Open Offer: Canon external waste kits for free (small* catch)

[websnail]

I've been asked about this sort of thing a lot from time to time, especially given the fact that I have Canon refill kits and Epson waste ink kits

One key reason I have not had waste ink kits for Canon printers is purely down to the amount of time and effort required to disassemble them to be able to figure out where the waste kit could go and then put it all together again. Not exactly a HUGE market really eh?

So, anyway having had pixmania bending my ear I thought I'd throw the doors wide open to anyone who wants to butcher.. *cough*, I mean "explore" their Canon printers with a view to installing an external waste ink kit then I am happy to make an offer to up to two people per unique printer design(*2)

Anyone who wants to try fitting a waste kit to their printer is welcome to a free(*1) waste kit, including various spare parts, in return for a thoroughly documented process (with pictures for each step) for accessing, fitting, modifying and re-assembling the printer to allow an external waste ink kit.


I hasten to add this is not because I see this huge opportunity in Canon printers (I really don't!) but I'm aware that such a resource would be useful for similarly technically minded individuals to those we have actively engaged on these forums and often it's the access to parts that stymies things so if it means we keep a few more printers off the landfill and in longer term use then I'm all for supporting that.

... and if by some miracle this ends up making us all ridiculously rich, I'll eat my hat (never gonna happen )





*1 :: Free in the sense of "you buy, I refund on completion of documentation" (refund includes your postage)

*2 :: Other Small Print:
- The idea is to build a resource of access instructions for each unique printer design (Note: New model does not necessarily mean new design eg: MG5220 = MG5250)
- A free kit/refund will be available if a printer design has not already been covered by more than one previous users contribution
- Confirming a new printer model is the same as another design that has associated installation instructions will attract a discount but not a free kit
- Copyright of any images is retained by the contributor but in submitting them to OctoInkjet you grant me license to re-use and distribute indefinitely and without charge.

The bottom line is we help each other figure out how to get the most of the Canon printers by converting them, I provide the kits, you provide the instructions. Others benefit.[/i]

 

[The Hat]

Are you guys really serious about this, just pulling a perfectly good printer apart to put in a potty.

Are you familiar with this saying if it isnt broke then leave the friggin thing alone.

Only change its nappy when it cries out WASTE PADS FULL,
Until then just enjoy nonstop printing..

 

[websnail]

Are you guys really serious about this, just pulling a perfectly good printer apart to put in a potty.

Are you familiar with this saying if it isnt broke then leave the friggin thing alone.

Only change its nappy when it cries out WASTE PADS FULL

Of course... but how many of the printers folks have out there have reached the old "Daddy I need a diaper change"?

Seriously, I don't want anyone going completely nuts and tearing apart working printers but the offer is there for when someone gets really bored

 

[ghwellsjr]

Could you please supply a link to what you are actually selling.

 

[websnail]

I don't have a specific kit setup for Canon printers that's on sale so for the purposes of the offer a Solo+ 180ml box kit would do the job for now
http://www.octoink.co.uk/products/Solo-Plus-Waste-Ink-Kit-:-Box.html

What you'd actually get with it would be a variety of parts and connectors that should cover all requirements for fitting to a Canon printer. At the moment I'm basing the kit on what I discovered when I pulled an iP4000 and an iP4200 apart to do the same thing but I have a wide range of tube connectors and tube diameters so I can adapt based on the experience and information anyone develops along the way.

If/when anyone adds to the knowledge I can create a specific kit...

 

[msmart]

I have a "parts" iP4500, would that qualify? Or is it too similar to your iP4200?

 

[ghwellsjr]

Wouldn't you need two of your kits for most Canon printers--one for pigment ink and one for dye ink?

Have you actually tested this to make sure that the very weak peristaltic pump can actually deposit the ink in the box and that the ink doesn't dry out and clog the tubing?

I'm guessing that you would have to raise up the printer and put the boxes under it, correct? Or is the tubing long enough that the boxes could be place along side an all-in-one printer like the MP780?

PS: I fixed your link, the colon got turned into %3A and wouldn't work. Isn't it a little unusual to have a colon in a link?

 

[websnail]

I have a "parts" iP4500, would that qualify? Or is it too similar to your iP4200?

It's similar but to be honest getting the case apart is different and it has been waaaaay too long since I did the iP4200 so, for the purposes of this offer, go for it, I'll honour it for an iP4500.

Looks like we're adding an iP4850 as of today as well... Engineer very annoyed with Canon and keen to get the printer back up and running again.

 

[websnail]

Wouldn't you need two of your kits for most Canon printers--one for pigment ink and one for dye ink?

That would only apply if you wanted to separate them out for any reason. If it's for ink-reuse it's not something I'd recommend... but if push came to shove it'd be possible to provide two tanks if needs be.

Have you actually tested this to make sure that the very weak peristaltic pump can actually deposit the ink in the box and that the ink doesn't dry out and clog the tubing?

I did on the earlier iP4000 and iP4200 models... If anything the one key problem was the ink in the iP4000 clogged up after 6 months of non-use and blew the connectors clean off so if anything the pump was pretty strong.

Thinking back I think that's why I switched to a sealed bag type tank to avoid additional air being introduced so I'll be sure to provide that as the tank option.

I'm guessing that you would have to raise up the printer and put the boxes under it, correct? Or is the tubing long enough that the boxes could be place along side an all-in-one printer like the MP780?

The tubing length would be 30cm but from memory the way to extend out was to drill the front panel to allow the tubes to exit then curve round to the side.

If we went with a box tank then slight elevation of about an inch or so would be ideal but no need to place underneath... Likewise you could raise an inch or so with a bag type...

PS: I fixed your link, the colon got turned into %3A and wouldn't work. Isn't it a little unusual to have a colon in a link?

Blame my cart provider.. Stupid approach to SEO and product links...



This is a work in progress btw, so I'm completely open to suggestions on alterations, improvements and more besides..

 

[ghwellsjr]

Wouldn't you need two of your kits for most Canon printers--one for pigment ink and one for dye ink?

That would only apply if you wanted to separate them out for any reason. If it's for ink-reuse it's not something I'd recommend... but if push came to shove it'd be possible to provide two tanks if needs be.

No, I don't want to reuse ink, it's just that I didn't see anything in the picture that looked like it could combine the output from two sources.