MG6350 - Help to choose the good refill method

[dju1980]

Hello,

Just buy a new MG6350 (equivalent MG6320 in US) and a kit of compatible ink for CLI-551 & PGI-550.
I know that the ink tanks are not resetable and I'll use a "weighing machine".

My questions :
Q1 - Is the method filling by the side (pass trough the sponge and full the tank chamber with a 5mm syringe) the good one ?
(can't post link...)

Q2 - Do I have to close the hole after refilling ?
(some links say no)

Q3 - When do I have to process the refill ?
* When the tank is empty ?
* Before ?
(I have the original tank so I can see level... but I as soon as i will refill the first tank and disable ink monitoring... i will be blind)

Q4 - What is the exact weight of an empty CLI-551 ? and for the PGI-550 ? non-XL and XL ?
(I think i found the information somewhere but can't find it anymore...)


Thank you a lot !

 

[The Hat]

First off weight the carts before you use them, that way you will have the exact and true OEM weight.

As far as I know it is not the recommend way to refill these carts,
the top fill method maybe the better alternative,
youll need to read up some more before attempting your first refill.

The carts that come with your new printer are only start-ups so youll either buy another set
or stick with the first set which only take about 5 ml to refill them. (Very little)

Dont wait till you cart is empty (Just low) on/at the first warning then stop and refill them,
then bring the cart up to near the correct weight again and pop it back in and carry on printing safely,
you should get quite some time before the out of ink message finally appears..

 

[pearlhouse]

Both methods are being used by a lot of people with success. Both have their problems but can be worked around. Ive been refilling through the side hole (referred to as the German method) a few years now with a lot of success and hardly any problems. What you have to watch is that when you penetrate the sponge with the needle that it actually punctures the sponge and doesn't push the sponge out of its position. If you push the sponge without penetrating it this could cause you a problem in that it will not allow ink to be transferred to the exit sponge so it can reach the print head. The exit sponge is a separate pc of material that must remain in contact at all times with the upper sponge that you would be penetrating with the needle. As you insert the needle you should be able to tell if it is penetrating the sponge. If you feel resistance then stop and pull it out and try again maybe at a slightly different angle or twist as you go. Most of us use a needle that has a sharp point not a blunt point. We also use a squeeze bottle with the needle attached to the top instead of a syringe. When your done there is no clean up as with a syringe. There is no need to cover or seal the hole if you are putting the cart back in the printer. If you are going to store the cart then there is a possibility of evaporation which is why you may want to seal the hole. I use alum tape where I punch little discs with a whole punch about 1/4 inch in dia.
That my opinion and Im stickin to it.

Refilling through the top is also a great method which is also almost foolproof. Before you even start this method you must put the orange plastic cover back on bottom and hold it in place with a rubber band or tape. There are usually four little nibs that originally attached this cover to the cart. When you broke the cover off it left remnants of these nibs. If you can clean these off flush both on the orange cover and the cart itself you can then assure yourself that you will be getting a good seal when you are making ready for a refill. The problem it has is that you must plug the fill hole perfectly air tite after you have refilled. If you don't the ink will leak out of the bottom exit port. Lots of different methods have been tried with very good success. Anything from set screws with Loctite on them, hot glue, alum tape, small hex head screws, to silicone plugs. What you have to watch is that the top clearance on cart. on some printers is very close. Any thing sticking up above the cart may get in the way when it moves to the right under a cover that is part of the printer mechanism. I have read where some people have actually cut away the plastic that is getting in the way using a dremel tool or something similar. This is a very easy way to refill as you can do it on the scale
as you go as long as you have included the weight of the orange cover in total weight of the empty cart.

 

[dju1980]

You both rocks ! Thank you a lot !

I had some doubts wtih the first cartridges delivered with the printer: I tought it was standard ones but still begin to alert me for an empty-state after few print...so with 5mL, I understand ;-)

So with your advices, I will :
- Buy a XL complete OEM new set (for less refilling manipulations ;-)
- get the weight as they are new
- open the new cart carefully and keep safe the orange cover
- Check the space avaliable for an adapted hermetic-closing-system

And i'll be ready for refill...

thank you again !

 

[dju1980]

Hello,

Someone can tell me where I can buy silicon plug for the top-refill method on CLI-551 / PGI-550 ?
And which ones if possible.... ?

(European seller prefered...)

Thank you

Julien

 

[The Hat]

Hello,

Someone can tell me where I can buy silicon plug for the top-refill method on CLI-551 / PGI-550 ?
And which ones if possible.... ?

(European seller prefered...)

Thank you

Julien

Maybe something like this will do..
http://www.octoink.co.uk/categories/Refill-Tools{47}Kits/Plugs-{47}-Seals/

 

[PeterBJ]

I think that the top filling method will be the best refill method for these new cartridges.

You find more info about the PGI-x50/CLI-x51 cartridges in these threads: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8120&p=1 , http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8620&p=1 , http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8591&p=1 , http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8463

 

[dju1980]

Maybe something like this will do..
http://www.octoink.co.uk/categories/Refill-Tools{47}Kits/Plugs-{47}-Seals/

Perfect, Just bought some !

Can you tell me if I can put the serynge through the silicon plug-seal or do I have to take the plug off before refilling ?

 

[The Hat]

Maybe something like this will do..
http://www.octoink.co.uk/categories/Refill-Tools{47}Kits/Plugs-{47}-Seals/

Perfect, Just bought some !

Can you tell me if I can put the serynge through the silicon plug-seal or do I have to take the plug off before refilling ?

I imagine youll have to remove this type of plug first because it doesnt have a hole in it..

 

[websnail]

Can you tell me if I can put the serynge through the silicon plug-seal or do I have to take the plug off before refilling ?

I imagine youll have to remove this type of plug first because it doesnt have a hole in it..

Just to confirm... Yes, you do need to remove the plug so you can refill.

I'm aware some instances (ie: CIS systems) some plugs allow you to use a small diameter, sharp needle to push through the plug and prime the CIS cartridges/buffers... However those plugs are a different design and the piercing approach only works for a limited number of times before the silicon material degrades and leaks. The need to prime CIS cartridges is minimal but refilling is obviously more frequent so it's not a recommended route.

Short version: Remove plug, refill, replace plug