Inkjet Printers and Inkjet Compatible Cartridges

Frequently Asked Questions about Inkjet Refill Kits

Understanding how your printer works. Why are cartridges so expensive? What comes in an InkMagic refill kit? Why should I refill my cartridge? How much money will I save by refilling? How easy is it to refill?	Is it messy? What is the Exclusive InkMagic 100% Performance Guarantee? What's so special about your ink? Do you have refills for my printer? Will refilling void my printer warrantee? How many times can I refill my cartridge?

Understanding how your printer works:

Most inkjet printheads have 48 or more nozzles. Each nozzle is smaller in size than a human hair. Behind each nozzle is a small "heater" which heats the ink causing it to bubble. The heater is turned off and the bubble then bursts causing ink to get "splattered" onto the page in the form of a small dot. This process is repeated several thousand times per second. It is these small dots of ink which form the letters and graphics as the printhead moves over the page.

With the above explanation in mind, it is easy to see the two main causes for a nozzle(s) not to work. The small size leaves the nozzles very susceptible to clogging. Try the following suggestions to unclog a nozzle. If the printhead is part of the cartridge or is removable from the printer, blot the printhead on a damp paper towel, then several times on a dry paper towel. Repeat until you get a uniform ink pattern. If this did not solve the problem, try running several printer cleaning cycles. Sometimes printing several pages will clear the clogged nozzle(s).

If your printer has a permanent printhead such as the Epson series, it is not recommended running more then 2 or 3 consecutive cleaning cycles. Repeated cleaning cycles can smear excessive amounts of ink over the printhead and actually block more nozzles. Often printing 10 or more full-color pages will clear the blockage. If possible, do not use the Epson printer for 24 hours. This may loosen the dried ink on the printhead, equalize the pressurization inside the cartridge or allow an air blockage to be released. Unfortunately the printheads on Epson printers are not easily accessible for manual cleaning. As a last resort, try a new cartridge. Difficulty to get all nozzles printing after replacing or refilling an Epson cartridge has been an occasional problem since the first Epson Inkjet model, however, the latest models seem much more prone to these problems, whether refilling a cartridge or using originals. For more detailed information on Epson printhead clogging, please click here.

The second reason a nozzle(s) may not work is due to the "heater" burning out. This can not be repaired and the cartridge will have to be replaced.

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Why are cartridges so expensive?

The inkjet printer marketing has become a "lost leader" industry. The price of many new inkjet printers is only slightly higher than the cost of the ink cartridges in them. People are shocked to find that replacing a color cartridge and black cartridge can cost upwards of $80.00 CAD while the printer only cost $120.00. In two sets of cartridges, you have paid for your printer a second time, and then some. The philosophy is simple. "Give" the printer away, then collect never-ending profits from the sale of ink. Our InkMagic Premium Refill Kits helps you combat these marketing techniques by allowing you to refill your cartridges at a much more realistic cost.

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What comes in an InkMagic Premium Refill Kit?

Each InkMagic Premium Refill Kit contains everything you need to refill your original cartridge, just like a pro... Everything needed to refill your cartridge quickly and easily is included.

InkMagic kits contain only the highest quality inks, color matched to each individual cartridge.

Any plugs, finger screws (to make a hole) or set screws (to plug the hole). Only the components needed to refill your cartridge are included.

All InkMagic Refill Kits come with a medial quality syringe and a BLUNT needle. (Sharp needles found in most kits are far too dangerous.)

We include a pair of non-allergenic gloves to keep ink off your hands.

All InkMagic Premium Refill Kits include simple, detailed, illustrated instructions, written specifically for cartridge being refilled. Years of experience ensures our methods are the simplest and safest way to fill your cartridge.

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Why should I refill my cartridge?

Millions of empty inkjet cartridges are thrown away each year. Refilling helps reduce the amount of solid waste entering our landfills. A second reason, and perhaps the most important one to you, is the savings. Thirdly, you will never have an empty cartridge on a Sunday night, when that all-important paper has to handed in first thing Monday morning. (This is Murphy's Law working against you!)

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How much money will I save by refilling?

Typically refilling saves you from 50% to 75%, over the cost of a new cartridge. This usually amounts to $20-$40 every time you use your InkMagic Premium Refill Kit. To see what you will save, check our refill kit list. You will see the "Average Cost per Refill". Compare this with the cost of a new cartridge. In many cases, your InkMagic Refill Kit will pay for itself in the first use!

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How easy is it to refill?

Refilling is very simple, especially if you read the detailed instructions included in each InkMagic Premium Refill Kit. It will take longer the first time (remember, you're going to read those great instructions we include), but after that, you should be able to refill your cartridge in a matter of minutes. If you run into any problems, we are always there to help guide you.

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Is it messy?

Refilling should not be messy. The trick is to inject the ink SLOWLY into the cartridge. For most cartridges, you will see the ink come to the top of the sponge. Stop filling. Do not try to squeeze in more ink than the cartridge will hold. It is best to use less ink, more often. We include non-allergenic gloves in each kit, so even if you do inject too much ink the first time, your hands will stay clean.

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Do you guarantee your product?

Every InkMagic product carries our Exclusive InkMagic 100% Performance Guarantee. We know our products are the best on the market. We want you to try our products with full confidence and no risk.

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What's so special about your ink?

Every InkMagic Premium Refill Kit has ink which is formulated specially for the cartridge it is made to refill. Our inks are manufactured to match the original ink for color correctness, consistency and micro-refining characteristics. This ensures you will see no difference in color or performance after refilling your cartridge. It is only common sense that the "One Ink Does All" approach cannot satisfy the requirements of all the different cartridges on the market today. Even 5 years ago when inkjet technology was very primitive compared to today's, these "One Ink Does All" kits were mediocre, at best.

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Do you have refills for my printer?

We manufacture InkMagic Refill Kits for most popular brands of printers. If you own a new printer and you don't see it on our refill kit list, then please check back with us regularly. We are consistently one of the first companies to introduce refill kits for the new cartridges, but it does take time to formulate and manufacture the ink to our exacting specifications.

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Will refilling void my printer warrantee?

In one word ... NO! If you read the first question, "Why are cartridges so expensive?", then you will realize why printer manufacturers will do everything in their power to keep you from refilling your cartridges. They make their profits from selling the cartridges, not the printers. By refilling your cartridges, you are cutting into their primary source of profit. Because of this, they will often threaten to void your warrantee if you refill your cartridges or use compatible cartridges. They are simply trying to protect their own interests, in anyway possible. They are counting on your not knowing that it is strictly ILLEGAL for any printer manufacturer to void the warranty simply because you are not using original cartridges. This would fall under the area of unfair competition.

We do recommend that if you are having problems with your printer, then replace both cartridges with originals. If this does not solve your problem, then it has nothing to do with the ink or the cartridges. Send your printer in for warranty with the original (not refilled or compatible) cartridges. The company will have no choice but to repair your printer under the warranty.

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How many times can I refill my cartridge?

The answer to this question varies widely with the cartridge being used. Assuming the cartridge has not been run dry, size seems to be the next major determining factor. For example, we can usually refill our LexMark 7000 color (12A1980) cartridge 10 times or more before having to replace the cartridge. We have refilled these cartridges as many as 40 times before replacing! We have found our HP 890 color (C1823) cartridge can be refilled only 3 to 5 times, on average, before having to be replaced. While at first it can appear the HP printhead does not last as long as the LexMark, we must consider the LexMark will only print about 60 color pages per cartridge or refill while the HP 890 color cartridge will print about 600 pages per cartridge. Refilling the HP cartridge once is like refilling the Lexmark 10 times!

To ensure you get the maximum number of refills your cartridge has to offer, follow these few simple tips:

1 - Purchase your InkMagic Premium Refill Kits BEFORE you run out of ink. Why?? Read # 2.

2 - Always fill your cartridge BEFORE it is empty. There are two reasons for this. First, the small heaters in the printhead require ink to keep them at the proper temperature. No ink is like running your car without any water or antifreeze in your radiator. You can burn out your printhead within a page after the cartridge has gone dry! Second, most cartridges have a sponge to hold the ink. A dry sponge does not hold ink and excessive dripping will occur. Never leave an empty cartridge sitting on the corner of the desk overnight. This leads us to the next point.

2 - Never put a cartridge in your printer if it is dripping. Ink which has dripped into the printer is not only difficult to clean out, but it can cause internal damage to the printer, which will NOT be covered by the warranty. Follow your common sense, and you will have no problems.

You WILL have to replace your cartridges periodically and start the refilling cycle over again. After your cartridge has had a full life, we recommend purchasing a Genuine InkMagic Premium Compatible Cartridge. Our premium compatible cartridges will look and work just like an original, but offer you great savings at the same time.

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Inkjet Cartridges & Refill kits in Calgary, Alberta