amount of paint is expelled.

If you are still having a problem with paint spurting or spilling, just place
the original tip completely back on then (with the tube protector OFF) place
the tube on a flat, hard surface with its fold level to the surface (face up)
and smooth the tube out with your palms into its original tube shape as much
as possible--keep the sides smooth and remove any kinks or folds possible.
Never unfold the manufacturer's crimped, folded end -- make sure it always
stays folded down in its original position.  Always press the paint toward the
tip end (NOT the folded end!).  Then spin the paint tube in the sock again (as
above) and remove the tip. 

If any tip is particularly stubborn, use tip pliers to remove by placing a firm
grip onto the wide part of the plastic tip just above where it fits into the
metal neck and twist it clockwise. If you have been successful with back-burping
the tube, you should not have paint spurting from the end once the tip is off. 

Once the old tip is off, place it in a glass jar or Tip Bath Jar with enough
tip cleaner/solvent (or substitute) to cover the tip completely.  Replace the 
tip with a new one or protect your tube while soaking the old tip.  Secure your
open tube, carefully placing the tube into a Ziplock sandwich-type plastic
storage bag and close it air-tight.  Then place the tube where it can stand up and
will not be disturbed or leak.  With Tri-chem paint tubes, you can use Handy Tube
Plugs to keep the paint securely inside the tube while waiting or twist on an old
plugged tip to hold it while it's tip is soaking.

For stirring, we prefer to use Tri-chem's #8112 Clean Sweep Pin which is
really the best since it is long and made for that purpose, however, a large
(roller-type) Bobby Pin that is straightened can also be used as a mixing
tool.  A large (straightened) paper clip will also work if you use it careful-
ly.  You will need to be careful not to puncture or slice the tube with any-
thing you use to mix the paint with. You will want to have lint-less wipes,
like Kim Wipes (available at hobby and artist supply stores also) or something
else suitable, standing by to wipe the mixing tool and any spills with also.

However, as for the tips, well, when they don't work after soaking them over-
night, we find that just replacing the tip with a new one to be the best
solution.  New replacement tips for Tri-chem tubes are available from your local
TC instructor.  Tips for Artex, Vogart, and Cameo paints are available from us.
Please see: http://www.cameopaints.com for details.

To get a new tip going, once you have placed it properly into a paint tube,
burp the tube (as described on page 1), hold tube straight up and down then
depress the ballpoint end (ball-bearing until the paint appears outside of
the tip.  This removes air left in the tube which is a good thing to do.

You can be really successful bringing back old paint, if you know how to.  But
be advised, it can be hard work.  Old paints should be re-mixed and have some
original solvent (or substitute) added to them if the consistency is still too
thick after stirring well.  Use the solvent very sparingly.  Add only a drop
at a time, stirring after each drop, until consistency is a lot like pudding
and not sticky, stringy, or thin.  Discard any paint tubes with paint that is
stringy or watery or oily-looking (even after stirring) and replace the color
by purchasing a new replacement Cameo paint color equivalent.  

If you need to replace any color, consider using our popular Cameo Premium Ball-
point water-based paints for their ease of use and big savings.  You will love how
easy they are to use.  They are less expensive, also, because you do not pay for
an expensive metal tube that can crack, dent, leak, and gray the paint.  And no
special tools are needed for them!  The Cameo acrylic water-based paints do NOT
need solvent.  Since they are water-based, water can be used as a thinner and
cleaner instead!  No more ugly smell!  We have colors that replace any outdated
Tri-chem paint color.  Please see: http://www.cameopaints.com for details.

Although it can be hard work to freshen old oil-based paint, it can also be so re-
warding to be able to use the paint again.  Since oil-based paint lasts so long and
goes so far, it is very economical to use as much as you can from each tube.
Sometimes all you need to do is clean the tip or change it and it is ready to go
again!  Other times, of course, you need to put a little more effort into them,
but the paint can be as good as ever and usable to its full potential.

Please see our Fabric Painting & Beyond Customer Library at:
http://www.fabricpainting.org for more info and techniques.

We hope you find this article helpful.  Please feel free to contact me with any
further requests for info or questions and advice on the Tri-chem, Artex, or Cameo
line of home hobby products.

Most sincerely, Diane Seveland
Fabric Paint Product Support Technician
http://www.cameopaints.com/support.htm
FPC International
email: support@cameopaints.com -- Phone: 1-866-533-8218 24hr tollfree voice mail