German Durchstich refill method for Canon carts with pictures

[pharmacist]

It was just for the photo to show it more clearly. Just keep it horizontally for the ink to penetrate the cartridge at will. Very important: the needle should enther the ink compartment, otherwise you will inject in the sponge (no good). Therefore it should be about 2 inches long.

 

[stratman]

Hi Pharmacist,
I'm a bit confused here. In photo # 5 it states to keep the ink cart "horizontal" but the picture (s) clearly show it is tilted about 20 degrees downward. Was this just for the photo to show it better? Or should it actually be horizontal?

The text in picture #5 is about keeping the level of the ink horizontal, not the cartridge. For what is happening at that moment during the refill process, the ink level will always be horizontal to the floor since gravity and the physics of fluids pretty much dictate it so. But I can understand your confusion.

I use squeeze bottle and it is important to slightly tilt the Durchstich refill hole side of the cartridge up while filling when ink is running low in the squeeze bottle or else risk introducing air into the cartridge. The chance of this occurring with a syringe is less as long as you push air out of the syringe before refilling. Or, just watch the fluid-air level in your squeeze bottle / syringe. It will become second nature to you after you've done it a couple times.

To further clarify pharmacist's needle recommendation: A needle at least 2 inches / 50 mm or more needed for the Durchstich method. I use two inch needles with excellent effect.

 

[videobruce]

I hope no one shoots me for posting in this 'kinda old' thread, but I just stumbled across this while doing some related research that for whatever reason eleven years ago I didn't.
I have had Canon inkjet printers for over 12 years now (1st a 560i and now a IP4300) and I have always filled right side up, (after drilling a larger hole so a 'plug' can fit), having to let some ink drip out of the exit port after the reservoir has been filled. (which I never liked for more than one reason).

Questions;
1. The other methods that tell you to maintain that clear air pocket at the top of the sponge compartment so it remains clear of ink (which I never understood), how does that factor in with this method?
2. Also to be clear, the idea here is this very fine needle to poke it's way thru the sponge without damaging (it by 'bunching' it up) to get to that opening between the compartments. Correct?
3. I'm in the US, are these micro needles available to the general public in any state here?
4. Lastly, is there any issue with carts that have been modified for the conventional 'top fill' method?

 

[stratman]

1. The other methods that tell you to maintain that clear air pocket at the top of the sponge compartment so it remains clear of ink (which I never understood), how does that factor in with this method?

With the Durchstich method you can saturate the sponge but never want ink above the sponge or in the air channel/vent as it could cause leaking or ink starvation from inability to equilibrate pressure inside the cartridge once some ink flows out.

2. Also to be clear, the idea here is this very fine needle to poke it's way thru the sponge without damaging (it by 'bunching' it up) to get to that opening between the compartments. Correct?

Yes. The needle can be blunt tipped and are not "fine" like a needle used for diabetic injections. I have always used blunt tipped needles, including making the initial pass through into the sponge, with my years-old CLI-8 and PGI-5 cartridges. Some people have not been able to do this method, or wanted to, for one reason or another, so there is the top fill method for them.

3. I'm in the US, are these micro needles available to the general public in any state here?

Not micro needles but ordinary 2" or greater sized Luer Lock type needles needed for the Durchstich method. The Luer Lock is a threading that allows the needle to be securely fitted to the syringe or bottle of ink. You may be able to source them in your local town or online, such as Precision Colors out of Canada.

4. Lastly, is there any issue with carts that have been modified for the conventional 'top fill' method?

Not as long as the top fill hole is plugged air tight. Years ago I flushed some of my cartridges and made a top hole. These holes were plugged with hot glue or silicone plugs and have functioned without issues. YMMV, of course.

Additional points:

5. Use plastic squeeze bottles instead of syringes, such as these. I bought mine years ago from Howard Electronics.

6. Once you are proficient you may not need gloves when refilling!

 

[videobruce]

Thank you for the reply, thou I just noticed this since I never had a e-mail regarding a reply.

I didn't have any long needles that were small enough (so I thought), so I used shorter ones that have a beveled sharp tip and went in on the side as another member mentioned earlier in this thread. The process is a little confusion regarding the direction of rotation as you fill the tank (I had it reverse the 1st time).
I drilled the hole in the side as near the 'divider' between the sponge and the 'tank' but far enough away so I could drill it on an angle.

I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but the printhead (IP4300) apparently got flooded with cyan, which I had to flush out (using filtered tap water from a water filter spout). I'm having trouble with these re-manufactured printheads (which I originally thought were 'original' since I didn't know Canon disco'ed these heads a few years ago), I had three go bad in a row (one the dreaded 5 flashing orange sequence) and the other two streaking that flushing did not fix.
I decided to go back to the 'common' method since I have two sets of these tanks modified with the 'top fill' method.

I do get some ink on my fingers sometimes, but not that much.

 

[stratman]

Thanks for the feedback, bruce.

 

[videobruce]

I' still surprised I never came across this method, nor have I ever read anyone else mentioning it elsewhere.

 

[The Hat]

I' still surprised I never came across this method, nor have I ever read anyone else mentioning it elsewhere

@videobruce, Stick around and learn some more...

 

[videobruce]

The school of hard knocks.

 

[stratman]

The school of hard knocks.

We've all been there.