Re-filling ink cartridges

[Geoff]

Hello everyone,
I've been meaning to ask this question for a while, I was wondering if it REALLY was bad/not advisable to refill ink jet cartridges from an after market company for printers? It sure is a lot cheaper this way. I know that the printer companies (epson, canon, hp etc) don't endorce it as it's not giving them the money that people would normally spend on their own brand cartridges with significant profit margins. Just wondering what people thought about the idea here..

[cordy]

well i've had a bad experience with after-market cartrideges but have also had friends who have done refills with no problems. do your research around the web and see what u can dig up for your particular printer

Chris

[birddog114]

Me? no and no! I buy genuine cartridges.
1/ Warranty issues
2/ Quality printing
3/ I don't want to ruin the print head with clogged ink.

First look is cheap and economical but not always

Refill ink is ok for normal paperwork and not for high quality printing as photo look, special on A4, A3 or A3+

[Manta]

Have to admit I fall into the trap of refilling my HP cartridges. I hate the fact that the manufacturers seem to charge whatever they like for genuine cartridges and it's just not feasible to keep up those supplies, especially when you co-habitate with small mammals who seem to think every school project requires full A4 Best Quality photo prints. That being said, I have had problems in the past with retread cartridges and will probably go back to genuines from here on. Didn't matter so much when I only had a Kodak Point& Shoot! PS - I tend to use cheap generic photo paper too - slap wrist - so I guess I should go for genuine here as well?

[Oneputt]

With previous printers I always used to refill, but with my current Canon I990 I always use genuine cartridges and my results are very good.

[gstark]

Over a number of printers of varying hue of manufacturer, I've yet to see satisfactory results from refills.

Of course the manufacturers do little to discourage one from trying these things given the way that they charge like wounded bulls for cartridges, and make you install a new one because one out of the five colours is down to 25% capacity.

[stubbsy]

I'd never use refills or even 3rd party cartridges with any printer that has the print head separate to the cartridge (eg the Canons) since cheap ink can easily screw the print head and then you're up for big $. The brand name inks are made to a spec not a price and, as I understand it, often contain ingredients (detergents?) aimed at making the unit as a whole perform. I'd rather pay extra than take the risk. Of course if I was in Manta's position I'd have one printer for the kiddies with refills and one without for the grown ups.

[Greg B]

I made sure that my current printer has seperate colour cartridges. Canon i965, it has six cartridges, can be replaced individually. I reckon that is a good start to reducing cost.

[Geoff]

hmmm..the printer that I am considering re-filling the ink is the Canon MP730, which is a multi-function, the print quality from this printer ain't half bad actually. The good thing about it is it has 4 separate ink cartridges so u only have to replace whichever one is empty.

[stubbsy]

Gary

I'm with Greg (and I guess you) on this one. WOn't buy a printer that doesn't have separate ink carts so I have a Canon Pixma 8500 (eight inks)

[georgie]

Used refills only once and never again. My experience;

1) Took time to drill hole and refill.
2) Was messy
3) most importantly I didn't think the print quality was anywhere near as good
4) Ran out much quicker

[georgie]

I have used these guys generics with excellent results - Very good value for money in my opinion. (Tonny cartridges are the generic brand that they stock) - apparently have even won an award for it

http://www.tegcom.com.au/

[birddog114]

I have used these guys refills with excellent results - Very good value for money in my opinion. (Tonny cartridges are the generic brand that they stock) - apparently have even won an award for it

http://www.tegcom.com.au/

Very confusing with your previously post

[gstark]

I have used these guys refills with excellent results - Very good value for money in my opinion. (Tonny cartridges are the generic brand that they stock) - apparently have even won an award for it

http://www.tegcom.com.au/

Very confusing with your previously post

Not entirely.

In his first post he was talking about refilling the cartridges, and how messy a chore it is.

In the following post he's talking about using an aftermarket brand of cartridge, rather than refilling the ones he has.

Peter,

My new R1800 has 8 individual carts, as against the Stylus 870 that it's kicking out the door, which used one x 5 ink cart plus 1 black. Never again!

At least Epson is learning ...

[tasadam]

I made sure that my current printer has seperate colour cartridges. Canon i965, it has six cartridges, can be replaced individually. I reckon that is a good start to reducing cost.

I'm with this!
My printer is a Canon i865. It has 5 separate cartridges. I use cheap generic $10 cartridges. I have one brand new set of Canon cartridges. I bought the optional 3 year warranty. If it fails, I take out my generics, install the Canon cartridges and take it to the service agent. Not that I should need to but at least they won't try blaming the ink.

According to Trade Practices Act it is not legal for a company to void warranty by using generic ink cartridges or charge fro repair, blaming generic cartridges. I have it on a piece of paper somewhere.

My next step is to have some plugs put in a set of generics so I can fill my own. Now that WILL save some money.

I will add that my printer is by no means the latest and greatest, I print more on printable discs than I do photos, and if you've got a very expensive printer then you can PROBABLY justify the cost of original cartridges.

[georgie]

I have used these guys refills with excellent results - Very good value for money in my opinion. (Tonny cartridges are the generic brand that they stock) - apparently have even won an award for it

http://www.tegcom.com.au/

Very confusing with your previously post

Sorry - very true - I meant generic cartridges - my mistake.

[Onyx]

I used to refill my HP printer's black cartridge with Calidad stuff available at Kmart and the like.

That was only for black though, and only on that old printer. My current Canon I've always bought genuine cartridges cos they're a bargain ($15 blk, $25 colour) compared to the old HP ($55 for blk, $70 for colour). It's an entry level printer with single colour cart - as I fail to see the advantage of sep colours beyond the marketing appeal that everyone has so far regurgitated. With individual tanks, if you print a varierty of stuff as presumably normal useage and not predominantly print only 1 colour; you're likely to run out of inks for all colours at approximately the same time. So 1 colour may last 2 pages more than another - but ultimately you're still having to replace all those separate colour with your same paycheck!

[HappyFotographer]

The one time I tried refilling a cartridge the then epson printer went south on me....could of been a coincidence, but with the current canon I only use genuine cartridges......has worked a dream to date.

Cheers
Deb

[Geoff]

Hmmm..it looks like the verdict is stick to genuine, despite their rip off prices. Thanx ppls

[Greolt]

My experience seems to be different to most here.

It makes a big difference in my mind at least which printer we are talking about, and what quality ink is used.

The reason I have a Canon printer that takes the BC6x cartridges is because they are very easy to refill.
And yes you do need to remove a small ball thing and replace it with a plug.
However from then on you don't even remove the cartridge from the printer, just remove the plug and syringe more ink in, replace the plug. (don't wait till its empty)

I DO use quality ink. NOT Kmart or computer market. I also use Canon paper. I can't find QUALITY paper any cheaper.
My prints match my monitor very well. My printing costs are MUCH better.

I doubt I would bother if I owned Epson, HP or other printer. However I would do the research.

Your mileage may differ but I am very happy with the results I am getting.

Greolt

[Matt. K]

There are 1 or 2 3rd party ink vendors who produce extremely high quality, archival inks for discerning artists/photographers. However they are not any cheaper than the OEM inks.

[Greolt]

Oh well all I can say is I am very happy with my results and costs.
I will continue to use what I use.

Greolt