Can I use "Lexmark" ink in a Canon or HP?

[Fred Mau]

After using an Office Depot brand "Lexmark Inkjet Refill kit" to refill the
color cartridges in my Lexmark OptraColor 45 ($15 for all three colors), I
have plenty of ink left over.

Do I dare try using this same "Lexmark" color ink in any of my Canon
inkjets, ie in the BCi3's in a BJC-3000/6000 or BCI-10 in my BJC-80 ? Or in
the C1823 Cartridges in my HP1120C ?
Or is there something different in Lexmark ink chemistry that will ruin the
other printheads ?

I half suspect that once I get beyond the differences between Dye-based and
Pigment-based, then "Ink is Ink", but don't know for sure.

- FM -

 

[Mark Herring]

In principle, "dye is dye". But, you will walking on thin ice. I
would do a bit of research at the websites of the major 3rd party ink
houses. The really big ones focus mostly on Epson and then Canon, but
all the others are out there. Just "google" on "inkjet supplies" or
"inkjet ink".

What is equally important is the ink and paper ---all combinations
definitely do NOT work.

After using an Office Depot brand "Lexmark Inkjet Refill kit" to refill the
color cartridges in my Lexmark OptraColor 45 ($15 for all three colors), I
have plenty of ink left over.

Do I dare try using this same "Lexmark" color ink in any of my Canon
inkjets, ie in the BCi3's in a BJC-3000/6000 or BCI-10 in my BJC-80 ? Or in
the C1823 Cartridges in my HP1120C ?
Or is there something different in Lexmark ink chemistry that will ruin the
other printheads ?

I half suspect that once I get beyond the differences between Dye-based and
Pigment-based, then "Ink is Ink", but don't know for sure.

- FM -

**************************
Mark Herring, Pasadena, Calif.
Private e-mail: Just say no to "No".

 

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 18:04:18 GMT, Fred Mau wrote:

=>After using an Office Depot brand "Lexmark Inkjet Refill kit" to refill the
=>color cartridges in my Lexmark OptraColor 45 ($15 for all three colors), I
=>have plenty of ink left over.
=>
=>Do I dare try using this same "Lexmark" color ink in any of my Canon
=>inkjets, ie in the BCi3's in a BJC-3000/6000 or BCI-10 in my BJC-80 ? Or in
=>the C1823 Cartridges in my HP1120C ?
=>Or is there something different in Lexmark ink chemistry that will ruin the
=>other printheads ?
=>
=>I half suspect that once I get beyond the differences between Dye-based and
=>Pigment-based, then "Ink is Ink", but don't know for sure.
=>
=> - FM -

IIRC, some Lexmarks are rebranded HP's, and use the same
cartridges. NB that in the HP's the printhead is part of
the cartridge (one of the reasons it costs so much). If you
sue 3rd party ink in one of those, the worst that will
happen is that you lose the cartridge, not the printer.

As your other respondent pointed out, inks are _not_ the
same, even if they are the same type. I tried a couple of
different "refill kits" with an Epson 740, and a with an
HP660c, had trouble with both, and gave up. The cost
savings (supposedly 50%, if and only if it works) aren't
worth the hassle.