| Forget about emptying your wallets every time | | | | You should clean the syringe with water and dry |
| you see the blinking light. Quit worrying and start | | | | it properly to do the same process for the other |
| doing it yourself! It’s an easy process that | | | | cartridges or for future use. You can also label |
| won’t take you more than five minutes. | | | | each syringe for the different colors so that each |
| The following is included in a typical ink refill kit: ink | | | | syringe is only used with one color. |
| bottles, syringes and detailed instructions. Some | | | | 5. Once you place the cartridge back in the |
| kits include an air balance clip for balancing the air | | | | printer, run the cleaning cycle 1 to 3 times. If |
| inside the cartridge to ensure proper ink flow. | | | | there are any gaps in the printing, run the cleaning |
| Some kits also include hand-drill tool to make a | | | | cycle again. |
| hole in the top of your empty cartridge. | | | | Don’t Forget |
| Refilling Process | | | | There are a few things to remember when |
| 1. To start the refilling process, fill the syringe with | | | | refilling your cartridge. It should be refilled before |
| one of the ink colors over the sink or several | | | | the cartridge is completely empty to avoid the |
| sheets of scrap paper to prevent any mess. | | | | chamber from drying out and clogging. Also, it is a |
| Different printers hold different amounts of ink. In | | | | good idea to let the printer cartridge sit for a few |
| most Epson printers, the black cartridge holds | | | | hours (or overnight) so that the pressure in the |
| approximately 17 ml and the color cartridges hold | | | | cartridge will stabilize. |
| approximately 8 ml. See the instructions with your | | | | Some printers, like newer Epson models, have a |
| refill kit to see how much ink your cartridges can | | | | green chip on their ink cartridges which is visible |
| hold. | | | | by looking at your cartridge. They are often |
| 2. Before inserting the needle, make a small hole | | | | referred to as Intellidge cartridges. The |
| in the top of the cartridge (one for each color | | | | chip keeps track of how often the cartridge is |
| chamber). The hole is at the top of the cartridge | | | | used and lets the computer know when the |
| near the label. Simply push the needle through the | | | | cartridge may be low or empty. As long as you |
| hole and press to the bottom of the cartridge | | | | reset the chip, refilling the cartridge with ink from |
| towards the outlet hole. It’s important to | | | | a refill kit will not be a problem. A resetting tool |
| fill the cartridge slowly so as to avoid the ink | | | | can be used to reset the memory on the chip. |
| from foaming and introducing air in the chamber. | | | | This allows the printer to recognize the cartridge |
| 3. You do not need to seal the refill holes since | | | | as being full which makes printing with a refilled |
| there are already breather holes on the top of | | | | cartridge possible. |
| the cartridge. | | | | Refilling your own ink cartridge is easy, good for |
| 4. Any unused ink can be put back in the bottle. | | | | the environment, and very good for your pocket. |