The Ink Refill Challenge

[Shadowman]

Whether it is better to buy refilled cartridges or new? I had an OfficeMax outlet that used to refill for $10-15 but they now no longer provide the service. For quality prints, free of hassle and to avoid mistakes, I usually send to a printer.

http://h20435.www2.hp.com/t5/367-Add...-It/ba-p/84723

[DanK]

I never refill cartidges. I have no confidence that non-OEM inks are high quality, even if they look good initially. If I recall, Wilhelm Imaging had a very poor permanence evaluation for some non-OEM inks.

[Andrew1]

At $8,000.00 a gallon the ink is one of the most expensive items on the planet. The amount you get in the cartridges, HP anyway, is getting less over the years. http://www.businessinsider.com/hp-bu...tridges-2012-5 If you print minimal amounts then adding a continuous supply system is not cost effective. If you print quite a bit, checking up on third party inks of good quality and reputation may be worth your while.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/m...-ink/index.htm

[Shadowman]

I never refill cartidges. I have no confidence that non-OEM inks are high quality, even if they look good initially. If I recall, Wilhelm Imaging had a very poor permanence evaluation for some non-OEM inks.

There were reviews in the link on the following: purchasing refill cartridges (third party or knock offs), refilled in store, and refilled DIY. All reviews gave lower ratings on each of the three options.

[Shadowman]

At $8,000.00 a gallon the ink is one of the most expensive items on the planet. The amount you get in the cartridges, HP anyway, is getting less over the years. http://www.businessinsider.com/hp-bu...tridges-2012-5 If you print minimal amounts then adding a continuous supply system is not cost effective. If you print quite a bit, checking up on third party inks of good quality and reputation may be worth your while.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/m...-ink/index.htm

Another thing to consider is the cost of the printer, whether or not it is still under warranty, and as you stated cost of the ink. A few years ago you could get a semi decent printer for under $150.00 but paid $30.00 or more per cartridge.

[GrahamS]

John, for what it's worth, my advice is to always use OEM inks. The only trouble I have ever had with my Canon i9500 printer has been when I used 3rd party ink.

[DanK]

At $8,000.00 a gallon the ink is one of the most expensive items on the planet.

I have never figured out the functional capacity and done the arithmetic, but it is certainly true that cartridges are not cheap. Individual cartridges for the Pixma Pro 9000II run about $13 each. However, the final cost of inkjet prints is still modest. For example, Red River paper did extensive tests, and their estimate is that the total cost of ink on the older model 9000 was $1.23 for an 8 x 11 print (roughly 20 x 28 cm). Their 68lb. UltraPro Satin paper in that size costs as little as $0.27/sheet, depending on the size of the box. So, in round numbers, $1.50 per 11 x 14. Even at twice the price, it is a bargain compared to the old days. No way am I going to cut corners at that stage, after spending in some cases hours trying to get an image to look as I want. It would be like putting cheap, worn tires on a high-performance car. However, to each her or his own.

[rpcrowe]

Being a cheapskate, I considered refilled cartridges. However, I love the fact that my Canon Pixma Pro 9000 Mk.II never clogs. I try to run at least one print a week through the printer (usually a lot more). I tried refilling my own HP cartridges when I was using an HP Photosmart printer but that was a disaster - with ink all over the place and a very angry spouse. I then tried some third party refills but they clogged the printer.

Although, some of our members seem to have had success (especially in the U.K.) with third party inks, I am sticking to Canon inks.

[GrahamS]

Another thought.......if you use the correct paper/ink/printer profile, you have to have consistency, which you will not get with 3rd party inks.

[DanK]

I try to run at least one print a week through the printer (usually a lot more).

In my experience, you don't need to. I have two Canon dye-based printers, both of which have sat idle for long periods of time, often in very hot or cold rooms. One is about 5 years old, I think. Neither has ever clogged. That is one reason I don't use a pigment-based printer. i don't want to have to print often to avoid clogs.

[tao2]

Ah've had 2 Epsons and now on my second Canon printer. Don't use refill inks - 3rd. party. Apart fae the supplied cartridges when new, ah've bought less than half a dozen packs of "genuine" inks. Once for comparison's sake - virtually no difference. Like a Leica lens the originals were better but not by a factor of 50.
Used tae use a local supplier but now use 7dayshop on the web. Difference is almost indistinguishable (and often equals the originals), given the huge improvement in 3rd. party inks over the years.

PS don't print larger than A4.

[James G]

I have an Epson r3000 and use lyson ink as a cheaper alternative to Epson.I reckon my ink costs have reduced by 80%. I used the same profiles initially for comparison purposes and generated my own profiles later for comparison. Arguably the 3rd party ink gave better colour depth on side-by-side comparison.

I've now refilled the carts several times with no problems. I do not intend to ever buy Epson inks again.

[Boatman]

I've been refilling for several years, initially with a Canon S9000 and now with an Epson 1430 (color) and Epson 1400 (black and white). The economics are overwhelmingly favorable - 1/40th the cost of Epson ink. There is an initial outlay for refillable cartridges but this is negligible as they last forever. This is also very convenient. If I run out of a color, I just fill the cartridge. It takes only minutes. There are issues with longevity and color matching that you should be be aware of.

I have been using MIS D2 dye inks for my color printer. While I like MIS as a company, their D2 ink fades badly. However, you have to ask yourself what you are printing for? If you are just starting out and you are not printing 'gallery' quality prints yet, what's the difference? (BTW, most store-brand refills are of a roughly equal or lesser quality than MIS.) Lyson XG inks are claimed to be more fade resistant but my un-scientific tests show that they are not much better. Aardenburg Imaging has test results for Epson and MIS D2 on their web site - Lyson is in the works. Cone has recently introduced a new version of the InkThrift line, called CL, that is supposed to be just about as good as Epson - which is very good. The InkThrift CL costs about 1/17th the cost of Epson for the ink and you get all the benefits of refilling your own cartridges.

As for color matching, if you don't get a custom .icc made, it is a bit of a crap shoot. I've had a lot of trouble with MIS D2 creating rather greenish skies but I know how to fix it and I now have a custom .icc that works perfectly on RR Ultrapro Satin and Arctic Polar Gloss. Usually these issues can be fixed with a little PP, but it does require a few extra prints to correct. Cone claims the new InkThrift CL will match paper company's .iccs for Epson perfectly.

I use Epson Claria ink when it really counts or people are paying me for my work. Otherwise, I'm using MIS, though I do plan to try the Cone InkThrift CL when my supply of Epson ink runs out. I don't consider having my work printed by an outside company a realistic option and paying the price for Epson ink for all my work does not make economic sense.

As for the 1400 I have for black and white - that's a whole different post. I have three sets of carbon inks and all I'll add is that you need to go to http://www.paulroark.com/BW-Info/ and start reading. Then go to MIS and plan to spend about $150 to stock up on supplies. The Paul Roark formulas are great, MIS has all the materials and the carbon inks lasts... well, no one knows how long - they last longer than silver halide prints. Hundreds of years maybe.

[Steve S]

I get everything I need to refill my cartrages, from here...........http://www.rjettek.com/


It's very easy to refill the cartrages, and the ink is excellent. It costs me about $65 to get enough ink to refill all my cartrages about 10 or so times. I've been using it in my canon pro9000 printer for over a year now , with no problems. I've never noticed any color shifts, between this ink, and the original. I have prints over a year old and they still look like the day I printed them. Now , the paper is the most expensive part of the print.


If anyone wants a run down, on how to refill the cartrages, let me know.

[Shadowman]

I get everything I need to refill my cartrages, from here...........http://www.rjettek.com/


It's very easy to refill the cartrages, and the ink is excellent. It costs me about $65 to get enough ink to refill all my cartrages about 10 or so times. I've been using it in my canon pro9000 printer for over a year now , with no problems. I've never noticed any color shifts, between this ink, and the original. I have prints over a year old and they still look like the day I printed them. Now , the paper is the most expensive part of the print.


If anyone wants a run down, on how to refill the cartrages, let me know.

I'd like to hear, are all cartridges (per model specifications) the same. Does one (let's say a photo versus tri color) require different handling instructions?

[Colin Southern]

I have an Epson r3000 and use lyson ink as a cheaper alternative to Epson.I reckon my ink costs have reduced by 80%. I used the same profiles initially for comparison purposes and generated my own profiles later for comparison. Arguably the 3rd party ink gave better colour depth on side-by-side comparison.

I've now refilled the carts several times with no problems. I do not intend to ever buy Epson inks again.

Same here.

Epson carts are $250 + tax each ($2000 to fill the printer) (Epson 7800). Lyson ink carts are about 60% cheaper, with slightly better gamut and slightly less clogging.

I advise people to just do their homework; yes, there are some awful non-oem inks out there -- but there are also some that are actually better and cheaper too.

[arith]

I buy non oem inks for my Canon Pixma pro MKII and have had a couple of duffs in red and green, the green was completely the wrong colour. But for the others the only problem is them running out quick, although they have more ink in them.

I always check the colour by printing a test strip before and after changing, and non oem are 60% cheaper.

[Steve S]

I'd like to hear, are all cartridges (per model specifications) the same. Does one (let's say a photo versus tri color) require different handling instructions?

I'm not shure about multi color cartrages. Mine are single color . First you have to buy a chip resetter. All you do is touch the electrical contacts of the cartrage to the resetter. This will reset the cartrage to "full" , so your printer thinks it is a new cartrage. (printer will give a warning when the cartrage gets low)

Next , there is a small plug at the top of the cartrage. (under the tape on the cartrage, above the tank of the cartrage) It looks like a plastic BB. Place the cartrage on a firm surface, and using a hammer and punch, knock the BB into the cartrage tank...........This won't hurt anything, because there is a filter sponge in the tank.

Next, hold the cartrage firmly on some paper towels, and fill ink , with a syringe. I got my syringes from a friend that works at a hospital. When full, place a rubber plug in the fill hole and press firmly. (purchased from rjettek) Clean up any drips with a clean paper towel, and that is all there is to it.

The next time you refill, just pull the plug out of the cartrage , with a pair of needle nose plyers, and fill it.

[xpatUSA]

For what it's worth: After about 10 years of faithful service, Wife's Epson 740i got killed by some re-cycled cartridges she bought. Epson R260 . . same thing. She is now forbidden to buy cartridges . . .

Two events maketh not a statistic, I know.

[Shadowman]

For what it's worth: After about 10 years of faithful service, Wife's Epson 740i got killed by some re-cycled cartridges she bought. Epson R260 . . same thing. She is now forbidden to buy cartridges . . .

Two events maketh not a statistic, I know.

Do you know if was caused by the cartridges? What exactly happened, also ten years is a long time for any printer. I am going strong at nine years and holding my breathe, so could it be a faulty mechanism?