Due to the running cost of inkjet printers. Many people are starting to look for cheaper alternatives and one of the options includes the use of ink refill kits. However, what many bargain shoppers may not realize is that refilling your ink cartridge is not as easy as it seems. Here are a few insider tips to help you out!
Is Your Cartridge Suitable To Refill?
Many people think that as long as their cartridge is empty. They can refill it with new ink and it will just work like a charm. However, if your cartridge has been left empty for too long....It's as good as dead because the ink inside the sponge will dry up and injecting new ink into it will no longer work.
Choosing The Right Refill Kit To Start With!
There are many universal ink refill kits being sold on the market and many of them claims that you can refill different cartridges with just 1 single kit. While this may be true a few years ago, many cartridges nowadays are designed differently, so using universal kits may no longer work for your particular cartridge model. Therefore, please check with your supplier to ensure you're getting the right refill kit to start with.
Using The Right Tools!
Your refill kit should include all the tools and instructions to help making the refilling process as easy as possible. However, this doesn't mean that there are no works involved. To start, always make sure you have at least the following tools and accessories ready.
The very first thing you should do is cover the area, where the refilling process will take place with old newspaper. This will ensure you are not making too much mess in case things go wrong.
Next, you should use the plastic cap to seal the ink outlet (The bottom of the cartridge). Once that's done, you will need to use a knife to cut a tiny hole on the sticker label where the ball plug is. Then, you will need to use the screw tool to slowly screw into the ball plug. Once you feel that it's tight enough, you will need to use some force to pull the ball plug out.
Now, you should see a hole on the top of your cartridge where you can start injecting new ink into the empty chamber. Depending on your refill kit, your ink bottle should come with a syringe so that you can transfer the ink with ease.
Do Not Refill Your Cartridge Too Full!
This is an area where most ink refillers mess up. Regardless of what your refill kit says, you should NEVER refill your empty cartridge to the max. Normally, a little bit over 3/4 is perfect!
Next, use some tissues to wipe out any ink that may spill out of the hole and then use a pen or something similar to hold the cartridge so that it sits perfectly straight with the ink outlet on the bottom.
Wait about 5 minutes for the ink to flow into the sponge and then use the plastic plug to block the hole. Make sure that it is air tight and that no ink will come out even if your turn the cartridge upside down.
That's it! Once you're ready to print, simply take the plastic cap off (bottom), wipe out any excessive ink and your inkjet cartridge should now be ready to use again!
Happy Printing!
Recycling printer cartridges has extremely vital benefits for the society. The consumer gets a huge economic benefit, and the environment insuperable benefits. Recycling cartridges is a means to save money and fuel, reduce garbage and prevent pollution. Many printer and cartridge companies have taken the initiative to recycle by refilling or remanufacturing. Hence one way of recycling is to send the cartridge back to the place from where the cartridge has been purchased. Another easier way is to refill the cartridge and reuse the recycled one.
Recycling or refilling of some printer cartridges is extremely easy that anyone can refill but in some cases refilling can be messy and difficult.
Kodak Printer Ink Cartridges (One Color)
In Kodak printer ink cartridges the ink is retained due to the presence of internal sponge in the cartridge. The following steps can be used for the easy refilling of these cartridges.
1. Spread some absorbent material like a newspaper or a towel in order to avoid mess. 2. Create a hole in the top lower flat surface using a drill or a heated pin. Drill a hole 1/3rd of the way from the edge. Make the hole where the letter ?K? is written. 3. Fill ? of the syringe bottle with ink about 10 to 15ml. 4. Insert the needle into the cartridge and inject slowly into the sponge. Inject deeply so that the sponge gets saturated. 5. You can reseal the hole but it is not necessary. 6. Expect some dripping but for greater results leave the cartridge overnight. Seal it if you have to transport it.
The colors of ink used in these cartridges are: ? Red(or magenta) ? Blue(or cyan) ? Yellow
The first step for refilling ink cartridges remains the same:
1. First the lid has to be removed. This can be done with a sharp knife at the intersection of colored and black plastic. Remove the lid. 2. Insert a pin or toothpick into each hole in order to check the different colors in chambers. 3. Fill the syringe bottle about 1/8th with ink which is 5ml for each chamber. 4. Insert the needle into the cartridge and slowly inject so that the internal sponge gets saturated. All colors may not empty fully so the sponge will not soak fully. 5. Repeat the 2nd and 3rd step for the other two colors and fill the chambers with different syringes. 6. Place the cap back on top and tape it. 7. Expect some dripping but for greater results leave it overnight.
Kodak Printer Laser Toner Cartridge
The refilling of Kodak laser toner cartridge should be done at a place where there is no breeze. It is flammable so work where there is no flame. Also do not inhale as it is irritating. The three basic types of Kodak laser toner cartridges are:
? Canister: tube for holding toner ? Drum: cartridge with gears and a drum with a gelatin coating ? Toner and developer: similar to drum cartridge but uses toner and developer both.
Kodak Canister Cartridge
1. Spread some absorbent material like a towel or newspaper. Find a plug at the end of cartridge. 2. Remove the plug. If you don't find it then create a hole which does not come in the way of the paper path (a smooth plastic surface). 3. After creating a hole carefully remove the shavings. 4. Shake the bottle of toner and pour the entire bottle into the cartridge with a funnel or paper funnel. 5. Put the plug back and seal with a black electrical tape. 6. Install in the printer.
Kodak Drum Cartridge
These are complex cartridges. The ?pretty? drum may have three colored coatings: red, blue or green. Before refilling locate its toner and waste hopper following these points:
1. Locate the drum and imagine that it runs down to the end of the cartridge. 2. Lay it down to that the drum runs from left to right in front of you. The side near to you is the ?near side? and the one far from you is ?far side?. 3. One of these sides is larger than the other. 4. The largest side is ?toner hopper? and smaller one is ?waste hopper?.
Now to refill follow the following steps.
i. Locate the drum but do not touch it. It can be under a shutter. ii. Find the toner hopper. You will see a translucent plug on one side. Remove it. If you do not find it then create a hole in the toner hopper away from the paper path. iii. Vacuum the drum of shavings but do not touch the drum. iv. Shake the bottle of toner and pour the entire bottle into the cartridge with a funnel. v. Seal the hole with the pug or a black electrical tape.
Both Mark Mason & James Kara Murat are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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