Inkjetsaver.com News
Information for The Small Business Recycling Industry
Our Purpose: We have been recycling Inkjet cartridges since 1986. Most of the techniques we used in 1986 do not and should not apply to todays cartridges. Over the years we have tried to find the most efficient and cost effective methods of recycling each new cartridges that is released. We have been led down the wrong path so many times we have become quite cynical each time a new idea or tool has been released. We now apply certain criteria or questions to each new innovation.
Does it really work? Many new ideas are only half baked. Some will never work. Some are just old ideas that failed to work in the past but are being rejuvenated anyway. Every now and then a great new idea surfaces that makes perfect sense, reduces cost and increases efficiency. This newsletter is for sharing the good ideas.
Techniques used in 1986 have no value todayDoes it make Recycling more efficient? I shudder when I think of the ideas and tools released to the industry that did work, but did not increase speed or efficiency. In fact, many just made the job harder - and we paid good money just to try them.
If you were to surf the web looking for refilling information you will find a wide range of instructions. Most will work, but the truth is too many are out of date or even capable of ruining a cartridge. As I think back on the first real setup I purchased for "recycling for profit" back in 1986. I realize the kit creator really had no idea of how the cartridges worked. Many of the refill instructions were counter productive. When I called for support it became clear that the kits were put together without any real understanding of how to recycle cartridges.
Our Market. We are aiming our information at the home and/or Small Business recycler. If you have a $30,000.00 startup budget, then you will find little of value here. If you have a relatively limited budget, but want to "do the job right" then you've come to the right place.
If you have a $30,000.00 startup budget, then you will find little of value here.
Test Printers
Each time you send out an untested, potentially defective cartridge you are saying "Printer manufacturers are correct, recycling is bad for your printer."
One of the things I remember from my years of learning came from a long time supplier. "If you don't test each cartridge you recycle, then just close down shop and go fishing". True! Remember that you have only a certain number of potential customers. Each time you send out a cartridge that fails in any manner you have just lost at least one customer. It's difficult enough to overcome the propaganda spread by printer manufacturers. Each time you send out an untested, possibly defective cartridge you are saying "Printer manufacturers are correct, recycling is bad for your printer."
HP Printers. The cartridges we recycle are listed in order of decreasing volume. The 51645 is our biggest seller. Followed by the C6578, 51629, 1823, 6615, 6625, 51649, 51626, 51641 and the 51625.
We have found that our HP400 tests the Green tops, our 600 tests the blue top 29, and 49, the 642c tests the 6614 and a backup tester for the 49. The 870Cxi tests the 51641, the 51645 and the 6615. The 712c tests the 51645, the 1823 and the 6625. The 940c tests the 6615 and the 6578 cartridges. The retail cost of this assortment of printers easily exceeded $1000.00, Yet $1000.00 is less than the cost of many so called "universal testers". If you are looking for printers in the 500/600/700/800 range, contact Brian at babatgs@mindspring.com and save a bundle. Brian has a wide range of used HP printers available for test printing, starting at about $35.00.
Lexmark Printers. The small recycler gets a real break here. One Lexmark printer can be adjusted to test print a large variety of Lexmark, Compaq, as well as most Samsung and Xerox. We use our Z43 to test nearly all of these cartridges. How? A 5 minute adjustment to the printer and you're ready to go. Lexmark has changed the configuration on the front of the top of each cartridge, the cartridge name or number and color of the cap, but not the electrical configuration of the cartridges. By quickly removing the identifying clip from the printer you allow the printer to test print nearly all of the cartridges listed above. Naturally, the new 10n series will not fit. Take a look at the diagram below for the location of the identifying clip.
The diagram at left is a drawing of the area where you insert the cartridges for use. To adjust your printer to accept additional models of Lexmark, Samsung, Compaq and Xerox cartridges simply grab the identifying clips (shown in color) with a pair of pliers and pull them out. The shape of the clip was used by Lexmark to match up with the design of the cap on the corresponding cartridge. Other model Cartridges would have different cap designs. The clip would not allow the other cartridges to snap in. Clever plastic manufacturers soon realized they could make a generic cap to fit all Lexmark cartridges. Using a generic cap would allow you to recycle a 12A1980, for example, and use it in nearly any other Lexmark printer. If you purchase color carts for remanufacturing and resale, using the generic caps allows you to use the cart in a very wide variety of printers.
Got a tip, a technique, or some knowledge you'd like to share in the newsletter? Send it in!
All information in this newsletter is Copyrighted 2003 and may not be reprinted, transferred or used without written consent of the author.
