Inkjet Refill Kits

In today's market, costs for inkjet printers have fallen to all-time lows while costs for inkjet cartridges continue to rise. With a little practice, inkjet refill kits can reduce operating costs for your inkjet printer. Refilling cartridges can also help cut down on the number of used cartridges collecting in our landfills. That makes refill kits good for your pocketbook as well as the environment.

What an Inkjet Refill Kit Includes

Inkjet refills differ in small ways due to the fact that not every printer cartridge is identical, but the basics of a refill kit include:

Bottle(s) of ink (toner)
Syringe (The syringe will be equipped with a length of tubing instead of a needle)
Instructions specific to your printer make and model

The kit you order needs to be specifically for your printer make and model, and address whether or not you plan to refill black or color cartridges.

How to Refill a Printer Cartridge

Refilling a printer cartridge is not difficult, but it can be a little messy until you gain experience. It is also important to note that not all cartridges are the same. Even within the same printer, the black cartridge may be different than the color cartridge and require separate instructions. For instance in the HP 970CXI Printer, the black cartridge has an ink bladder and the color cartridge has sponges that absorb the ink. With that in mind, the following list is an example, but it is important to have instructions not only for your exact make and model but also for the exact cartridge you plan to fill.

Supplies Needed

Along with the supplies that come in your kit, you'll need a few other items.

Paper towels
Cotton swabs
Syringe and tubing
Ink
Tape
Instructions

Basic Directions

Spread newspapers across work surface. (You may also want to wear Latex gloves)
Remove the empty cartridge from the printer.
Clean the cartridge with a paper towel or cotton swab making sure you remove any buildup.
Place a clear piece of tape over the the dispensing end of the cartridge, if access to the reservoir is on the bottom. Some cartridges have a plug that can be removed and others have a foil seal over the hole to the reservoir. Some holes are on top and others on the bottom. If you're cartridge has foil don't peel it all the way off as it is needed to reseal the hole.
Fill the syringe according to instructions. (This means both the right type of ink as well as the right amount of ink for your cartridge.)
Inject the ink slowly into the reservoir.
When filling is complete, replace the seal or plug, remove the tape if you applied it.
If needed, use a paper towel to wipe any excess ink off the cartridge.

Specific Refilling Instructions

While these basic instructions give you an idea of how to refill your inkjet cartridge, specific instructions should come with your refill kit. It's important to follow the steps for your cartridge to make sure not only that it will work but that it won't cause damage to your printer. If you have lost the instructions that come with your kit, specific instructions can be found online for the following brands:

Where to Find Refill Kits

Not every office supply store will carry refill kits or supplies. If your local retailer doesn't have them, there are a number of retailers that specialize in ink and refill kits and supplies available on the Internet.

Online Resources

The Downside of Refills

While refilling your ink cartridges may sound like a perfect solution to cutting costs, there is a downside. Not only can the refilling process be messy, but if it isn't handled correctly, it's easy to gum up the circuits on the inkjet cartridge body and render it unusable. Another potential problem is that cartridges can leak and gum up printer circuitry where the cartridge is inserted. Attempts to clean the circuitry are usually futile. This results in the need for a new printer.

Another Option

If you like the idea of paying less by refilling your ink cartridge but aren't sure about doing it yourself, stores like Walgreens will do it for you. All you have to do is bring your empty cartridge to the photo counter of a participating Walgreens and they will refill them while you wait.