Frequently Asked Questions
 Ink Cartridges and
Refills at Discount Prices
for your Inkjet Printer
SAVE MONEY by replacing your cartridges or refilling them.
This page provides answers to commonly asked questions regarding the refilling
operation of inkjet printers that incorporate a disposable printhead on the cartridge. It
also contains some general questions and answers. If you wish to read the detailed
instructions for each of the refill kit products we offer CLICK
HERE.
Questions:
- What do you mean "refill my cartridges" ?
- How many times can I refill my cartridge ?
- When should I refill my cartridges ?
- Will refilling void the OEM's warranty on my printer ?
- What is the proper way of handling the cartridge ?
- What should I do if my cartridge is clogged with dried ink in the
nozzles ?
- What if I get white streaks or "no ink" areas in my printout
?
- Is ink quality important ?
- How do I install a new cartridge ?
- Who is InkTec ?
- Will these replacement cartridges be as good as the original ones ?
- How can I order a replacement ink cartridge ?
1. What do you mean "refill
my cartridges" ?
The cartridges that incorporate a "throw
away" print head on the cartridge may not be manufactured by anyone besides the
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). What is not clearly stated by the OEM's is that
this cartridge may be reused or recycled many times before the disposable print head must
be replaced (with a new cartridge). Therefor, the refilling process recycles these
re-usable cartridges providing many benefits to the recycler, such as, lowered ink costs,
prolonged cartridge performance, knowledge of the printing process and participation in an
environmentally sound practice.
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2. How many times can I refill my
cartridge ?
You can refill the cartridge until the disposable
print head wears out or becomes damaged from handling. Generally, you will notice a
fuzziness or incurable streaking or incurable non-printing (we'll discuss curing these
maladies below) when the cartridge print head is consumed. Although each cartridge print
head lifetime varies, you can safely refill these units from 6 to 8 times without
degradation if you handle them appropriately.
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3. When should I refill my
cartridge ?
We recommend that you refill your cartridge
"wet". What we mean is that you should refill while the cartridge still has some
ink in it or immediately after it runs out of ink. Do not put the cartridge on a shelf and
"get to it later". Although the problems encountered when you do leave the
cartridge out of the machine for a while are generally curable, it is much more simple to
refill "wet".
The print head of the cartridge consists of very
small diameter nozzles backed by a thermal resistor that is meant to boil and cool the ink
as it flows through the nozzle. If the cartridge is set aside for some time, ink can dry
inside the nozzle preventing the proper operation of both the nozzle and the thermal
resistor.
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4. Will refilling void the OEM's
warranty on my printer ?
Absolutely not! Although the OEM would like to
convince you this is true, the US Court system has upheld the right of the consumer to
choose an ink consumable for their inkjet printers. The refilling of the cartridge is
deemed by the US Federal Court as a repair of the printer cartridge, not a modification.
Therefor, the consumer may use any ink they prefer in refilling the printer cartridge. The
refilling process applies only to the cartridge and has nothing to do with the printer.
Check the Magnuson-Moss Act on the News page.
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5. What is the proper way of
handling the cartridge ?
Always handle the cartridge with care. Do not
touch the print head or the copper or gold foil contacts with your fingers. Do not leave
the opened cartridge outside the printer in an unprotected environment, as the ink will
dry out inside the nozzles clogging the print head. Once this occurs, the cartridge will
not print properly when refilled, unless it is cleaned. If the cartridge must be stored,
enclose it in an air-tight zip-lock plastic bag. never try to clean the cartridge with any
kind of solvent.
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6. What should I do if my
cartridge is clogged with dried ink in the nozzles ?
Prepare a shallow dish of warm water, about
1/4" deep. Immerse the print head (not the air vent) in the water for 10 to 15
minutes. Wipe the water off with a soft tissue or cotton swab before installing it in the
printer. Ensure the print head is dry before reinstalling the cartridge. Run the printer
head cleaning utility 2 or 3 times to initiate the flow of ink. If this does not solve the
problem, repeat the procedure 2 or 3 more times. This procedure will not recover a
burned-out print head. If the procedure does not work, you will have to buy a new
cartridge and use up its ink before refilling it.
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7. What if I get white streaks or
no ink areas in my printout ?
Ensure the cartridge has some ink in it. This is
an indication of an out-of-ink condition. If the cartridge is full, try running the print
head cleaning utility until you get the the priming utility. If the printout is still
unsatisfactory, refer to the paragraph above and try to clean the print head nozzles.
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8. Is ink quality important ?
Yes, ink quality makes a big difference. The
print head on your cartridge may get clogged or destroyed by inks that do not meet the OEM
specifications on drying time, density, boiling points, viscosity, surface tension, L*a*b*
color values and pH value. Our inks are formulated and tested under strict laboratory
conditions to ensure the highest output quality at all times. InkTec inks guarantee that
you will get print outputs as good or better than the OEM inks.
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9. How do I install a new
cartridge?
Always follow the printer manufacturer's guidelines for installing new
cartridges. InkTec cartridges are made to follow the specifications of the original
equipment manufacturer, so they will install exactly the same way. Top
10. Who is InkTec?
InkTec formulates manufactures ink for inkjet applications in Korea.
The company has recently decided to bring its outstanding ink technology to the United
States at very aggressive pricing. InkTec was the winner of the Jang Young Shil Award in
1996 in Korea for excellence in manufacturing. This important award is an indication of
the quality of InkTec products.
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11. Will these replacement
cartridges be as good as the original ones?
These replacement cartridges are as good as the OEM cartridges. OEM
stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer and generally refers to the printer
manufacturer. InkTec brings a new definition to OEM in that InkTec is the original
manufacturer of the ink. Many of the low cost ink alternatives on the market today buy
their ink from third party manufacturers. InkTec has never done this and will never do
this. Keeping control of the ink manufacturing process ensures that we keep control of the
ink quality. Stringent quality control and integrated technology assure that you get
products as good as the original manufacturers' cartridges. MVM Products is pleased to
bring these high quality products to you over the Internet. Your satisfaction is
guaranteed.
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12. How can I order a
replacement ink cartridge?
Our support staff in Southern California is available to help you with
your inkjet printer cartridge and refill needs. Call us at (888) 246-5832 with questions
or to place an order. For easy electronic ordering, CLICK HERE.
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