Digital BW, The Print

From: "jimhayes361" <jimhayes@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 7:45 PM
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Vacuum Filling Virgin Cartridges for the 1280


> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Martin Wesley"
> <mwesley250@e...> wrote:
>
> > I believe that the loss of vacuum was due to an incomplete seal of
> the yellow tape (snip) it with Scotch
> tape to make sure this is well sealed before I start.
>
>
> Interesting that has never happened yet to me with this procedure. I
> suggest using black electrical tape though.

I will give it a try.
>
> How many times did you pull the pump back? I do it about ten times...

About 5 pulls but I held the plunger all the way out for about 5 sec on each
pull.
>
> >
> > Remember to order enough of the small black rubber balls to seal the
> fill ports on all the chambers you plan to load (plus some extras to
> drop and have roll under the refrigerator.).
>
> In a bind you can also put electrical tape over the fill holes, or buy
> an O-ring that is METRIC- 4milimeters in x-section. Cut it up and
> stick in holes- looser than the balls but it does go in.

Good tip on covering the fill holes.
>
> >
>(snip)
>
> I forgot to pinch the tube twice and both times the vacuum was so good
> the ink was heading straight for the valve. I had to pinch the tube at
> the last moment by doubling over between fingers...I pinch the tube
> with the blue clamp by pressing with fingers on either side of clamp-
> right up against both sides of clamp. It works better this way.

I think that was what I was doing. I may just be more fumble fingered.
>
> >
(snip)

> I never had this problem either. Even after shaking the bottles up a
> bit, and leaving them for 15 minutes to settle, I insert the needle
> deeply into the bottle, well past the foam, towards the bottom of
> bottle. I draw up about 5 ml then squirt it back in, then redraw. This
> gets most of the air out, I only draw an extra ml at most. BTW, I also
> use 20ml syringes instead of the 30 ml syringes...more accurate, fit
> in bottle better, less bulk.

I was getting the needle well below the surface but I may have been drawing
it in too vigorously. The 20 ml syringes would be better but I did not see
any when I ordered from MIS. Can you recommend a source for them?
>
(snip)
>
> I wait a couple of hours with the fill holes unstoppered (I use small
> cheap corks from Ace Hardware to initially stopper during chamber
> filling). I find the sponges expand a bit and esp at beginning, ink
> will dribble out a tiny bit. I catch this by pulling out one cork at a
> time and sticking a towel twisted into a "finger" into the hole to sop
> up the discharge before it gets messy. Thern I uncork the next hole.
> When the second hole is unstoppered the first starts to bleed again,
> so be prepared to catch it again from first hole. After two hours I
> insert the balls.

Another great tip!
> >
> > I also found the chip installation a bit difficult. Be sure you
> follow the directions carefully on this. (snip)
>
> I was gluing with silicone RTV but have since switched to a soldering
> iron with a 0.8mm tip to melt the two nibs after chip is pushed on.

More good advice.
> >
> > Can these chips be reset with the QB7 chip resetter or is that for
> original Epson chips only?
>
> No, I use this method.

I think I wound up with a double negative in my question. So you do use the
QB7 to reset the MIS chips?
>
> >
(snip)
> >
> > Buy enough rivets so you can seal the cartridge openings if you
> decide to take them out and use a different ink set. (Or are the MIS
> virgin carts self sealing like the Epson carts?)
>
> No, unfortunately.
>
>
>  I also put some tape
> back over the vent holes when I took the partially used set of
> cartridges out.
>
> My own opinion: I wouldn't tempt fate too much reinserting a used cart
> unless it was an Epson with real poppet valves.
>
(snip)

> vacuum fill tubes would be nice too but they are $10.00 each.
>
> I have separate sets and it goes fine. I clean up with final distilled
> H2O rinse and later run compressed air through tubing.
>
> >
(snip)
>
> >
> > I assume these inks are tolerant of some moisture since it is
> impossible to get all the moisture out of the vacuum tube assemble
> after cleaning.
>
> No problem with a 3 gallon air compressor set to 60 psi and an inline
> dryer.<g>

I should have run a line to my compressed nitrogen tank.

(snip)
>
> I have incontinent pads, green things that lie flat (bought for an old
> cat with bladder problems). It soaks up spills ammazingly. I just put
> it down and use it as a working surface.

Ah, Puppy Pads! I have a bunch right now.

Thanks for all the good feedback.

Martin

From: "jimhayes361" <jimhayes@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 8:59 PM
Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Vacuum Filling Virgin Cartridges for the 1280


> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "Martin Wesley"
> <mwesley250@e...> wrote:
> > Yesterday I had my first experience filling empty cartridges for my
> 1280.
>
> Sorry Martin, I didn't mean it to sound like I was razzing on you in
> that last message. It's my nature to pull things apart and find out
> what's going on with a procedure or an object.

If you were I missed it! I was expecting some snappy comebacks on the
subject line.

I was hoping someone like yourself would add the good info you did. The
instructions on this operation are good, but there is nothing like some
experience to develop some better techniques and working methods.
>
> I had another thought. If you were not tightening the needle into the
> luer-lock syringe enough, it would cause you to have less vacuum AND
> foamy ink no matter how deep you drew from the bottle.
>
> I use the needle sheath over the needle as a wrench and I carefully
> and firmly hand tighten the needle, twisting it into the syringe end.
> I also use the sheath to unscrew the needle. I only use finger
> pressure on the sheath, but I tighten/untighten it with a bit of
> force. You can test this by dipping just the needle end into H20 and
> drawing up the plunger- if you get lots of air, the luer-lock isn't
> tight enough.

This may have been my problem. I was taking the needle on and off with each
change of ink and was only very lightly screwing it in.

Thanks,
Martin