Dried out markers aren’t dead yet!

There are probably others ideas you’ve tried and I’m sure one can find ideas from a Google search but I really like the effect of using the markers like a paint.  It’s a bit messy and takes some time to set up but I think it’s worth the time and effort.  My kids love it too and that’s important to me as well.

	When I find a marker that's dried out, I put it a tub that's reserved just for dried out markers. Then several times a year I take the markers apart and create some "Marker Paint" for the kids to use. The colors are nice and bright, apply easily and it's a good way to reuse what otherwise might be thrown out.
	Here are the basic tools I use.  The pliers are good for pulling out tips and the cutters grip well when removing the bottom of the marker.

 

First I remove all the tips on the markers of the ones I plan to use.  I do one color at a time.  By removing all the times (say of the blue colors) then I don’t have to keep switching  tools for each individual marker.  Whatever works best for you, do that!

 

Here I am removing the bottom of the marker.  When I use the pliers my hand tires after a while but with a good heavy duty wire cutter the caps remove easily.  BTW, if one wanted to he could simply remove this cap, add a little water and the marker would work again.  You have to add just the right amount of water but it does work.  I’ve not tried it that way much so I don’t know how long they last but I suppose one could just keep adding a little water until they are completely out of ink.

 

Once the bottom cap is removed I used a thin paintbrush end to remove the inner fiber cylinder that contains the ink.

Once it is dislodged from the tip, the fiber cylinder  comes out easily. 

Finally I place several of the fiber cylinder and the tips in a small amount of water and let them soak.  They are ready to use in minutes.  I add the paint lids (I have the spill-proof type) and I cover them at night.  The only downside is that after a while, if the fiber cylinders are left in too long, the paints starts to smell.  So after a few days I remove them.  By that time most of the useful ink has been drained. 

Now it just occurred to me that I don’t have an example picture so I will have to start looking.  Please share your thoughts and ideas on the uses of dried out markers!  Happy Thanksgiving!