Do You Refill Ink Cartridges?

[Spindulik]

Wasn't sure what forum to ask this in, but all of the smart people are here... (you can talk about anything here). Not quite software, not a K-Lite question. Not exactly a tip or FAQ. Not really a solid hardware question. Just a question...



...but I have an interesting idea.

I got a photo printer with very expensive cartridges. The color cartridge is easy to fill because it uses the standard 3 colors for refill.

The Photo cartridge uses BLACK, and that is simple, but the other two colors are Light-Cyan and Light-Magenta.

I figure that I might be able to use the regular Cyan ink and dilute it with distilled water to create a Light-Cyan, then refill the ink tank. Do the same with the magenta.

Has anyone done this yet? If so, what is the ideal mixture? 50% water and 50% ink?

[J'Pol]

Are the inks water soluble ?

[lynx]

Nope, that doesn't work.

Be careful to make sure you get the right inks for your printer.

There are differences between the pigments for HP epson canon etc. and even different ones for different printers from the same manufacturer, but you can't tell with the naked eye until you actually print something (and by that time of course it's too late).

Even BLACK is not the same.

If your cartridge has a chip (eg epson) you will also need a chip resetter.

It doesn't really matter which manufacturer it is, the cost is about the same, but getting the wrong ones means you've wasted the ink and the cartridge(s).

[ToraBoraDweller]

Try posting again in hardwareworld.
I think it depends also on the brand of your printer there are special tipsforums on the web (try Googling for refill + cartridges).


btw : you don't have to stick to the same brand of refills there are now a lot of cheaper alternatives.(not as cheap as water though )

[Spindulik]

Originally posted by lynx@1 July 2003 - 11:40
Nope, that doesn't work.

Be careful to make sure you get the right inks for your printer.

There are differences between the pigments for HP epson canon etc. and even different ones for different printers from the same manufacturer, but you can't tell with the naked eye until you actually print something (and by that time of course it's too late).

Even BLACK is not the same.

If your cartridge has a chip (eg epson) you will also need a chip resetter.

It doesn't really matter which manufacturer it is, the cost is about the same, but getting the wrong ones means you've wasted the ink and the cartridge(s).

I don't deal with Epson, because I don't want them "telling me what to do with my equipment". I threw out an old $500.00 piece of crap Epson printer last month.

I do have ink specifically for Lexmark KODAK printers. I have a lot of that ink in huge bottles. The worse I can do is ruin a cartridge, which is replaceable.

Yes, you can dilute ink with CLEAN pure water. I have done 100% flush-outs with water on HP Deskjet cartridges. You can put any color of in kin the BLACK cartridge, once you do a flush-out. I have printed with clear water, during a flush-out, to verify that the cartridge is totally clean. Creates a watermark effect on textured paper. Then refill with black ink.

[J'Pol]

I think your idea, though it sounds sensible, will just end up with watery magenta etc.

I don´t think it´s the concentration of pigment which makes the colour, but the mixture of pigments used.

[Spindulik]

Originally posted by JPaul@1 July 2003 - 11:51
I think your idea, though it sounds sensible, will just end up with watery magenta etc.

I don´t think it´s the concentration of pigment which makes the colour, but the mixture of pigments used.

I'm going to give it a try. I'll post my results when I'm done.

[Lamsey]

I think this is more of a hardwareworld topic...

Feel free to make a public outcry if you disagree.

[J'Pol]

Originally posted by Spindulik+1 July 2003 - 19:52--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Spindulik @ 1 July 2003 - 19:52)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-JPaul@1 July 2003 - 11:51
I think your idea, though it sounds sensible, will just end up with watery magenta etc.

I don´t think it´s the concentration of pigment which makes the colour, but the mixture of pigments used.

I&#39;m going to give it a try. I&#39;ll post my results when I&#39;m done. [/b][/quote]
Good lad - living on the edge as usual. I will be interested in your results.

Could you scan your result perhaps and let us see what it looks like.

Lamsey - no need to be defensive. Now you have calmed down it´s a pleasure doing business with you. No point in saying that anyway, we are all shrinking violets and wouldn´t speak up no matter what happened.

[Lamsey]

ummm... I was extracting the Michael actually...




How are you going to get the pure water Spindulik? Distill it?