MP640
Print Addict
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2010
- Messages
- 196
- Reaction score
- 71
- Points
- 168
- Location
- The Netherlands
- Printer Model
- Canon MG6150
Recently I replaced my MP640 by an MG6150 (anyone know how to change your forum name?) with the opaque cartridges. I used to refill the MP640 using the German Durchstich method and it was my intention to swicth to the top filling method for the opaque cartridges, with a toothpick as a dipstick to measure inklevels during refilling. I ordered a top refill kit from Octoinkjet, containing a chipresetter, squeeze bottles with ink, blunt needles, silicone plugs, carpenters owl and some more stuff.
In the end, I decided to not go for top filling but use the German Durchstich Method instead. I prepared for the worse, but actually there were no problems at all and I did not spill a drop of ink. Some of the stuff in the refill set that I ordered was not very well usable with the Durchstich method, but that's not Octinkjet's fault. I clearly ordered a top refill set and that's what I got.
Here's the report on my first refill of opaque cartridges using the German Durchstich method:
* First, I invested another euro 15 in a scale with 0.01 grams accuracy and a tare switch. Offtopic: I got the best advice on high precision scales on forums about certain controlled substances (of which we have a lot in the Netherlands);
* I reset each cartridge prior to doing any refill attempt. Dont want to waste time on a cartridge with a chip that wont reset when youre finished refilling it.
* I then used a one mm drill to drill a hole right in the middle of the >> pp << mark on the cartridge. I drilled the holes slightly downwards, for easier access to the gap between sponge and ink chambers
* I found that blunt needles are not suitable for the German Durchstich method. They didnt go through the sponge, but merely pushed it aside. Luckily I had still some 5 cm sharp needles that did go through the sponge easily. I drilled the holes slightly downwards, for easier access to the gap between sponge and ink chambers.
* Squeeze bottles are not very suitable for use with the German Durchstich method. I used syringes instead. I will explain below why.
* I hadnt weighed the cartridges when they were still full and unused as I initially was going to top fill. In this forum I found 20 grams for a CLI and 34 for a PGI cartridges, so I calculated with these numbers.
I tried several scenarios: weighing the cartridge, calculating the amount of ink needed, weighing the empty syringe and then filling it with the amount of ink needed, etc etc. I will continue the report by describing the method that I found to work best for me.
* Weigh the cartridge and calculate the amount of ink needed. For example, if a CLI cartridge weighs 15 grams, you need 20-15 = 5 grams of ink.
* Weigh the needle (only the needle, not the syringe) that you are going to use to refill the particular cartridge and use the tare button to reset the scale. When you remove the needle from the scale, the scale will indicate the negative weight of the needle.
* Connect the needle to the syringe and suck up a little bit more millilitres than the needed amount of ink in grams. For example, if you need 5 grams of ink, fill the syringe with about 6 ml. This is why I prefer the syringe over the squeeze bottles. With the prefilled syringe you have a better indication of about how much ink to inject.
* Now, turn the cartridge upside down and stick the needle into the cartridge, make sure it goes all the way through the sponge into the ink chamber. You can tell whether youre far enough by the length of the needle thats still outside the cartridge. I was also able to see the needle through the little plastic window on the cartridge bottom.
* Inject about half the amount of ink needed. Turn the cartridge over and wait some time to allow the ink to be sucked into the sponge. Turn it over again and inject the rest of the needed ink, but not all of it. In the example, above it would be about 4.5 of 5 ml.
* Disconnect the syringe from the needle, but leave the needle in the cartridge. I used a piece of tissue to absorb the ink thats still in the plastic part that connects the needle to the syringe. Now, weigh the cartridge. Because you used tare, you have corrected the scale for the weight of the needle thats still in the cartridge. Note: my scale auto turns off after 30 seconds of not being used, so every now and then I press it slightly to not loose the tare setting.
* The weight that is displayed is the actual weight of the cartridge plus ink and should (for the CLI cartridge) be 20 grams. Because you left the needle in the cartridge, its very ease to top off, or even suck out a little ink if you injected too much. Just reconnect the syringe to the needle.
* When the weight is close enough to the desired weight, remove the needle and return the excess ink to the bottle. I cover the drilled hole with a tiny piece of electricians tape as I dont print that much and I dont want the sponge to dry out.
Thats it. I found the process very easy to follow and I had no ink spills whatsoever.
I hope this report is of help to anyone who is in doubt whether or not to use the German Durchstich method for refilling their opaque cartidges.
Thanks for reading!
In the end, I decided to not go for top filling but use the German Durchstich Method instead. I prepared for the worse, but actually there were no problems at all and I did not spill a drop of ink. Some of the stuff in the refill set that I ordered was not very well usable with the Durchstich method, but that's not Octinkjet's fault. I clearly ordered a top refill set and that's what I got.
Here's the report on my first refill of opaque cartridges using the German Durchstich method:
* First, I invested another euro 15 in a scale with 0.01 grams accuracy and a tare switch. Offtopic: I got the best advice on high precision scales on forums about certain controlled substances (of which we have a lot in the Netherlands);
* I reset each cartridge prior to doing any refill attempt. Dont want to waste time on a cartridge with a chip that wont reset when youre finished refilling it.
* I then used a one mm drill to drill a hole right in the middle of the >> pp << mark on the cartridge. I drilled the holes slightly downwards, for easier access to the gap between sponge and ink chambers
* I found that blunt needles are not suitable for the German Durchstich method. They didnt go through the sponge, but merely pushed it aside. Luckily I had still some 5 cm sharp needles that did go through the sponge easily. I drilled the holes slightly downwards, for easier access to the gap between sponge and ink chambers.
* Squeeze bottles are not very suitable for use with the German Durchstich method. I used syringes instead. I will explain below why.
* I hadnt weighed the cartridges when they were still full and unused as I initially was going to top fill. In this forum I found 20 grams for a CLI and 34 for a PGI cartridges, so I calculated with these numbers.
I tried several scenarios: weighing the cartridge, calculating the amount of ink needed, weighing the empty syringe and then filling it with the amount of ink needed, etc etc. I will continue the report by describing the method that I found to work best for me.
* Weigh the cartridge and calculate the amount of ink needed. For example, if a CLI cartridge weighs 15 grams, you need 20-15 = 5 grams of ink.
* Weigh the needle (only the needle, not the syringe) that you are going to use to refill the particular cartridge and use the tare button to reset the scale. When you remove the needle from the scale, the scale will indicate the negative weight of the needle.
* Connect the needle to the syringe and suck up a little bit more millilitres than the needed amount of ink in grams. For example, if you need 5 grams of ink, fill the syringe with about 6 ml. This is why I prefer the syringe over the squeeze bottles. With the prefilled syringe you have a better indication of about how much ink to inject.
* Now, turn the cartridge upside down and stick the needle into the cartridge, make sure it goes all the way through the sponge into the ink chamber. You can tell whether youre far enough by the length of the needle thats still outside the cartridge. I was also able to see the needle through the little plastic window on the cartridge bottom.
* Inject about half the amount of ink needed. Turn the cartridge over and wait some time to allow the ink to be sucked into the sponge. Turn it over again and inject the rest of the needed ink, but not all of it. In the example, above it would be about 4.5 of 5 ml.
* Disconnect the syringe from the needle, but leave the needle in the cartridge. I used a piece of tissue to absorb the ink thats still in the plastic part that connects the needle to the syringe. Now, weigh the cartridge. Because you used tare, you have corrected the scale for the weight of the needle thats still in the cartridge. Note: my scale auto turns off after 30 seconds of not being used, so every now and then I press it slightly to not loose the tare setting.
* The weight that is displayed is the actual weight of the cartridge plus ink and should (for the CLI cartridge) be 20 grams. Because you left the needle in the cartridge, its very ease to top off, or even suck out a little ink if you injected too much. Just reconnect the syringe to the needle.
* When the weight is close enough to the desired weight, remove the needle and return the excess ink to the bottle. I cover the drilled hole with a tiny piece of electricians tape as I dont print that much and I dont want the sponge to dry out.
Thats it. I found the process very easy to follow and I had no ink spills whatsoever.
I hope this report is of help to anyone who is in doubt whether or not to use the German Durchstich method for refilling their opaque cartidges.
Thanks for reading!
