From: dchien@boole.seas.ucla.edu (David H. Chien)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.printers
Subject: FAQ Refilling Inkjet Cartridges v2.5 (438 lines, 18.9kbytes)
Date: 5 Oct 92 02:41:43 GMT
Organization: SEASnet, University of California, Los Angeles


                     FAQ REFILLING INKJET CARTRIDGES
                         01 OCT 92 - REVISION 2.5
                      438 lines, 2839 words, 18.9kb
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00 What is this FAQ about?
01 Who do I write to send in corrections or information?
02 Where is this FAQ and how often is it updated?

05 Why refill?
06 Which refill options are available?

10 What do I need?

20 How do I refill?
21 How do I learn more about refilling my cartridge?
22 How do I clean the clogged nozzles?
23 What about HP Deskjet/Deskwriter cartridges?
24 What about HP Paintjet/Paintjet XL cartridges?
25 What about Apple Stylewriter\Canon BJ10/BJ10e/BJ10ex/BJ20 cartridges?

30 Which inks do I use?
31 What about different colors?
32 What do I do with different colors?

40 Where do I get syringes?
41 What else can I use besides syringes?

50 What is the print quality?
51 How can I improve the print quality?

60 How much do inks cost?
61 How much do syringes cost?
62 How much do syringe substitutes cost?
63 How much do commercial refill packages cost?
64 How much does good inkjet paper cost?

70 Where do I buy commercial refill packages and OEM cartridges?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
00 What is this FAQ about?

   This FAQ provides information about the various methods
available for refilling used inkjet ink cartridges, especially those
used in HP DeskJets and HP Deskwriters.  

   Data is given on the costs, necessaries, and the purchasing locations
of materials.  Instructions are included for those refilling HP
Deskjet/Deskwriter cartridges, and can be modified for other types.

   Using a refilled cartridge may void your printer warranty, or cause
severe losses and damages.  Use the information given and refill
cartridges at your own cost, loss, sanity, ....


01 Who do I write to send in corrections or information?

   If you find any aspect of this FAQ that needs to be improved, tell me!
   Send comments, corrections, and additional information to:
   [Internet  ]   dchien@boole.seas.ucla.edu (valid until June 93)
   [Snail mail]   9341 Larkspur Drive, Westminster, CA 92683-7412


02 Where is this FAQ and how often is it updated?

   This FAQ will be periodically posted (about each month) to
comp.sys.printers.  You may redistribute this FAQ as you wish.

   This FAQ will be updated as new information is sent in and edited
into this FAQ.


05 Why refill?
   
   Inkjet cartridges often cost ten to thirty dollars new.  If you wish
to reduce waste, refilling cartridges will cost half a to five dollars
for each refill.  Eventually as well, the manufacturer will stop making
new cartridges for old printers.

   My HP Deskjet cartridge refill is fifty cents.  Also, you can
introduce different colors not made by the original manufacturer, eg.
blue or pink.


06 Which refill options are available? 

   There are two.  One, buy ink and a syringe - the cheapest.  Two, buy
a third party refill package which includes a syringe filled with ink. 

   The first is fine for many cartridges and colors.  However, color
printers, like the HP PaintJet, demand that refilled primary colors
match the original.  In that case, it is simpler to buy the commercial
refill package, unless you are a budding artist and wish for unique
colors.


10 What do I need?

   There are only three items that you need to refill most inkjet
cartridges: ink, syringe, and used cartridge.  Certain cartridges, eg.
high-capacity HP Deskjet/Deskwriter ones, require glue and tape.


20 How do I refill?

   The concept behind refilling is how do we put more ink into the
container.  Of course, the cartridge should be close to empty.  Many
cartridges allow air to flow into them as the ink is used up.  Many also
have a foam sponge inside to hold the ink.

   This same hole or passageway allows us to pour ink in.  But in most
cases, we need a syringe to do this for us because the hole is too small
for us to pour ink into.  For the cartridges which do not have a hole,
we must drill one in a place where ink will not flow back out, when the
cartridge is in the printer.

   If we attempt to pour ink into a small hole, we quickly realize that
the ink simply runs down the cartridge into our hands, and refuses to
seep into the hole due to the surface tension of the ink and internal
cartridge air pressure.

   To avoid inky mess, we also refill over a sink, or outside -
somewhere where the ink does not permanently stain, and can be cleaned
up.

   Start with 1 cc, a small amount of ink and inject it into the
cartridge.  At some point of injecting more and more ink, you will
notice that the cartridge begins to drip profusely from the nozzles, or
the ink flows freely out of the hole.  At this time, it is full.  Simply
clean the cartridge and nozzles with paper and you can use the
cartridge.

   Remember how many cc's you have injected, and use that as the
starting amount for next time.


21 How do I learn more about refilling my cartridge?

   The easiest way besides reading this FAQ is to buy a commercial
refilling package.  Not only will it include the syringe for future use,
it also will have detailed refilling instructions regarding where the
ink is to go in your particular brand of cartridge.


22 How do I clean the clogged nozzles?

   Be gentle.  Use damp paper to wipe the nozzle area clean.  Try the
printer instructions regarding this.  Blow hard into the top hole, and
watch out for ink coming from the nozzles.  Wipe with alcohol-damp
paper.


23 What about HP Deskjet/Deskwriter cartridges?

   There are three cartridges available: the standard one, HP# 51608A;
a high-capacity one, HP# 51626A, and the color one, HP# 51625A, for
Deskjet C/Deskwriter C color models.

   Follow <<20>> the general method for the standard cartridge.

   The standard cartridge contains a foam core which holds up to 20cc of
ink.  The high-capacity cartridge does not contain a foam core and can
hold another 20cc of ink.  A bubble generator in the high-capacity
cartridge serves, in place of foam, to regulate the flow of ink from the
cartridge.  The internal air pressure is adjusted additionally by air
bags which expand and collapse according to barometric and temperature
changes.

   With the high-capacity model, the supposed method is to plug the hole
at the bottom of the cartridge with glue - try epoxy, superglue, plastic
model glue, etc. - tape, or anything which will stay there to prevent
any ink from leaking.  Then, inject ink into the corner, top hole until
full per <<20>>. Finally, plug that hole with putty, gum, or anything
removable later so ink does not run out when the cartridge is in use.
   Since refilling this is not as easy, quick, or drip proof, stay with
the standard cartridge for fewer problems.

   I have no information on refilling the color cartridge.


24 What about HP Paintjet/Paintjet XL cartridges?

   There are five cartridges available: the black one, HP# 51606A;
the 3-color one for the Paintjet, HP# 51606C; and the three primary
color ones for the Paintjet XL, HP# 51606B, 51606R, 51606Y.

   For the black cartridge, supposedly follow <<20>>.

   For the color cartridges, buy a commercial kit unless you want
different colors, in which case supposedly follow <<20>> for each hole
for each color.
 

25 What about Apple Stylewriter\Canon BJ10/BJ10e/BJ10ex/BJ20 cartridges?

   There is only one cartridge model: the black one, BC-01.  It is made
by Canon and used in many, many printers and typewriters, including the
StarWriter series by Canon.

   One method is supposedly drill a small hole where the BC-01 top label
is, and refill per <<20>>.


30 Which inks do I use?

   The vital requirement of refill ink is that it does not clog the
print nozzles.  A good rule of thumb is to choose inks which are water-
based, non-pigmented, and non-permanent.  

   Scrips ink by Shaffer, packed in bright yellow boxes; Parker Solv-X
permanent; and Mont Blanc are commonly used.  I have always used Scrips
with good results.  Avoid technical or India inks which are permanent
and pigmented, eg. Pelikan Drawing Ink or Koh-i-noor Universal.

   For color inkjet printers, I have not found inks besides those in
third-party packages match the manufacturers colors.


31 What about different colors?

   If you wish, you can use different colors like blue, red, or pink. 
To use the darker colors, you can inject an empty cartridge with the
color desired, and after ten to fifty pages, anything printed will be in
that color.  

   The best method for lighter and all colors requires a rinse step. 
Inject a small amount of water and print pages to clear out most of the
old ink first.  Then, inject your new color.


32 What do I do with different colors?

   Look around at various advertisements for ideas.  Like using a
Crayola set, your text doesn't have to be solely black-and-white.

   A good idea, which I have not tried, is to empty three cartridges. 
Buy a color package that has cyan, magenta, and yellow, rinse the
cartridges, and refill each with one of the above.

   Using a program, such as Pagemaker, with these cartridges and a
fourth black one, if deep, dark blacks are desired, you can now print
full color pictures!  Simply set up your color document, do a three- or
four-color separation, and print each using the appropriate color
cartridge on the SAME sheet of paper.

   Naturally, it takes longer and the registration might be off; but
imagine: if you own a Deskjet/Deskwriter, why upgrade to a DeskJet
C/Deskwriter C?


40 Where do I get syringes?

   In some states, the sale of syringes without a prescription is
illegal.  You may buy them from a hospital, university store with a
medical program, pet hospital, local drug store, park corner (Berkeley's
People Park(:), through mail order from a medical supplier, etc.  Any
regular syringe like those used by diabetics are a good choice.


41 What else can I use besides syringes?

   Hobby oilers, chemistry pipets, thin straws, or anything thin enough
to fit into the hole on your cartridge.  

   Personally, I started with a WD-40 red straw whittled to a point at
one end; carefully sucked ink from a Scrips bottle up the straw, NOT
into the mouth; pushed the pointed end into the Deskjet cartridge hole;
and blew.  Took a while, messy, but works.
      
   After that, I borrowed a glass chemistry pipet with squeeze bulb and
fine tip.  Squeeze bulb, draw ink, insert tip, squeeze bulb.  Nifty, but
expensive, so now syringes.


50 How is the print quality?

   The first thing you will notice with most inks is simply your text
takes longer to dry.  Using Scrips ink, I have had no problem with one
page staining the other on top.  However, you may need to separate each
page if you use an ink that takes longer to dry.  Some commercial inks
have been formulated to dry as quickly as the original.

   The print quality will vary from ink to ink and from refill to
refill.  In the case where the ink is too watery, you may notice fine
bleed lines spidering from the characters.  If the nozzles has been
carelessly damaged during the refill process, fuzzier text or missing
dots may be the effect.  With care, the quality can match the original.

   With some inks, such as Scrips, you may also notice that the text
printed is not as dark as the original.  Whether this is of concern is a
personal preference.  In my case, I can sit for an hour comparing laser
text or film grain under a 30x microscope, and I notice.  


51 How can I improve the print quality?

   A clean printer and a clean cartridge are both necessary for high
quality prints.  The nozzles of the cartridge should be near spotless,
using alcohol as necessary to remove debris and dry ink.

   Then, we must choose paper that does the most in preventing bleeding,
smearing, or fuzziness.  A good choice to start with is Xerox 4024 DP 20
lb. copier paper.  It has a nice smooth surface, free of most visible
irregularities, and the non-glossy surface absorbs inks quickly without
bleeding.

   I believe that a quality paper will have a flat, non-glossy surface
that absorbs liquids quickly.  Thus, glossy magazine paper will not work
well - simply dab a bit of saliva on it and notice the very long time
taken to absorb the saliva; the Xerox will absorb quickly any.
   
   On the far end, we also would like a quality paper to feel like
normal paper, as people do notice and view negatively resumes and such
printed on 'weird' paper.  However, I believe that HP PaintJet paper is
wonderful for its ultimate color saturation, intensity, and sharpness of
print, despite its unique feel.  I use it as a photocopy master for my
resumes and other need-to-impress prints.

   Because a copier can ignore the fuzzy stray dots surrounding the
characters and fused carbon is much darker than ink, making a copy of
the original output will improve the sharpness and contrast of the text
on some copiers.

   Since there is also the desire to improve laser printer prints, paper
companies have produced special bright white laser papers which may also
be excellent inkjet choices.


60 How much do inks cost?

   Inks cost anywhere from a dollar to ten for a bottle.  I use Scrips. 
It costs under two dollars and I use about a fourth of the bottle each
refill ($0.50 each time).


61 How much do syringes cost?

   Supposedly they are sold for under three dollars apiece.


62 How much do syringe substitutes cost?

   A can of WD-40 for the red straw, nothing if you sneak coffee
stirrers, and easily $20-$100 for glass pipets.


63 How much do commercial refill packages cost?

   They usually cost $10-20 for a pack of two, $5-10 per refill.


64 How much does good inkjet paper cost?

   Xerox 4024 DP is probably under seven dollars a ream (500 sheets). 
HP Paintjet paper easily goes for over twenty dollars for 200 sheets.


70 Where do I buy commercial refill packages and OEM cartridges?

   Many office/computer suppliers now carry refill packages for popular
printers.  Here is a sample of these packages and companies.  Also,
prices for OEM cartridges are included.

Global Computer Supplies
2318 E.Del Amo Blvd., Dept 32, Compton, CA 90220 
1-800-845-6225 (1-800-8-GLOBAL)                    
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Ink Refill by Graphics Utilities, Inc.  
  Transparent, accordion-styled, plastic squeeze bottle with angled tip.
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Price per twin pack  
  Description                         Color           1      2-4     5+  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  HP DeskJet/Plus/500                 Black        $13.99  $13.29 $12.65 
           ""                         Blue          14.99   14.25  13.55
           ""                Indelible Black        14.99   14.25  13.55
  HP PaintJet, PaintJet XL            Black         18.95   18.05  17.19
  HP PaintJet           Cyan,Magenta,Yellow         23.65   22.55  21.49
  Cannon BJ-10e,ex,Apple StyleWriter  Black         17.65   16.79  15.99
  Cannon BJ300/330,130/130e           Black         19.65   18.69  17.79
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  NEW HP Deskjet cartridge     HP51608A Black   $15.75 each
  NEW HP Deskjet High Capacity HP51626A Black   $23.79
  NEW HP DeskjetC color carts  HP51625A 3-color $25.99


MEI/Micro Center
1100 Steelwood Road, Columbus, OH 43212-9972
1-800-634-3478 (order), 1-614-486-6417 (fax)
  Description
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  NEW HP Deskjet cartridge     HP51608A Black   $16.97 each
  NEW HP Deskjet High Capacity HP51626A Black   $25.37


Misco
One Misco Plaza, Holmdel, NJ 07733 
1-800-876-4726 (order), 908-264-1000 (NJ order), 908-264-5955 (fax) 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  CompuJet\InkRefill by American InkJet\Graphic Utilities
  Transparent, accordion-styled, plastic squeeze bottle with angled tip.
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Price Each 
  Description                    Color      Pack Size     1-2     3-5
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  DeskJet/Plus/500               Black       2 Pack     $19.95  $18.95 
         "             Indelible Black       2 Pack      19.95   18.95 
         "                       Red         2 Pack      19.99   18.99 
         "                       Blue        2 Pack      19.99   18.99 
  ThinkJet/Dionix (inkjet paper) Black       6 Refills   49.99   46.99 
         "        (plain paper)  Black       6 Refills   49.99   46.99 
  PaintJet/PaintWriter           Black       2 Pack      24.95   23.99 
         "                       Magenta     2 Pack      24.99   23.99 
         "                       Yellow         "          "       " 
         "                       Cyan           "          "       "  
  Cannon BJ10e,ex,   
  AppleStyleWriter     Indelible Black       2 Pack      23.95   22.99  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  NEW HP Deskjet cartridge     HP51608A Black   $20.95 each
  NEW HP Deskjet High Capacity HP51626A Black   $31.95
  NEW HP DeskjetC color carts  HP51625A 3-color $33.95


Uarco Business Products
121 N.9th St., Dekalb, Ill. 60115 
1-800-435-0713   
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  AspenJet by ???
  Syringe with plunger, straight tip.
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Price Each
  Description                    Color                1-9     10+
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  HP DeskJet/Plus/500       Indelible Black         $9.95   $8.95
  Cannon BJ-10/10e/10ex            "                 9.95    8.95
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  NEW HP Deskjet cartridge     HP51608A Black   $19.95 each
  NEW HP Deskjet High Capacity HP51626A Black   $31.95
  NEW HP DeskjetC color carts  HP51625A 3-color $34.95
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