Digital BW, The Print

>>Do you (or anyone else here) know how long those 1 micron screens last,
>> using the "bottom fill" technique?

>Once you've poked a hole through it with a needle, the integrity of the
>filter is broken. Best to use the top fill.

Saving the screens is a big reason I pushed for the vacuum filling
procedure.  I think we need these filters to be sure the 1 micron screens in
the printer heads do not get clogged.

> It works fine if you let the
>carts sit overnight, and it's not as messy as bottom fill.

With the vacuum filling, you can use the cart immediately.  At least I have
with about 90% perfect nozzle checks immediately.  The vacuum pulls the ink
right down into the outlet.  In fact, if you don't see the ink down there,
you can get it there with a quick shake (like that way you shake down the
temperature reading of a thermometer).

>these neat 12 cent corks at Ace Hardware
>that plug the holes quite nicely and very quickly- no leakage.

I'll have to try these.

> I also
>used a "c" clamp tightened very lightly  (just touching really) after
>vacuum pump applied to hold the K cart in the right position as it
>tends to tip over during fill.

I used a clamp at first, but found that by increasing the length of the
tubing from the "T" to the cart to about 3 inches, it avoided the pumping
action from tipping over the cart.

>...now that I have the carts filled, sitting on
>forward edge (filling position), with the corks stuck in them, when do
>I rotate them back into standard position,  with fill holes on top?

Once you see only ink in the outlet, they work fine.  That is usually
immediately.

>Also when do I remove corks, does the cart need to breathe out air
>bubbles?

When you use carts, like Epson OEM carts, you're supposed to remove the
yellow tape so that air can enter as the ink is pulled out.  So, I do this
and usually just leave the tape I've put on as is.

> When do I reseal, with something more practical for printer
>insertion, like tape or hot melt glue?

You don't have to re-seal  at all.  I've been using these carts
bottom-filled with no covers on the top holes.

Paul