Epson R300 cheap or compatible Cartridges for Refilling ?

[Guest]

Fyi- Check out this link
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,110835,00.asp

DVDinfo should sequel a INKinfo.
Bad ink is more nefarious than bad media as I understand it can actually damage printer heads. Skimp/experiment with cheap media not ink. It will definately cost u more in the long run.

[disturbed1]

Only part I can't figure out (Yet) is how to reseal the hole. The film covering the holes is obviously a heat sealed film of some sort. Anybody have an idea for a tape or small plug of some sort to use?

You should never ever fill an Epson cart from the top (or on the taped bottom for the R300). The ink won't fill all the chambers correctly. Epson doesn't make their carts like other people, there are chambers inside instead of just one big sponge. Though you may get a good refill once, by the third time you'll think the cart is useless. This happens because the ink doesn't reach all chambers and presses air into the bottom chamber, this is ink foaming. The printer thinks it's spitting out ink, but only air. Leaving you with bad banding and incomplete nozzle checks, and before long a clogged head due to the air drying the head out. No matter how many cleaning cycles you do you can't get the foamed ink out. You'll have to either buy new carts (best) our suck all the ink and foam out.

For best results bottom fill the cart. Take your syringe (without the needle) and place it inside the bottome valve. Most are the exact size as this. Mediastreet sells a kit exactly for this. The cart should be sealed as the original was, with the air hole open. Carefull not to over fill.

[nwf_snake]

I just ordered some compatible cartridges for $7.95/6.95 from inkraven.com. I'll post how well they work whenever I try them.

[mrbossman]

HA

Disturbed1

Are you saying the instruction from the link below are incorrect ?

village idiot Can you give me your opinion ?

http://www.refillinstructions.com/Epson/E12.htm

Thanks

MrBossman

[disturbed1]

http://www.ink-etc.com/epson_filler.htm


From the same site you linked to http://www.refill-instructions.com/refilling_epson_cartridges.htm They talk about the problems with trapped air in Epson OEM carts, reccomend you to buy their replacement, or just force Ink through the cart to get the air out.

Best article I've seen explaining how (and why) to bottom fill.

http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/residual.html

[feslope]

Only part I can't figure out (Yet) is how to reseal the hole. The film covering the holes is obviously a heat sealed film of some sort. Anybody have an idea for a tape or small plug of some sort to use?

You should never ever fill an Epson cart from the top (or on the taped bottom for the R300). The ink won't fill all the chambers correctly. Epson doesn't make their carts like other people, there are chambers inside instead of just one big sponge.

As The Epson 300/500 cartridge does not contain sponges and draws ink out of the bottom chamber first, the ONLY way to fully fill it is how I have described above. As there is no sponge in it there is NO foaming problem.

If you are thinking of doing this take one apart and study it for awhile.

The bottom chamber must be filled while hooked up to an inksupply and applying suction to the outlet valve. Once the lower chamber is completly filled ink will will draw into the upper chambers which upon being completly full will wind up coming out the valve. The cartridge should not be moved during this process, it should be ststionary on its "Back".

All of the refill data so far in this thread is wrong with the exception of the chip resetter, it works fine.

Take one apart, look before you leap.

This factory cartridge also contains a filter which I doubt a aftermarket sponge one would.

[The village idiot]

I think Epson changed the carts to try and make it more difficult to refill, and to make it more difficult to make a constant ink supply system. Disturbed1 seems to have the low down on this type of cart.

I would like to see one of these carts that has been cut in half with a saw to see how it is constructed.

[lazlowe]

I just bought cartridges for my R300 from www.catalog800.com - compatibles. Black was 6.95 and all the colours were 4.95. Very quick shipping too. Also available in 5 paks, but I just bought black in the 5 pak. Haven't tried them yet, still running on the original inks carts but I should have to replace the black soon. Will advise if any problems with these carts.

[feslope]

I would like to see one of these carts that has been cut in half with a saw to see how it is constructed.

I have a cartridge for my R300 apart. I will try to take some pictures and get them up sometime over the weekend. Maybe sooner. These cartridges have a very sophisticated one way valve that totally precludes bottom filling them through the printer outlet. Aftermarket copies may be a lot easier to fill than the oem. If I get this down pat I might sell a kit.

[disturbed1]

Disturbed1 seems to have the low down on this type of cart.

I would like to see one of these carts that has been cut in half with a saw to see how it is constructed.

Thanks, but, I don't.

Other Epson carts did use filters but never a one way valve that I know of.

I'd like to here about feslope's refill experience with the R300s. Waiting for a few more reports from users about the durability of the unit.

I'm looking for a new disc printer as it is. Epson 900 ($140), R300($180), or import a Canon I865 for $200.<-- I may just go that route. I do perfer a Canon over epson.

[leebo]

I bought replacements for my 960 from Meritline for $6.99. They work, but the printer knows they're not originals, and so wont let me print on anything but "plain paper".

If I set the printer to "Glossy" (for labels), it refuses to print. Actually, it prints, but wont use the colors from the replacement carts. Since I only replaced the black carts, when I set the printer to print on Glossy, it prints the colors but not the blacks.

[amdk62]

Hi Folks, I read and follow this thread with interests. As I have just bought an Epson R300, and would like to know a way or technique on refilling these cartridges (T0481...T0486). I have search everywhere on the net and found nothing about refilling these carts, so I email ASCI Bulk Inks technical and they replied after a few days. They said that the R300 carts uses the same carts as C80/2200, and suggest I follow their instructions on refilling these carts, so here it is.

http://www.oddparts.com/ink/t032.htm

NB: If someone have an empty carts from the R300, may be you can test it and see if it work, if so PLEASE reply back on this thread and let us know the results, Thank you.

[unclebud]

www.inkjetsinc.com has
black t048120 $10
Cyan t048220 $11
Cyan t048520 $12
Mag t048620 $12
Mag t048320 $11
Yel t048420 $11

I'm still pricing printers and carts. for the best deal to replace my 760 epson. (dead)

[Gregg]

Hi,

Here's my 2 cents. Now after I've printed >800 discs /Ritek and BeAll/ with this printer it turns out that one set of cartridges is good to print up to 300-350 discs at -1, -2 settings /I use the printer only for this/. The retail price /Best Buy, CompUSA/ of a set of ink cartridges is ~$85 /with the tax/ which brings down the price of an individual printout to less than 30 cents. At this price is it worth the effort to do everything suggested above? The answer for me is no unless you're planning sales in 1000s.
One note. After the 500th disc the tray is already somewhat worn out and doesn't feed into the printer by itself but a little push at the right moment does the same job. I assume that that the printer was not intended to print discs in such quantities...
Overall I'm very satisfied with this printer and would definately buy another one after this one dies. Or maybe I'll give the newR800a shot.

Enjoy!

[unloaded]

I haven't needed new cart's yet, but I have been keeping an eye on options. I've seen "compatible" sets in the $35-$50 range. Most offer a "money-back guarantee" the only catch is, they cover price of the carts, not a screwed up print head. So for now, I'm gonna pass on the compatible ones until more feedback is available from end users. About the cheapest Genuine carts I've found are HERE. You might be able to snipe an auction and get a better deal though.

BTW-villageidiot, when I replace mine, I'd be glad to send you the empties for you to play with, as I don't see myself refilling them.

peace.
unloaded

[iooi]

I bought replacements for my 960 from Meritline for $6.99. They work, but the printer knows they're not originals, and so wont let me print on anything but "plain paper".

I know i dont use a 960 but have a 900 and a 680 which both use chipped carts and have never had this problem. Sure when you replace with comp carts it tells you that they are not epson carts and would you like to continue, clicking Ok or yes lets them work just fine with All paper types.
You just have to select which paper type to use...

[leebo]

Sure when you replace with comp carts it tells you that they are not epson carts and would you like to continue, clicking Ok or yes lets them work just fine with All paper types.
You just have to select which paper type to use...

Yes, these did that (on my 960). But if I set the paper type to glossy, only the remaining genuine Epson carts spray. the generics don't.

Epson be smart.

[iooi]

wonder if you have to swop them all to get them to work...

[mrbossman]

I have bought some compatible Cartridges, they appear that thay can be refilled. They appear to have 2 tanks, one I assume it has a sponge and the other is a ink supply or reservoir. I will know more when the cartridges is empty and can be taken apart. The print is ok, the color is a bit off. I also bought the "plug-N-play" inks from Mediastreet to refill these cartridges


http://store.yahoo.com/4inkjets/eprxinkcat0s.html

These are the Cartridges I bought for refilling.

Thanks for any help ? Thoughts ?

MrBossman

[feslope]

I've come up with a method to fill these cartridges, see it at:

http://www.ssclg.com/cgi-bin/netboard/netboardr.cgi?fid=268&cid=267&tid=866&pg=1&sc=20

[leebo]

wonder if you have to swop them all to get them to work...

Good idea. But I'm not going to but the remaining 5 carts to find out they all don't spray.

[posit]

http://www.inkjetcartridge.com/r300bundle.html

I am using there ink now, lets me print to any paper setting. Ink looks the exact same on matte paper and inkjet printable cds as the real epson ink.

I don't really want to mess with refilling cartridges, so this is a cheap, yet high quality alternative to buying the epson ink.

Posit

[leebo]

http://www.inkjetcartridge.com/r300bundle.html

I am using there ink now, lets me print to any paper setting.

Posit

Hmm... For the 960 (the model I have), they're selling G&G brand.
Thats the same brand that wont print at the glossy setting, at least in the 960.

[chunkT]

Dunno but I have had nothing but trouble with non-epson cartridges from clogging heads, to inferior number of prints from cartridges. For the extra couple bucks I would stick with epson. Office Depot has em pretty cheap.

[leebo]

Update:

My 960 has TWO black carts. I had ordered two, but one was defective.
While waiting for an exchange from Meritline, I bought an Epson cart so I could continue printing.

iooi had a good idea. When my replacement generic cart arrived, I removed the Epson cart and put in the generic. My printer now prints black at the glossy paper setting.

I gues the printer wouldent print with two different black carts in it.

Thanks iooi.

[mrbossman]

If the (CHEAPER) after market cartridges have a sponge and a ink storage reservoir, would it be easier to buy them and refill them? What is the advantage of using the original cartridges if the after market are easier to fill ?

MrBossman

[jaxxboss]

Thought I would take a chance with this company. Using this for my R200. Ordered Monday, got them today. All 6 for $49.00 deliv UPS. havnt tried yet, but light magenta will need to be replaced soon. Will post when used. Bought from neximaging. cust serv sux but they came thru.

[BQuicksilver]

Keep us posted!

To date I don't see conformation that any aftermarket carts work properly???

[jaxxboss]

Yea I will do that. wont be long before the light magenta is ready to swap out. Also a user by the name of Poppa_Meth is getting ready to try his generic brand as well so hopefully he sees this and can post if he has used his yet.

[axolotls]

I bought the ones from supermediastore $7.45 - 10% off + tax + s/h

i am 25% left on my colors so we'll see

i did buy EPSON black though... didn't want aftermarket for black.