is there a difference in ink for same brand different model?

[starchild]

For a year I had a Canon Pixma ip4200 printer. When I bought it i didn't know it had chips on the ink cartridges so only Canon could be used (unless the chips were picked off and glued on compatable ones). I opted for refilling them, which was messy, and sort of worked (with much printhead cleaning, etc) Finally, one of the ink cartridges stopped working (printer didn't detect it) even with it being full, and clean and only being refilled maybe 3 times. Since new Canon cartridges are around $12.99 plus shipping each, and I had researched others and found one similar (pixma ip6000D) that doesn't have the chips, I gave up on the 4200. I got the 6000D and it works great, takes cartridges without the chip, prints better (clearer and darker) than I remember the 4200 doing even new. Maybe because the 6000D has 2 extra ink tanks photo magenta and photo cyan.

I don't do much actual photo printing, have been making note cards and calendars (on cardstock) and notice a big difference in how bright and dark this printer is. I'm on a low, fixed income and had to stretch to buy this one, but feel it's better and worth it in the long run.

My question. Before I bought the new printer, I bought refill ink for the Canon ip4200. I plan to buy compatable cartridges for the 6000D but can't until Jan (due to finances) and it says the black ink is running low.

I know the photo magenta and cyan are probably different, but could I use the Canon black ink from the 4200 refill for the 6000D? Just for now, till i can buy new?

I'm mainly interested in not doing anything that might possibly harm the printer itself.

I used to read on an inkjet forum (no longer there) where people who refill would say they bought ink by the jug or barrel and didn't seem to buy specific ink for each brand and model. Even if each brand might have it's own ink, is each model so different it would do harm to refill the 6000D (black, at least) with the refill ink for the 4200?

Basically, is all ink the same, and if not, how could I find out if one model's ink could be used in another (but same brand and series Canon Pixma)?

Sorry if this is long and rambling but I just read the terms and it said to put in details. Also, if someone puts something about these printers in search it might be good to know. Like I'd like to let people know about the ip4200 (which I got last year after someone recommended it) only taking Canon cartridges and how much this costs.

Thanks

 

[KnightCrawler]

What ink did you buy ?

Mixing differents inks will work but the results may not be that great. The generic black ink probably won't be as dark as the Canon ink. It shouldn't cause damage unless you bought really bad chinese made ink.

The big problem is making sure that the inks and carts work together. Most people don't realize that the quality of the cart does matter and they are designed for certain inks.

 

[starchild]

The ink says InkTek refill kit for Canon Printers. From LD Products (I usualy get ink in bottles from Atlantic Ink Co but this time was short of money and this was less)

i'm not too concerned about the quality of it right now, I plan to get new ink cartridges (compatable ones for my printer) to at least try them in Jan. And I will probably just refill the black one for now because it's saying it's LOW. I don't know how this one works but the 4200 with the chips would still say low or empty (when refilled) unless you cancelled this out. I don't care if this one still says LOW (with the refilled cartridge) just want to use it till I can buy more.

I didn't want to do anything that might harm the printer, itself. The printer companies make out that refilling or using the wrong ink might ruin the printer. Of course, with some printers it's cheaper to buy a whole new printer than to buy new ink.

Thanks

Carrie

 

[mikling]

Yes, the ink/sponge(foam) interface is actually a system. Top tier aftermarket bulk inks are made to work with the original Canon foam in they mimick the original ink properties in both surface tension and viscosity. This ensures identical ink flow to the original.

The foam material in most compatibles are not identical to the Canon. Thus marrying aftermarket inks with the compatible cartridge may lead to ink flow problems.

Next ink colors are NOT the same within the same brand. On the Canon series, the colors of the newer cartridges appear to be more intense. I suspect this is so because they can place finer drops in their newer heads.

In fact, Canon probably has the WIDEST range of differing colors within their lineup as compared to Epson or HP.

You would think that a color as simple as black could be generic. Again this is not so at all.

Mixing different ink colors is not recommended if you want to achieve consistent predictable results for photo printing. All final colors are a blend of various colors from the printer. It is always best to retain the colors as a set to maintain the color "balance".

 

[KnightCrawler]

The ink says InkTek refill kit for Canon Printers. From LD Products (I usualy get ink in bottles from Atlantic Ink Co but this time was short of money and this was less)

i'm not too concerned about the quality of it right now, I plan to get new ink cartridges (compatable ones for my printer) to at least try them in Jan. And I will probably just refill the black one for now because it's saying it's LOW. I don't know how this one works but the 4200 with the chips would still say low or empty (when refilled) unless you cancelled this out. I don't care if this one still says LOW (with the refilled cartridge) just want to use it till I can buy more.

I didn't want to do anything that might harm the printer, itself. The printer companies make out that refilling or using the wrong ink might ruin the printer. Of course, with some printers it's cheaper to buy a whole new printer than to buy new ink.

Thanks

Carrie

Don't know much about InkTeK, I haven't used them before. It will probably be fine for one or two refills until you get the money to buy the ink you want or need. Just be sure to use the printer once a week so the ink doesn't even get a chance to clog any nozzles.

The 6000 is the old style measure so once you put a refilled tank back in it will see it as full again. I hate that canon change this on the newer ones.

The inks discussed on the forums are usually:

1. Hobbicolors sold on eBay.

2. Formulabs sold at http://alotofthings.com

3. Image Specialists Inks sold on eBay, search for PrecisionColors.

 

[starchild]

Good to know

I just discovered this forum, there used to be another one that disappeared (the forum) Can't remember the name but maybe you knew about it.

When I first got the 4200 and realized it had the chip I was disappointed. It also wasn't as easy (neat) to refill as I'd been told. With the tanks. Not sure if it was the printer or using refilled ink but it didn't print as bright and dark as I wanted (I'm printing notecards) Since I only used refilled ink after the first, I don't remember how it was when I got it. Know it wasn't too expensive and was recommended, and a newer version of the 4000

After I found out about the chips and learned everyone who wnated to buy generic, lower priced ink was trying to get the 4000 I'd look on ebay and the prices would go way up and I'd get outbid.

That's when I caught on maybe there were OTHER models of Canon, and found the 6000D (which was around $135 new- with shipping) It has all I liked in the 4200, the duel side printing and 2 paper sources. This one even has a memory card slot if I want to print pictures directly from the card, along with the carmera plug in (the 4200 also has this)

I probably won't be doing that, I like to put pictures on the computer and fool with them there first.

So far, especially if the "compatable" cartridges I plan to get for it print just as bright and good, I LOVE this printer.

I probably won't be doing much, if any refilling of it, if I can get the ink tanks (prices I've seen look good) and they work good.

So, those kinds of inks you mention are good? Do you have names of places to buy good generic/compatable cartridges for my printer?

~ Carrie

 

[KnightCrawler]

Good to know

I just discovered this forum, there used to be another one that disappeared (the forum) Can't remember the name but maybe you knew about it.

When I first got the 4200 and realized it had the chip I was disappointed. It also wasn't as easy (neat) to refill as I'd been told. With the tanks. Not sure if it was the printer or using refilled ink but it didn't print as bright and dark as I wanted (I'm printing notecards) Since I only used refilled ink after the first, I don't remember how it was when I got it. Know it wasn't too expensive and was recommended, and a newer version of the 4000

After I found out about the chips and learned everyone who wnated to buy generic, lower priced ink was trying to get the 4000 I'd look on ebay and the prices would go way up and I'd get outbid.

That's when I caught on maybe there were OTHER models of Canon, and found the 6000D (which was around $135 new- with shipping) It has all I liked in the 4200, the duel side printing and 2 paper sources. This one even has a memory card slot if I want to print pictures directly from the card, along with the carmera plug in (the 4200 also has this)

I probably won't be doing that, I like to put pictures on the computer and fool with them there first.

So far, especially if the "compatable" cartridges I plan to get for it print just as bright and good, I LOVE this printer.

I probably won't be doing much, if any refilling of it, if I can get the ink tanks (prices I've seen look good) and they work good.

So, those kinds of inks you mention are good? Do you have names of places to buy good generic/compatable cartridges for my printer?

~ Carrie

Swiftink gets pretty good reviews from people who are looking for prefilled carts: http://www.swiftink.com/index.asp?PageAction=PRODSEARCH&txtSearch=ip6000&btnSearch=GO&Page=1