Do Cli-521 And Cli-526 Have The Same Ink ?

[spok]

Hi,
My printer is an MG5350 which uses CLI-526 cartridges.
I refill them by myself but I'd like to use CLI-521 cartridges instead as I have read that these cartridges have the same dimensions and have a transparent part which allows to check the ink level.
So I plan to buy a set of CLI-521 canon original catridges, remove from my CLI-526 the chipsets and place them on the CLI-521, then use the CLI-521 until they are empty (or almost as I know it's better to refill them before they become totally emply) and then refill them.

But I have 3 questions here :
1. I have seen only OEM CLI-521 cartridges. So I know that these OEM cartridges are transparent. Can someon who owns canon original CLI-521 confirm that they are also transparent ?
2. is the ink of the CLI-521 the same as the CLI-526 ? or at least isn't there any danger for the MG5350 printer head to use CLI-521 ink (at least only one time) ?
3. is it easy to remove the chipsets from a cartridge and replace it in another cartridge ?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Tudor]

Where are you from, @spok ?

 

[spok]

France

 

[PeterBJ]

I don't understand question one. OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer, i.e. Canon OEM cartridges are made by Canon, and Canon OEM PGI-520/CLI-521 cartridges are not totally transparent, but have transparent windows to the ink chamber, making refill easier than with the opaque PGI-525/CLI-526 cartridges, that are the same dimensions as the windowed cartridges.

Fully transparent cartridges not made by Canon do exist. These are called Non-OEM, after market, compatible, or third party cartridges. It is generally only recommended to use Canon OEM cartridges for refilling, as the non-OEM cartridges often cause problems with ink flow, and Canon print heads rely on a steady ink flow to cool the nozzle heaters, else they might burn out.

Here are two Canon OEM cartridges, the top is CLI-521, the bottom is CLI-526. Apart from the windows and the chip they are identical, so a CLI-521 can be used instead of a CLI-526 if you attach the 526 chip to the 521 cartridge:

Ad question 2: The OEM inksets might or might not be identical, but they are so similar that the 520/521 inks will not harm your 525/526 printer. The worst thing that can happen if the ink sets are different is that colours might be a bit off when printing photos.

Ad question 3:
For chip transfer see this post by The Hat: http://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/canon-chip-removal-made-easy.5629/ . For resetting you will of course still need a PGI-525/CLI-526 resetter, as both the printer and the resetter only see the chip, not the cartridge or the content in the cartridge.

Be careful not to cut the fine tracks on the chip pcb.

Empty PGI-520/CLI-521 cartridges might be found at Ebay or Amazon, or you might get them from Octoinkjet UK: http://www.octoink.co.uk/products/Canon-CLI%2d521-EMPTY-Cartridge.html?setCurrencyId=2 . The company can supply you with everything needed for refilling, and the Image Specialists refill ink they sell is considered very good by many forum members.

 

[spok]

Thank you very much. Very useful post.
Sorry, yes I meant only transparent window, not fully transparent.
So OEM and original means the same. Great.
I already got a resetter and refill my original 525/526 by myself.
I just want to switch to the 520/521 to have this transparent window.
So the most risky thing is to switch the chip. I'll have a look at some youtube videos to be sure to not make mistakes.
Thanks again.

PS: for the ink, I use for the moment sudhaus ink, but as I'm not enterily satisfied, I just ordered ink from color precision.
I'll try their ink, and if I'm still not satisfied, I'll try the octoink ink.

 

[PeterBJ]

The chips are coded for both type and colour, so take care not to get the chips mixed up when transferring them. So a chip from a CLI-526 Magenta cartridge should only go to a CLI-521 Magenta cartridge, and so on.

Both Precision Colors and Octoinkjet sell the same brand of refill inks, Image Specialists, but Precision Colors sell some custom made inksets, while Octoinkjet sell the standard products from Image Specialists. I don't know what is best in terms of colour match.

 

[spok]

I bought a set of 520/521 and made the chip transfert. Everything went well and was easier than what I thought first. Thanks.

 

[mikling]

The chips are coded for both type and colour, so take care not to get the chips mixed up when transferring them. So a chip from a CLI-526 Magenta cartridge should only go to a CLI-521 Magenta cartridge, and so on.

Both Precision Colors and Octoinkjet sell the same brand of refill inks, Image Specialists, but Precision Colors sell some custom made inksets, while Octoinkjet sell the standard products from Image Specialists. I don't know what is best in terms of colour match.

http://www.precisioncolors.com/c5cicc.html
http://www.precisioncolors.com/c6c2icc.html

I went and customised the set so when you scan and use the printer in an office mode, you get great colors and can make greys - greys. CLI-8 colors will not work well in this generation.
When Photos are involved the above ICCs are there ready to go for great prints. Just use one of the listed papers and instant high end photos especially with the 6 tank printers.