Step 1) Put the cartridge on some paper towels in an area where you can tolerate a spill such as a sink. Be sure that you are wearing old clothes, since the first time you fill the cartridge, you will probably get some ink on your clothes and hands. You may wish to wear rubber gloves if you don't wish to stain your hands. We also don't recommend refilling as a family project -- it's amazing what a three-year-old can do with a pint bottle of highly concentrated ink! See our General Information for more details.
Step 2) Look at the cartridge. Near the bottom of the cartridge you will see a horizontal break line in the catridge where the two parts of the cartridge snap together.
Step 3) Using a sharp knife or scissor blade, cut the labels along the line where the two parts of the cartridge come together.
Step 4) Using a knife or screwdriver, pry apart the cartridge along the line.
Step 5) The exit port is the point where the ink comes out of the cartridge. It has an obvious stem. Place this stem to your right.
Step 6) Remove the bag from the catridge housing by slightly squeezing the edges of the cartridge and gently pulling on the stem.
Step 7) You will also see a rubber oval-shaped bulb. To the left of this bulb is the fill hole. You will see a small ball in this hole. Stick a pin into this ball and pry or lift it out of the hole. Don't lose the ball!
Step 8) Fill your syringe bottle with the appropriate ink. You'll need about 30 ml (1 full syringe bottle) for the regular cartridges, about 75 ml (2 1/2 syringe bottles) for the high capacity black cartridge.
Step 9) Remove the needle from your syringe. You will not need it for the next step.
Step 10) The catridge fitting at the bottom of the syringe should mate nicely with the fill hole opening. Inject the ink into the opening.
Step 11) Tilt the bag so that the opening is at the top.
Step 12) Using the syringe, suction about 1 ml (1/4 teaspoon) of ink and air mixture out of the top of the bag. Step 13) Replace the ball. (We have additional balls for sale.) Alternatively, you may seal the hole with hot glue.
Step 14) Turn the bag upside down (stem down) and gently squeeze to check for leaks.
The next few steps are to remove air that may be causing the inkjet to think that it is out of ink.
Step 15) Tilt the bag so that the exit port is at the bottom facing downward toward your sink.
Step 16) Insert syringe tip into exit port to hold open the spring loaded valve.
Step 17) Press cartridge bulb and HOLD. Do not release until step 20 is complete. This will be messy as ink and air should be released, so work over a sink!
Step 18) Remove syringe tip from exit port.
Step 19) Now release bulb.
Step 20) Wait 5 seconds or so until chamber under bulb is full.
Step 21) If you have excessive air Steps 15 to 20 may have to be repeated 3 times before your cartridge will operate properly.
Step 22) Put the bag back into the cartridge and snap the cartridge back together.