Part 1 of this refill series explains why you need to refill long before your marker looks dry or squeaks. Watch here: ruclips.net/video/d2APWOYvfOY/видео.html
I can beat that! LOL I studied architecture and my copic markers are appr. 25 years old! Only recently did I find out that I can do refill. I am thrilled! Your tutorial is brilliant. Thank you so much for that.
That is awesome! My oldest Copics are about 20yrs but I started with Design and then had Classic Copics before selling them off to buy Sketch. I bow to your vintage advantage... Hang on to those markers, if you can rehab them, they're better than the current models!
Haha, 25 years is pretty cool! My set is also about 17 years old, although I haven't used it since the early 2010s, apart from testing them some time ago. I think about 5 out of 32 were kinda dry, hopefully I can revive most of them. 😅
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I used a less expensive alcohol marker brand for several years and decided to go Copic exclusive recently. I make it a point to buy the refill when I purchase a marker. What I could not figure out was how to reliably and economically refill a Copic. Working with weight is genius. No more guessing how dry my pen is or how much ink I need to get back to juicy blending nirvana. Ink splooges and crusty, dried out nibs are a thing of the past. Now I know why these issues happen and how to prevent them. Copics are expensive. With this knowledge, I can now protect my investment and get all the creative joy Copic coloring brings!
Christee! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. Making videos is weird because it's literally talking to an empty room in the hopes that maybe someone will listen later. Hearing that the info helped make your life and your art easier makes the weirdness worth it. Thank you!
i was refilling my ciao and topping some up. i guess i overfilled some based on what weight you recommended. guess something to keep in mind for next time.
Great video! Always great to get a refresher on filling Copics. I will be totally honest here; when I got my first copics I had no idea about how to really use them. I just figured you brought a new one when one went dry. It’s a good thing that I also realized they were not the average marker and didn’t use them. I waited on using them until I found someone (you) that connected with me about best ways to use them and care for them. I was on that wagon that brought what everyone else was using without any real experience to back it up. Now I’m learning and so glad I waited before using them recklessly.
I always chuckle when someone says they thought Copics were disposable because in local classes when the students get to chatting, the vast majority of them use the REFILLABLE! thing as a sales pitch to their spouse. "I'm saving sooooooo much money by spending a little more to get the refillable kind!" Heck, I think I said the same thing to my husband when I switched brands. But yes, one student had thrown away several markers before she learned about refills and at a certification class, one store owner was like "Oh, you mean I have to sell all the refills too?" and she didn't sound happy about it.
I've never seen this refilling technique before but I'm going to try it! I love the idea of weighing the markers to see if they need refilling. Thanks! (Although I'm a bit afraid to weigh them I find some under 11 grams, fingers crossed they are all good!)
@@AmyShulke It was very unscientific, I would pull out the chisel nib and squeeze the re-inker LOL! I'm sure my methods would horrify you LOL! I hate the new refills, it seem to take longer and there is so much less ink. I hope none of my markers have gotten overdry because I probably have done every wrong thing in the past, including mixing custom refills if I needed to reink in the middle of a project, but they still work great! Something I did with my Spectrum noir markers that had issues and would dry out overnight with in ink them was to use a pipette and inject denatured alcohol into the center pad (remove the chisel nib and the pipette first right down in, push it til it hits the pad) and load it up with denatured alcohol.) That would dissolve the dried ink and it would work as good as new. I even used that on Staz-on ink pads if they got sticky with ink but not enough solvent. I would alternate reinking with the proper reinker and refreshing with DA and the pad performed much better. When I only used reinker the pad got so sticky. I only hasten to recommend this to copic users because of the airbrush system and I don't know if the DA would be harmful if spray applied and the potential of messing up the color BUT if the inner pad is hard and not holding ink it's worth a shot I think. I have about 100 copics and they are from 2009 I think, they work great but I am not buying more because of the new refill size and the issue with the cracks in the cap. I don't think that making the inner pad accessible would introduce more air because the chisel nib is not airtight so air can get in there. I do like to use my chisel nibs so it definitely does (air gets in that end) with me, maybe not as much if you only use the brush nib. Anyway, I like the weighing idea, I think I will start weighing other brands to see what to shoot for when reinking. Thanks for the idea!
OMG, oops. I think I somehow deleted your reply. It want into the review pile for some reason and now it's gone. So sorry because you typed a lot of good stuff!!! Anyway, you mentioned rescuing a crunchy core with Denatured Alcohol which is definitely the wrong solvent but I totally understand the concept and it was going to die anyway, so why not? I feel a special loyalty to Copic because they changed illustration forever by offering an alternative to the markers we had before-- markers which caused brain lesions and liver cancer. Graphic art studios were Haz-Mat cess pools for decades and Copic literally helped to clear the air. So I'm grateful even while disappointed with the current crack issue which they seem unable or unwilling to fix. So frustrating watching a great product punch itself in the face.
So glad you found it helpful and thanks for letting me know! I know people say commenting on a video makes it more likely that RUclips will suggest the video to others but what they don’t mention is how important it is to hear the support and feedback. I appreciate it!!!
Glad it was helpful! And thanks for commenting too. It helps me plan what to cover in future videos. Which reminds me, I need to set up a suggestion box somewhere... :)
Thank you Amy. I just refilled all of my low markers using this method with a few differences. I had been told about removing both caps, while refilling. When I was refilling, two of my markers started pouring out of the brush nib, and when I weighed them (with caps & nib) they were way under 14 grams. What could be wrong with those markers? I like the way you put the cap and nib on the scale and leave it there. I waste so much time putting it back together to weigh it, then removing them, back on again etc. until I get the proper weight. I look forward to your other videos since I learn something every time! Thanks for that!
Sorry, Anne. For some reason your comment was held for review and I didn't notice. No idea what YT decided was offensive in your comment. I'm sure you've seen the whole video on damaged cores at this point but my guess is there are cured patches which won't hold ink.
Hi Amy, I am so happy about this video. I have never had any idea how to fill my Copics, so I haven't filled them yet. I have only used them for basing a coloring page and then use a colored pencil for detail and shading. But, now I want to learn how to color with my Copics. I sent you an email about why I've been absent lately, but I don't think you received it. Thank you so much for this information on how to precisely clean, weigh and refill our Copics.
I'll ask Katy, she may have received the email to her address rather than mine. Glad to have you back and coloring, now go refill your thirsty markers!!!
@@AmyShulke Hi Amy, I actually emailed you from one of the emails I get from your newsletter. I assumed it was your email, but I shouldn't have assumed. Before I can refill any of my markers, I need to order some refills first lol. Regarding the email, maybe I will send you the content to your instagram. Thank you so much Amy.
@@Keniv. I am never on Instagram. I simplified my social media and Insta was the first to go. Newsletter replies go to Katy and her filter allows me to be productive.
Hey Amy, thank you for making such a detailed series on copics maintenance, I feel like I stumbled across a pot of gold! I also have a question about copic usage, I bought the entire set of copics off of ebay last December, they were used but came in great condition from Japan. I've used them sparingly since then since I don't have all the refills yet, but I'm planning on purchasing all of them in August/September. I've noticed recently that some of the lighter copics and copics in the violet/red-violet family drying in spots on the nib tips, I'm worried my copics may be drying up due to how minimally I've been using them, is there any solution I can use to have them chug along till I get all my refills?(I'm storing them horizontally in rows on my desk, to give you a better idea.)
Hi Marilla, I would get a jeweler's scale right away and get a weight for anything drying. You may need to get those refills sooner than you expected. I'd also clean the inside of the caps and the collars of the markers where the caps connect to the collar. They won't dry out from lack of use as long as the caps are properly sealed and unfortunately, dried marker ink tends to collect inside the cap exactly at the seal site. If you absolutely can not get the refills for the driest markers... if I was in that situation, I think I'd get a bottle of colorless blender and give each nib with dry spots 2-3 drops of colorless blender solution. That will at least moisten the nib and prevent further hardening. This isn't advice I'd normally give as the addition of #0 solution without color will technically lighten color of the marker BUT the lightening should be minor if you stick with just a few drops. And really, if I have to choose between letting a marker die or skewing the color, I'm going to choose the skew every time.
@AmyShulke Hello again Amy, thank you for replying to me so quickly! I'll be sure to clean my markers later on tonight, and I ordered a jewlery scale, it should arrive tomorrow! I also have a question about micro-cracks that can happen in copic caps, I've looked online for more info about them and their appearance, so I can see if that might be the reason my markers may be drying out. I can't seem to find anything of use though, have you experienced them before/know what they look like, and what steps need to be taken if they're discovered?
First, all cracks are on Sketch markers. Cap cracks happen inside the marker cap where the interior narrows down from a large oval to a small circle. Barrel cracks happen on the brush end, just below the gray indicator stripe. They happen on the thin side of the barrel, not the broad side. Cracks don't go too far down past the last number of the bar code (not through the bar code, just using the position of the bar code as a reference point) I've read couple posts on Facebook where someone removed the color indicator from the cap, then crazy glued it back down to seal the cap. It doesn't fix the crack but forms a better seal in an area that's normally not sealed. It also doesn't improve the broken seal, so I think the glue is a temporary fix and is only slowing down the rate of evaporation, not stopping it entirely. I have older markers so I have no personal experience with the issue. I've seen them in person on other people's markers. I've been told that customer service is aware of the problem and I've heard from more than one person that they've been sent replacements. I also know some stores and retailers will accept cracked markers if you've kept the receipt and replace them.
LOL. Maybe a quarter of my collection is 20+ years but I was working with a theme in the video there. I had Classics before that and I've always regretted selling that set... but money was tight and I really wanted the brush nibs. Probably collector's items now.
The next video in this series will be on troubleshooting and I’ll mention this more but I have concerns about any Sketch below 12g and if it’s down in the low 11g range then I think it’s toast. I only own one Ciao so I don’t have similar numbers for them.
Unfortunately, no. Opening the barrel is difficult and damages the seal-- so with any kind of core damage, you'll need a whole new marker. I'll be talking more about the cores in the 3rd and 4th videos in this Refill series on March 15 & 22.
How about almost every time I grab one of my Copics I open the cap just for the marker to be completely dried out! I have over 20 refill inks now that have no Marker cause they dried out. Cheaper markers NEVER dry out. Funny isn't it. It seriously insane
Sounds like you need to contact the retailer or contact Too directly. They're aware of the cracking issue and may offer to help you more than I can. Other marker brands have their own issues. Many have basic functionality issues which never occur with Copic. BTW: 4 markers in the Ohuhu 320 set I ordered last spring arrived dead dry. Another 17 were significantly underweight compared to the average weight of the others in the set. Anecdotal, but it doesn't make them look like angels. I'm not a Copic apologist but I also will not pretend that cheap markers are anything but cheap markers.
@@AmyShulke True that. It just sucks when you look over at your section of art stuff and see over 20 refills for markers that had to be thrown away. Copic's are not cheap
I noticed that early in the video you said that the marker should weigh 14.6g and then towards the end you said 14g. Is the 0.6g difference important? Is it okay as long as they're between 14g and 14.6g?
14.6g is the factory weight. I recommend only filling to 14g which reduces the odds of having a volcano experience. Read more about Copic volcanoes here: www.vanillaarts.com/blog/copic-leak
I'm questioning the accuracy of your scale... or are you weighing a Copic Classic with a square barrel? the 14ish gram weight is for Sketch markers only. If it is a Sketch, I'd try changing the nib but something's not right here. It can't be dried out and yet weigh more than it did at the factory.
@@AmyShulkeChanging the nib worked. I use my pens on glitter (for peel off stickers). Are there any issues with using my pens on top of glittered paper that I should be aware of? Should I be cleaning the afterwards with the 0 colorless blender solution?
Bingo, there's the problem. The Copic solvent is partially dissolving the glitter adhesive or top-sealant and residue is collecting on your nibs. The solution is to stop coloring on incompatible surfaces. Cleaning with #0 has two issues: First, cleaning likely can't remove all the adhesive from the nib as the nibs are made of felt and full of teeny tiny crevices and pores. The friction of coloring likely pushes that adhesive in deeply and there's no way a surface wipe of #0 cleans every crevice. So over time, the adhesive will still build. Next, repeated nib soaking in colorless blender can change the color of the ink inside over time. All Copics are a specific ratio of solvent to colorant. Add enough solvent to B34 and you'll get B32. Or conversely, leave the cap off B32 long enough and you'll bet a B34 marker. And nibs are a two way system, they release ink from the core but you can also refill by soaking the nib because nibs send any overage back to the core. Cleaning with solvent sends some solvent back to the core. It'll take a while but I have met students with lighter than average markers because they were told to clean their brush nibs regularly.
Thank you so much Amy! I pulled out my Copic markers, which have been sitting unused (tightly capped) for almost 15 years. They weigh around 14 at the moment. The nibs are still in great shape. I’ll order some ink refills and hopefully they will be fine. Only one was dry, and I noticed the cap wasn’t completely on.
Apparently my eyes aren’t want they should be! 😂. I have the Copic Sketch, not classic. And to be honest, I was dreading testing them after they’d sat for 15+ years. Only 2 were dried out (user error as caps were not on tight), and they all weigh between 13-14g now. I’d learned about filling them by weight in a Copic class I took back then, and I think it saved my bacon! 😂. The markers were full when they were stored (horizontally, in a 70 -75 F degree room) all these years. I’ve been sick a long time and am getting ready to have shoulder surgery in August. Hopefully after recovery, I want to pick them back up again. I look forward to taking your Blending class at that time.
@@BW2Color.Stephanie You’ve got the good Sketch then, made before the quality breakdown. Hope your shoulder issues clear and you can get back to coloring soon!
I think it depends upon where you live and if you're only shopping at chain craft stores. Lots of online resources for refills, so check with reputable retailers like Dick Blick, Jerry's Artarama, Scrapbook Pal, Merri Artist, MarkerPop, Carpe Diem Markers... there are lots of online retailers to choose from. You can't color long without the refill, it's just part of the art form.
Hello Amy! Thank you so much for this informative video. So just to clarify..99,9% Isopropyl Alcihol should be even better, right? About to order to treat my Copics the best I can 😢
Correct! I've not seen it in that high of a concentration in a regular store... but I'd guess it's available through lab suppliers. It's still the wrong kind of alcohol but at least 99% Isopropyl doesn't have as much water.
@@AmyShulkeJust received my scale yesterday and totally eager about checking my Copics. One question came up tho, what's the limit for Ciaos and Classics - like when do I know if they're literally "dead"? I owe a couple of Ciaos whose weight is something around 9.62g. Sorry for bothering 😣
@@azeyma7829 I'm less familiar with Ciao as I only own one. Give me a chance to run it dry and I'll let you know where I feel the blending ability taper off and when it first runs dry. Then I can give you an idea about how low is too low for a Ciao. I sold off all my Classics years ago, so I can't test one for you.
@@reginaldforthright805 Hang on to them! I know the Ramses I series is now considered a collector’s item, so in a few years, you could be getting too dollar for RII colors.
Part 1 of this refill series explains why you need to refill long before your marker looks dry or squeaks. Watch here: ruclips.net/video/d2APWOYvfOY/видео.html
I can beat that! LOL I studied architecture and my copic markers are appr. 25 years old! Only recently did I find out that I can do refill. I am thrilled! Your tutorial is brilliant. Thank you so much for that.
That is awesome! My oldest Copics are about 20yrs but I started with Design and then had Classic Copics before selling them off to buy Sketch. I bow to your vintage advantage... Hang on to those markers, if you can rehab them, they're better than the current models!
Haha, 25 years is pretty cool! My set is also about 17 years old, although I haven't used it since the early 2010s, apart from testing them some time ago. I think about 5 out of 32 were kinda dry, hopefully I can revive most of them. 😅
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I used a less expensive alcohol marker brand for several years and decided to go Copic exclusive recently. I make it a point to buy the refill when I purchase a marker. What I could not figure out was how to reliably and economically refill a Copic. Working with weight is genius. No more guessing how dry my pen is or how much ink I need to get back to juicy blending nirvana. Ink splooges and crusty, dried out nibs are a thing of the past. Now I know why these issues happen and how to prevent them. Copics are expensive. With this knowledge, I can now protect my investment and get all the creative joy Copic coloring brings!
Christee! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. Making videos is weird because it's literally talking to an empty room in the hopes that maybe someone will listen later. Hearing that the info helped make your life and your art easier makes the weirdness worth it. Thank you!
i was refilling my ciao and topping some up. i guess i overfilled some based on what weight you recommended.
guess something to keep in mind for next time.
Thank you Amy. This is valuable information that I know will help me when refilling my markers.
Great video! Always great to get a refresher on filling Copics. I will be totally honest here; when I got my first copics I had no idea about how to really use them. I just figured you brought a new one when one went dry. It’s a good thing that I also realized they were not the average marker and didn’t use them. I waited on using them until I found someone (you) that connected with me about best ways to use them and care for them.
I was on that wagon that brought what everyone else was using without any real experience to back it up. Now I’m learning and so glad I waited before using them recklessly.
I always chuckle when someone says they thought Copics were disposable because in local classes when the students get to chatting, the vast majority of them use the REFILLABLE! thing as a sales pitch to their spouse. "I'm saving sooooooo much money by spending a little more to get the refillable kind!" Heck, I think I said the same thing to my husband when I switched brands. But yes, one student had thrown away several markers before she learned about refills and at a certification class, one store owner was like "Oh, you mean I have to sell all the refills too?" and she didn't sound happy about it.
I knew I couldn’t be the only ignorant person out there…🙄😂
I've never seen this refilling technique before but I'm going to try it! I love the idea of weighing the markers to see if they need refilling. Thanks! (Although I'm a bit afraid to weigh them I find some under 11 grams, fingers crossed they are all good!)
Crossing my fingers for you. Can’t recall if I’ve seen a refill video on your channel before. How many drops were you doing?
@@AmyShulke It was very unscientific, I would pull out the chisel nib and squeeze the re-inker LOL! I'm sure my methods would horrify you LOL!
I hate the new refills, it seem to take longer and there is so much less ink. I hope none of my markers have gotten overdry because I probably have done every wrong thing in the past, including mixing custom refills if I needed to reink in the middle of a project, but they still work great! Something I did with my Spectrum noir markers that had issues and would dry out overnight with in ink them was to use a pipette and inject denatured alcohol into the center pad (remove the chisel nib and the pipette first right down in, push it til it hits the pad) and load it up with denatured alcohol.) That would dissolve the dried ink and it would work as good as new. I even used that on Staz-on ink pads if they got sticky with ink but not enough solvent. I would alternate reinking with the proper reinker and refreshing with DA and the pad performed much better. When I only used reinker the pad got so sticky. I only hasten to recommend this to copic users because of the airbrush system and I don't know if the DA would be harmful if spray applied and the potential of messing up the color BUT if the inner pad is hard and not holding ink it's worth a shot I think.
I have about 100 copics and they are from 2009 I think, they work great but I am not buying more because of the new refill size and the issue with the cracks in the cap. I don't think that making the inner pad accessible would introduce more air because the chisel nib is not airtight so air can get in there. I do like to use my chisel nibs so it definitely does (air gets in that end) with me, maybe not as much if you only use the brush nib.
Anyway, I like the weighing idea, I think I will start weighing other brands to see what to shoot for when reinking. Thanks for the idea!
OMG, oops. I think I somehow deleted your reply. It want into the review pile for some reason and now it's gone. So sorry because you typed a lot of good stuff!!!
Anyway, you mentioned rescuing a crunchy core with Denatured Alcohol which is definitely the wrong solvent but I totally understand the concept and it was going to die anyway, so why not?
I feel a special loyalty to Copic because they changed illustration forever by offering an alternative to the markers we had before-- markers which caused brain lesions and liver cancer. Graphic art studios were Haz-Mat cess pools for decades and Copic literally helped to clear the air. So I'm grateful even while disappointed with the current crack issue which they seem unable or unwilling to fix.
So frustrating watching a great product punch itself in the face.
This is the AWESOME!! 👏
Thank you! Thank you!
So glad you found it helpful and thanks for letting me know! I know people say commenting on a video makes it more likely that RUclips will suggest the video to others but what they don’t mention is how important it is to hear the support and feedback. I appreciate it!!!
Excellent info, once again! Thanks Amy.
You're welcome and thank you. Wishing you lifetime markers that actually last a lifetime :)
Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Glad it was helpful! And thanks for commenting too. It helps me plan what to cover in future videos. Which reminds me, I need to set up a suggestion box somewhere... :)
Amazing tutorial! Thank you!❤
Glad it was helpful! Here's to a long life for each of your Copics!
Thank u Amy🎉🎉🎉🎉
You are so welcome! I'm glad the info was helpful!
Thank you Amy. I just refilled all of my low markers using this method with a few differences. I had been told about removing both caps, while refilling. When I was refilling, two of my markers started pouring out of the brush nib, and when I weighed them (with caps & nib) they were way under 14 grams. What could be wrong with those markers? I like the way you put the cap and nib on the scale and leave it there. I waste so much time putting it back together to weigh it, then removing them, back on again etc. until I get the proper weight. I look forward to your other videos since I learn something every time! Thanks for that!
Sorry, Anne. For some reason your comment was held for review and I didn't notice. No idea what YT decided was offensive in your comment. I'm sure you've seen the whole video on damaged cores at this point but my guess is there are cured patches which won't hold ink.
Hi Amy, I am so happy about this video. I have never had any idea how to fill my Copics, so I haven't filled them yet. I have only used them for basing a coloring page and then use a colored pencil for detail and shading. But, now I want to learn how to color with my Copics.
I sent you an email about why I've been absent lately, but I don't think you received it. Thank you so much for this information on how to precisely clean, weigh and refill our Copics.
I'll ask Katy, she may have received the email to her address rather than mine. Glad to have you back and coloring, now go refill your thirsty markers!!!
@@AmyShulke Hi Amy, I actually emailed you from one of the emails I get from your newsletter. I assumed it was your email, but I shouldn't have assumed. Before I can refill any of my markers, I need to order some refills first lol. Regarding the email, maybe I will send you the content to your instagram. Thank you so much Amy.
@@Keniv. I am never on Instagram. I simplified my social media and Insta was the first to go. Newsletter replies go to Katy and her filter allows me to be productive.
@@AmyShulkeI understand Amy, I'm not on there much either, only if a friend messages me. Thank you for letting me know.
Hey Amy, thank you for making such a detailed series on copics maintenance, I feel like I stumbled across a pot of gold! I also have a question about copic usage, I bought the entire set of copics off of ebay last December, they were used but came in great condition from Japan. I've used them sparingly since then since I don't have all the refills yet, but I'm planning on purchasing all of them in August/September. I've noticed recently that some of the lighter copics and copics in the violet/red-violet family drying in spots on the nib tips, I'm worried my copics may be drying up due to how minimally I've been using them, is there any solution I can use to have them chug along till I get all my refills?(I'm storing them horizontally in rows on my desk, to give you a better idea.)
Hi Marilla, I would get a jeweler's scale right away and get a weight for anything drying. You may need to get those refills sooner than you expected.
I'd also clean the inside of the caps and the collars of the markers where the caps connect to the collar. They won't dry out from lack of use as long as the caps are properly sealed and unfortunately, dried marker ink tends to collect inside the cap exactly at the seal site.
If you absolutely can not get the refills for the driest markers... if I was in that situation, I think I'd get a bottle of colorless blender and give each nib with dry spots 2-3 drops of colorless blender solution. That will at least moisten the nib and prevent further hardening. This isn't advice I'd normally give as the addition of #0 solution without color will technically lighten color of the marker BUT the lightening should be minor if you stick with just a few drops. And really, if I have to choose between letting a marker die or skewing the color, I'm going to choose the skew every time.
@AmyShulke Hello again Amy, thank you for replying to me so quickly! I'll be sure to clean my markers later on tonight, and I ordered a jewlery scale, it should arrive tomorrow! I also have a question about micro-cracks that can happen in copic caps, I've looked online for more info about them and their appearance, so I can see if that might be the reason my markers may be drying out. I can't seem to find anything of use though, have you experienced them before/know what they look like, and what steps need to be taken if they're discovered?
First, all cracks are on Sketch markers. Cap cracks happen inside the marker cap where the interior narrows down from a large oval to a small circle. Barrel cracks happen on the brush end, just below the gray indicator stripe. They happen on the thin side of the barrel, not the broad side. Cracks don't go too far down past the last number of the bar code (not through the bar code, just using the position of the bar code as a reference point)
I've read couple posts on Facebook where someone removed the color indicator from the cap, then crazy glued it back down to seal the cap. It doesn't fix the crack but forms a better seal in an area that's normally not sealed. It also doesn't improve the broken seal, so I think the glue is a temporary fix and is only slowing down the rate of evaporation, not stopping it entirely.
I have older markers so I have no personal experience with the issue. I've seen them in person on other people's markers.
I've been told that customer service is aware of the problem and I've heard from more than one person that they've been sent replacements. I also know some stores and retailers will accept cracked markers if you've kept the receipt and replace them.
This was great Amy! I never thought to put the caps/nibs on the scale while refilling! Duh 🤣 BTW, my markers are 18+ years old!!!😊
LOL. Maybe a quarter of my collection is 20+ years but I was working with a theme in the video there. I had Classics before that and I've always regretted selling that set... but money was tight and I really wanted the brush nibs. Probably collector's items now.
Thank you so much ❤so the marker is dead when? I have ciao and sketch , I need to go check them all now 😅
The next video in this series will be on troubleshooting and I’ll mention this more but I have concerns about any Sketch below 12g and if it’s down in the low 11g range then I think it’s toast. I only own one Ciao so I don’t have similar numbers for them.
Can you purchase new cores? I love this video thanks!❤
Unfortunately, no. Opening the barrel is difficult and damages the seal-- so with any kind of core damage, you'll need a whole new marker. I'll be talking more about the cores in the 3rd and 4th videos in this Refill series on March 15 & 22.
How about almost every time I grab one of my Copics I open the cap just for the marker to be completely dried out! I have over 20 refill inks now that have no Marker cause they dried out. Cheaper markers NEVER dry out. Funny isn't it. It seriously insane
Sounds like you need to contact the retailer or contact Too directly. They're aware of the cracking issue and may offer to help you more than I can.
Other marker brands have their own issues. Many have basic functionality issues which never occur with Copic.
BTW: 4 markers in the Ohuhu 320 set I ordered last spring arrived dead dry. Another 17 were significantly underweight compared to the average weight of the others in the set. Anecdotal, but it doesn't make them look like angels.
I'm not a Copic apologist but I also will not pretend that cheap markers are anything but cheap markers.
@@AmyShulke True that. It just sucks when you look over at your section of art stuff and see over 20 refills for markers that had to be thrown away. Copic's are not cheap
I noticed that early in the video you said that the marker should weigh 14.6g and then towards the end you said 14g. Is the 0.6g difference important? Is it okay as long as they're between 14g and 14.6g?
14.6g is the factory weight. I recommend only filling to 14g which reduces the odds of having a volcano experience. Read more about Copic volcanoes here: www.vanillaarts.com/blog/copic-leak
Please help! I have a marker that weighs 14.4 but the nib is dry?? Any ideas...replace nib or marker?
I'm questioning the accuracy of your scale... or are you weighing a Copic Classic with a square barrel? the 14ish gram weight is for Sketch markers only. If it is a Sketch, I'd try changing the nib but something's not right here. It can't be dried out and yet weigh more than it did at the factory.
@@AmyShulkeIt’s a sketch marker. All the rest were low but this one had a regular weight I’ll try changing the nib. Thanks!
@@golfmom67 tell me what happens. I’m very curious!
@@AmyShulkeChanging the nib worked. I use my pens on glitter (for peel off stickers). Are there any issues with using my pens on top of glittered paper that I should be aware of? Should I be cleaning the afterwards with the 0 colorless blender solution?
Bingo, there's the problem. The Copic solvent is partially dissolving the glitter adhesive or top-sealant and residue is collecting on your nibs. The solution is to stop coloring on incompatible surfaces.
Cleaning with #0 has two issues:
First, cleaning likely can't remove all the adhesive from the nib as the nibs are made of felt and full of teeny tiny crevices and pores. The friction of coloring likely pushes that adhesive in deeply and there's no way a surface wipe of #0 cleans every crevice. So over time, the adhesive will still build.
Next, repeated nib soaking in colorless blender can change the color of the ink inside over time. All Copics are a specific ratio of solvent to colorant. Add enough solvent to B34 and you'll get B32. Or conversely, leave the cap off B32 long enough and you'll bet a B34 marker. And nibs are a two way system, they release ink from the core but you can also refill by soaking the nib because nibs send any overage back to the core. Cleaning with solvent sends some solvent back to the core. It'll take a while but I have met students with lighter than average markers because they were told to clean their brush nibs regularly.
What should the weight of a Classic Copic be?
Factory weight of a Classic with both caps on is around 20.3g
Thank you so much Amy! I pulled out my Copic markers, which have been sitting unused (tightly capped) for almost 15 years. They weigh around 14 at the moment. The nibs are still in great shape. I’ll order some ink refills and hopefully they will be fine. Only one was dry, and I noticed the cap wasn’t completely on.
@@BW2Color.Stephanie GREAT to hear! Classics are built like tanks. If they only had the super brush nib, they’d be the perfect marker ever made.
Apparently my eyes aren’t want they should be! 😂. I have the Copic Sketch, not classic. And to be honest, I was dreading testing them after they’d sat for 15+ years. Only 2 were dried out (user error as caps were not on tight), and they all weigh between 13-14g now. I’d learned about filling them by weight in a Copic class I took back then, and I think it saved my bacon! 😂. The markers were full when they were stored (horizontally, in a 70 -75 F degree room) all these years. I’ve been sick a long time and am getting ready to have shoulder surgery in August. Hopefully after recovery, I want to pick them back up again. I look forward to taking your Blending class at that time.
@@BW2Color.Stephanie You’ve got the good Sketch then, made before the quality breakdown. Hope your shoulder issues clear and you can get back to coloring soon!
It’s difficult to find the refill.
I think it depends upon where you live and if you're only shopping at chain craft stores. Lots of online resources for refills, so check with reputable retailers like Dick Blick, Jerry's Artarama, Scrapbook Pal, Merri Artist, MarkerPop, Carpe Diem Markers... there are lots of online retailers to choose from. You can't color long without the refill, it's just part of the art form.
Hello Amy! Thank you so much for this informative video. So just to clarify..99,9% Isopropyl Alcihol should be even better, right? About to order to treat my Copics the best I can 😢
Correct! I've not seen it in that high of a concentration in a regular store... but I'd guess it's available through lab suppliers. It's still the wrong kind of alcohol but at least 99% Isopropyl doesn't have as much water.
@@AmyShulke Perfect :)
Yeah, I found it on Amazon and just ordered it. Your videos are very helpful. I love them! Keep going ♡
@@azeyma7829 Good to know, I'll look and take note of the brand in case anyone ever asks. Thanks!!!
@@AmyShulkeJust received my scale yesterday and totally eager about checking my Copics. One question came up tho, what's the limit for Ciaos and Classics - like when do I know if they're literally "dead"? I owe a couple of Ciaos whose weight is something around 9.62g. Sorry for bothering 😣
@@azeyma7829 I'm less familiar with Ciao as I only own one. Give me a chance to run it dry and I'll let you know where I feel the blending ability taper off and when it first runs dry. Then I can give you an idea about how low is too low for a Ciao. I sold off all my Classics years ago, so I can't test one for you.
That’s nothing my markers were used by Ramses II of Egypt which makes them over 3000 years old.
@@reginaldforthright805 Hang on to them! I know the Ramses I series is now considered a collector’s item, so in a few years, you could be getting too dollar for RII colors.