Changing Inks Around?

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John.D

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Hey all,

I've found that a black ink cartridge I have in my stash of new cartridges isn't the right type for my Canon printer, being a 'PGBK', instead of the 'CLI-8BK' black cartridge I usually use. The actual cartridge is too big and won't fit in the slot. I was wondering, probably a stupid question, whether it was possible to 'pour' the ink from this new cartridge into the empty cartridge that has just run out, that is the correct one.

Is this possible? Or do I need to go and get hold of the correct one?
 
Yes you can use a syringe to transfer the ink but I think the colours are coded for specific printers so you may get a slightly different hue.

Its blask anyway so I think its alright. Just my 2p.
 
Also, I am always having problems with bands on my printouts. Cleaning the heads sometimes works, but partly the reason why I am out of ink now is because I ran 2 normal and 1 deep clean, and i'm still getting bands.

Does anyone know how to sort this? Having just bought a new calibrator I am looking forward to accurate printouts, but first I need to get the bands removed (maybe by changing the cartridges, even though they're 'half full - full' at the moment).
 
Is your printer well used, it maybe the printhead is needs changing.
 
If the printhead is part of the cartridge you can "steam clean" them using a kettle.

*no warranty implied or given, I've never burnt myself but you might etc ;)
 
Haha, I think i'll give that a miss. Seems I need a syringe to refill the cartridges. Is there an alternate to a syringe? :)
 
IIRC, the PGI5-Bk is the cartridge used for text printing rather than photo printing so might not be suitable for photos (possibly coarser pigment particles, less light stable). Personally I would wait for a CLi8-Bk to arrive from your favored supplier rather than risk print longevity, blocked head etc.

The only times I've had banding from my Canon printers have been when I've used a non-genuine cart (just the once - never again!) or when using non-compatible paper. Since I now stick to either Canon's own or Ilford's Galerie papers, I don't get it.
 
Yeah, it is annoying. I would have stocked up on inks at the start of the week online, but thinking I had new ones of each I didn't bother. Now I find one of them is not the correct type. I will head to the shop tomorrow and buy the black ink if I can find it.

It seems the banding is happening only with photo paper (photo paper pro). I usually use this with no problems, and if there are I run the head cleaning and it's solved. I know it'll go eventually and come back, brings back memories of my Epson printer. I would change all the cartridges with the new ones, if this gets rid of the banding then great, but if it dosn't I will be extremely angry, as I would have just wasted all that ink from the ones I took out (unless I seal them tight and put them in again when ready, I don't know if this works or not).

I think i'll buy the black cartridge, come home, and replace it, as well as the yellow which I have a new one of, run the head cleaning, see if the bands are still there. If they are, I will go ahead and replace them all. Maybe it's because they've been in my printer for a few months without any serious use? At least I have replacements for each (except of course the black). Hopefully they'll last, I do have to print a load of photos out over the weekend, for Monday. Grrr, Argh...
 
You can buy cleaning cartridges for many models of printer, might be worth a try.
 
It does sound like the print heads, if you can get to them, you could try cleaning them with isopropyl alcohol on a lint free cloth, failing that a print head cleaner might just do it.
Allan
 
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