A couple of days ago I posted a first impressions type review of RevMark markers. Readers asked whether RevMark’s 72 hour dryout resistance claims were accurate. That’s easy enough to test, and so I did.
I started off on 8/2/2017, taking a new RevMark marker and writing the day and time on some inkjet paper. I left the marker uncapped at the rear of the garage, near the door.
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I had planned to check in on it everyday, but I forgot about it. I checked in on it on the 4th, and it wrote the same as on Day 1.
I remembered about it again last night, the 6th, so I went and gave it a quick test. Some scribbles and a little writing later, and there’s no sign of any drying out.
Meanwhile, I have a double-tipped Sharpie marker that I’ve been using for a while. Someone, closed the fine-tipped side but not all the way. I needed to use it earlier today and the fine-tipped side was dry and no longer worked.
I’ve had Sharpie markers last for very long times. But a couple of days mostly capped but not sealed was enough to render the fine-tipped end of a still mostly-filled marker unusable.
These RevMark markers are looking even better.
I brought the Sharpie failure on myself, by questioning why someone might need an uncapped marker to not dry out after several days of exposure. Well, it’s because a marker might not be perfectly capped sometimes, after which it doesn’t take much to dry out.
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*Thumbs Up* to RevMark, not just for their ink formula that doesn’t dry out easily, but for their modest claims.
I’m calling it quits at nearly 98 hours of the test pen being uncapped. That’s longer than 72 hours, and I bet it could go for quite a bit further.
Keep in mind that environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, air circulation, and other factors could affect the dryout time.
RevMark QuickDraw Markers Review
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Drew
Milwaukee Inkzall side by side comparison testing?
Stuart
I can try, but there are too many variables to make it a fair comparison, at least without a lot more time than I can currently spare.
I’ll add this to my to-do list and will start brainstorming ideas and testing procedures. I can think of some ways to make things fair and also accelerate wear or usage, but it wouldn’t be quick or easy.
A comparative drying-out test would have to be done with a fresh RevMark marker too, so as to avoid testing an Inkzall in different environmental conditions. But now that you have me thinking about it, why stop there?
fred
Interesting – beyond the characteristics of the solvent-vehicle used to carried the ink – tip material and geometry may have an impact on dry-out time as well. It is a bit like trying to estimate how fast paint will dry or a chemical spill will evaporate. But with markers – at least the manufacturers have eliminated some of the variables – since their marker is what it is and what you need to control are environmental variables and marker orientation (tip down, tip up, tip sideways).
BTW, I’ve found that a marker ( with “ink” still in the tube but dried-out tip) can sometimes be revived by dipping the tip into a solvent like xylene. I’ve used this with more pricey jumbo markers – but for cheaper utility markers I just toss them.
BikerDad
I’ve never had a Sharpie die on me like that, probably because I’m picky about capping. Nonetheless, I’m thinking that a quick dip into some sufficiently stout alcohol (any variety will do, although it might be a waste of good whiskey) should reinvigorate a tip. Sharpie cleans off lickety split with both rubbing alcohol and denatured alcohol.
Yadda
Wow! That really exceeds expectations.
Bob
Thanks for the review.
I purchased a dozen last week. Order was shipped promptly and received today.
Received and e-mail from them when shipped.
I would give an A plus on customer service.
Redcastle
Your post of March 2015 set me on a strange journey in to the world of lead holders initially 2mm then moving in to the 5mm koh-i-noor with detours in to rollerballsee particularly Lamy, superhero pens from Cross for my sons culminating in the purchase of a six piece 2mm barrel matching the lead colour set fr
Redcastle
From koh-i-noor. Like many people I had with so much technology available become quite careless about the writing implements I used. I am know back to being fussy about pens pencils and markers. Thank you.