I am finding that the tips on my solvent-resistant marking pens are prone to
drying out.  I may label a couple hundred slides and store the pen for a few
days.  I always secure the cap firmly and lay it down sideways.  When I try
to use the pen again, the tip won't flow ink even after repeated writing.  I
have tried getting the pen to write on slides and paper with no luck. I have
tried storing the pens with the tips pointing down with no luck.  Out of
curiosity, I cut one of the bad pens in half and the cartridge inside
appeared to still have ink.

Can anybody offer me some advice on how to get the ink flowing again?

Thanks,

Steve Allen
Research Technologist
Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute
Albuquerque, NM 
(505)845-1122
sallen@lrri.org