Copic markers are very popular in the art community because of its vibrant and easy to blend colors. @Acidyo got these pens a year ago and I also use them from time to time. They are really great. Blendable markers that don't dry out as fast and a huge selection of colors.
However, when I was doing these swatch along with my other markers and pens, I noticed a problem... one of them was dry.
That's too sad. Copics, when they are stored properly, shouldn't dry out for no reason. We tried all the markers the day we received it and they were all fine so the cap probably just wasn't closed properly. I was like okay... one down.
As I was swatching them, I got another dry one.
...and another one...
So I was like.. WTF is going on????
Since I saw quite a number of dry markers, I tried saving them. One solution was to dip the nib in alcohol and let it sit for a while. Since the pens are alcohol based, they should get reactivated with alcohol.
It worked for a while... until I tried it again the next day and it was still dry af!!!
I searched the internet and there it is... the BIG problem...
There is a tiny crack inside the caps of the dried markers. Apparently this happens because of the shape of the caps. It is oval-shaped and it is very easy to crack it since if you put the cap back on and it's not perfectly aligned, boom it just cracks and you don't even know it. Sometimes when you also put too much pressure taking out the caps, that can also crack. BRUUUUHHHHH.
Okay, so what's the solution?
NOTHING!!!
You might as well just throw them because not even alcohol can save it since it will just dry again.
It is surprisingly a common problem for Copic sketch markers and I don't think they have addressed this problem yet.
These are all the markers that are dry that are unfortunately unsavable.
So right now, we have to be VERY careful with removing and putting the cap back on, basically everytime we use it. That is just too much...
Out of 72+ colors, these are the ones that are ded. :<
For the amount of price you're paying for this brand, it's so disappointing for how sensitive the caps are. Like, I've never been disappointed in an art supply ever before until this. I believe the other Copic types don't crack as much because of their shape. If you're buying one of these, you have to keep this in mind.
Of course, it is a user error.. but, the design is definitely flawed AF. I don't want to draw something and worry about breaking it at the same time. There's also just no way an expensive marker expects their users to be very careful with removing and putting the cap back on because literally none of any products that I have used have caused that problem... especially for a product with a cap that is expected to be removed at least 30 fucking times in a session.
There are plenty of other good markers there that are cheaper and doesn't have this problem so might as well just skip this one or until they have already made a better Copic marker.
