Refilling CLI221 Lesson Learned

[Mowerman90]

I received my inks today from Precision Colors Ink. So I attached my 2" blunt needle to my syringe and took a pushpin and made a hole in the cartridge for the German Method. All went extremely well until got to my Cyan Cart. I had one heck of a time trying to push the needle through the sponge and no matter how many times I tried it kept hitting an obstruction with about 1/2 inch to go. I got overzealous and ended up bending the needle. I decided to go back to the old top fill method with this cart. I wound a rubber band around the factory orange bottom plug/stopper and removed the little ball to facilitate filling. Let me state in no uncertain terms that this was not a good idea. It seems that while the hole you put in the cart for the German Method won't leak a drop when you fill using the German Method, it leaks like a stuck pig when you "also" try to top fill. So let my misfortune be a lesson for other novices out there. Either try one method or the other but not both without first sealing the German fill hole.

 

[marceltho]

any pictures to share.....?

 

[Mowerman90]

Are you kidding? I'd of had blue ink all over my camera

 

[Digital10d]

Good to know. I too am new to the German method but managed to fill similar carts with great success. In fact having used top fill for years I am now only going to use the German method because I think its easier and cleaner. I see you are using blunt needles. I used 19 gauge sharp needle and even with a sharp needle the initial penetration through the sponge was harder than I expected. I found a gentle push whilst rotating the needle did the trick. Once the needle has gone through once then it was much easier. Hope you have success next time.

Just re-read your post. You say you hit an obstruction. Are you pushing the needle to high up because if you do you will hit the dividing wall between the sponge compartment and ink reservoir. Keep it low just running off the bottom of the cart.

 

[Mowerman90]

I'm thinking that sharp needles would have been better too. I have a small sharpening stone that I'm going to use to sharpen my remaining blunt needles with.