Canon Ink vs. Arrow / alotofthings.com and "USA Ink Cartridge"

[Nifty]

Well fotofreek, the only solution, as I see it, is that you obviously need to print more!

So, let's see... 1 Gal. of ink is 3,785 ml. If a refill is usually about 12 ml then you can refill every other day for about 2 years with a gallon of ink (315 refills).

 

[fotofreek]

I'd have to corner the California market on Kirkland glossy paper, locate the last 100 i960 printers in the dwindling pipeline, and hire a round-the-clock staff to use that much ink! Have a heart, Nifty - I need one or two hours of sleep a night! Well, maybe I could consider half-gallons. BTW, What does a gallon of ink cost from Image Specialists?

 

[Nifty]

I'm not sure how much it is per gallon. From what I understand they sell it by the lb. and ship it in gallon containers (unless you want it in a drum). Maybe I'll give them a call and find out.

 

[Nifty]

fotofreek asked, so here's my answer to his question he posted here: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1089#p1089

I've noticed a few other things about my alotofthings.com / arrow cartridges:
1) They are smaller than OEM cartridges and in my experience don't seat as well, or click as firmly into the printhead.
2) More and more of them had the problem where the ink wouldn't flow from the reservoir to the sponge. Once I'd open up the reservoir ink was quickly pulled into the sponge and the cartridges seemed to continue to print just fine.

Alotofthings.com (arrow) cartridge
Wiredbeans (AccuJet) cartridge
Canon OEM Cartridge

 

[drc023]

Rob, I finally registered for this site. It's been a long time since I sent you the quick and dirty pdf file on refilling BCI-6's.
Are you really sure about the above cartridges. I compared my Arrow tanks to my Canon OEM tanks and they are exactly the same size.

 

[Nifty]

drc023, WELCOME!!! I'm always glad when a lurker has been converted to an Inkjet Forum Newbie!!!

I just grabbed one of the arrow carts and compared it to OEM and don't see as much difference as I had originally noticed. I would recant my statement about size difference, but when I put one of these cartridges into my printhead it still doesn't give me the same firm "CLICK" that the OEM cartridges do. Also, my OEM cartridges BARELY fit into the clips that the Arrow cartridges came in. I've really got to push HARD to get OEM cartridges to click into the acrylic case, so I'm pretty sure it isn't my imagination... or is it????

 

[drc023]

Not your imagination, I've noticed the same thing about the clips. Comapare the Arrow to the Canon and what you'll find is that the beveled edge on the bottom of reservoir end of the tank is a bit wider on the Arrow than the Canon. This makes it easier for the Arrow tank to snap into the acrylic clip. Both brands of cartridges seen to take about the same force to snap into the carrier.

 

[Nifty]

drc023, have you experienced any of the other issues I mentioned, for example, the black bleed into other colors on a regular paper setting, or the issue of ink not flowing into the sponge?

 

[drc023]

I haven't noticed any bleeding into other colors since I use a photo setting with anything other than plain paper. Otherwise there will be bronzing caused by the pigmented ink. That also may explain any bleeding since the pigmented ink isn't absorbed into photo paper as well as the dye based inks. On plain paper mode, it would be hard for me to say since the paper I use for that mode is a low end Office Depot sheet and is relatively porous.

 

[fotofreek]

Nifty - I am presently using a set of MIS virgin carts with MIS bulk ink. I have not yet had to refill them but they are working just fine. An interesting feature. They come with a printed label to identify the color ink that looks just like the OEM label on the top. It is loose in the package. I called MIS before using them to ask if I should apply the label similar to the OEM over the air vent with the end of the air vent groove left open. They told me it was not necessary to cover the actual air vent hole. I put the label on the side to just identify the cart and left the air vent uncovered. Works fine. I don't know if there will be more evaporation and change in viscosity, but I may just put a piece of saran wrap over all the carts when the printer is left idle for a few days. I wonder if opening the air vent might improve the function of the Arrow carts?