Dean Forster

Refilling Ink Cartridges - As Easy As 1-2-3

A closer look at refilling ink cartridges and the supplies you will need to get the job done more smoothly

Printers have become more affordable over the years. You are certain to find at least one in every home office. The only problem is that the ink cartridges are not becoming cheaper. This is where people find they spend the most money regarding printing. To help cut the cost of ink cartridges people have resorted to purchasing kits for refilling ink cartridges. The reason for this article is to help you understand how to identify which ink cartridges are refillable and how to refill the ones that are.

First of all, some companies such as Hp, Brother, and Canon are making it harder to refill their ink cartridges. Ink cartridge companies have noticed that their sales have dropped since the refilling kits have been sold in stores. They needed to do something to keep them in business, so they created ink cartridges that are not refillable. Smart on their part, but not too cool for the customers. If you have any questions whether or not your ink cartridge is refillable, contact the manufacturer to get the accurate answer.

Now let's take a closer look at how to refill ink cartridges. There are a few supplies that you will need to have to get the job done smoothly and as clean as possible. Your first and most important need is an ink refill kit. These can be found at any office supply store. The cost of a refill kit is about half of what it would cost to purchase a cartridge. Have paper towels, rubber gloves, tape, rubbing alcohol, and cotton swabs on hand. And last, you can't refill an ink cartridge if you don't have an empty one.

Now that you have all your supplies, you must spread out some paper towels and tape them together to have a working surface that can be thrown away after the job is done. Put on your rubber gloves and put an apron on because this job can get messy. Take the empty cartridge out of the printer. Place it on the paper towels that you have laid flat on a work surface. Read the instructions from the refill kit to make sure you're doing everything properly. There are refill holes on the top of the cartridge that you will need to find. This can be done by rubbing your finger across the label to feel where the holes are. You will need to pierce the refill holes with a sharp object to get them open. A toothpick will work great if you're refilling a multicolor cartridge. This way you can dip the toothpick into the hole and see what color the hole contains. Use the syringe a fill it up with ink. Insert it into the cartridge and slowly add the ink. You want to make sure you do this step slow so that you don't have an over-fill. Cover the holes with a small piece of tape to prevent leaking. Place the cartridge back into the printer and give it a good test run. If you notice that the cartridge is leaking you should make sure to keep it away from the printer.

Refilling ink cartridges can be done 5-6 times per cartridge. This you will see will save you money in the future.

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