Inkjetsaver.com News

 Information for The Small Business Recycling Industry

 First, let me say how greatful we are for all of the positive feedback we have received about the first two newsletters. Second, let me apologize for the extended amount of time (as pointed out by several readers) since the last newsletter update.
   For anyone having trouble with the "porkchop" style color cartridges from HP, I believe that we can offer you a new solution that will positively change your luck. We have updated the PowerPro 3 and are currently offering a very special price on it. The kit contains everything you need to begin successfully recycling these cartridges except a hot water source. Be sure to add some of our Proponal for cleaning the ink residue from the head for sealing with tape for storage. A clip is necessary, and we also believe we have the very best available for preventing cross bleeding of the colors.
 Within the next few weeks we intend to create a site, with heavy discounts for recyclers. Quantity purchases will be necessary with minimum dollar amounts. A copy of your sales tax license, or business license will be necessary to receive the password.

 Recycling the 6615, and 51645 cartridges.

I have read, with some dismay, that filling a 51645 or 6615 cartridge through the print head is detrimental to the cartridge. We have been recycling these cartridges through the head for years without a single problem. Some of our largest (in terms of carts recycled) customers have been with us for years, and I dearly wish that I had started marking these carts to see just how many refills we have gotten from most all of them without incident.

The suggestion is made that you are forcing dirt into the cartridge through the print head. Response: Anyone who refills a cartridge without cleaning the head first has no business recycling. And, opening a hole nearly 1/4" in diameter to inject ink is 10 times more likely to allow dirt particles into the interior of the cartridge.

The suggestion is made that HP fills them through the hole - not the print head, so it must be right. Response: From a standpoint of production, HP can easily triple the number of carts filled as opposed to filling through the print head. Filling through the head takes at least 3 times as long in a production atmosphere. In a recycling atmosphere, considering opening the cartridge, injecting ink, squeezing the sides in (if you are strong enough) and plugging the hole take longer. Then you have to be sure the hole is properly sealed, and in about 50% of the cases, you must try again to adjust the vacuum because you didn't squeeze the side in hard enough.

The suggestion is made that forcing ink through the print head wears it out! Response: What? The print head is designed to pass ink. It doesn't matter which direction. The longivity of the carts we have filled through the print head is proof enough to us that the system works. The 45 is a tough cartridge. It seems that the only ones we ever discard are the ones that are leaky and sticky from improper hole filling!

The suggestion is made that every single cartridge recycling machine in the world is designed to fill through the print head. Response. I rest my case!

 The following tip is from user David Finger: (note: Most any liquid will work )

Just thought I'd drop a line with a tip I discovered about refilling the 51645 cartridges with your Snap and Fill kit. If you wet the rubber seal on the refill clip with solvent before inserting your cartridge, it makes a MUCH tighter seal and eliminates the slight leaking of air and ink when refilling or evacuating the cartridge. I saved a LOT of patience and mess with this method. In fact, I just refilled two cartridges without a single drop getting where it shouldn't.

 What does the inside of a color cart look like?
   Here, we've cut off the top and the bottom. Notice how tightly the sponge material fits into the cartridge. It is a very dense foam, packed in very tightly. The color sponge at the left was removed from the lower part - the print head section. Notice the different shape of the red.
 This is the inside - at the very top. The green dots you see are the bottomside of the fill hole plugs. This is important to notice as I have been told that the plugs - once pushed in, can migrate back to the hole and plug it - cutting off all airflow. This photo shows that it is physically impossible for a removed plug to seal the hole - whether you place new plugs in the holes or not. I believe that you should always plug the hole simply for appearance sake.  
   This shot is directly over the head. Note the screen protecting the print head workings in the center (red) reservoir. The screens for the other two colors are barely visible. They are mounted on the wall that is shared with the red reservoir, but are mounted sideways when compared with the red. You can see the outline in the reservoir on the left.
 This is a shot of the sponge material removed from the section cut off that includes the print head. There are two things to notice here. First, look at the blue sponge. Note the impression of the screen that protects the print head workings. This will give you an idea of the location mentioned above. Second, and most important is how the heel of the red sponge is shorter that the other two. If you look in the above photo you will remember why - the protective screen is raised in the red reservoir. This is why your should not shove the needle in as deep in the red reservoir when refilling! Leave it out an extra 1/2" compared to the other two colors.  
 One last point I'd like to make here is based on the first photo. I mentioned how densely the sponge material was packed in the reservoir. If you tried to use a blunt needle to fill the cartridge the sponge material just compresses in front of it building a dam of sorts, making it more difficult to inject the ink and creating a situation where the ink is more likely to foam. It is very difflicult to gravity fill this cartridge with a blunt needle. A sharp needle enters the sponge material without allowing a buildup in front of it. It also has a much larger surface area open to the sponge material for the ink to flow out of. Always use a sharp needle, but treat it with respect.

 Small Business Recyclers Newsletter