Digital BW, The Print

I posted recently about cartridge refilling in the archivalcolor 
group ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/archivalcolor/message/2508 ), 
describing how I recently ruined an empty oem cartridge, by following 
online instructions on how to 'extract residual foam' left in the 
cartridge, in order to be able refill it with a full charge of ink 
(apparently the cartridges become clogged with this foam after 
several refills, something which I have indeed experienced). 

What does this mean? It means that in addition to the cost of two 
sets of cartridges required (since you can't leave the printer 
without a cartridge in it), plus the ink refill kit, I now have to 
factor in the cost another, new color cartridge, not to mention the 
considerable time and inconvenience required to perform the refills.

It takes me about an hour to refill a 5-color and a black cartridge, 
including set-up and clean-up, which generally yields about 6 -- 8 
satisfactory 13 x 19" prints (a number of 4 x 6" test prints, and a 
few 'off' 13x19's are part of the process)

My point is simply that whether or not you are going to save much by 
going the refill route is very much a question of how much your time 
and peace of mind are worth to you.

I decided to give refilling a try, in part to protest against the 
outrageously high prices being charged by the printer mfgs, and their 
largely succesful efforts to defeat competition from supplying the 
market, but also because I genuinely believed I would be able to save 
money by doing it. The online instructions make it seem much easier 
and more fool-proof than I have found it to be in practice.

You just may want to consider that, unless you are a dedicated diy-
type person, and/or are on a severe budget, and/or you need/want to 
experiment with inks that are unavailable in prefilled cartridges, 
you may find the refill route is simply not worth the hassles.

I'd certainly be interested in hearing others' take on this issue...