We know that there is no such thing as generic or "universal" ink. The ink in your printer's cartridge is very specific. In some cases, only one particular printer model will use a particular ink. Another printer model from the same manufacturer may be designed to use a very different ink. You can't tell by the color of the ink in the bottle. Always be sure you have the EXACT ink for your particular cartridge. To protect your investment, buy your ink from a dealer you can trust.

Just as the inks vary, so do the methods of refilling. First, let's look at the basics.

How you do it

Here's the basic procedure to refill your cartridge.

• Spread newspapers to protect your work surface. (We all make mistakes.)

• Have some paper towels handy, just in case.

• Attach the needle to the end of the syringe. If you're refilling colors, you should have a separate syringe/needle for each color, to avoid color-contamination.

• Put on the latex gloves that come with your kit.

• Remove the cartridge from the printer.

• Draw up ink from the bottle into the syringe

• Insert the syringe into the cartridge at the proper place, as specified in the instructions.

• Gently and slowly, inject the ink into the cartridge

• Seal the injection hole ONLY AS INSTRUCTED. Many cartridges must NOT be sealed.

After filling the cartridge, any ink remaining in the syringe can be returned to the bottle for later use (your ink's shelf-life is about 3-4 years). Some cartridges require that you enlarge the fill hole or create a new fill hole with a small drill bit (provided in our kits). Some cartridges require that some air be removed after refilling. Specific instructions are provided with each kit. Read them before you start and you'll do just fine. You'll be a "pro" in no time.

Will it be messy?

Like learning how to drive a car - after you've done it a few times, you get to feel more comfortable. Spread some newspapers and wear the latex gloves (included in your kit) to prevent problems. You'll get the hang of it in no time. (FYI - ink jet inks are difficult to remove from your skin. You'll find that a stain on your finger will disappear after a day or two, but nothing seems to remove it immediately.)

For more detailed information about refiling specific types of inkjet cartridges, click the name of your printer's manufacturer:

Apple   Brother   Canon   Compaq   Epson   Hewlett-Packard   Lexmark    Xerox 

Advantages of refilling (beyond $aving$)

• You can be more creative with your color printer when you're not afraid to try a different color or print a test copy after making a few changes. With a Mr. Ink Jet refill kit, the cost of ink isn't such a big deal any more. It's nice to let the kids (or yourself) be creative without worrying about "wasting ink".

• If you have a spare cartridge, you can refill it and keep it handy for the next time the printer runs out of ink. Just pop the filled cartridge into the machine and get back to work. No need to stop everything to refill the cartridge; you can do that some other time. (Always store spare cartridges in a "zip-lock"-type plastic bag to help prevent drying out the nozzles.)

Mr. Ink Jet refills WORK! And they save you $$$!