Canon CLI refilling experiences?

[Grandad35]

I hope GRANDDAD reads this and updates us on anything new he has on chipped carts.

I don't use CLI-8 carts, only BCI-6 on my i9900s (one is a spare). AFAIK, the refill techniques are the same for both carts, and here is an excellent thread that covers many variations on sealing the refill hole (http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=28). I just use a stainless steel flathead screw and allow the tapered bottom to seal against the plastic when it is tightened.

 

[mikling]

I do exactly the same. The o-ring with the panhead screw is ok as well but there is some risk of eventually tearing the o-ring if you're not careful. Both are equally as good. The most important thing is to remove the ball carefully. Lilla's method works well.

 

[Defcon2k]

A little update to the refill method mentioned above: I refilled my own carts now 4-5 times with it. No problems so far.
Another owner and heavy user of an iP5200 reported that he refilled his own carts 30-50 times each with this method (Inktec ink), and that they are still going strong.
This is without flushing the carts (Flushing is not well known here and/or considered to be too much work).

 

[Orerockon]

A little update to the refill method mentioned above: I refilled my own carts now 4-5 times with it. No problems so far.
Another owner and heavy user of an iP5200 reported that he refilled his own carts 30-50 times each with this method (Inktec ink), and that they are still going strong.
This is without flushing the carts (Flushing is not well known here and/or considered to be too much work).

Where do you get the needle from? I have searched all over the net and I cannot locate a needle long enough to work with your method. I assume you have a 20 gauge (0.9mm) x 2-1/2" (about 70 mm) needle. Measuring the distance from the back of the cart to the ink tank on a CLI-8 I come up with a minimum of a 2" needle. Almost everything I can find online is 1-1/2" long or shorter.

 

[on30trainman]

Try Howard Electronics (www.howardelectronics.com). They have 20 gauge needles up to 3" long - other gauges up to 2".

Steve W.

 

[Doug]

I have a Canon Pixma ip4200 and intend to refill the cartridges with Hobbicolor ink as they near empty. However, is it not risking damage to the print head while I have the cartridge out being drilled and refilled? On my older Canon printer I just cover the print head with an old cartridge while I refill but I have none with the ip4200 due to the crazy pricing system.

I know one answer is to work fast and hope for the best but I suspect someone out there has a better idea.

One further question...what likely effect will the mixing of the Canon ink with the Hobbicolor ink in the original cartridge have on the printing?

 

[Defcon2k]

Where do you get the needle from?

Here you can get them in printer refill online shops like this or this for about 0,30 apiece.

Pharmacys may have them, too, or specialised shops for medical stuff. I think they are normally used for extracting spinal fluid or something like that.

 

[fotofreek]

Doug - I've refilled original Canon OEM carts with MIS inks while there is still some OEM ink in the cart. Hasn't been a problem. The only downside is the slight difference in color response you might get with a mixed set of carts in the printer.

You are right that leaving the carts out will permit some drying of the ink in the intake area of the printhead. You either need to buy an extra set of OEM carts and rotate them as you refill, or you can buy a set of aftermarket prefilled carts to use only for keeping the printhead sealed while refilling your OEM carts. Depends on how much you print. If your print jobs are small and fairly infrequent you can get by with just parking the aftermarket carts in the head while refilling the OEM carts you are using. Better, however, to have a spare OEM set, replace the nearly empty one with one you have refilled, and refill the one you remove sometime later when you have the time.

Some people have suggested that, rather than buy a second set of OEM carts, look for the best deal on another IP4200 or IP4300 and buy it for about the same cost as a full set of carts! That will also give you a spare printer in the bargain.

 

[Doug]

Thanks fotofreek....Excellent advice. It looks like I have some decisions to make.

Doug

 

[hpnetserver]

Doug, I have been refilling a number of Canon printers including an ip8500. I never do anything to keep ink intake covered or sealed when I refill. I can do it very quickly though in about 5 minutes per cartridge. For about 2 years I don't remember having any problems caused by not protecting the ink intake when I take cartridges out for refilling. But there is one suggestion. When you take one cartridge out for refilling close (lower) the printer lid before you reinstall the refilled cartridge. By closing the lid the print head will move to its parking pad. The pad will protect the print head from drying from the bottom side. I use Hobbicolors inks. It's the best value ink out there. They are available on eBay.