Canon Printer ink refills - Any long term experiences?

[NAT]

I have an i860 and will be ordering my first refill kit from Atlantic
inkjet . . . but . . . I was wondering, has anyone had any experience
with long term refilling ink cartridges and were there any detrimental
effects?
I've read in other forums/discussion groups where some people report
having to replace print heads after so many refills and speculation
that replacement would not have been necessary had the person stuck
with factory ink cartridges/"quality" inks/etc.

I realize some information may be anecdotal but, probably, interesting
none the less.

 

[SleeperMan]

I have an i860 and will be ordering my first refill kit from Atlantic
inkjet . . . but . . . I was wondering, has anyone had any experience
with long term refilling ink cartridges and were there any detrimental
effects?
I've read in other forums/discussion groups where some people report
having to replace print heads after so many refills and speculation
that replacement would not have been necessary had the person stuck
with factory ink cartridges/"quality" inks/etc.

I realize some information may be anecdotal but, probably, interesting
none the less.

A guy who sold me refill kit told that it's good to replace cart after max.
10 refills. He got spilled all ink from one cart in the printer once because
he refilled too many times and obviously cart didn't seal anymore. It seems
that sponge inside deteriorates with time.

 

[Ray R]

A guy who sold me refill kit told that it's good to replace cart after max.
10 refills. He got spilled all ink from one cart in the printer once because
he refilled too many times and obviously cart didn't seal anymore. It seems
that sponge inside deteriorates with time.

If you don't seal the top it will leak. A deterioated sponge will not cause ink
to
leak. I do not know why the sponge will deterioate with a cartain number of
refills, it may over time. Any enlightment?

 

[Wolf Kirchmeir]

On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 13:39:09 -0800, Ray R wrote:

=>I do not know why the sponge will deteriorate with a certain number of
=>refills, it may over time. Any enlightenment?

The sponge is plastic, the ink contains solvents. So....

 

[Ron Cohen]

Try Looking at the costs a different way. A set of OEM cartridges is over
$70. I can refill six BCI-6 tanks for less than $2.00. Depending on where
the refill ink is purchased the costs may be lower or most likely higher,
but even at triple the price a complete set of refills would be under $6.00.
Three sets of Canon BCI-6's would cost somewhere around $210.00 compared to
between < $6 to < $18. After only three refills you've saved more than
enough to purchase a new printer should the first one fail - which is very
unlikely. Anything over three refills is money in the bank. FWIW, Atlantic
Inkjet supplies the same brand of ink that I use but purchased from a
different source www.alotofthings.com. The ink is very good and you
shouldn't have any problems.

 

[SleeperMan]

If you don't seal the top it will leak. A deterioated sponge will
not cause ink to
leak. I do not know why the sponge will deterioate with a cartain
number of refills, it may over time. Any enlightment?

Well, i couldn't say, too. This is what a guy told me. And he has i550, like
me. I think that sponge deteriorates with time, sure. But if you calculate,
say, 10 times refilling, it's about so much time and ...who knows.
I agree that sealed cart shouldn't leak. But remember that at the bottom
there's pretty big hole, sealed with sponge. And if this sponge is not so
perfect like new, it may increase hole and ink flow and cause leak. Normally
ink flows through this sponge. If it tears apart...I guess this is what he
meant.

 

[Bill]

I have an i860 and will be ordering my first refill kit from Atlantic
inkjet . . . but . . . I was wondering, has anyone had any experience
with long term refilling ink cartridges and were there any detrimental
effects?

I've been using their ink almost a year and no problems. Colour is good,
fade resistance is good, and photos are waterproof on Office Depot
paper.

I have read of a report where the sponge in the ink tank deteriorates
after about 10 refills, but I think I'm on my eighth refill and no
visible change. However, I refill as soon as the low-ink warning appears
indicating the ink reservoir is empty. I don't let the sponge dry out.

 

[Guest]

I have a continuous inking system. The literature doesn't say anything
about the sponges deteriorating. There are two things to note here:

1. In a CRS, the sponges never dry out. (The carts continuously
refill.) The deterioration may be due to dry ink.

2. The carts aren't original Canon, but seem to be the Atlantic Inkjet
compatibles with the replaceable clips. They may not have the same
sponge.

I've run about 200 ml of ink through each cart over a period of
several months. This is between ten and 20 refills per cart. No
problems.

YMMV

 

[BF]

I have saved over $200 by refilling in about six months. That's more
than a new printer. So I could buy a new printer every six months and
still save money.

 

[SleeperMan]

I have a continuous inking system. The literature doesn't say anything
about the sponges deteriorating. There are two things to note here:

1. In a CRS, the sponges never dry out. (The carts continuously
refill.) The deterioration may be due to dry ink.

2. The carts aren't original Canon, but seem to be the Atlantic Inkjet
compatibles with the replaceable clips. They may not have the same
sponge.

I've run about 200 ml of ink through each cart over a period of
several months. This is between ten and 20 refills per cart. No
problems.

YMMV

To be honest, a man never knows if that guy who told me this didn't seal his
cart enough... i guess we'll have to try to see the truth.

 

[Model Flyer]

I have saved over $200 by refilling in about six months. That's more
than a new printer. So I could buy a new printer every six months and
still save money.

And get a set of new ink tanks.

--
---
Cheers,
Jonathan Lowe.
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don't bother me with insignificiant nonsence such as spelling,
I don't care if it spelt properly
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Sometimes I fly and sometimes I just dream about it.