Hobbicolors empty carts (resolved)

[hazelnut]

I eventually ended up getting the Hobbicolors 5 BCI ink set with empty Canon carts as it was cheaper (in theory anyway ) as I have no original Canon carts. I am pretty shocked however that Hobbicolors DO NOT include the orange caps even though it says everything is included that is needed for refilling, this is simply not true as the orange caps are needed otherwise it is hard to get a proper seal when filling . Worse, I think partially due to there being no orange caps the carts have dried and there is dried out ink on the exit port, which they recommend cleaning out by simply running under a faucet/tap- surely this is not advisable with hard water and all the chlorine/fluoride additives here in the U.K.?

 

[lin]

hazelnut, were your empty Canon Carts purchase from Hobbicolors as well? As far as I thought, Hobbicolors sells compatible carts and it came with cap.

 

[marceltho]

I am a CLI-8 guy, but can't you refill with the German methode ? You don't need the caps then, and it is very easy and a clean way to refill.
I have purged many OEM empty carts, and created a spare set in that way. There is a mixture here on the forum somewhere to use for purging carts, I used it, and it goes very well.
And if yiou need caps, you can buy probably those rubber " end caps " in a DIY store or so, not expensive.

 

[lin]

marceltho, why shoud she/he used German Methods to refill? She should use whatever method that she is at ease with and had good successfully in refill.
Just because you and many others here had great success or no problem with German Method that does not mean everyone is the same.

I had tried the German Methods once before 3 years back and had when back to the traditional method of refill that I had better success in refilling and where I was more familar with since 2001. So one should use whatever method that they are at ease with and had success with the refill method that they had chosen.

hazelnut, if your empty canon carts wasn't purchased from Hobbicolors, I don't see a reason that they should provide the orange cap for you. However if you did purchased those empty canon carts from Hobbicolors then I could perfectly understood your disappointment. They should state that these carts do not comes with orange cap in Hobbicolor listing. However I am not too sure that hobbicolors sells empty Canon Original Cartridge.

hazelnut, you can use the German Method if you like. However, if you wishes to use traditional method to refill (top refill at the ink chamber) and do not have the orange cap, I recommend these storage-refill clip from inkjetsaver.com. It seals the cartridge exit port very well and could be used for storage of additional refilled cartridges. It's actually clear acrylic in the bottom picture and not the orange plastic as shown in the pictures.
http://www.inkjetsaver.com/bci6clip.html

The inkjetsaver storage-refilll clip look like this in mrelmo demo video. (do note this video is just a demo of the traditional refill method as you could tell that he had underfill his cartridge based on the amount of ink seen in the sponge).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgLcpnTZubg

However, make sure you don't overfill the sponge as well such that it becomes oversaturated like the picture below.
(mrelmo picture: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3803)

 

[marceltho]

I never said hazulnut SHOULD use the German methode, I only asked if Hazelnut CAN'T use the methode, that's all....as it has so many advantages. Don't get mixed up.

 

[hazelnut]

hazelnut, were your empty Canon Carts purchase from Hobbicolors as well? As far as I thought, Hobbicolors sells compatible carts and it came with cap.

Yes they were, they are shown on the ebay page here - of course they don't show the orange caps though, so I guess it is my fault for assuming ! I think at least they should have pointed out that they weren't included since I just spent nearly 16 dollars getting it all sent to the UK, and of course it is not really economical for me to send back either . They say further down:

Authentic, used but never been refilled empty OEM ink cartridges fitted with sealing plugs ready for refilling

Is it really ready for refilling without the orange caps? Perhaps you don't need it for the German method, but these carts are pre drilled for the standard method and all the included instructions apply to this.

 

[marceltho]

Just close the predrilled hole with hot glue, make a hole for your syringe and you are DONE. If you use the German methode, you don't need a cap, this forum is full with explanation about the German methode. You also don't have to worry that the ink will leak during refilling.

 

[hazelnut]

Just close the predrilled hole with hot glue, make a hole for your syringe and you are DONE. If you use the German methode, you don't need a cap, this forum is full with explanation about the German methode. You also don't have to worry that the ink will leak during refilling.

I was recommended here that the hole would not actually need to be sealed, so I could just leave the plug in- can you see a problem with that? Would you recommend that I flush all these cartridges first- they seem pretty clean but there are a few bits of dried ink on the exit sponge? I don't really want to fill them and then find out the sponge is not absorbing and then have to waste the ink I have already put in :/.... I also read someone recommend making the german method hole with a hot (straightened) paperclip- would this be OK?

The inkjetsaver storage-refilll clip look like this in mrelmo demo video. (do note this video is just a demo of the traditional refill method as you could tell that he had underfill his cartridge based on the amount of ink seen in the sponge).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgLcpnTZubg

However, make sure you don't overfill the sponge as well such that it becomes oversaturated like the picture below.
(mrelmo picture: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3803)
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/uploads/2123_img_0025.jpg

Thanks lin, I'd rather avoid spending any more money really, I see that site is based in the U.S. so the postage would probably be quite expensive for me unfortunately.

Just to add, it definitely wasn't a mistake that the orange clips weren't included by Hobbicolors as they mention in the notes that they expect you to have your old clips left over from your used Canon carts, but this seems pretty silly when the customer has just ordered an empty set so more likely than not does not have any old carts !

 

[marceltho]

It is true, you could use the plug-ins that Hobbicolors provided wit your ink. I bought a box full of emty OEM carts as I wanted a few spare sets of carts to re-fill and to experiment with other ink. So I drilled holes on top to be able to flush, and after purging I closed the holes again with hot glue, for that I mention the hot glue. I only got 8 plug ins with my Hobbicolor set, it was not enough.

I think it is wise to purge, so you are sure from the beginning that your base is good, you don't want to end up with problems with your print head. Purging was easy, you will find my post with pictures about this
here http://www.infento.com/carts/
Forget the batch drying at the end, I did that because I did a lot of carts, many people on the forum just let them dry on the counter or so, do a search on it, that works fine as well.
I made the syringe hole with an electric drill, but you have to be carefull that the bit does " eat itself " into the sponge. You can find topics about making the hole also on this forum.

Don't be afraid of purging, if you do it as I did, and that is VERY easy, and not messy at all. You will see that any dry ink will exit as well.
And you don't need the red caps if you only have one set to refill, I have a spare set, my red caps are on those.

GOOD LUCK !

 

[marceltho]

If Hobbicolors mentioned that the red caps were not included, and you know you don't have them yourself, you can not be disappointed in Hobbicolors as well.
Now you only need to change the title of your post into " with myself ".....lol