Purging CLI.521/PG.520.

[Donkeyoatay]

I am preparing my first order for supplies to refill the above carts using the German refill method. During the past week I have spent many hours reading up on all the posts I could find on this site relating to my new venture. The only thing I am not sure about is purging these carts when the time comes. What is the procedure and do I need any special items that I should add to my order? Also when refilling my OEM carts for the first time do I have to purge them first?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[The Hat]

Donkeyoatay

I dont think you should worry your head about purging your OEM cartridges, not for a very long time.
Just make sure you use good quality inks together with a resetter and your thoubles will be few, happy refilling...

 

[Donkeyoatay]

Thanks for your input. Another reason I asked about "purging" is because a friend has offered me some used CLI.521 & PGI.520 OEM carts that have been out of the printer for over a month. Some have been re clipped others not. Could these be used for refilling or would they have dried out?

 

[The Hat]

Donkeyoatay
As you have no real idea how those cartridges were stored since they have being last used or what ink has being in them, it would be best to clean them out (purge) before use.
The best way to do this is to run tap water on the outlet hole slowly for as long as it takes to clean the sponge inside. Thats if you have soft water where you are in Spain, if not use distilled water.

 

[stratman]

Donkeyoatay:

There are many variations on the theme of purging. Unlike the more rigid methodology of refilling, It seems like everyone has there own twist in how to purge. And this is a good thing!

Because there have been so many variations it is difficult to collect them all for you to read. But, there are some main techniques that should help you choose a way that fits your personality. To list, and this may not be inclusive of all major techniques:

1) Drill a hole on top of the spongeless side and flush water through the ink exit port (where ink exits the cartridge when printing) which then drains from the top hole you made. Various methods of introducing water into the cartridge (see #3). Use a hot glue gun, screw with O-ring, or rubber plug to seal top hole. (I have used rubber plugs from http://stores.ebay.ca/PrecisionColo...=18442670&_sid=98545621&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322)

2) Top hole drilled and running water from fawcet directed into the top hole. (http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2964)

3) No top hole drilled, just introducing water into the ink exit port by various methods - under running water from a fawcet or with a (modified) syringe, tubing or other implement to force water into the cartridge. Water in the spongeless side can removed by various methods such as a needle and syringe, and the rest of the water in the sponge by other methods (see below for more details)

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Somewhere on the forum is a thread on using storage clips (epoxied to tubing with a hole tapped where the ink exit port sits) to facillitate flushing. The aftermarket storage clips are like these - http://stores.ebay.ca/PrecisionColo...187878011&_sid=98545621&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322. I like the ease and potentially cleaner way of facillitating purging versus my method. I have to hold the tubing to secure it onto the ink ejection port and it can leak as I flush.

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Forum member Grandad35 began a thread on purging cartridges that is an excellent primer. It is where I learned my original method of purging. See his thread at http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=311. His first post on the thread has a link to his pictorial essay on purging.

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Other links I have collected, and which may help you avoid certain issues, are:

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/sealing_canon_bci6.php

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=10216#p10216

http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=28&p=1

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An ingenious method of promoting drying of the sponge after purging was devised by ghwellsjr using ordinary kitchen paper towels. See his post (#3) at http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=5290. This will drastically cut down drying time. FYI - You can refill if there is a LITTLE moisture left in the sponge - you don't have to wait until the sponge is bone dry.


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My purge unit is as follows. As stated earlier, I use rubber plugs (see the link above) to seal the the top hole over the spongeless side, then use my mouth over the top vent area above the sponge side to blow out much of the residual water, and then finish with ghwellsjr's paper towel method to wick out most of the remaining water in the sponge. I do not wait for the sponge to be completely dry before refilling.


Purge unit based on Grandad's design. I did not use any part of an old garden hose.

1) 3/8" inner diameter clear vinyl tubing (outer diameter 1/2"), 3 feet ~$1.00 worth.

2) One Sweeper Nozzle, Model 56171 at Home Depot, $2.97 (similar to but with some plastic: http://lawn-garden.gillroys.com/Hoses_&_Sprinklers/Hose_Nozzles/BRASS_SWEEPER_NOZZLE-s761223.html). This screws onto my utility sink's threaded fawcet like a typical garden hose would.

3) One Hose Clamp 7/32" to 5/8" to secure #1 to #2.

4) 2mm hole drilled into the top of the spongeless area next to the edge of the decal (near where the ball is located) to let the purge water out.

The flexible tubing easily fits around the exit port of the cartridge. Warm water washed the sponge clean in well under one minute and I have no ink on my hands. I held onto the cartridge and directed the purge stream down the drain hole, but any ink in the sink washed completely out without staining.

 

[Donkeyoatay]

Stratman. Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to share your expertise. It is truly appreciated. One other question that was not answered. Is it OK to start refilling my new carts with "Image Specialists" ink or should I purge the new carts first.

Michael.

 

[stratman]

You can refill with IS ink without purging the cartridge first of the OEM Canon ink. Obviously there will be a color shift due to two different inks being mixed, but I did not find it unacceptable for my casual printing. If you are looking for optimal picture output, purge the cartridge, fill with your IS ink, and then create a printer profile using an internet service like http://www.cathysprofiles.com/, a local service (if available), or purchase a spectrophotometer and software to do it your self.

You are very kind, thank you. I have relied on the knowledge that others have worked and experimented to obtain. and hopefully packaged it in a digestable manner for you. Soon you will an expert too!