Did you know printer users who perform printer ink refills on their own instead of buying new cartridges save up to 70% of their refill costs? Replacing printer cartridges can be surprisingly costly. As a result, most users prefer getting their cartridges refilled at a store. However, the cheapest and most cost-effective alternative to buying a new expensive printer cartridge is refilling it by yourself.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The cheapest and most cost-effective alternative to buying a new expensive printer cartridge is refilling it by yourself.
- It has been reported that printer users who recycle instead of buying new cartridges save up to 70% of their costs.
- It’s essential to note that the amount of ink materials you will need largely depends on the number of cartridges you are looking to refill.
At first, the thought of buying a refilling kit and getting messy with your top-quality printer cartridge may be repelling. However, refiling your cartridges has a lot of benefits. It’s good for the environment since it promotes recycling. It also cuts down on costs spent on purchasing expensive new cartridges.
Refilling your Printer Ink Cartridge
Perhaps one of the most popular ways of re-hydrating printers at home and in the workplace is by refilling ink cartridges. To successfully carry out a printer ink refill, a user needs to have the correct type of ink. They also need to have the right body and ink refill kit. You can also refill laser cartridges or go to a retail location. This process, however, is more complicated than refilling an ink cartridge.
Printer ink refill kits are generally the same and include the following:
- Syringe
- Pair of plastic gloves
- Injection needles
- Ink bottles
When it comes to ink refills, It’s essential to note that the amount of ink materials you need to refill your printer largely depends on the number of cartridges you are looking to refill.
Refilling a Printer Ink Cartridge
Refilling your home or office printer cartridge ink is relatively easy. To successfully perform this task by yourself, do the following:
- First, you need to find the sticker label on your cartridge and remove it. Alternatively, you can remove the entire cap. Five holes will be visible.
- If you are refilling a tricolor cartridge, it is essential to note that there are three chambers. Match the colors to the holes to prevent accidentally inserting the wrong color in the wrong hole. To correctly identify the colors, poke the needle into the holes and wipe it on a paper or cloth. As a preventive measure, cover the holes you won’t be refilling with tape to prevent contamination.
- If you are refilling a black cartridge, use the upper hole and cover the rest with tape.
- Now that you have identified the holes you want to fill, fill up the syringe with ink from the refill bottle. Insert the syringe into the hole, and slowly push the needle inside gently to get to the sponge. It is common to experience resistance when inserting the needle into the hole.
- When refilling a standard cartridge, put about 4ml of refill ink. If it’s a high yield cartridge, use about 10ml of refill ink. Keep a close eye on the hole to prevent ink from overflowing in case you put excessive ink.
- After you are done injecting the ink into the holes, slowly pull out the syringe and remove the tape. Make sure you have wiped off any refill ink that might have spilled during the task. Let the refilled cartridge sit for about an hour. It helps the sponge to soak in ink thoroughly.
- Finally, insert the refilled ink back into the printer. Depending on your printer, it will send an alert message that your cartridge is empty. Ignore this message and keep printing. However, if the error limits you from printing, there may be something wrong with your printer. You can repair the printer at home by either power cycling your printer or cleaning the print head.
F.A.Q.S
What benefits do you get from refilling your printer cartridge ink?
Refiling your cartridges has a lot of benefits. It’s good for the environment since it promotes recycling. It also cuts down on costs spent on purchasing expensive new cartridges.
How much ink should I inject into the cartridge?
When refilling a standard cartridge, put about 4ml of refill ink. If it’s a high yield cartridge, use about 10ml of refill ink.
Can I refill a cartridge myself?
Refilling your ink cartridge at home is relatively easy. All you need is a syringe, a pair of plastic gloves, injection needles, tape, and required color ink bottles.
How do I know which colors go into which holes?
To correctly identify the colors, poke the needle into the holes and wipe it on a paper or cloth.
What do I need to refill my ink?
All you need is a syringe, a pair of plastic gloves, injection needles, tape, and required color ink bottles.
STAT: Newspapers, magazines, and book publishers are among the primary users of printing services in the U.S. When these industries grow, the printing industry grows. The Printing industry market is expected to take a dip by -2% in 2021 (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.cartridgepeople.com/info/how-refill-ink-cartridges
- https://www.suppliesoutlet.com/blog/how-to-refill-ink-cartridges-canon/
- https://www.wikihow.com/Refill-an-Inkjet-Printer-Cartridger
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pADhqA0ExRo
- https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/printing-united-states/
