Need info on refilling Canon MP620 cartridges

[balloonshark]

Thanks for the info on the ease of changing batteries. The tutorial was very well done. I'll go ahead and place my orders and bump this thread or start a new one if I get stuck.

 

[balloonshark]

I received my inks and syringes from Mikling. I'm wanting to try the German method but I have a few questions. This will be my first refill with OEM cartridges.

1. In Mikling's top fill instructions it mentions removing remaining ink from the tank side of cartridge and putting it back into the bottle of ink. How is this done? Do I just suck it out with the syringe from the "German hole", put it back in the appropriate color ink bottle and shake the ink bottle? Do I need to flush the cartridges after removing the ink if its their first refill?

2. Can I plug the hole with the included plugs or should I just use electricians tape or aluminum tape?

3. As a precaution is it a good idea to use the cartridge outlet hole covers when using the German method? The 2 tutorials I read doesn't use them.

4. If I use a chip resetter do I need to do anything to the printer to let it know it has full cartridges?

 

[rodbam]

1. I've just done my first refill with IS inks & I just injected new ink in with what was left in the cartridge, I don't think you would take out the Canon ink & put it in your IS ink bottles though.

2. Quite a few people don't put any tape over the small hole you made to do the German method but others prefer a small piece of electrical tape. I used gaffer tape & others like using duct tape. I think any tape with a reasonably strong sticky side would be OK. The plugs you received from Mikling are for when you do the top fill method. Make sure you only make a very small hole for doing the German method, I used one of my wife's sewing needles to make the hole any small dia point will push through the cartridge quite easily by a bit of a wiggle & push.

3. Most people don't cover the outlet hole as it doesn't seem to leak doing the German method but I must have injected too forcibly on my first cartridge & did get some ink come out but it hasn't happened again now I know to inject very slowly.

4. Once you have reset your chip you don't have to do anything else as the printer thinks you have just inserted a new cartridge. It seems good practice to reset your chip before refilling just in case you do get some ink come out but normally it's quite safe to do it afterwards if you forget.
Good luck with your first refill it gets a lot easier after the first cartridge.

 

[stratman]

rodbam's post is good info. I'll fill in some more data.

1) You can mix OEM Canon ink and Mikling's IS ink. There should be no bizarre color shift or reaction between the two inks. If color fidelity is critical, you would want to flush the cartridge with water (purging), then refill with the IS ink, and then obtain a printer profile (ICC profile) of the printer, ink and paper combination. Most people are satisfied without doing a printer profile. You decide for yourself.

2) As rodbam said, the silicone plugs Mikling provides are for plugging a hole made using the traditional top hole refill method. The German/Durchstich method you chose uses a side hole method. Do not use the plugs. If you want, you can seal the Durchstich refill hole with tape. Posters who have used tape find the HVAC/aluminum tape to be superior as it leaves the least residue.

3) Do not cover/seal the ink outlet port during refill. This is done when using the traditional top hole refill method but may cause problems when refilling the Durchstich way. As you inject ink into the spongeless side, the volume of air that is displacesd by the ink you inject must escape the cartridge somehow. If you block the ink exit port then the displaced air can only escape via the Durchstich hole (which is mostly blocked by the needle) and the serpentine air vent. If ink gets into the air vent then printing problems may occur and you could starve a print head of ink and cause a burned out print head.

4) rodbam gives good advice.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[rodbam]

My advice is only from what I learnt from you guys here, I received great advice from you all as I was guided through the process of my first refilling attempt which went off without any dramas. I'm now just practising being an Inkjet Guru by trying to help others but I have to keep remembering that a little knowledge can be dangerous

 

[stratman]

My advice is only from what I learnt from you guys here, I received great advice from you all as I was guided through the process of my first refilling attempt which went off without any dramas. I'm now just practising being an Inkjet Guru by trying to help others but I have to keep remembering that a little knowledge can be dangerous

You are now a bonafide Guru from the school of see one, do one, teach one.

 

[rodbam]

Thanks mate I thought when I first came here that the Guru & Master designations were given out because of the knowledge of the poster but now seeing Guru after my name I know this isn't the case

 

[stratman]

Thanks mate I thought when I first came here that the Guru & Master designations were given out because of the knowledge of the poster but now seeing Guru after my name I know this isn't the case

SHHH! Can't let the newbs know we don't know either.

 

[balloonshark]

Thank you both very much for your help and encouragement! I think the only left is worrying about my technique and doing everything in the correct order. I should have some time Thursday and may give it a go after looking over the tutorials again .

rodbam, Congrats on your new title .

 

[rodbam]

Thanks Sharky mate