Should you try refilling your own cartridges? When most of us think of refilling our own ink cartridges, we think of the mess involved-ink spilling, staining our rugs, and getting all over our hands. And we think of the risks involved to our printers, as well-clogged print heads, damaged printers, and voided warranties. So with the risks associated.

Believe it or not, ink refilling may be worth a second look. You could stand to save a significant amount by refilling your own cartridges-even more than buying remanufactured or OEM-compatible cartridges, in some cases, especially if you buy your ink in bulk. And if you buy from a good company, you may not have any trouble with the ink. Here’s a little more information to help you decide.

What’s In the Kit?

Most ink refill kits come with either several bottles of black ink or one bottle each of the three major colors: cyan, yellow, and magenta. Combo refill kits come with both black and color ink. They also come with needles and possibly a cartridge holder. Some kits may come with different or additional tools, as every brand’s cartridges are different.

The Refill Process

When you refill your cartridge, you should always read the directions that come with the kit. Every ink cartridge is different, and yours may require different steps to refill. Here is a general guideline.

Your first task will usually be to inject ink into the cartridge using your syringe. You must do this slowly to avoid forcing the ink into other compartments in the cartridge where it doesn’t belong. Depending on your cartridge, you can either remove the top or inject the ink through a hole in the cartridge. With some cartridges, you’ll also have to remove excess air from the ink compartment.

Once you’ve done this, you may need to clean the print heads on the cartridge. This can be done by blotting with a cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Once you’ve made sure the print heads are clean, replace the top of the cartridge and install it in the printer. You may need to run your printer’s cleaning program to get rid of excess ink before you print.

Printer manufacturers are trying to make it more difficult for consumers to replace the ink in cartridges, and some have started installing computer chips in their cartridges that will prevent the printer from printing a refilled cartridge. To get around this, some kits come with a chip resetter.

Why You Should Refill Your Cartridges

The biggest benefit is the savings. You’ll definitely save more than you would when buying new manufacturer’s cartridges. A refill kit may also cost you less than buying discount remanufactured or third party cartridges as well.

Another benefit is environmental. By refilling your cartridges, you are keeping them-and the toxic chemicals in the ink and the cartridges themselves-out of the landfill. Approximately 65 million ink cartridges are used in the U.K. every year, and about 85% are sent to landfills.

When ink cartridges are dumped in landfills, the ink left over in the cartridge will leak out into the surrounding soil. Most printer ink contains volatile organic chemicals (VOC’s), which can cause cancer and birth defects. The plastics used in cartridges are engineering-grade polymers; they take approximately 1,000 years to decompose, according to some estimates.

The Drawbacks of Refilling Your Ink Cartridges

There is some mess associated with the process; you’ll need rubber gloves and a hand towel to contain spills. The ink will stain, so you’ll need to be careful not to get it on your clothes.

In the past, ink refill kits were messier than they are now. That’s because older refill kits were universal, made to work with any cartridge. Because different cartridge brands have different volumes and Kamagra a different makeup, this meant that the refill kit didn’t always work well with the cartridge at hand. This led to a higher risk of overflows and spills. Today’s refill propecia discounts kits are usually designed for one specific brand.

Another drawback can be the quality of ink. Some refill ink is almost as good as the original. With others, it can be significantly lower in quality-and it could damage your printer. Some manufacturers prescription cialis generic won’t honor the warranty on printers damaged by third-party ink.

Refilling your own cartridges can definitely be worth it, but you’ll have to choose a company carefully. Ask around for recommendations. Talk to a few companies and ask what guarantees they have on their refill kits. A good company should offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. Take some time in choosing a refill company, and you may be able to save a significant amount on your printing costs this way.

Author Bio: Find HP Deskjet F350 check out Discount Ink Cartridges

Category: Computers/Hardware
Keywords: ink cartridges, ink