Epson CX3810 ink refill (noob questions)

[Dan Lenski]

Hi all,
I have an Epson CX3810 printer-copier-scanner which I like a lot and
which has "run out" of black ink for the first time. However, I'm
quite sure that it hasn't really run out since the black cartridge
makes sloshing noises when I shake it

Because the brand name cartridges are so expensive, I wanted to get a
refill kit and a chip resetter, but there are so many places selling
these and not sure if they're all equally good. One I've found is at:
http://www.re-inks.com/Epson-classic-refill-kit-Stylus-CX3810.asp

If I get their 18-refill black ink kit and the universal chip resetter,
will I be all set? Can anyone confirm that the universal chip resetter
will work correctly with the CX3810 cartridges? The blank ink
cartridge is model T0601 according to the label on it. Am I stupid to
try refilling ink? Should I just buy generic replacement cartridges
and be done with it? Is re-inks.com an okay place to buy from?

Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Dan Lenski

 

[Wolfgang Schmittenhammer]

Hi all,
I have an Epson CX3810 printer-copier-scanner which I like a lot and
which has "run out" of black ink for the first time. However, I'm
quite sure that it hasn't really run out since the black cartridge
makes sloshing noises when I shake it

Because the brand name cartridges are so expensive, I wanted to get a
refill kit and a chip resetter, but there are so many places selling
these and not sure if they're all equally good. One I've found is at:
http://www.re-inks.com/Epson-classic-refill-kit-Stylus-CX3810.asp

If I get their 18-refill black ink kit and the universal chip resetter,
will I be all set? Can anyone confirm that the universal chip resetter
will work correctly with the CX3810 cartridges? The blank ink
cartridge is model T0601 according to the label on it. Am I stupid to
try refilling ink? Should I just buy generic replacement cartridges
and be done with it? Is re-inks.com an okay place to buy from?

Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Dan Lenski

Cannot vouch for the chip re setter or your model printer.
Try ALOTOFTHINGS.COM
http://www.alotofthings.com/viartshop/product_details.php?category_id=29&item_id=1116
They have a good reputation for quality products. I have been using
their inks, Formulabs, in a Canon 6000D and get stunning results.. Just
won a couple ribbons in an amateur photo contest, with printouts using
their inks..

 

[Wolfgang Schmittenhammer]

Cannot vouch for the chip re setter or your model printer.
Try ALOTOFTHINGS.COM
http://www.alotofthings.com/viartshop/product_details.php?category_id=29&item_id=1116

They have a good reputation for quality products. I have been using
their inks, Formulabs, in a Canon 6000D and get stunning results.. Just
won a couple ribbons in an amateur photo contest, with printouts using
their inks..

Don't know personally, but from reading the page, if you get their
virgin refillable cartridge, they have auto reset chips installed
Dave.....

 

[Yianni]

This printer uses new cartridges (with different shape than the normal ones
and different chips). There is no resetter for those chips.

 

[Wolfgang Schmittenhammer]

This printer uses new cartridges (with different shape than the normal
ones and different chips). There is no resetter for those chips.

http://fillserv.com/inkjetprinter.php?make=Epson&printer=Epson+Stylus+CX3810

 

[measekite]

Cannot vouch for the chip re setter or your model printer.
Try ALOTOFTHINGS.COM
http://www.alotofthings.com/viartshop/product_details.php?category_id=29&item_id=1116

They have a good reputation for quality products. I

I found them to be unprofessional. It is best to use OEM ink. The only
exception is if your printload is that heavy and you are willing to
lower your standards somewhat for the sake of money and you will print
so much before your printhead goes south.

 

[mike.j.harvey]

Measekite is a well known troll who haunts this group. Ignore him. My
advice is, every time you buy an ink refill, bank the difference
between its price and the OEM refill. When you have banked the price of
the next printer you want to own, stop. After that time, you're
coasting. Simple.

Measekite is autistic, and he cannot help doing what he does. It is
best just to ignore him.

 

[mike.j.harvey]

I found them to be unprofessional.

I bet you never dealt with them, and you just made that up. Troll.

 

[Wolfgang Schmittenhammer]

I bet you never dealt with them, and you just made that up. Troll.

measkite says he only uses OEM, so why would he have dealt with them, I
know nothing of them, but the poster before, claims there is no chip re
setter for that model...............

 

[Dan Lenski]

http://fillserv.com/inkjetprinter.php?make=Epson&printer=Epson+Stylus+CX3810

Thanks for the info, Wolfgang and Yianni!

So, if I understand correctly: the stock cartridges CANNOT BE RESET.
However, if I get non-OEM cartridges, I can refill them and they will
never need resetting?

Dan

 

[Yianni]

Sorry, a mistake, these cartridges are the "old" style. So the resetter work
on them.

 

[Dan Lenski]

Sorry, a mistake, these cartridges are the "old" style. So the resetter work
on them.

Okay... thanks. Just to make sure: these cartridges have a 7-pin IC on
them that looks like this
http://toleressea.net/forsale/IMG_0036.RAW.jpg

Those are the resettable kind? Do I need the resetter only for the
Epson OEM cartridges, or even if I use generic cartridges?

Dan

 

[measekite]

Measekite is a well known troll who haunts this group. Ignore him. My
advice is, every time you buy an ink refill, bank the difference
between its price and the OEM refill. When you have banked the price of
the next printer you want to own, stop. After that time, you're
coasting. Simple.

The reason for the illogical advice above is that they all know that you
will clog the printhead sooner or later. I have always professed that
if you are willing to:

accept lower quality results

accept the potential for more rapid fading

and print a great deal so that

you will go thru a great deal of ink before you trash the printer

that you may want to consider a relabeler.


That is what was said very indirectly above.

Maybe he has some association with a relabeler. Many trolls in this
group are so be careful with what you read. It is just like many
reviews from the online price comparison search engines. False and
phoney reviews. It is difficult to know the truth.

THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!

 

[measekite]

Thanks for the info, Wolfgang and Yianni!

So, if I understand correctly: the stock cartridges CANNOT BE RESET.
However, if I get non-OEM cartridges, I can refill them and they will
never need resetting?

Of course because sooner or later you will not have a printer either

 

[Dan Lenski]

Measekite is a well known troll who haunts this group. Ignore him.

Thanks for the heads up. I browsed the group before posting, and kind
of got this impression from his other posts on threads about ink
refills.

My
advice is, every time you buy an ink refill, bank the difference
between its price and the OEM refill. When you have banked the price of
the next printer you want to own, stop. After that time, you're
coasting. Simple.

Sounds good to me! The printer I have is a cheap model, but it works
very well for me and I enjoy tinkering with things, so I'll try to keep
it going for a while with this strategy.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Yianni]

Yes, these are the resettable chips. You need to reset both oem or
compatible chips. Some compatible chips aren't resettable. You can even use
the oem chips to compatible cartridges or the opposit.
The oem cartridges are difficult to refill, the compatibles are much easier.

 

[mike.j.harvey]

Sounds good to me! The printer I have is a cheap model, but it works
very well for me and I enjoy tinkering with things, so I'll try to keep
it going for a while with this strategy.

If you counter his "cheap ink blocks heads" argument, as I seem to have
done, Measekite resorts to warning about colour (or "color") fading,
etc. These may or may not be fair points, depending on your usage. If I
were depending on my printer for professional purposes, well, maybe,
(the ink would be a business expense) but my inkjet tends to get used
for home/hobby type purposes, printing out labels and jackets for my
pirated CDs & DVDs, web pages, course work, shopping lists, film
reviews for stuff I've downloaded etc. If they fade, big deal!

 

[Dan Lenski]

If you counter his "cheap ink blocks heads" argument, as I seem to have
done, Measekite resorts to warning about colour (or "color") fading,
etc. These may or may not be fair points, depending on your usage. If I
were depending on my printer for professional purposes, well, maybe,
(the ink would be a business expense) but my inkjet tends to get used
for home/hobby type purposes, printing out labels and jackets for my
pirated CDs & DVDs, web pages, course work, shopping lists, film
reviews for stuff I've downloaded etc. If they fade, big deal!

Yep, my uses are similar... printing mailing labels, letters, quick
reference guides to programs that will be obsolete in 6 months. If I
need to print my resumé or something like that, I'll use a better
printer.

I imagine that there could be some seriously crappy ink out there that
will block inkjet print heads, but I doubt it's a widespread problem
given that a lot of people seem to have success with generic ink and
cartridges. One thing I read in Consumer Reports is that generic ink
cartridges often contain a lot less ink than original OEM cartridges,
and consequently don't last as long... is there any truth to that?

I checked the reviews of the site I bought from, and buyers seem to be
happy with their products. I figure that if I find a good source of
cheap ink, I'll stick with it... if not, I'll clean the print head and
try something else.

Dan

 

[Peter in New Zealand]

One thing I read in Consumer Reports is that generic ink

cartridges often contain a lot less ink than original OEM cartridges,
and consequently don't last as long... is there any truth to that?

Hi Dan. Speaking from experience, compatibles can vary widely in the amount
of ink they are loaded with. Also, if they have been refilled, and the ink
is held in a foam pad, it is probable that the foam will not hold as much as
it did from new. I used to refill for a little extra income, but at the
kitchen sink level of business it didn't really pay because of that. People
got frustrated when their refilled carts ran out sooner. For my own use I
experimented until I found a brand of compatibles that seemed as good as the
originals, and I have stuck with them ever since.

On another note - I went to buy replacement carts for my Canon MP360 the
other day, and found I could buy a whole new printer (admittedly a cheapy)
for less than the cost of putting new carts in mine. Go figure!!! Maybe the
next thing the companies try will be a printer that cannot be re-carted -
when it runs out of ink you just throw the whole thing away.

 

[Dan Lenski]

Hi Dan. Speaking from experience, compatibles can vary widely in the amount
of ink they are loaded with. Also, if they have been refilled, and the ink
is held in a foam pad, it is probable that the foam will not hold as much as
it did from new. I used to refill for a little extra income, but at the
kitchen sink level of business it didn't really pay because of that. People
got frustrated when their refilled carts ran out sooner. For my own use I
experimented until I found a brand of compatibles that seemed as good as the
originals, and I have stuck with them ever since.

Ah, good to know. The compatible cartridges I just bought
(http://www.inkforsale.net/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?pid=100000151&source=adwords)
claim to contain 20 mL of ink, which seems to be on the high side of
the quantity advertised for this type of cartridge.

On another note - I went to buy replacement carts for my Canon MP360 the
other day, and found I could buy a whole new printer (admittedly a cheapy)
for less than the cost of putting new carts in mine. Go figure!!! Maybe the
next thing the companies try will be a printer that cannot be re-carted -
when it runs out of ink you just throw the whole thing away.

Yeah. New replacement cartridges for this Epson CX3810 would be about
$80 for a full set of 4, much more than the original cost ($50, but I
got it for free after a rebate). And that's just ridiculous, because
the machine itself is quite nice: scans well, copies well, prints well,
and much more solidly constructed than my previous cheapo printer.

It seems like there are about 1,000 sites selling ink cartridges, but
very little objective information on ink and cartridges is available.
Anybody know of a good comprehensive site with information on different
ink sellers and such?

Dan