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question on ink refilling

5015 Views 35 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Ariesjill
Just saw that my local wlagreens offers ink refilling for printer cartridges. Does that mean I will never have to buy new ink cartridges again? Cause they are expensive
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You can only refill once or twice then you have to buy a new cartridge because they do wear out.

I my experience I am not sure its worth the bother to refill, its messy and I have refilled them several times successfully but I also destroyed a printer once after I refilled because the cartridge leaked.
Jessman: (Luv yr choppers & your new wife, Sandra, rocks)

There are many mitigating factors re refilling ink cartridges:

1) does your printer use cartridges with smart chips? Most newer ones do. These are teeny micros affixed to the cartridges invented just to preclude us refilling. But there are many sites offering ZAPPERs....devices costing around $10 wHich disable the smart chips. Cat & mouse commerce.

2) There are also many kinds of refill kits. You should avoid those using metal needles, they R not necessary and R often harmful.

2a) If you Go for this and find you luv it.....you can then buy ink in bulk. Been there, done that.

3) The number of times a cartridge can be refilled depends on the type it is: if it employs foam to store the ink, those are more limited but can usually be refilled 3-4X when U learn the basics. The foam filled ones r also more time-consuming given they have to be done slowly and the bubbles tapped out, e.g. the Epsons.

If the cartridge employs the bladder system as opposed to the foam.....e.g. older HP printers often offering only black....but one, huge bladder type cartridge with like 40ml capcity.....when U learn how, those can be rerfilled many, many times. But care is required in every step.

There are refill kits which come with stations to hold nearly all kinds of cartridges....and with fillng instructions for each kind. Some require driling small holes but it's a no brainer, the stations have little drill guides you insert and turn an included plastic threaded bit thru and the stations keep the cartridges stable and close the openings needing closing during refilling. These R quite brilliant, actually.

4) re messy.....if you are careful, wear surgical gloves (often included)learn the basics....refiling does not need 2 B messy. And feeling of triumph is worth a cyan cuticle here & there, now and then, maybe.

5) Having shared all of the above.....time is money, and getting very good, VERY AFFORDABLE generic knockoffs from someplace lIke 123 Inkjets.....where I get mine....is so CONVENIENT AND SO CHEAP, whole refillng thingy may be moot.

But U bet....beating the opportunistic slimes, given wut OEM cartridges go for....and the profit margin which U would not believe....may be worth giving this a try.

At the very least, I wold rather shoot myself than give wut OEM Epson,HP cartridges go 4....because I know wut they cost 2 make.

Good luck with all of this!!!!

Jill
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I had had many experiences with refiled, remanufactured and offbrand cartridges. Never again. I only use branded cartridges (HP, Canon, etc..) to relieve the head ache the others has caused.
Wow, crazijoe!

Given yr impressive pedigree, I must say your post took me aback. The length of my experience isn't even close to ballpark of yours---forget U can probably restore E-Jags and 57' Chevys, classic Vettes and like that even---- and maybe I've just been lucky...but my generics....esp those I get from 123, made to highest standards, guaranteed, and not once have I had a problem, nor did I when I was refillng.

I guess I should add that I don't do photo printing or much requiring mega dpis or ultra sharpness, and my experience is limited to around 6 printers....but so far, no headaches, no problems.

Early on, when I started refilling, I made friends with very brite woman who writes the manuals for that company's product line of refil kits and supplies....and she gifted me with much scientific info re surfacants, mfg techniques and costs.....it was a real eye opener, and then, it all comported with my ownhardly pundit-level experience.

So I now look forward to lots of members weighing in on this!!! Fascinating.

Jill
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PS...now I have whole new curiosity about this whole thingy....I just found this:
http://www.surfnetkids.com/epson_ink_cartridge.htm

Nevah heard of them, but I learned just freom reading the page; I have 2 active Epsons at the mment.....and now C the issue between remanufactured and good generics. I get the latter, and maybe I can get even better ones I will now start learning more!

Jill
i have been refilling my canons for about 7 yrs for the cost of new cartridges you can buy a new b&w laser
dai,

Not for the first time, your input clarified/confirmed my own experience. But also should say, I am not into firearms much: glocs, Brownings, AK47s, 22 magnum derringers....or Canons.

But I respect that you honor the Constitution, and that u don't depend on others to load yours.:grin: :laugh:

But seriously.....I know what the name brands cost 2 make---it's shocking.....vs wut they sell 4.....MO of entire industry = sell the razor for no money and get em forevah more on the blades.

Again, a little magenta, a little cyan on the fingas....is badge of honor for all artists.

Hint: U can get it all off if you get any on.....with little fine grit sanding block. I think of it as exfoliation.:smooch:

Jill
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That's what I decided to do. I do alot of B&W printing. I bought a used HP2100n Laserjet for $100.00 about 2 years ago and I'm still using the toner cartridge that came with it.
my brother used to manufacture the ink at his chemical company before he sold it and retired
he told me it is dirt cheap to make and promised to get me the formula
still waiting
i rarely use colour for anything and cannot see the point in paying for it
my brother used to manufacture the ink at his chemical company before he sold it and retired
he told me it is dirt cheap to make and promised to get me the formula
still waiting
Yr brother speaks truth. Would he trade his recipe for my Pesto? But he would have 2 get he couldn't mix it with the ink, oK?

And head up, guys: if refilling didn't work and weren't as viable & popular as it became among the shrewd and resourceful....U think the big, avaricious Mfgs would have spent all that money coming up with SMART CHIPS????

To preserve their obscene and unjustified profits???________________________________________

Crazijoe:

Your laser sounds like perfect choice 4 your applications; excellent.

J.
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i rarely use colour for anything and cannot see the point in paying for it

That's because you spell colour in the British tradition; we who are peasants do not look down on color.

Seriously.....so much insidious marketing; all the pitches implying U can print photos that last.....affordably on a deskjet.

The reason I keep my old and made 2 last forevah HP with the one, giant, bladder based black cartridge.....also because a)they make nothing new that isn't garbage, and 2) I too do far more b&w printing than color.But I do luv my two newer Epsons.

This is all really interesting.
J.
thanks for the reply's looks like I will be sticking with just buying new cartridges
thanks for the reply's looks like I will be sticking with just buying new cartridges
Jessman:

That's Interesting; good thing I am not into betting....but the name brand Mfgs R throwing a party.....& high fiveing bigtime....unless U consider trying some high end generics. They too.....are NEW.

Refillng is not 4 everyone.

J.
I have a Canon™ PIXMA ip4200, and purchased 'aftermarket' cartridges for it....Big mistake!!
Even swapping over the chip didn't help, due to the sophisticated nature of the beast.
I decided that it's just not worth the hassle of getting frustrated and messy changing over the chips....and purchased the Canon™ genuine brand.....the price difference is....well....astronomical, but at least if the genuine cartridge doesn't work, I can return it to Canon™ for a freebie replacement, whereas with those aftermarket ones you have no redress if it mucks up the printer....its bye, bye printer...Hello shelling out for a new one.
I refill my carts with Hobbicolors ink sold on ebay. Cost about $1 per cart which is a far cry from the $14 that Canon wants for them.

So far I have save about $600 in ink cost alone. That's enough to buy a few new printers.

The Hobbicolors ink is good but slightly different from Canon ink so you need to muck with the properties a bit depending on what Photopaper you are using.
Knight!!!!!!


Waaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy!!!!!

Jill
Tried refilling, non genuine, re manufactured, and have decided NEVER to do that again.Spent more time cleaning the insides of my printer and putting up with the off colours than printing.
If you can't afford the cartridges for a particular printer don't buy the printer
Tried refilling, non genuine, re manufactured, and have decided NEVER to do that again.Spent more time cleaning the insides of my printer and putting up with the off colours than printing.
If you can't afford the cartridges for a particular printer don't buy the printer

Verrrrrrry Tigerlike post!

Jill
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