Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Greg" <dfaprinting@...> wrote:
>
> So I've just flushed out some junk ink and I want to reuse the carts. These are third party vacuum fill carts with lots of nooks and crannies to hold the leftover water. Short of building a vacuum chamber to boil off the water, what do you suggest? >

Do not apply heat or excess vacuum to these cartridges. Most have a small delicate silicon valve that if damaged will allow the cartridge contents to drain gracefully out through the printer heads. They also rely on an internal plastic membrane to remain leak-free which will also risk damage.

Assuming you have the common see-through type of re-usable cartridge, in my experience the best thing is to use a syringe to gently draw all water you can out through the outlet valve. Use a syringe with a long thin snout that will seal against the o-ring in the outlet and is long enough to open the outlet valve. Move the cartridge around so that any water trapped behind baffles will pour out towards the outlet chamber intake.

Once you have all the water out you can, put in 1-2 ml of the ink that you will be using in the cartridge and move it all through the cartridge to ensure it mixes and washes with the residual water drops and vapour already in the cartridge. Repeat the step above. For very light colors or dilutions you might want to repeat this a couple of times. This will leave inconsequential levels of residue behind and will not damage the cartridge. There are no doubt other ways but this way has worked for me many times over.

Good luck

Alistair