Fungus?

[lowell374]

The following pictures represent used, one time, Canon CLI-42 cartridges with something internal to them which I'm unfamiliar with. The yellow and magenta cartridges have sat in a box, in an un-heated/un-airconditioned room for more than one year. Actually I have 16 cartridges, in the box, in the aforementioned condition.

Any one care to hazard an opinion as to what I should do with the carts.? Toss them, give them to Precision Color (my ink and cartridge supplier), attempt to flush them, just refill them? As a noob I've never seen such looking cartridges.

 

[The Hat]

To be honest with you they look perfectly fine to me and if they were my carts, I would just refill and use them again as normal, no hesitation..

 

[PeterBJ]

If these cartridges were never refilled it is unlikely that they could contain fungus. There are only reports of fungus affecting mostly magenta but also other colours of dye refill ink. I have only read about Image Specialists brand of refill ink being affected by fungus, does anybody know of other brands being affected?

I think the light spots in the lower sponge are harmless air pockets, and the vertical stripe in the magenta cartridge is actually caused by a vertical air channel from the top of the sponge chamber to the round outlet sponge. The CLI-8 and similar CLI-42 cartridges have two of these channels, one on each side.

The top cartridge is an OEM Canon BCI-6Y cartridge. You can see the vent sealing tape is still in place, so the cartridge is unused. Notice light spots/air pockets.

The bottom cartridge is a Canon OEM CLI-8Y that I refilled using the "German" method. Notice the air channel.

Click to enlarge:

 

[lowell374]

If these cartridges were never refilled it is unlikely that they could contain fungus. There are only reports of fungus affecting mostly magenta but also other colours of dye refill ink. I have only read about Image Specialists brand of refill ink being affected by fungus, does anybody know of other brands being affected?

I think the light spots in the lower sponge are harmless air pockets, and the vertical stripe in the magenta cartridge is actually caused by a vertical air channel from the top of the sponge chamber to the round outlet sponge. The CLI-8 and similar CLI-42 cartridges have two of these channels, one on each side.

The top cartridge is an OEM Canon BCI-6Y cartridge. You can see the vent sealing tape is still in place, so the cartridge is unused. Notice light spots/air pockets.

The bottom cartridge is a Canon OEM CLI-8Y that I refilled using the "German" method. Notice the air channel.

Click to enlarge:

View attachment 3792

Thanks PeterBJ for the excellent reply. Guess I was just becoming paranoid. Will try to not over think things so much - the bane of some of we aspergers types.

 

[lowell374]

To be honest with you they look perfectly fine to me and if they were my carts, I would just refill and use them again as normal, no hesitation..

thanks "The Hat". Just my over-thinking penchant - again.

 

[The Hat]

Being naturally cautious only works if you heed your own warning..