The Pitfalls of Refilling Cartridges

Whilst I make an effort to stop my articles becoming promotional for my company, but as a businessman who deals with computer consumables from dusk till dawn each day and also writes articles on general tech related topics sometimes it is unavoidable. In the last 12 months we have started offering a refill service and my knowledge of the subject has increased dramatically.

Thanks to adverts such as those commissioned several years ago by JR Inkjet (the ones featuring motoring journalist Quentin Wilson), there are a great many people who believe that they are immediately qualified for the task. Whilst refilling is certainly good for both your pocket and the environment, it is also an exact art that when improperly executed can yield terrible results.

Certain companies (who normally also sell refilling supplies) say you all you require is a drill bit, some universal ink and adhesive tape but if you want a good cartridge at the end of the process, unfortunately, this is not completely true. Manufacturers of printer cartridges spend a lot of time and money making sure their ink is distinctively suited for each of their cartridges and that they are as hard to refill/remanufacture as they can and as a result a certain amount of knowhow is needed.

Preparation is as important as the actual refilling itself and whilst not everybody is as thorough as ourselves, we use the following equipment on a daily basis to ensure that we retain the original quality.

- Centrifuge - This literally spins every last drop of ink out of the printer cartridge so that when you refill you don't have two differing ink types mixing together inside the cartridge.

- Steamer ' Helps break down blockages and congealed ink that could have potentially formed in the cartridges print head by gently spraying the bottom of the cartridge with a jet of steam.

- Ultrasonic Bath ' When partially filled with a specialist cleaning solution these are great for breaking down remaining ink; these machines are similar in design to those used for cleaning surgical tools in the healthcare industry.

- Replacement sponges - These are essential for a better quality result as the use of fresh sponges helps further prevent the mixing of ink. It may also be worth noting that some cartridges can have the amount of ink they can hold increased by removing restrictions inside the cartridge and inserting a new sponge.

- Replacement lids ' On all cartridges we refill we have to remove the lids to get to the sponge and replace them when we are done. This method prevents cross contamination due to overfilling common when using a 'drill and fill' technique often employed in home refills.

With the preparation done it is crucial that it is filled with ink that is similar to the manufacturers' original specification instead of simply using a 'universal' ink. If at all possible the refill should be done in a vacuum so no air is left in the cartridge ' this means once the vacuum is released the ink will spread more evenly in the sponge, ensuring contact with the nozzle plate so that the print head can begin to fill ready for printing. When filling outside of a vacuum you risk there being nothing but air between the ink and the exit of the cartridge.

Even with the all the training and equipment I have purchased, refilling can make quite a mess; our local customers are used to seeing the staff here with a substantial quantity of ink on their person (although the face tends to get the best response) but this is normally considered a occupational hazard. If you fancied having a go then we do have some excellent kits for sale, but since we guarantee to be the cheapest in Torbay, the smart advice would be to leave it to your ink splattered friends at Refresh.