Canon CLI220/221 Purge

[Cyanman]

Thank you to all of you who have provided so much info on how to refill my cartridges. I have a Pixma 860 and have recently purchased Image Specialists brand ink to fill the CLI220 and CLI221 ink tanks. I think I am ready to go but I have two questions.

1. Can I refill a Canon OEM tank (it has never been refilled) with Image Specialists brand ink without having purged the tanks of the Canon ink that remains in the sponge, or can I just fill the tank with the Image Specialists brand ink?

2. When the time comes to purge the tank (either right now if required or down the road), my understanding is that I run warm water through the tank and sponge. The part I don't understand is what I have read about using an alcohol/distilled water. What is the purpose of using this mixture? Is it used in place of the warm water to purge or is it used after purging with the warm water? If used after the warm water, why? Is it to expedite the drying of the sponge?

My main concern here is that the sponge will retain some water even after some drying has occurred and it will cause the ink to be diluted.
How do I know when the sponge is dry enough to refill?

Thanks again for the wealth of information you all put out here on this forum. Makes it easy on us newbies!

 

[The Hat]

Cyanman

Firstly Welcome.
Your Canon cartridges can be refilled with IS. Ink without having to purge them first,
provided that they have not being left lying around unused and allow to dry out, otherwise go for it.

There are lots of ways to purge a cartridge; all the suggestions on here are the right way!
I use the method of letting cold tap water dribble slowly onto the outlet port on the underside of the cartridge till its clean.
I live in an area where the water is soft and Ph natural.
You can if you like after you clean the cartridge put some alcohol/distilled water in it afterwards just to be sure.

To empty the water out of your cartridge is very simple thanks to our ghwellsjr,
just fold up a tissue/paper cloth to say 2x1 and put it under the outlet port holding it on with a elastic band,
it helps to put a small wood/metal screw on top of the tissue with the head under the outlet port.
It will only take a short while to dry out so just turn the tissue when it get soaked,
you only need to get it about 95% dry as the remaining moisture will make it easier to refill the cartridge later.
Dont forget to reset your cardridge before you refill it, less messy that way, enjoy..

 

[ghwellsjr]

To empty the water out of your cartridge is very simple thanks to our ghwellsjr

Here are the pictures.

 

[errante]

I use the method of letting cold tap water dribble slowly onto the outlet port on the underside of the cartridge till its clean.

I am interested in it, I would love to find an easy way to purge cartridges without drilling them, to avoid future hassles with german method.

Could you explain a bit more?
I suppose that you simply put the cartridge with the outlet port facing to the faucet and let the the tap slightly open for a period time. How much does it take?
Do you remove the water from the spongeless chamber by "reverse German method" before using ghwellsjr one?


Anyway, I think that a copy of this message deserves to be pinned or included in FAQ or something alike

 

[The Hat]

errante Do you remove the water from the spongeless chamber by "reverse German method" before using ghwellsjr one?

Nope you only use ghwellsjrs method, it works fine..

 

[Cyanman]

Thank You very much to The Hat - Especially for including the link to ghwellsjr method for drying the tanks! I think I'm ready to start refilling! Thanks again!

 

[The Hat]

Cyanman
No problem.
I hope all goes well and happy filling.
One thing dough, ghwellsjr supplied the link himself not I..

 

[Redbrickman]

I'm jumping in here instead of starting another thread since it's related to purging.

If a cart has been empty (specifically CLI-8 and CLI-521 carts) for several months will it still be OK to purge and refill, or does the sponge material deteriorate if it has been dry for a long time?

I have seen empty original carts on Ebay but there is no way to tell how long they have been empty.

 

[The Hat]

Redbrickman If a cart has been empty (specifically CLI-8 and CLI-521 carts) for several months will it still be OK to purge and refill,
or does the sponge material deteriorate if it has been dry for a long time?

If its an OEM cartridge then it will be like new afterwards, you wont be able to tell the difference between it and a new one..

 

[Cyanman]

Thank you Hat for pointing out that the cartridge drying pix were posted for us by ghwellsjr - and thanks ghwellsjr for putting them out there - it was very helpful to be able to see the process. I did it just as you said and it worked perfectly. Thanks again everyone!