Official Poll: How Do You Refill Your Inkjet Printer Cartridge?

[ThrillaMozilla]

Oops

 

[slocumeddie]

I started with the durstich german method, but have moved to top fill now.

 

[DustMite]

I use the German method on my MX850. It has worked well so far.

 

[paulcroft]

I started with the 'german' method when I had an i9100 with BCI-6 tanks and I continued this way when I replaced the i9100 with a Pro9000 II with its CLI-8 tanks. Then I started to get a problem with a couple of tanks - if I tried to refill them before they were empty the ink started to come out of the outlet hole before the tank was full. If I dribbled the ink in very slowly this helped but then sometimes it started to run into the space above the top of the upper sponge. I couldn't work out why this happened so I decided I would see if flushing the tanks helped and, to do this properly, I decided to remove the balls from the tops of the ink chambers. Flushing worked, and it also showed me that, with a silicone plug where the ball had been, it was a really easy job to top fill and there would, also, never be a problem with ink coming out of the outlet hole before the chamber was full. I have now flushed all my tanks, filled the 'german' refill holes with hot glue, and I now topfill. It's quick, it's clean and, in the back of my mind, I am comforted to know that the OEM tanks are now functioning as Canon designed them to work.

 

[WISVET5951]

I used top fill until I learned the German method for my Canon 4200, for some reason the PG cartridge plugged up the printer head and its replacement. I tried cleaning with alcohol, hot water with poor results, so now I have a MX890 for which I am use compatible cartridges. When they run out I will return to the German method.

 

[GeekStyle59]

Top fill on the Epson 1400 and Artisan 725 using refillable (spongeless) carts purchased from mikling. It works well for me and I no longer get ink on my fingers at all.

 

[pearlhouse]

German method for me now over 2 years. I also fill for two other people who do a ton of printing. I fill with squeeze bottles with sharp needles. In the beginning I tried to squeeze to fast and had a couple of accidents. Had to pace myself when I was filling more than 5 sets at a time I get impatient. I use alum duct tape to seal hole only because sometimes these carts sit around for awhile, so to be on the safe side I try and seal the hole. I have a 1/4 " dia hole punch I use for cutting out discs from the alum tape. Clean the whole with a little of Lacquer thinner on a cue tip and then peel and stick the disk. Use my finger nail to press the tape in place until I can see an imprint of the drilled hole to ensure the seal. All my drilled holes are deburred by using a large drill and had spinning it a couple of revs to chanfer the edge. Then a small file to remove any extra burrs. I also use a small postal scale so I can fill each cart to make sure I don't over fill or under fill. Oh yeah I forgot, I reset all the chips first before I start to refill.

 

[stratman]

German method for me now over 2 years. I also fill for two other people who do a ton of printing.

Since you refill for 2 other people then you should get THREE votes for the Durchstich method.

 

[barfl2]

I use both top fill and German. I have more carts drilled for German and originally found it quick clean and easy. However after several poor cart feeding issues I went back to top fill. So for me it would be 75% German 25% top fill. I note some users sealed the German hole and reverted back to top fill, however my attempts with hot glue (typical universal craft type) was not very good and I was still getting some leaks from that area.

 

[Tudor]

... I note some users sealed the German hole and reverted back to top fill, however my attempts with hot glue (typical universal craft type) was not very good and I was still getting some leaks from that area.

When I sealed the "german" hole with hot glue: the cartridge was dry, the gun tip was on the hole (the plastic melted a little) and I injected the glue so it sealed from the inside out. Never got a leak.The hot glue was from Bison