I've spent several days researching the various bulk/refill options for
Canon printers. From the various posts I've read, compatible cartridges are
not the way to go, but refilling is.

In the US, what provides the best match to OEM inks, and which provides the
best value?

Target printer is the i560 or i860. Thank you.

I've seen:

re-inks.com / atlanticinkjet.com
inkjetgoodies.com
alotofthings.com
weink.com

You've most likely seen numerous posts from me praising alotofthings.com, a
seller of Sensient-Formulabs Inks. I'd recommend that you also check out the
web site of the manufacturer, www.formulabs.com, and those of the other
makes as well. Do a google search on the companies and dig deeper into trade
articles about them. They aren't hard to find if you have the time to do a
little searching. From my personal experience I know Formulabs inks give
excellent results, equal to or better than OEM, but the others also have
dedicated followings. Go to each vendors web site and compare prices,
including s&h, for equivalent packages from all the vendors. No matter who
you order from, I'd recommend just buying bulk ink. Forget about the refill
kits which include stoppers, special syringes and other unnecessary gadgets
which add to the cost and just make the refilling process more complicated
than necessary. I've created a small two page pdf file which is a refill
instruction sheet that includes photos of refilled tanks and a second page
is a color test chart which is useful both as a color reference and as a
cleaning tool. I'll be glad to email you or anyone else who would like a
copy. Just send me a private email with your email address. I may not see
the request if it's posted in the newsgroup. The other bit of advise I'd
give is to not over order. Canon printers enable you to do a tremendous
amount of printing with only a few ounces of each color ink. You can do
many, many refills from a set of four ounce bottles. Since the i560 and i860
are heavy text printers, you may want to get a larger size bottle of black
than the colors.
--
Ron Cohen

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:bpgh7h$3176$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've spent several days researching the various bulk/refill options for
> Canon printers. From the various posts I've read, compatible cartridges
are
> not the way to go, but refilling is.
>
> In the US, what provides the best match to OEM inks, and which provides
the
> best value?
>
> Target printer is the i560 or i860. Thank you.
>
> I've seen:
>
> re-inks.com / atlanticinkjet.com
> inkjetgoodies.com
> alotofthings.com
> weink.com
>
>
>
>


---
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<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>In the US, what provides the best match to OEM inks, and which provides the
>best value?

I can't give a definitive answer, but Ron seems to have taken care of
that. So I'll just confirm that Formulabs ink is great. I order from
AtlanticInkjet here in Canada, and they were very good to deal with.

>Target printer is the i560 or i860. Thank you.

I'm using a Canon i850 and the ink is essentially an exact match. I also
use Office Depot photo paper and get excellent results that match Canon
paper. Since you're in the US, you might also try Red River paper which
I hear is quite good too.

Using ink refills and OD photo paper, I can print photos at home for
less than what it costs at any photolab.

What are your thoughts on refilling the OEM cartridges as opposed to
getting empty aftermarket cartridges so there is no mixing of the OEM and
aftermarket inks? Is the latter safer?

Steve Kraus wrote:

>What are your thoughts on refilling the OEM cartridges as opposed to
>getting empty aftermarket cartridges so there is no mixing of the OEM and
>aftermarket inks? Is the latter safer?

If the bulk ink you get is of high quality, mixing won't be an issue.
Ink refill kits or bulk ink from a good supplier like Atlanticinkjet
will match your Canon ink perfectly.

For cost reasons, empty cartridges would be cheaper. If you get them
from Inkjetgoodies they come with fill-hole plugs and output-hole clips,
ready for filling.

I don't think it makes a lot of difference. I've used both original Canon
tanks and low cost 3rd party ink tanks from Tyler Martin. Both types are now
in my refilling rotation. I refill with Formulabs ink and have had no
problems with ink mixing from one brand to another. Be sure to reuse the
original Canon tanks. However as for 3rd party tanks I think for the small
difference in cost it would be better to start with fresh unfilled tanks or
tanks that have been filled initially by the vendor with the same ink you
will be using for refilling. If you are planning on ordering Formulabs ink
from www.alotofthings.com that will be what you get. They fill unused tanks
with Formulabs ink. I don't know if any other vendors follow the same
procedure but it would be a good idea to check with them prior to placing an
order.
--
Ron Cohen

"Steve Kraus" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:1Q8wb.12499$(E-Mail Removed)...
> What are your thoughts on refilling the OEM cartridges as opposed to
> getting empty aftermarket cartridges so there is no mixing of the OEM and
> aftermarket inks? Is the latter safer?


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Bill <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Steve Kraus wrote:
>
> >What are your thoughts on refilling the OEM cartridges as opposed to
> >getting empty aftermarket cartridges so there is no mixing of the OEM and
> >aftermarket inks? Is the latter safer?
>
> If the bulk ink you get is of high quality, mixing won't be an issue.
> Ink refill kits or bulk ink from a good supplier like Atlanticinkjet
> will match your Canon ink perfectly.
>
> For cost reasons, empty cartridges would be cheaper. If you get them
> from Inkjetgoodies they come with fill-hole plugs and output-hole clips,
> ready for filling.

Are you sure they are the best price you can find? I don't own Canon
but I just checked the price for Continuous Ink System and emptied ink
cartrdige for some Epson printers and their prices are sky high. The
Contineous Ink System for example they want $250 each, when you can have
for $150 + Free S/H from the *original* company who started this Ink
System few years ago, or around $80 and up from other company.

Emptied ink catridge, they want about $9-10 for an emptied ink
cartridge when you can get OEM catridge (with ink) for as little as $3-4
each (some printer costs round $2-3).

"Ron Cohen" <drc023@N^O+S~P^A^M.sbcglobal.net>
wrotenews:0sYub.4660$(E-Mail Removed):

> You've most likely seen numerous posts from me praising
> alotofthings.com, a seller of Sensient-Formulabs Inks. I'd recommend


http://www.ink-refills-ink.com/

I like these guys.

HTH

--
---Mapanari---

Nowhere that I could find on this website are any specifications or
descriptions of the brand of ink they sell. They just refer to
compatible ink.

Maybe we should all go to a supermarket's meat department and ask the
butcher for compatible meat. Afterall, Mad Cow meat is still compatible.

Mapanari wrote:

>"Ron Cohen" <drc023@N^O+S~P^A^M.sbcglobal.net>
>wrotenews:0sYub.4660$(E-Mail Removed):
>
>
>
>>You've most likely seen numerous posts from me praising
>>alotofthings.com, a seller of Sensient-Formulabs Inks. I'd recommend
>>
>>
>
>
>http://www.ink-refills-ink.com/
>
>I like these guys.
>
>HTH
>
>
>

measekite wrote:

> Nowhere that I could find on this website are any specifications or
> descriptions of the brand of ink they sell. They just refer to
> compatible ink.
>
> Maybe we should all go to a supermarket's meat department and ask the
> butcher for compatible meat. Afterall, Mad Cow meat is still compatible.
>

Do you ask the butcher where the meat they sell comes from? Do you insist on
seeing a birth and death certificate for the actual animal that you are
considering buying?

Or, like most or us - do you just put your trust in the suppliers and try it
for yourself?