Capping Refilled Ink Cartridges

[Sh.Andrews]

Has anyone tried to seal or cap ink cartridges after refilling? I have seen discussions on FPN on refilling them but have not seen any mention of filling a large number at a time for the ultimate in portability.

[framebaer]

I have used a small sac (13 or 14) cut off to put tightly over a refilled cartridge.

 

Works well without leaking.

[watch_art]

you should be able to find tiny rubber 'corks' or stoppers at lowes sold individually or in packs of 3-10 or something. they'll be in big flat drawers near the hardware section that you have to pull out and lift a lid up to look at them all. if you can't find something that small, get something as small as possible, and then cut them down with an exacto knife.

 

or... plastic food wrap over the top, small rubber band around cart to hold cellophane on. might work.

[lsmith42]

If we're talking about international standard cartridges, the best choice IMO is to use the "Wear-Resistant Stainless Steel (Type 440C) Ball, 2.5 mm Diameter, Grade 25, Packs of 250" from McMaster-Carr... they were less than $12.00. Work perfectly.

[Sh.Andrews]

lsmith42 - Would you just cram the SS balls in there or hold them on with tape? Also, I will look for the 'corks' at Lowes - there all the time anyway. Thanks for the useful suggestions!

[Jimmy James]

Anybody have a good suggestion for Pilot cartridges? Love my VP, hate my VP converter (and the squeeze type as well, if it works anything like the one in the 78G).

 

I think I have heard that there is an adhesive tape type material used for maybe sealing test tubes people use. I have also heard of using a hot glue gun in these threads. A lot of these solutions don't really work well for Pilot due to the design of the cartridge.

[watch_art]

for pilot carts, with those big ole openings, a small rubber cork would work better than the small international size carts.

[Jimmy James]

for pilot carts, with those big ole openings, a small rubber cork would work better than the small international size carts.

Good point, but I guess the question then becomes what size/style really works.

[watch_art]

bring an empty cart to the hardware store and figure that out the easy way.

[wallylynn]

Two other methods I've seen on FPN are:

 

- Fun-tac or Poster putty (used to stick sheets of paper on walls)

- Lobster bands, the small, but really fat rubber bands used on lobster claws.

[dcwaites]

Hot melt glue from a glue gun has also been mentioned before on the FPN. Apparently you just pry off the knob if dried glue when you want to use the cartridge.

I have used Blu-tac or equivalent, but have ended up with some evaporation, so it is only a short-term solution, and I wouldn't trust it in a handbag or backpack.

[79spitfire]

I had a piece of brass rod from another project that happened to be 2.5mm. Fits perfect.

[Possum Hill]

Elsewhere I've posted the size of stopper necessary for various cartridges and a U.S. source for them; I just don't have the time this evening to dig up the posts.

 

I've also resealed a few cartridges with plastic, steel and rubber balls; it seems to work but I haven't had a chance to test them rigorously.

[Jimmy James]

bring an empty cart to the hardware store and figure that out the easy way.

Oh, that will lead to some quizzical staring from the employees.

 

Sounds fun, actually.

[watch_art]

i doubt anybody will notice. ;-)

[Kabe]

In my experience, you don't really need to recap them.

 

Also, dont refill a bunch of cartridges, as they will be more vlberable to evaporation

[wheezur]

Someone mentioned covering test tubes: in chem labs Parafilm M is the universal covering for test tubes, flasks, beakers, whatever. It is basically plastic wrap coated with wax (paraffin). It is self-sealing and can be molded, at least to a degree. Very cool stuff and it is kind of surprising, after all these years, that it has not found more widespread use outside of the lab. Small pieces of Parafilm would probably make a good seal for re-filled carts, though I have never tried it.

[Jimmy James]

Yeah, Parafilm is the stuff others have mentioned using in the past.

[liapuyat]

I use a dab of hot glue from a glue gun. I only refill and seal about 6 cartridges at a time, though. Evaporation is still a consideration. I still also put my cartridges in a ziplock sandwich bag for extra protection. It works for me.

[Alohamora]

I use a dab of hot glue from a glue gun. I only refill and seal about 6 cartridges at a time, though. Evaporation is still a consideration. I still also put my cartridges in a ziplock sandwich bag for extra protection. It works for me.

 

 

Heh, I thought I was being so original when I came up with the hot glue method on my own. I guess it's actually pretty obvious if you have a hot melt glue gun laying around. I just put a tiny dab over the hole and flicked it off with a finger nail when I was ready to use the cartridge a few days later. An old prescription medicine bottle could also be used to store cartridges until needed.