How many of us are still refilling ink cartridges?

[pharmacist]

Using 8 years old Inktec HP compatible pigment ink for my Epson WF-7840W printer, still going strong. I use refillable cartridges with auto reset chips that I reset at will my a dedicated resetter after refilling.

 

[The Hat]

Thank goodness I've got 3D printing... which I'm still VERY active with / addicted to!

I’m much in the same 3D boat.. Thankfully..
P.S. I do get ink on my hands every so often..

 

[PeterBJ]

1. what ink and supplier are you using ?
2. what's your opinion of the shelf life of bulk ink ?

1. I use IS inks from Octoink UK.
2. I last bought ink in 2022 and that ink is still OK. I think the 5 years shelf life is probable. Years ago there was a problem with fungus growth in ink reducing shelf life considerably. I think the problem was caused by a bad batch of dye used to manufacture the refill ink.

 

[PeterBJ]

Today I visited a large Danish supermarket "Føtex". They had some Canon and HP ink cartridges for sale. Notice the prices and the white security locks. If you want to buy a cartridge you have to call one of the employees to unlock it. Even if I should feel tempted to use new cartridges as it is much easier than refilling, these prices make me think again.

DKK 499 = $79 = €67, click to enlarge the image:

 

[The Hat]

these prices make me think again.

They look like microware dinners..
If I extract to much ink when refilling, I never put the excess ink back into the bottle..

 

[Nifty]

The thrift store by where my GF lives (Silicone Valley) has an isle of small sandwich bags of misc. bits they put together and try to sell dirt cheap.

There are ALWAY tons of new printer cartridges mixed in with staplers, pens, etc.

Even though I don't print with a color inkjet anymore, I always feel the pull to look for cartridges.

 

[jimbo123]

once a refill guy, always a refill guy

more useless info, my refills are running approx $.34 per ink cart

J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Active Printers: MX700(2007), MP980(2008), MX870(2010), PRO-100(2013)
• Stored Printers: IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870, MP980
• Past Printers: MP830
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: Hobbicolors, then OCP, ASPEN, now alternativesupplier.com
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes

 

[palombian]

once a refill guy, always a refill guy

more useless info, my refills are running approx $.34 per ink cart

J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Active Printers: MX700(2007), MP980(2008), MX870(2010), PRO-100(2013)
• Stored Printers: IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870, MP980
• Past Printers: MP830
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: Hobbicolors, then OCP, ASPEN, now alternativesupplier.com
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes

Congrats, I never had lasting success with the Durchstich Method and dumped all sponge filled carts and fast fading 3th party dye inks - and the printers - long ago.
Only use cartridges with a bag and (mostly Canon) pigment inks (about 10 times your price/cart but still one fifth of new ones).

 

[Redbrickman]

Like NIfty I gave up on inkjet for normal office printing and bought a laser as I may not print anything for several weeks sometimes but I know when I switch the laser on it will print without having to unclog nozzles. I do miss the fun of refilling though as I found it strangely relaxing. Occasionally I refill the 9000 MK2 but not very often.

 

[turbguy]

I still refill (top method) with Precision Colors.