How
Much Can I Save?
Please find your printer in the list of refill kits. Example: divide
$29.95 by the number of refills, and do the math. Shipping and handling
are $3.50, so your total cost is $33.45 per kit. For example, if you get
10 refills of black ink in the kit, your cost will be approximately
$3.35 per refill. COMPARE that with the retail cost of a
cartridge!
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Is It
Messy?
Ed, one of our founders, is no whiz at things technical. However, he
says that the first time he ever refilled a cartridge, it took him less
than 10 minutes and he didn't get any ink where it didn't belong. He says
he was prepared for a spill, but he didn't even have to wash his hands
when he was done. Ed could have worn a white suit, he says ( don't try
this unless you are as good as Ed ).
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Is
Everything Included in the Refill Kit?
Yes, the kit contains everything needed for
you to refill easily. Illustrated instructions and all necessary supplies
including ink. A couple of refill kits suggest you use a vise or a pair of
pliers (we assume you will have these) but there is always another way!
Once you have bought kits for the black and color (except for a couple
printers), you will only need to buy bulk ink in the future
and...
SAVE EVEN MORE.
Users of the
Hewlett-Packard 51625 and 51649 tri-color cartridges will benefit by
buying our Top Popper, $9.95 when purchased with any refill kit. This
device makes short work of what is sometimes a tricky job (removing the
top) with these two cartridges.
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What If I
Have A Problem?
Problems are quite rare and when the directions are followed exactly,
our tests indicate nearly 100% success. A considerable amount of time and
money has been devoted to developing the best refill methods and testing
them for each and every printer. We don't offer the kit until the "bugs"
are out... 100%. So please, if you are having a problem, don't blame it on
the kit or ink. Review the directions and your actions and look for the
answer there first. Doing most anything for the first or second time can
be "tricky". Stick with it and you will have success and save a lot of
money.
NetWares feels that there is very little chance that any problems will
arise; but if they do, a technical assistance contact is furnished with
all the products. You will get the fastest response by e-mail ... make
sure you detail your problem and include the name and model # of your
printer.
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How
Good Is The Ink?
It is important for you to know that the ink is specially formulated
for each printer, even for each model. We are supplying the highest
quality inks available. Some users will find our inks superior to those in
the OEM cartridge. You will find no loss of quality with our inks, which
are formulated with the same technology as the OEM ink. We also have the
photo inks available and can also supply you with various specialty inks
like "water proof", NEON or other colors.
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Are
All Inks The Same?
No, different printers require different formulations. There is no such
thing as a generic ink that will work well in all printers. That is why we
have all these different kits available. Some inks will not perform well
if used in the wrong printer; this is why we ask you what kind of printer
you have. DO NOT use ink formulated for one printer, in another.
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Should
I Print With My Old Cartridge Until It Is Completely Dry?
No! An inkjet printer works by heating a very small amount of ink,
which is then jetted onto the paper. The ink cools the resistors used to
heat the ink. If there is no ink, the resistors overheat and burn out.
This shortens the life of the printhead. So, when the low ink warning
light glows, it is time to refill or change your cartridge. Keep a spare
cartridge ready to go, and you won't have to stop printing, except to
change cartridges. Then, you can refill when it is convenient for you. Try
not to let the cartridge dry out before refilling; a tightly sealed
plastic bag will slow down the drying process. (Of course, you have noted
that all the new cartridges that you have bought come in hermetically
sealed packaging).
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Should
Old Cartridges Be Discarded?
No, even old, dried out cartridges can be refurbished, but it takes a
facility like ours to do a good job. We buy empty cartridges, preferably
those used only once and they must be the type that have the printhead
attached.
THIS IS A GREAT FUNDRAISING IDEA: Start now,
ask everybody with an inkjet printer to save their empties for you or your
organization. Collect the donated empties, and we will pay you UP TO $2.00
each with a minimum of 10 cartridges. This is only for those cartridges
that have the printhead attached. Help save the environment by minimizing
the discarded cartridges going to the landfill, and make money besides.
This is a great idea, and once you get started it's nearly effortless.
Please call us for a price quote and for shipping instructions.
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How
Many Times Can I Refill My Cartridge Before It Wears Out?
Realistically, we don't know, only time will tell; maybe, under ideal
conditions, 10 times or more? There will come a time, however, when you
notice that your print quality is deteriorating. This is usually evidenced
by the printer streaking or incomplete ink coverage even after you have
done the head cleaning instructions. Another indicator is printing colors
which do not correspond with your screen ... e.g. - Blues look purple,
Reds look dirty. This is caused by the printhead "wearing out" and NOT by
our ink! Those of you with cartridges separate from the printhead, may
find it is the printhead that needs replacement while the cartridges are
still working fine.
Then, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have
completely exhausted the usefulness of your cartridge, and can trash it
without any qualms. That will be the time to buy another cartridge, new or
remanufactured, and, we hope, from NetWares & Specialties.
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Are
Your Products Guaranteed?
Yes, NetWares guarantees all of our products with our
no risk guarantee. If your refill kit (or
whatever you buy from us) doesn't work as we stated it would after
carefully following directions, return it immediately and we will refund
your purchase amount or credit you toward another purchase. Our goal is to
supply you with the best possible products and help you save $$$ on your
printing costs just as we have ourselves. We do not make any Guaranties or
Warranties regarding your printer. There is no reason our kits would ever
cause any damage to your printer when the refill directions are followed.
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| Will your ink void my warranty?
The manufacturer's and sales outlets are doing their best to discourage
refilling. Some even imply that using refill kits or cartridges other than
originals will void the warranty. NOT TRUE. Under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Act and general priciples of the Federal Trade Commission Act, a
manufacturer may not require the use of any brand of ink (or any other
article) unless the manufacturer provides the item free of charge under
the terms of the warranty. Anyone providing you with free cartridges??
The replacement cartridge business is HUGE and very profitable for
them. Despite all their various claims, I don't know of one single case
where the manufacturer voided a warranty due to refilling. Besides, as a
practical matter, how would they ever know if you didn't tell them?
Bottom line is this: We have an excellent product at a very reasonable
price which will save you a lot of money and inconvenience. We stand
behind our refill kits and ink 100%. If you are not satisfied, send the
kit (in good condition) and unused ink back to us at your expense and we
will refund your full purchase the same day we receive the return. The
most you have to lose is $3.20 postage and a little of your time....we are
out the same!
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TROUBLE SHOOTING, TIPS AND GENERAL
INFO . . .
Please feel free to send in your own
tips and tricks that you have learned and I will post them here. Also, if
you had a problem and resolved it, tell us what you did.
GENERAL TIPS :
1. You will realize the greatest savings and efficiency by always
having at least one extra cartridge for each color. With a spare, you will
have hardly any "downtime" except the time it takes to replace the empty
with your full spare.
2. Never print with an empty cartridge in the printer or even when one
of the colors has been used up. The ink helps cool the "heat sinks" that
produce the bubbles, without ink they overheat and burn out.
3. Always store your empty and refilled cartridges in an airtight
container to prevent from drying out. Put tape over vent holes while
storing and use clips to cover exit ports. Place a damp paper towel in
container to maintain humidity.
4. It is preferable to refill an empty cartridge immediately in order
to keep the sponge in the cartridge from drying out. Or "top it off"
before it goes empty.
5. Be sure to put down newspapers on work surface in case you have a
spill and have clean water available for rinsing and cleaning the syringe
and tools.
6. Have one of our Cleaning Kits on hand to keep the cleaning reservoir
in your printer clean, use to dissolve dried ink on or in the printhead of
cartridge and to even flush out your internal printhead for those printers
(Epson) that have one.
7. Make sure you have not covered the vent hole with tape or that you
have removed same prior to printing.
8. If your cartridge has the printhead attached or has an assembly that
holds the ink tanks, keep the electronic circuitry free from dirt and
contamination by gently cleaning with lintless cloth and distilled water,
isopropyl alcohol or the solvent in our Cleanimng Kit. If you get an error
message that printer does not recognize the installed cartridge, it is
most likely due to "dirty" electronic circuitry where the cartridge
(assembly) interfaces with the printer.
9. If your ink tank or cartridge does not want to absorb the ink when
refilling, it is probably because the sponge in the compartment is drying
out or becoming filled with dried ink. Here again our Cleaning Kit may be
able to solve by injecting some solvent in the tank to dissolve dried ink.
Another method is to heat the cartridge or tank (remember no metal in
microwave) until it is warm to the touch and then try to refill very
slowly.
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| PRINT HEAD CLEANING TIPS . . . for cartridges with the
printhead attached or assemblies that hold the ink tanks:
The best solution is to purchase one of our
Cleaning Kits which includes a specially formulated solvent, 3 pages of
instructions and tips and the tools and supplies you need to keep your
printer operating smoothly. This kit has saved many printers and printhead
cartridges from the landfill. At less than the cost of most cartridges,
one use and it pays for itself. Cleaning Kit - click here.
1. DRIED INK ... Remove the cartridge with printhead or the printhead
assembly from printer. The printhead is where the ink is jetted onto your
paper. Gently blot the printhead with a lintless cloth or towel and warm,
distilled water. This will remove any ink dried on the surface. If this
doesn't solve the streaky print problem, then set the cartridge in a
shallow saucer of hot, distilled water (careful not to submerge any
printed circuitry). Let set for 5-10 minutes, dry off and reinstall in
printer.
2. DRIED INK ... If steps in 1. do not solve problem then set cartridge
in a shallow saucer with 50% solution of household ammonia and hot water.
Let set for 15 minutes, dry off and reinstall in printer. Run the printer
head cleaning operation as prescribed in manual and then try to print. If
print is still not correct, alternate the head cleaning and printing
several more times or until the print is normal. If the cartridge still
does not print properly, there is damage to the printhead and it needs to
be replaced.
3. Put pressure on the cartridge to expel ink through the printhead and
clear out possible clogs or dried ink. One way to do this is to blow
through the vent hole with your mouth ... BE SURE YOU HAVE APPROPRIATE
MATERIAL TO CATCH THE EXPELLED INK.
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| HEWLETT PACKARD:
1. HP has made design changes to the deskjet 500 & 600 black
cartridges to discourage refilling. They removed the vent hole at the top
corner of the cartridge. You can either use the old style cartridges with
our existing kit ... or ... purchase a "bottom fill" device ($9.95) from
us which will fill both the new and old styles. If you are adventuresome,
I can tell you how to refill the new carts using the old "drill and fill"
method.
2. If you have properly filled your cartridge with ink and it will not
print, there are two likely problems. First, make sure you have not
covered the vent holes thereby creating a vacuum and preventing the flow
of ink. Second, check your printhead to see if ink has dried on the
surface and is blocking ink ... if so, blot the printhead with a lintless
cloth and HOT, distilled water, let dry and try again after doing the head
cleaning operation as prescribed by your printer's manual. If it will
still not print or print is "streaky", try alternating the head cleaning
and printing several more times. If there is still a problem, use the head
cleaning tips... HERE.
3. In addition to #2, there is one other reason the cartridge may not
print at all. If you have changed the pressure in the cart when refilling,
you will need to refer to the instructions on how to equalize the pressure
using the tubing. OR ... set the cartridge aside for several hours and try
again later.
4. If you need additional plugs for refilling, let us know and we'll
send them.
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go to hewlett packard listings
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| CANON:
1. Refilling the BC - 20 cartridge ... instead of
drilling a hole in the vent on top, insert your drill or a drywall screw
into the vent hole and pry the plug out. You can then more easily refill
this cart and replace the plug when done.
2. Refilling the bci-21c (tri-color) cartridge. The
directions recommend a vise but here is an alternative method: slice one
side where the cap meets the cartridge with a sharp knife or razor blade
(be careful). Take a pair of pliers and twist the cap up or pry under the
side you cut to lift it up and leave hinged on one side. Refill the
compartments and then scotch tape the cap back on (don't cover vent
hole).
UPDATE ==> We now offer an
alternate refill method whereby you need not remove the top - if these
directions were not included in your refill kit, please ask and we will
get to you immediately.
3. Be carefull not to overfill the color chambers
in any of the cartridges as there is a danger of mixing the inks and
you'll get some "funny" looking colors as a result. Keep in mind that you
will usually run out of one color first (usually yellow) therefore the
other colors will not require as much ink to refill. Inject the ink
slowly. You will soon learn which ink you personally use the most and can
refill accordingly.
4. If the ink drips out of bottom of cartridge as
you are refilling it, you are either overfilling or the sponge in the
cartridge is beginning to dry up and won't absorb as much ink. If the
latter, make sure you penetrate the sponge with your needle and push down
to the bottom then slowly remove upwards as you inject the ink. "Wiggling"
your needle around in the sponge may also help it to regain some of its
porosity. NEVER PUT THE CARTRIDGE BACK IN THE
PRINTER WHILE IT IS DRIPPING!
5. If you have properly filled your
cartridge with ink and it will not print, there are two likely problems.
First, make sure you have not covered the vent holes thereby creating a
vacuum and preventing the flow of ink. Second, check your printhead to see
if ink has dried on the surface and is blocking ink ... if so, blot the
printhead with a lintless cloth and HOT, distilled water, let dry and try
again after doing the head cleaning operation as prescribed by your
printer's manual. If it will still not print or print is "streaky", try
alternating the head cleaning and printing several more times. If there is
still a problem, do the head cleaning tips... HERE.
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go to canon listings
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| EPSON:
I strongly suggest that all Epson users purchase
one of our Cleaning Kits. Sooner or later you will need it and one
successful use will more than pay for itself. Cleaning Kit -
click here.
1. After refilling, it is very important that you
thoroughly seal the injection holes you made. If scotch or other tape will
not seal, then use a glue gun to reseal the holes.
2. NEVER put the
cartridge back in the printer if it is leaking or dripping ink.
If this happens, retape the vent grooves and
let set for a few minutes until the dripping stops and then reinstall in
printer. (It is best to put cartridge in a paper cup and let it drip while
"lodged" in the cup. If you set on a paper towel, the towel can actually
"wick" the ink out of the cartridge.) Remove tape from vent
grooves.
3. You have refilled the black cartridge according
to directions BUT it won't print! Well, the Epson cartridges can be a little touchy ... 1st
make sure you have removed the tape from the vent grooves. Second, read
tip #5 (below) and try that. If that doesn't work, the most likely problem
is that the "sponge" which absorbs the ink has trapped some air bubbles
and prohibits the ink from flowing. Try this; remove the cartridge and
make sure it is not dripping, gently shake it and turn on all sides, let
set for 30 minutes and then reinstall. If that doesn't work, remove
cartridge, inject more ink until it begins to drip out exit hole, set
aside until dripping stops, gently shake cartridge and turn on all sides
and set aside for 30 minutes and then reinstall cartridge. Here is a page
of tips just for the Epson... EPSON TIPS AND TRICKS.
Customer tip: Unlike
other cartridges, the Epson cartridges for the Stylus Color series may
actually benefit from leaving out to air dry a day or two between refills.
This actually purges the air from the cartridge and does not seem to cause
the fibre material inside the cartridge to absorb any less ink. This helps
with the trapped air problem.
4. If printing is
streaky or incomplete then it is possible ink
has dried on the printhead ... if so and you know how to access the
printhead, wipe the printhead with a lintless cloth and HOT, distilled
water, let dry and try again after doing the head cleaning operation as
prescribed by your printer's manual. If it will still not print or print
is "streaky", try alternating the head cleaning and printing several more
times. Usually an ink "clog" will be cleared out by this method but may
take many repetitions.
5. The printer prints for a while and then stops
printing: The ink exit port may have enlarged and lost its seal
(this happens especially after refilling several times). Remove the
cartridge and place a strip of clear scotch tape or duct tape over the
exit port and reinsert in printer. The printer will penetrate the tape
just like it does when cartridge is new and the tape will seal port
allowing the positive pressure to return and ink will again flow into
print head. This is a fairly common problem with Epsons'.
NEWS FLASH ==> We now have plastic seals for the
exit ports that solve this problem. They come with all new kits but if you
need them, let us know with your next order and we'll throw some in.
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return to tips to
keep your epson printer printing smoothly
go to epson listings
go to procedure for clearing
stubborn clogs
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| LEXMARK:
1. As of now, all the Lexmark cartridges (Compaqs are same) have the
printhead attached. They are fairly trouble free when refilling but can be
subject to some of the same problems as the HP's and Canon BC-20 black
cartridge.
2. If you have properly filled your cartridge with ink and it will not
print, there are two likely problems. First, if there is no print
at all or it stopped suddenly, make sure you have not covered the vent
holes thereby creating a vacuum and preventing the flow of ink.
Second, check your printhead to see if ink has dried on the surface
and is blocking ink ... if so, blot the printhead with a lintless cloth
and HOT, distilled water, let dry and try again after doing the head
cleaning operation as prescribed by your printer's manual. If it will
still not print or print is "streaky", try alternating the head cleaning
and printing several more times. If there is still a problem, use the head
cleaning tips... HERE.
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go to lexmark listings
go to compaq listings
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| Airlocked Cartridges that Won't
Print:
1. Hold the cartridge with printhead down (over some newspapers) and
raise to eye level. Sharply thrust the cartridge downward and stop
abruptly before reaching the newspapers. Do this several times or until
some ink is expelled.
Customer tip: If your Cartridge is airlocked from refilling,try this... Snitch one of
your wife's (or someone's) nylon stockings (we also use a man's big sock).
Take the cartridge and wrap in a paper towel and place in the foot of the
stocking. Take this outdoors and twirl it around your head as fast as you
can about twenty times. The centrifugal force will expel the air or
trapped bubbles and allow the ink to pool at the exit port. So far, 100%
success rate.
Customer tip: Another method to accomplish
the same expulsion of air is... blow thru the vent hole until a small
amount of ink has been expelled. Or use your syringe plunger and tubing to
do the same.
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Colors are not printing correctly
If the colors of your printout are incorrect like red looks brown or blue looks purple or yellow is dirty -
there are several reasons for this:
1. Software configurations
are wrong.
2. The nozzles of the printhead are failing.
3.
Colors have mixed internally in the ink tank.
4. One or more
colors going empty.
Here are the troubleshooting steps to diagnose the problem and
correct it if possible:
Step 1 ==> Check to see if it is the software you are printing
from by printing from other software
like MS paint or similar.
Same problem in all software - go to Step 2
Problem only occurs in the one software program - the settings in
your software need adjustment. try changing some of the color
settings to compensate - if it has gamma scales, change them
slightly.
Step 2 ==> Print a test page (see your manual for instructions
on how to do this) and check the result for color accuracy and that
all 4 colors (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) are present.
test OK - go to Step 3
test not OK - If you are missing one or more colors, refill the
color chambers or replace the cartridge and you should be back to
normal. If the test does show incorrect colors, go to Step 4
Step 3 ==> Uninstall your current driver and reinstall the
latest up to date version from this site:
http://www.ink-refills.com/drivers.htm
If there is still a
problem, you will need to contact the printer's support line.
Step 4 ==> Incorrect colors still appear. Most likely
this is due to colors mixing at the printhead. Remove the cartridge
and set it printhead down on a damp paper towel and let some ink
wick out. Blot it in different spots until you see a rectangle (the
size of the printhead nozzle area) containing
the 3 different
colors clearly. Return to printer and run a head cleaning or nozzle
test - if everything looks OK - go back to printing. If not, repeat
the steps and then print some solid colors from MS paint or similar
until it clears up.
If it does not clear up, then either the ink compartments are
totally contaminated or the printhead nozzles are failing. Either
way, if the printhead is part of the cartridge, it is time for a new
one. If the printhead is internal like the Epsons or some Canons,
See here for more info:
http://www.ink-refills.com/esc-tips.htm
http://www.ink-refills.com/faq.html |
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Your refurbished cartridge is not
printing correctly . . .
| Sometimes the shipping method or
the handling of the cartridge causes problems. If there is any leaking of ink, please clean the
cartridge up with water and paper towels. Usually only a small
amount of ink will leak even though it looks like a disaster. Let us
know and we will give you some credit toward your next order.
1. The cartridge will not print or does not print all colors
==> It could be "airlocked" - see the tips here.(use the "BACK"
button on your browser to get back here).
The other most likely cause is
that ink has dried on or in the printhead nozzles. This is not
uncommon, try the tips here. (use the "BACK" button on your browser to get back
here).
2. The colors are not printing correctly ==> This can happen
due to pressure changes in the printhead. Try this:
Incorrect colors still appear. Most likely this is due to colors
mixing at the printhead. Remove the cartridge and set it printhead
down on a damp paper towel and let some ink wick out. Blot it in
different spots until you see a rectangle (the size of the printhead
nozzle area) containing the 3 different colors clearly. Return to
printer and run a head cleaning or nozzle test - if everything looks
OK - go back to printing. If not, repeat the steps and then print
some solid colors from MS paint or similar until it clears up.
3. Remember, problems are rare but they do occur and we want to
help you solve them. The idea is for you to save some $$ on ink and
for us to make some $$. In the end, we will always stand behind our
products and accept them back for refund or replacement when
necessary. All we ask is you try to solve any problems that occur.
If the above tips do not work, send an e-mail to our tech support
and we will get right back to you.
Honest! We will. SEND E-MAIL
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