The proliferation of inexpensive inkjet printers gives the consumer many options when it comes to purchasing. The low cost of an inkjet printer may be deceiving however since the cost of the replacement inkjet cartridges and ink tanks may soon surpass the initial cost of the printer depending on the rate of use. Some entrepreneurial companies have developed do-it-yourself inkjet refilling kits. Others have opened storefront businesses where at a somewhat higher price they refill certain brands of cartridges while you wait. At the present time the lowest cost option on refilling inkjet cartridges and ink tanks is provided by the in home refilling kits. To start with all refill kits are not equal in terms of contents and ease of use. This article will deal with the InkTec brand that I have personally found to be very reliable.
InkTec refill kits can be purchased at numerous online sites. I’m not aware if they are sold retail. My preferred site is inkjetcartridge.com, which has a complete line of InkTec refill kits and bulk inks. You can also buy recycled cartridges from their site. They have downloadable printed refill instructions and in some cases, videos, showing the steps required to refill successfully.
Once you’ve selected and ordered your refill kit you are ready to refill a depleted inkjet cartridge once it occurs. Note that your chances of success greatly improve if you do this quickly once a cartridge starts to exhibit the signs of running low on ink. If you intend to refill your inkjet cartridges you should order the refill kit before you need it. It is also recommended that you order several bottles of bulk ink for each kit so that you can refill multiple times with the same equipment provided in the basic refill kit.
Besides refilling rapidly at the first signs of ink depletion the other critical item is to read the instructions thoroughly before you start. The steps involved require a certain amount of manual dexterity but are not beyond the capability of most people. If you have doubts download the instruction manual at one of the online dealers first and judge whether you feel comfortable doing it.
When you open an InkTec kit you will find an instruction manual written in multiple languages. Besides the written text there are line drawings and a list of tools and accessories included in the kit. There is also a troubleshooting section in case you need it. Common to most kits are the ink supply, a pair of disposable thin plastic gloves, and a refill clip to hold the cartridge. Depending on the brand, and model of the cartridge to be refilled there will be a syringe(s), needle(s), an opening tool, and possibly sealing plugs or alignment stickers. If it is a black ink cartridge typically there will be two bottles of ink. Color cartridges will likely have a bottle of cyan, magenta, and yellow ink.
Since the exact filling procedure varies from one cartridge model to the next they won’t be discussed here. Suffice it to say that you should start with a clean work area and multiple layers of paper towels to work on. Wear the gloves right from the start and never put different color inks in the same syringe, needle or refill clip unless instructed to do so after a thorough cleaning. If you contaminate a color cartridge by mixing inks or over injecting there is no way to reclaim it.
In most cases the refill process is straightforward as long as you follow the directions. Perhaps the greatest challenges are some cartridges that are sealed with a hard plastic ball that has to be extracted using the provided screw type tool. Other cartridges utilize a sticker to locate the injection ports. Be sure to save all stickers, tools and supplies for the next refill or else you’ll have to improvise which is possible but not always recommended. Typically you will get several refills out of one refill kit although, as mentioned before, buying extra bulk bottles of InkTec ink will extend the life of the refill kit. Only use inks designed for the cartridge you are refilling since cartridges are designed for different types of ink such as pigmented and non-pigmented.
The InkTec brand of inkjet refill kits has been shown to provide reliable results in refilling inkjet cartridges and tanks when used according to directions. As with any refill kit the chances or success improve if the cartridge is refilled as soon as it shows signs of ink depletion. A cartridge can be refilled multiple times but there will be a point where successful refills are no longer possible. It is difficult to predict where this point will be reached. In the meantime using a refill kit can provide an economical way of extending the life of most inkjet printer cartridges and ink tanks. The InkTec refill kits provide all of the necessary supplies and instructions to refill many brands of inkjet cartridges and ink tanks.
