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Various Ink Refill Questions

Q: How do I refill?

There are a couple ways to refill. Always work over a protected surface or paper plate. The most direct method is to carefully “drip & dab” ink straight from the dropper onto the dry nibs. 30-40 drops will recharge your marker for a while. On wide markers there is a built-in notch at the base of the nib that the ink dropper fits into for refilling.

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For Sketch & Ciao markers you can also remove the tip from your marker and using the booster needle, apply ink directly into the barrel of the pen. Do not remove the brush nib for refilling. For Copic markers you can insert the needle between the chisel nib and the body of the marker.

For Sketch & Ciao markers you can also remove the tip from your marker and using the booster needle, apply ink directly into the barrel of the pen. Do not remove the brush nib for refilling. For Copic markers you can insert the needle between the chisel nib and the body of the marker.

For complete directions, please download this sheet on refilling.

Q: How many refills per bottle?

It depends on your marker type. A regular Various Ink bottle holds 25cc’s of ink. Wide markers require 4-5 cc’s , or 5-7 refills per bottle.
Copic Original markers use 3-4 cc’s, or 8-10 refills per bottle. Sketch markers use 2-3 cc’s, or 10-12 refills per bottle. Ciao markers use 2 cc’s, or 12 refills per bottle.

Be careful not to overfill your marker. It is best to add only 2 cc’s at any time, then you won’t run the risk of wasting ink.

Q: Can you get ink in larger bottles?

The only ink that comes in a larger bottle is the Colorless Blender. It has 200cc’s of ink. If it is hard for you to accurately refill from this bottle, we suggest buying an empty ink bottle and filling it from the larger bottle.

Q: What if I overfilled my marker? How can I tell?

After you fill your marker, let it sit for a few minutes. This helps the ink to evenly distribute throughout the body of the marker. An overfilled marker will blob on your paper or drip onto your work. You can either touch a tissue to the marker tip and suck up excess ink, or you can pull the caps off both ends and draw with it for a while. Either way, you need to remove some of the excess ink.

Q: How do I clean my booster needle?

Rinse your booster needle after each color with a little bit of rubbing alcohol. You can put some alcohol in a small cup and swish the needle in the alcohol until the needle base looks clean. Always replace the protective sleeve when you are done using the booster.

Troubleshooting the ABS System

Q: Inconsistent spray or Splattering

Uneven spray could be caused by a few things: First, check that all your fittings are nice and tight and that your Air Adaptor isn’t punctured. If you are using aircans, check that the can hasn’t tipped over, is empty, or that it isn’t too cold. If you are using a compressor, make sure there is no moisture trapped in the line and that you are working with an air pressure between 40-60 psi.

Next, make sure that your marker is inserted correctly (if the broad nib is in upside down then your spray could look odd. If the marker is old, it may need refilling before you can airbrush evenly. Sketch markers will give a splattery look sometimes if you use the brush end as well.

Q: Aircan gets cold

This is normal. If you are using the can for a long time and the spray gets inconsistent but it feels like there’s still plenty of air in the can, then let your can warm up a bit before continuing. This is usually only a problem on the Aircan 80′s.

Q: What if there is no ink, but air is working?

If the air is flowing correctly from the nozzle of the air grip then check these things:

Make sure the marker is inserted correctly, with the chisel point up in the grip.

If you are using Sketch markers check that the marker tip is straight up and down. Sometimes the med. Broad nib is not inserted all the way. Gently push on the marker tip to make sure the base of the tip is flush with the plastic edge of the marker body.

If your marker is old or has been used a lot, it might need more ink. Also, the tip might be worn or frayed. You should replace the tip to get the best spray.

The fine point on a Copic Marker will not work, but either end works on a Sketch.

If you are using a compressor, make sure the pressure is correct. Too little will not spray and too much will blow out the system.

Q: Leaking air?

Tighten all fixtures. Replace any worn hoses or fittings. If you are using your own compressor, make sure the fitting is the correct size.

Note: Keep the airbrush system away from open flame.

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