The Pixma ip1800 is an entry-level inkjet printer that is highly recommended for frugal users. It is capable of producing quality printouts in both black and colored prints. Though the unit itself can be acquired at a very affordable price of approximately $50, the cost of its replacement cartridges is still quite expensive. A new black cartridge will cost you $20, while the colored one for $25.
A viable solution to cut down your ink expenses is to invest in an ink refill kit. Refilling the ink cartridges on your own can greatly help you to save more money. In addition to that, the task is very straightforward, and can be done with a little know-how. On that note, here are the steps in refilling the cartridge of a Canon Pixma ip1800:
- Carefully detach the used ink cartridge from the printer.
- On a nearby surface, lay down an old newspaper. This is recommended since refilling inks can be a messy activity. It also highly advised that you wear gloves and an old shirt to protect yourself from spills and stains.
- Next, get the ink tank that you wish to refill. Reveal the air vent in the cartridge by pulling back the label. A color cartridge will have three air vents for the yellow, cyan, and magenta colors, while a black cartridge will only have a single vent.
- Utilize the tool found in the ink refill kit to puncture the air vents.
- With the aid of the refill syringes, inject the ink through the hole on the cartridge and fill it with ink as specified. Slowly add the ink and keep it from over flowing. The black ink cartridge should be injected with no more than 20ml of black ink, while the color ink cartridges should be filled with no more than 6ml of colored ink. Make sure to wipe off excess ink.
- Carefully remove the needle and put a piece of tape on the air vent. Puncture the tape with a safety pin or needle to allow the air to go in.
- Place the cartridge back in the Canon Pixma ip1800 printer and switch it on.
- Run a cleaning cycle before printing several practice copies to ensure clean printouts.
Carefully follow the aforementioned steps and in no time you will be able to produce high-quality and vibrant printouts again.