HP 56 cart clogging

[TJ]

I've been successfully refilling HP 56 and 57 carts for my PSC 2110 for
about three years now, with scarcely a clog. This last 56 cart has been
something else, though. At first it worked fine. Then after an idle
period of a couple of days, it wouldn't print. No ink flow at all. I use
an InkTec refill kit, and the holder (bracket?) has a spot where you
insert a syringe to draw some ink through the head to clear air bubbles
or clogs. When the cart clogs, use of this syringe bracket removes the
clogs quickly and easily, but if the printer sits for a couple of days
it just clogs right back up again. This didn't happen with the other
carts I've refilled.

Any ideas? I purchased the cart from LD Products as a "remanufactured"
cart. Could the LD ink be drying too fast? Could it be air bubbles
trapped in the cart? One time when I was clearing it out it looked like
there were air bubbles in the ink in the syringe. I tried refilling, but
the amount that went in suggests that the cart wasn't more than half
empty, if that. Could there be a clogged vent somewhere?

The troll will no doubt say that if I were using OEM ink this wouldn't
be a problem. That may be true, but it's not an option I wish to pursue
at this time. I like having cash in my wallet at the end of the month
more than I dislike the occasional clog. It's just that with THIS cart,
the clogs have been more than occasional.

TJ

 

[phreak]

The deal with HP carts (with the integrated print head) is that they do
not last forever.

Inkjet print heads do 'wear' and you just might have one that is worn
out. I'd count my $$ saved from the previous refills and invest in a
new HP 56 and start refilling that one as needed.

 

[measekite]

He likes having cash in his wallet and spending time chasing his tail
that costs more than the pennies he thinks he is saving.

 

[Al Bundy]

The deal with HP carts (with the integrated print head) is that they do
not last forever.

Inkjet print heads do 'wear' and you just might have one that is worn
out. I'd count my $$ saved from the previous refills and invest in a
new HP 56 and start refilling that one as needed.

Right. Who knows how many times that refilled cart has been recycled?
Look for used carts from friends and then you know they are "virgins"
so to speak. I feel like I have increased my luck with the 56/57 carts
by refilling them without removing them from the printer. I had to
modify the printer to gain access.

 

[DK]

Right. Who knows how many times that refilled cart has been recycled?
Look for used carts from friends and then you know they are "virgins"
so to speak. I feel like I have increased my luck with the 56/57 carts
by refilling them without removing them from the printer. I had to
modify the printer to gain access.

Great Idea.

Removing the cartridge is probably the direct cause of more failures
than refilling itself. I'm looking at where to drill holes to be
able to refill without removing.

 

[TJ]

He likes having cash in his wallet and spending time chasing his tail
that costs more than the pennies he thinks he is saving.

Pennies. (chuckle) Yes, pennies. Several thousand pennies over the last
three years, in fact.

TJ

 

[housetrained]

Pennies. (chuckle) Yes, pennies. Several thousand pennies over the last
three years, in fact.

TJ

Agreed, I've been refilling my HP56 for over a year now with no problems,
probably saved over £50 and enjoyed playing with it.

 

[Al Bundy]

Great Idea.

Removing the cartridge is probably the direct cause of more failures
than refilling itself. I'm looking at where to drill holes to be
able to refill without removing.

I figure it's my printer so I can modify it the way I want. On some
printers I cut an access door using a cabide tip on a Dremel like tool.
This is not necessary on the 56/57 carts, but you need to drill one
small hole near the back of the 57's cart hold down clip to inject the
red ink. The black cart can be accessed with no drilling using the
front holes through the paper. The 57 color cart seems to be especially
sensitive to being removed and replaced, but works fine when filled in
place.

 

[Taliesyn]

He likes having cash in his wallet and spending time chasing his tail
that costs more than the pennies he thinks he is saving.

I saved over $1,000.00 Canadian last year by NOT buying OEM inks and
refilling my own cartridges. In Measekite's language that translates to
100,000 pennies + . Hey, I don't mind chasing my tail for $1,000.00!
For that amount of money I can buy a handful of new printers every year,
instead of it wasted on just 10-11 way overpriced sets of OEM cartridges.

-Taliesyn

 

[measekite]

I saved over $1,000.00 Canadian last year by NOT buying OEM inks and
refilling my own cartridges. In Measekite's language that translates
to 100,000 pennies + . Hey, I don't mind chasing my tail for $1,000.00!
For that amount of money I can buy a handful of new printers every
year, instead of it wasted on just 10-11 way overpriced sets of OEM
cartridges.

-Taliesyn

I think most of the intelligent posters here do not believe the kid.

 

[Frank]

I saved over $1,000.00 Canadian last year by NOT buying OEM inks and
refilling my own cartridges. In Measekite's language that translates to
100,000 pennies + . Hey, I don't mind chasing my tail for $1,000.00!
For that amount of money I can buy a handful of new printers every year,
instead of it wasted on just 10-11 way overpriced sets of OEM cartridges.

-Taliesyn

Oh that's very believable! One set of 8, 2oz bottles of Hobbicolors cost
$35. Each bottle is about worth about 5 refills. One oem cart from canon
cost $11.95 x5=$59.75 x8 (colors)=$478.
Do that whole thing 3 times in one year and here's what you'll save.

oem = $1434
Refilling = -$105
Savings = $1329

The more you print, the more you save. I've been refilling for more than
ten years. My printers don't clog, my prints don't fade and I'm not
broke because of the cost of oem ink.
Frank

 

[Taliesyn]

I think most of the intelligent posters here do not believe the kid.

Yes, using 10-11 sets of cartridges in a year must be fiction to you.
NOBODY could possibly use that much ink - let alone aftermarket ink, and
still have 3 fully operational printers. Well, sorry to break your lack
of "je ne sais quoi", but I did achieve the impossible - saved over
$1000 (Canadian dollars) and still have 3 fully operational printers, as
good in condition as the day I bought them. 10-11 sets of cartridges
averages out to only 3 to 4 per printer. Peanuts in usage terms. If you
don't get a bum printer from the oem's (like I did with one of them -
printhead and paper feed died within a month) then they'll easily last
several years. And mine have (i860,iP5000,ip4000). Sadly, I'll miss out
on the latest models for possibly several more years. But in the process
I'll be saving a bundle more with non-oem inks.

-Taliesyn

 

[George E. Cawthon]

Yes, using 10-11 sets of cartridges in a year must be fiction to you.
NOBODY could possibly use that much ink - let alone aftermarket ink, and
still have 3 fully operational printers. Well, sorry to break your lack
of "je ne sais quoi", but I did achieve the impossible - saved over
$1000 (Canadian dollars) and still have 3 fully operational printers, as
good in condition as the day I bought them. 10-11 sets of cartridges
averages out to only 3 to 4 per printer. Peanuts in usage terms. If you
don't get a bum printer from the oem's (like I did with one of them -
printhead and paper feed died within a month) then they'll easily last
several years. And mine have (i860,iP5000,ip4000). Sadly, I'll miss out
on the latest models for possibly several more years. But in the process
I'll be saving a bundle more with non-oem inks.

-Taliesyn

I think you need to recalculate your costs. Using
10 sets of cartridges, not only did you not save
$1000 dollars by using bulk ink, but you would
have spent only (10 sets x 5 cartridges x $12/per
cartridge ) $600 total for Canon cartridges.

Actually, the total is $620 because the BCI e3Bk
cartridge is $2 higher than the other cartridges.

 

[Taliesyn]

I think you need to recalculate your costs. Using 10 sets of
cartridges, not only did you not save $1000 dollars by using bulk ink,
but you would have spent only (10 sets x 5 cartridges x $12/per
cartridge ) $600 total for Canon cartridges.

I'm calculating in Canadian dollars.

Cartridge sets go for about $91 (Canadian $) at Staples in Canada,
Higher at Wal-Mart ($108 (?) including taxes), lower at Costco but
you're forced to buy 3 cyan, 3 magenta, 3 yellow, 3 photo black, 3 text
black - 15 cartridges at a time. We're talking hundreds of dollars.

-Taliesyn

 

[measekite]

Yes, using 10-11 sets of cartridges in a year must be fiction to you.
NOBODY could possibly use that much ink - let alone aftermarket ink,
and still have 3 fully operational printers. Well, sorry to break your
lack of "je ne sais quoi", but I did achieve the impossible - saved
over $1000 (Canadian dollars) and still have 3 fully operational
printers, as good in condition as the day I bought them. 10-11 sets of
cartridges averages out to only 3 to 4 per printer. Peanuts in usage
terms. If you don't get a bum printer from the oem's (like I did with
one of them - printhead and paper feed died within a month) then
they'll easily last several years. And mine have (i860,iP5000,ip4000).
Sadly, I'll miss out on the latest models for possibly several more
years. But in the process I'll be saving a bundle more with non-oem inks.

-Taliesyn

Great Googamooga

Da kid is rattled. I do not believe what you are saying.

 

[Frank]

George E. Cawthon wrote:

Just in case you missed it:

Oh that's very believable! One set of 8, 2oz bottles of Hobbicolors cost
$35. Each bottle is worth about 5 refills. One oem cart from canon cost
$11.95 x5=$59.75 x8 (colors)=$478.
Do that whole thing 3 times in one year and here's what you'll save.

oem = $1434
Refilling = -$105
Savings = $1329

The more you print, the more you save. I've been refilling for more than
ten years. My printers don't clog, my prints don't fade and I'm not
broke because of the cost of oem ink.
Frank

 

[George E. Cawthon]

I'm calculating in Canadian dollars.

Cartridge sets go for about $91 (Canadian $) at Staples in Canada,
Higher at Wal-Mart ($108 (?) including taxes), lower at Costco but
you're forced to buy 3 cyan, 3 magenta, 3 yellow, 3 photo black, 3 text
black - 15 cartridges at a time. We're talking hundreds of dollars.

I didn't know the exchange rate was that great, so
I looked it up. $620 US translates into $720
Canadian (depending on the day). Still, 10 sets
might approach $1000. I had forgotten that prices
(even in U.S. dollars) is so much greater in Canada.

 

[George E. Cawthon]

George E. Cawthon wrote:

Just in case you missed it:

Oh that's very believable! One set of 8, 2oz bottles of Hobbicolors cost
$35. Each bottle is worth about 5 refills. One oem cart from canon cost
$11.95 x5=$59.75 x8 (colors)=$478.
Do that whole thing 3 times in one year and here's what you'll save.

oem = $1434
Refilling = -$105
Savings = $1329

The more you print, the more you save. I've been refilling for more than
ten years. My printers don't clog, my prints don't fade and I'm not
broke because of the cost of oem ink.
Frank

I didn't miss it. I refill, but I don't see any
point in exaggerating. I can't imagine anyone
using 24 full cartridge changes in a year unless
they had a business. And in that case they should
be using a heavy duty printer. Most people
including people who refill would likely use less
than 8 cartridges per year. So the savings is
likely to be less than $500 per year.

 

[measekite]

I know you have been refilling for more years than inkjets have been
available.

I didn't miss it. I refill, but I don't see any point in
exaggerating. I can't imagine anyone using 24 full cartridge changes
in a year unless they had a business.

But he is a high school student

 

[TJ]

I didn't know the exchange rate was that great, so I looked it up. $620
US translates into $720 Canadian (depending on the day). Still, 10 sets
might approach $1000. I had forgotten that prices (even in U.S.
dollars) is so much greater in Canada.

I live within a couple of hours from the border and have been to Canada
regularly over the years. The exchange rate lately isn't as great as it
used to be. A couple of years or so ago, $1 US was nearly $1.50
Canadian. That can make a big difference. Canada also has a high "sales"
tax (what DO they call that tax?), which I believe is used to pay for
their universal health care system. That's something we here in the US
aren't willing to pay.

TJ