Part 1 of this refill series explains why you need to refill long before your marker looks dry or squeaks. Watch here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmOkgYqFjtuZhbs
@christeepascale44837 ай бұрын
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!
@AmyShulke7 ай бұрын
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!
@thetruesandydru8 ай бұрын
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.
@AmyShulke8 ай бұрын
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!
@Antony_Oscar7 ай бұрын
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. 😅
@azraelraza27676 ай бұрын
Thank you so so so much! I've been using Copics for 8 years, and I never knew any of this. One of my most used markers, C7, has been blotching lately and it's been driving me nuts as I use it to make my colours darker. Your videos are incredible by the way, I haven't found anyone who actually feels like they know what they're talking about. I've always felt very disconnected from most videos about traditional art, as I don't feel like the people in the videos have the same experience and just repeat the same stuff.
@ShadowPirate14Ай бұрын
Great video and well put together! Thank you! I felt better watching somone before i tried doing it myself.
@ellenschmidt300511 ай бұрын
Thank you Amy. This is valuable information that I know will help me when refilling my markers.
@chrislawlorcreative2955Ай бұрын
Great video! Love the simple tip of removing the broad tip for refilling vs the brush tip. 🤦♀️ Never will I ever… 😂
@AmyShulkeАй бұрын
hahahaha, you sound like someone who learned the hard way. Don't feel bad, I did too!
@jacqueline-w6i11 ай бұрын
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.
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
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.
@jacqueline-w6i11 ай бұрын
I knew I couldn’t be the only ignorant person out there…🙄😂
@thefrugalcrafter8 ай бұрын
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!)
@AmyShulke8 ай бұрын
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?
@thefrugalcrafter8 ай бұрын
@@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!
@AmyShulke8 ай бұрын
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.
@ShadowstalkerTF18 күн бұрын
I was so impressed by the fact that your Copics are 14 years old and that you’ve carefully cared for them over the years. Then I came to the horrifying realization that the majority of my Copics are also 14 years old, and I’ve never refilled them. They’ve also been sitting unused for the last 6+ years right next to a window. If only I had known this stuff earlier! Thanks to your videos, I’ve bought a scale and weighed every marker. 17 were dried out with obvious cracks in the caps (16 were from the 25th anniversary set, 1 was a normal Sketch). Another marker (normal Sketch) had black crystals on both ends and was unusable, and another 25th anniversary was completely dried out with no obvious cracks. That’s 19 markers right off the bat that I have to replace! The rest of the markers ranged in weight from 11.7-14.2 grams. Here’s my question: should I try to refill markers that are under 13 grams or just buy new ones? (Keeping in mind that they have been sitting at that weight for 6+ years.) What do you think is the lowest amount of ink they can sit at for that many years without causing irreversible damage to the core? I really appreciate any advice.
@AmyShulke14 күн бұрын
I'd try to rescue anything over 12 grams. Do pay attention to the color swatches though... like maybe put a small drop of refill ink on paper and then compare that to your marker colors after refreshing. You've certainly lost solvent which can make the marker look a couple value steps darker than it should. The only difference between R27 and R29 is the ratio of colorant to solvent and since you've lost solvent, you may have an R27 which looks more like an R28.
@ShadowstalkerTF14 күн бұрын
@@AmyShulke Thank you so much for the advice! I’ve just ordered the refills. Hopefully I can save my markers. I will try comparing the ink to the marker after refilling them. I really appreciate your videos. I had no idea that I needed to weigh the markers to refill them properly or that I needed to clean the marker caps. Thanks to you, my markers will soon be feeling much healthier!
@DebbiePereiraArt6 ай бұрын
This was a very good video. Thanks I have ordered the scale.
@angelaangieddavis3565Ай бұрын
Really helpful, thank you 😊
@annedodd191211 ай бұрын
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!
@AmyShulke10 ай бұрын
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.
@Cre8iveCindy10 ай бұрын
This is the AWESOME!! 👏 Thank you! Thank you!
@AmyShulke10 ай бұрын
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 KZbin 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!!!
@positronixartandlife45453 ай бұрын
I stumbled upon to your channel and videos by the algorithm and you've helped me with a LOT of information that I either didn't know, or knew but didn't understand why. Thankfully I also weighed my new markers to get their fresh from the factory weight and refill them up to 14 grams like you, but I definitely need to get on with cleaning them and also following your tips in other videos
@AmyShulke3 ай бұрын
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching but also, thanks for telling me about how you found me. It helps to know the algorithm isn't some evil beast plotting my downfall, LOL.
@artofgunnarfoley3 ай бұрын
Great video! I watched both parts and I learned a lot. I’ve been using copic for years for my urban sketch projects. Never to late to learn new things. Ordering a scale now:) Thank you so much! Have a nice day🙏🙏🙏
@AmyShulke3 ай бұрын
Ugh! Now I'm going to have to go look at your channel and that's going remind me how much I deeply want to get out and sketch in the field with other marker artists. I'm 2.5 hours from the nearest group. Very sad about that. But hey, thanks for watching. Edit: found your site, love the sketches and your magpies too!
@artofgunnarfoley3 ай бұрын
@@AmyShulke Thank you Amy, l’m happy hearing that you found my site☺️🙏 I mostly do urban sketching when travelling. Such a great way to spend time I think. Best whishes.
@turtluv200010 ай бұрын
Excellent info, once again! Thanks Amy.
@AmyShulke10 ай бұрын
You're welcome and thank you. Wishing you lifetime markers that actually last a lifetime :)
@Keni-VR11 ай бұрын
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.
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
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!!!
@Keni-VR11 ай бұрын
@@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.
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
@@Keni-VR 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.
@Keni-VR11 ай бұрын
@@AmyShulkeI understand Amy, I'm not on there much either, only if a friend messages me. Thank you for letting me know.
@AngiRankin4 ай бұрын
Another awesome video! Can't wait to watch the rest in your series
@AmyShulke4 ай бұрын
Glad you like them! Let me know what you think on the others.
@trudievick235911 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your expertise.
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
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... :)
@nikosbak982411 ай бұрын
Thank u Amy🎉🎉🎉🎉
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
You are so welcome! I'm glad the info was helpful!
@fionaleung89919 ай бұрын
Amazing tutorial! Thank you!❤
@AmyShulke9 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Here's to a long life for each of your Copics!
@ghoulchan75257 ай бұрын
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.
@AmyShulke6 ай бұрын
I deliberately underfill mine by a few tenths of a gram, so you may have some buffer room from my given weights. But yes, I've overfilled before and always kick myself for it because there's no way to put it back in the bottle. Nothing worse than sitting there squeezing a drippy nib between papertowels making a complete mess... ugh.
@canidcourier2 ай бұрын
I couldn't decide which video would make most sense to ask this question so I'll just ask here 😅 Would you recommend investing in sketches over ciaos, even for colours that come in both? I'm struggling to figure out if there's genuinely an advantage to have sketches compared to ciaos, other than if you want a colour that only comes in the sketch. Plus I've only heard of the cap cracking issue in the sketches and not ciaos (don't know if that's true or not though). I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts on this!
@AmyShulke2 ай бұрын
Interesting question and nobody has asked it this well before. I'll answer as in-depth as I can in a comment section... The cap issue (which isn't actually a cap issue) is not present on Ciao markers, so they're a safer bet. HOWEVER... I suspect the Sketch issue has been resolved because we're not hearing as much about it, unlike 2 years ago when it was the only topic people talked about. I don't love the way Copic has avoided addressing the issue promptly and ignored customer complaints-- that was a gigantic mistake on their part. Anyway, I strongly suspect that we're now at the point where suppliers and stores are working their way through the defective stock, so more good Sketch are available than before. I just don't know if it's safe to jump back into Sketch yet because we can't know the production run carried by the store you're purchasing from. Sketch are a risk but they're not the risk they once were. From an instructor standpoint, the Sketch design is far superior to the Ciao (with the above caveat). Ciao are designed for use by children with child sized hands, child preferences, and child skills. The caps have choking-prevention features (if you swallow a cap) but that design also causes damage to nibs if you recap them carelessly. Ciao barrels are thin which can be an issue for aging hands and those with carpal tunnel issues. Ciao barrels are circular which encourages an improper grip leading to pressure and control issues. Plus, it's really hard to hold Ciao for extended periods of time-- Sketch are simply more ergonomic, more comfortable, and easier to control. There's also the issue of the color range. I was encouraged by a store to teach with only Ciao and I couldn't do it. The Ciao line is missing key colors, missing full natural blending combinations, and everything leans towards candy colors with artificial brighteners. Remember the child focus and this explains the color palette. Ciao are also hard to navigate because the caps do not have number indicators. Kids don't care about this but adults and serious professionals do. They're also a pain in the rear to store and it's easy for missing markers to go unnoticed because there's no cap to notice an obviously missing number in the series. No matter which style you choose, it's smart to get the refill at the same time as the marker. Copics need to be refilled more often than people assume and with Ciao, you will need to refill twice as often. Aside from the Ciao price, avoiding the Sketch cap issue, and perhaps the benefit of a light-weight travel set, I see no advantage to Ciao which outweighs the value of a good Sketch.
@canidcourier2 ай бұрын
@AmyShulke thank you so much for taking the time to give such an in depth answer, I really appreciate it! I noticed the ciao caps having potential to ruin the nibs; I had a close call once so have been really delicately putting the caps back on since. I don't have sketches yet to see the difference, it would be nice for workflow to not have to do that 😂 I didn't think of the ergonomics at all, you've given me something to think about. I'm only in my early 30s, but work colleagues in their early 40s and beyond have started experiencing wrist (and back) pain (hurray for the sedentary software developer lifestyle 😂) so I've started taking wrist (and back and posture) health more seriously. I think my main worry is getting a defective sketch, otherwise I wouldn't have the trepidation. I think I'll email the seller before buying to see if they know of the issue and are checking their stock (that or I could just check every marker when I receive it). You've made me feel a lot more sure in my decision to invest that little bit more in sketches, sounds like it's the best decision for the long term (also I just had a look at the copic app where it lists all the colours; wow you weren't kidding that a lot of the colours with more depth/dimension aren't available in ciao!)
@melindagibson860611 ай бұрын
Can you purchase new cores? I love this video thanks!❤
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
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.
@maribabette22054 ай бұрын
Thanks, But was wonder the naked weight of the Ciao markers. A brand new one everything on/in weight is 10grams. you can't buy an empty one in the stores only the Sketch ones unfortunally.
@AmyShulke4 ай бұрын
I have no idea of the empty weight for a Ciao. You might want to contact the company directly. BTW, the full + caps weight of a Ciao is more like 10.6g but Copic doesn't fill all colors to the same weight.
@user-qv4eu8pr8g7 күн бұрын
Should I only refill my markers when they are dry or should I have a set schedule as to when to refill them?
@AmyShulkeКүн бұрын
I'm a bit overboard but remember, I use markers professionally and more than the average hobbyist. I weigh and refill after almost every project. I won't refill a Sketch that's only a little low but if it's below 13.6 grams, I take the time to refill before putting it away. If you wait until a marker is noticeably dry, your blending ability has been already compromised for a while. You also run the risk of it drying further in the weeks/months before you use it again. Which is kinda my fear about scheduled refilling. A marker can die while waiting for your calendar date. But also, the idea of me refilling 365 markers every 3 months is an ugly thought. I'd much rather refill one or two at a time, as needed.
@MarieM-PinkArt10 ай бұрын
Thank you so much ❤so the marker is dead when? I have ciao and sketch , I need to go check them all now 😅
@AmyShulke10 ай бұрын
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.
@marillaclarke62887 ай бұрын
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.)
@AmyShulke7 ай бұрын
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.
@marillaclarke62887 ай бұрын
@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?
@AmyShulke7 ай бұрын
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.
@cherij900811 ай бұрын
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!!!😊
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
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.
@elizabethoneill44225 ай бұрын
Hi, this is a fabulous tutorial! So, you never clean the nibs - you need to look after the pen?? I have a marker where both ends are somewhat crystallised. It looks like the one at the beginning of your video. I was going to try to clean the bibs by soaking them, but now it looks like I should buy a brand new pen. Thank you so much.
@AmyShulke5 ай бұрын
@@elizabethoneill4422 Exactly. Cleaning the nib ignores the real problem but also, at least in my experience, nibs don’t clean well and the cleaning process makes the nib less springy and accurate. Get a scale and weigh the crystallized markers. A seriously underweight marker that has hard nibs is almost always irreparable. If it’s just a bit underweight, change the nibs and maybe you can eek a bit more life out of them but it’s temporary. The problems will keep getting worse , it only buys a bit of time before a full replacement.
@elizabethoneill44225 ай бұрын
@@AmyShulke Thank you very much for your time in replying and your great advice. Makes perfect sense. Also, thank you for your amazing tutorials! I accidentally came across one, and wow! Working my way through them. Awesome!
@fabiozdk3 ай бұрын
Do you know the refill low zone for Ciao?
@AmyShulke3 ай бұрын
I'm sorry, I don't know. I only own one Ciao and every location I've ever taught has sold Sketch exclusively, so when I offered refill services, I never encountered many Ciao. A full Ciao should be around 10.6g so I'm guessing anything in the 8g zone is certainly more plastic parts than ink. If someone else knows, please add your observations.
@fabiozdk3 ай бұрын
@AmyShulke Wow, i really wasn't expecting you to reply me that fast! I have a few ciao's (here in Brazil they cost almost half of the Sketch price) and one of them was almost dry. I refilled and now its around 9.5g, but it still seems a little dry :( i dont know if it is because the color is extremely clear (R000) and i cant see it right on paper, or if the brush tip is damaged. Btw, your videos have been helping me choosing colors to buy and learn different ways to use them. Thank you!
@faethecreates2 ай бұрын
Hi Amy, I brought my tiny Copic sketch collection with me while traveling and over that 6 month period, 3 of my 6 markers had the nibs turn rock hard. Are the markers irreversibly ruined? Am I not supposed to take them on flights / do you know what happened? I tried switching to Ohuhu but it really isn't the same but I can't keep buying Copic if half of them stop working within a year.
@AmyShulke2 ай бұрын
Are you refilling the markers properly? There is a cap/body issue with some Sketch markers made from 2020-2023 but by far, the bigger problem (more prevalent than cap issues) is people expecting to color more than they can before refilling. If you've only got 6 markers, I'm betting you drained the markers faster than someone choosing from 100 markers. BTW: The airplane isn't an issue.
@andrewfleming40276 ай бұрын
You said 12.6g was low for sketch. What’s the refill low zone for classic in grams?
@AmyShulke6 ай бұрын
A full Classic was 20.3g back in 2019 but Copic lowered factory weights around 2021. I'd refill around 19g and I'd refill it to 20g. Classics aren't as juicy as Sketch/Ciao so you can go a little longer between refills on a Classic.
@andrewfleming40276 ай бұрын
@@AmyShulke Thanks for the quick response Amy. Just found your channel and I'm new to the medium so your videos are very helpful!
@carlostaveras3309Ай бұрын
What about for Copic Wide ? How much to full those markers
@AmyShulkeАй бұрын
Sorry, I don't work with the wides so I don't have any observational experience to share. I did a quick search and found 6ml of fluid mentioned on this page: copic.jp/en/product/wide/
@carlostaveras3309Ай бұрын
@ thanks for the help. I watched your video and I was thinking about my wides. Some are dried out and the chisel nib is decaying off. I’m wondering if the entire marker is dead as you said about the sketch once they get to that point. But I think these Copics can be brought back to life buying the parts that are needed. Wonder if the wide have a core in the barrel or it’s only the sketch with that and wides have an open ink reservoir.
@carlostaveras3309Ай бұрын
Oh and the Copic page says 22g. I’m assuming that may be empty because they are sold empty now. So a wide filled with ink should weigh 28g.
@AmyShulkeАй бұрын
@@carlostaveras3309 The wides definitely have a core. I think OLO are the only alcohol markers without a core and even then, they still have a fibrous buffer between the ink reservoir and the nib.
@AmyShulkeАй бұрын
@@carlostaveras3309 Sounds reasonable but I'll bet ink is slightly heavier than water, so the rule of "1ml water = 1 gram" might not apply. I'll bet you come closer to 30g. If you confirm a consistent weight as you rescue your markers, please let me know. I'll take down your weights and pass them on to anyone who asks.
@Let_Me_Be_Just_Let_Me_Be11 ай бұрын
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?
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
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
@canidcourier6 ай бұрын
Do you have any idea why copics have gone from 14.6g new to 14.2g? I bought my first sketches recently and worried I got fakes at first when I weighed them. Is it that copic is not filling them up as much? Or are they using lighter plastic? I'm kinda sad I can't get the old ones but not much I can do about it! 😅
@AmyShulke6 ай бұрын
@@canidcourier Same markers, just a cost saving measure. My guess is they reduced the amount of ink because they knew nobody would tolerate a price hike. Materials are more expensive now and they’ve held off a long time on raising the price, likely due to competition. Lowering the factory weight was the only thing they could do that wouldn’t draw heavy criticism from the cheap marker fans who already hate Copic.
@canidcourier6 ай бұрын
@@AmyShulke that makes a lot of sense. In a way I'm glad it's not the barrels/nibs/caps are worse, cos ultimately if I have to refill them a bit quicker than others previously, no biggy compared to if the longevity of the markers was worse. Would hate to have them crack for example (I have heard some experience that, I'm currently treating them like they're my children or something 😂). I'm prepared to slowly build up my collection too; I first started with a set of 72 Ohuhus and *despised* them and assumed I simply didn't like alcohol markers as a medium. I then bought a 6 set of ciaos cos they were on offer at my local art shop and fell in love. They're like night and day to me, I do not understand the hype. I'd rather have 12 Copics than 72 Ohuhus.
@AmyShulke6 ай бұрын
@@canidcourier I think your story will be more common in the coming years as people gradually try Copics when their cheaper markers die off. Right now, a lot of the Ohuhu love-fest is fueled by people who have never tried Copic. If you have no experience, a cheaper marker seems fine. I’m sure some people will always be Ohuhuites, but not all. And as more people try truly high quality markers, they’ll realize what they were missing. Copic just has to hang on until enough people come to their senses.
@golfmom679 ай бұрын
Please help! I have a marker that weighs 14.4 but the nib is dry?? Any ideas...replace nib or marker?
@AmyShulke9 ай бұрын
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.
@golfmom679 ай бұрын
@@AmyShulkeIt’s a sketch marker. All the rest were low but this one had a regular weight I’ll try changing the nib. Thanks!
@AmyShulke9 ай бұрын
@@golfmom67 tell me what happens. I’m very curious!
@golfmom679 ай бұрын
@@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?
@AmyShulke9 ай бұрын
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.
@mariaflies6 ай бұрын
Oh no! I kinda wish I'd never watched this, though it explains such a lot. My nibs were dried out and hard and I saw that if you soak them in alcohol they'll magically come back to new. I did this for about 20+ markers. Bought new refiller inks, squirted ink around like crazy and they still don't work. Not only have I wasted ink, but I've completely ruined half of my collection. I'm guessing buying new nibs isn't going to fix the problem if the barrel is now ruined too? This has been a very expensive video 😢
@AmyShulke6 ай бұрын
Awww, man. I wish I'd made this video earlier. I'm so sorry, it's an expensive loss.
@eternalsquanch844511 ай бұрын
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
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
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.
@eternalsquanch844511 ай бұрын
@@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
@BW2Color.Stephanie8 ай бұрын
What should the weight of a Classic Copic be?
@AmyShulke8 ай бұрын
Factory weight of a Classic with both caps on is around 20.3g
@BW2Color.Stephanie8 ай бұрын
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.
@AmyShulke8 ай бұрын
@@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.
@BW2Color.Stephanie8 ай бұрын
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.
@AmyShulke8 ай бұрын
@@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!
@azeyma782910 ай бұрын
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 😢
@AmyShulke10 ай бұрын
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.
@azeyma782910 ай бұрын
@@AmyShulke Perfect :) Yeah, I found it on Amazon and just ordered it. Your videos are very helpful. I love them! Keep going ♡
@AmyShulke10 ай бұрын
@@azeyma7829 Good to know, I'll look and take note of the brand in case anyone ever asks. Thanks!!!
@azeyma782910 ай бұрын
@@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 😣
@AmyShulke10 ай бұрын
@@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.
@terbears135311 ай бұрын
It’s difficult to find the refill.
@AmyShulke11 ай бұрын
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.
@reginaldforthright8057 ай бұрын
That’s nothing my markers were used by Ramses II of Egypt which makes them over 3000 years old.
@AmyShulke7 ай бұрын
@@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.
@MezeiEugen3 ай бұрын
Bet the refiller cost more than buying a complete marker.
@AmyShulke3 ай бұрын
@@MezeiEugen The refill is currently about $1 less than a Sketch marker and holds enough to refill my marker about 15-20 times. Economically and ecologically, or even just for convenience, refillable markers are by far the smartest option.