CLI-42 Tanks Available!

[Grazer5]

Did a couple refills yesterday, working fine. They seemed to dribble a little, but I think that's because I just got the ink from Mikling and it was a little cold. Expansion probably.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

OP, how much did that set cost you? I've contacted them via your link to do same thing. I've asked them if they are ARC chips; some other CLI-42 cartridge vendors specifically so state. With the cost of the CLI-42 resetters, I'd sure like to just go ARC.

I've noticed that my old trick of watching for great prices on OEM Canon CLI-8 cartridges isn't about to work with the CLI-42's. For instance, I just bought a set of CLI-8 C,M, and Y for $20 w/shipping. I guess the CLI-42 is still too low a seller for even the generics to start making them.

 

[websnail]

OP, how much did that set cost you? I've contacted them via your link to do same thing. I've asked them if they are ARC chips; some other CLI-42 cartridge vendors specifically so state. With the cost of the CLI-42 resetters, I'd sure like to just go ARC.

Hi Paul, I appreciate I am wholly biased on this but just as a thought, if ARC's are available you might want to check if they reset with every power cycle or if they need the cartridge to register as low (ie: prism indicates no ink left in the spongeless section) and physically be removed/reinserted before they can be reset.

The older style ARC's would reset with every power off so ink levels could be bone dry risking printhead damage in that scenario.

As I said, just a thought but figured it was worth mentioning.

 

[The Hat]

If you are going to go to the trouble of getting ARC chips then don’t wait on the availability of CLl-42 carts just use the CLl-8 carts instead, they are far better than any compatible cart could ever be..

 

[Paul Verizzo]

@websnail: Thanks for that, I had no idea how the chips work. But trying to nuance a question with the Chinese is often impossible. So I'll take what I can get and then check them out. If the trend has been from one to the other, one can hope. The Chinese are great at changing their technologies rapidly.

@The Hat: Not my experience at all. Don't know why you would say that. I've never had a generic cart not be just as good quality as OEM. Yes, I've had, I think one, cartridge not flow correctly. But since I buy so few OEM, I'll bet even the occasional Canon doesn't work as intended. All CISS kits use non-OEM, obviously.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

Well, 48 hours after asking for a price with your linked seller, Grazer5, and 24 hours after finding another one that says they sell single sets, I've yet to hear back from either of them. No email directly, no messages for me at Alibaba. Not even "We'll get back to you ASAP."

Heck of a way to do business.

 

[websnail]

The newer Canon middle of the road printers only offer this option for refilling. I had flow issues with OEM carts after 10 or so refills but not so for the clear refillables.

You're right, it's probably largely down to historical experience and I speak for myself here (but it may be true for others), because we found the third party stuff wanting, there's been no reason to reacquaint ourself with new versions.

That said, I'm in the process of revisiting a fair few things that I had written off as a waste of time or more trouble than they're worth. The new 550/551 cartridges and the limitations you mentioned are one reason for that where the OEM designs are so discouraging that there's little other option.

Fresh perspective n'all that..

 

[Paul Verizzo]

OK, got some sources for refillable CLI-42 cartridges, thanks to Smile noting aliexpress as a source for a print head. The retail branch of Alibaba, I guess. Twenty five items show up, including generic cartridges, ARC chips, and refillable tanks with presumably, ARC chips. Prices all over the ball park, but a set of tanks with chips can be had for $36, cheaper than just the chips! Hugely more expensive than CLI-8 products, guess that's the cost of a limited source of ARC chips.

http://www.aliexpress.com/premium/cli%252d42.html?ltype=wholesale&SearchText=cli-42&isPremium=y&d=y&origin=y&initiative_id=SB_20150201055735&isViewCP=y&catId=0

As is so typical of the Chinese retailers, there is a lot of poor accuracy in descriptions, including specs in the body that contradict the headline description. Then there's the picture of of PGI-5 cartridge only, then in the body it says it's a set of 8 carts with "one time" chips. And some of the alleged refillable tank sets come with ink and don't have the refill plugs................at least in the pictures!

A stated refillable set with picture of same says the tanks have ink in them. And so it goes.......

Caveat Emptor.

The bottom line is that if you want to refill CLI-42 carts the cheapest way is using Mike's resetter for (gulp) $49.

 

[Grazer5]

It took me a couple of tries to connect with these guys after they sent me a quote. But, we got them in the end. I don't really know if they are ARC chips because I just use my Redsetter on them anyway. I heard there was some problems with the absorber count going weird with those.

 

[Paul Verizzo]

And the price?