Refilling HP #15: Ball Bearing Diameter?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Angelo Campanella
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Angelo Campanella

I have plenty of ink, but I fear my first venture into an HP #15. They
call for a ball bearing to plug the hole, and I don't have one. Can I
use a toothpick, or maybe a BB from a BB gun. What is the diameter? (Can
somebody mic. one and report result here?

Thanks,

Angelo Campanella.
 
I have plenty of ink, but I fear my first venture into an HP #15. They
call for a ball bearing to plug the hole, and I don't have one. Can I
use a toothpick, or maybe a BB from a BB gun. What is the diameter? (Can
somebody mic. one and report result here?

Thanks,

Angelo Campanella.
Click to expand...

I used a screw and a rubber washer to seal a #26 cart.
 
Your best option is not to use a technique that involves opening the cart.
Several refill companies offer a kit that uses a "through the head" filling
clip that works much better and does not contaminate the cart. I get mine
from www.inkjetsaver.com . They include some solvent for cleaning the head,
before filling, that works great. I get 10 or more refills per cart. Using
this technique eliminates most of the hassles that opening the cart causes.
 
Your best option is not to use a technique that involves opening the cart.
Several refill companies offer a kit that uses a "through the head" filling
clip that works much better and does not contaminate the cart. I get mine
from www.inkjetsaver.com . They include some solvent for cleaning the head,
before filling, that works great. I get 10 or more refills per cart. Using
this technique eliminates most of the hassles that opening the cart causes.
Click to expand...


You would get a better response if you posted this in the
comp.sys.hp.hardware newsgroup.
 
I have plenty of ink, but I fear my first venture into an HP #15. They
call for a ball bearing to plug the hole, and I don't have one. Can I
use a toothpick, or maybe a BB from a BB gun. What is the diameter? (Can
somebody mic. one and report result here?

Thanks,

Angelo Campanella.
Click to expand...

I use waterproof adhesive tape to cover the hole. I then use a
needle to poke a hole in it so the cartridge can breathe.
If you want something to stick in the hole then use a piece of wood
whittled down to fit, but remember that you will have to remove it for
the next refill.

PJ
 
Don't hole the cart ! Just buy the snap&fill tool.You will refill the cart
through the head
 
PJx said:
On Wed, 10 Dec 2003 04:25:17 GMT, Angelo Campanella
Click to expand...
I use waterproof adhesive tape to cover the hole. I then use a
needle to poke a hole in it so the cartridge can breathe.
If you want something to stick in the hole then use a piece of wood
whittled down to fit, but remember that you will have to remove it for
the next refill.
Click to expand...
PJ
Click to expand...

You do NOT want an open hole in this cartridge. All the ink will drain
out. It relies on having a vacuum to keep the ink from bleedin out
freely through the head.

Bryan
 
Gary said:
I used a screw and a rubber washer to seal a #26 cart.
Click to expand...

That might work, but be aware that the access hole on my HP#15 is on the
bottom! So even the slightest seep will be a problem.

I am having good luck with a Cannon that has a tank with a felt batt in
it to sop up the ink. That refills nicely from the top, capillary action
retains a fair amount of ink.

But the HP #15 tank design is a mystery. The previous HP I used, a
DJ500, had a transparent tank that had a monstrosity of bladders that
required a self-inflicted partial vacuum to retain liquid ink. I do not
know whether the #15 is of this sort, or the felt batt sort.

Opinions?

Thanks,

Angelo Campanella
 
geocha said:
Don't hole the cart ! Just buy the snap&fill tool.You will refill the cart
through the head
Click to expand...

Can you be more specific? The top surface? By the knob? Just above the
number "15"?

Angelo Campanella
 
Angelo Campanella said:
I have plenty of ink, but I fear my first venture into an HP #15. They
call for a ball bearing to plug the hole, and I don't have one. Can I
use a toothpick, or maybe a BB from a BB gun. What is the diameter? (Can
somebody mic. one and report result here?

Thanks,

Angelo Campanella.
Click to expand...

I have this cartridge. I bought a refill kit that included reusable plugs.
You only need to buy it once.
Procedure:
1) pop the ball bearing into the cartridge (using a pen)
2) inject ink (25ml)
3) squeeze sides to get a partial vacuum
4) pop the plug in really really tight and tape over it for reenforcement
5) Turn it print side down on paper towel for 15 minutes to let some of the
ink drain so (more parital vacuum crap).
6) Put it in the printer and print a black page.

Faluire to do 3-6 will have the cartridge dripping inside the printer.

The solution that snaps over the inkhead sounds good but there is some
concern that you might force some debris against the print head. The ideal
method is:
1-4 from above
5) with print head facing up, use the snap fill tool to extract air and a
bit of ink out of the cartridge.
6) ensure it doesn't drip, and print a page of black.

A year later I'm still using the original mini #15 cartridge that's included
with my printer. When searching for kits also look for HP #45 kits. They are
essentially the same cartridges
 
Do you mean the two airbags with "bladders"?
These are to prevent ink foam which could kill the print head.(DJ5xx)
The #15 does not draw air to compensate ink loss.Behind the sideplates are
aluminium membranes that are drawn inwards with the loss of ink,till they
finally meet in the middle when the cart is empty.Be careful not to puncture
the membranes when refilling.
 
Can you be more specific? The top surface? By the knob? Just above the
number "15"?

Angelo Campanella
Click to expand...

Anywhere, you fill it by a device that pushes ink through the nozzles
that normally squirt ink onto the paper. Less than ideal, IMO.
 
That might work, but be aware that the access hole on my HP#15 is on the
bottom! So even the slightest seep will be a problem.

I am having good luck with a Cannon that has a tank with a felt batt in
it to sop up the ink. That refills nicely from the top, capillary action
retains a fair amount of ink.

But the HP #15 tank design is a mystery. The previous HP I used, a
DJ500, had a transparent tank that had a monstrosity of bladders that
required a self-inflicted partial vacuum to retain liquid ink. I do not
know whether the #15 is of this sort, or the felt batt sort.

Opinions?
Click to expand...

Sacrifice one to see.
 
Actually, the through-the-head fill technique will clean the head,
especially if you use the provided solvent first. This technique will double
the life of your 15/45 carts compared to making a hole. It also eliminates
any pressure issues if done correctly.
 
Dan G said:
Actually, the through-the-head fill technique will clean the head,
especially if you use the provided solvent first. This technique will double
the life of your 15/45 carts compared to making a hole. It also eliminates
any pressure issues if done correctly.
Click to expand...

I would be more worried about it damaging the print head. When the ink comes
from the inside, it passes through a fine screen before reaching the
printhead, thus any debris would be filtered out. Filling through the
nozzles rams any debris right against (and possibly in) the nozzles. That's
why I think it's best to use the fill hole, then use the snap tool to suck
the air out and equalize the pressure.

For a detailed look at the autonomy of the HP 45 / 15, see
http://wandel.ca/hp45_anatomy/
 
I've filled dozens this way, and re-filled some up to 20 times with not a
single problem. Opening the cart introduces far more debris, and
de-pressurizes the bladder.
 
Well,i did and had to learn that the two aluminium membranes in there have a
separator spring in between,so when poking a hole in one,they
expanded,squirting ink on my carpet(still visible).
 
You would be worrying needlessly. I have used the snap and fill method about
40 times and have never experience a plug. I suspect the reason is that the
nozzle is the smallest size passage in the flow path. Think of it as filling
through a funnel, only in reverse. Certainly any particle that passes
through the small end of the funnel is not going to plug the progressively
larger openings. Besides, if your syringes, ink, or snap and fill adapter
have particulate contamination you have much bigger problems regardless of
what fill method you use. Having used ball bearings and set screws for some
time before switching to the snap and fill method, I can assure you it beats
the old method hands down. The only suggestion I have when using the snap
and fill method is not to pull to much vacuum with the syringe when you are
initially removing the residual ink. The foil bags become delicate after
several refills. If the bag happens to develop a leak while you evacuating
you will suddenly feel less resistance. If this happens you should just toss
the cartridge. I suppose you could use the snap and fill adapter to remove
air when filling though the cartridge hole, but never found the need since
using a clamp to squeeze the sides always seemed to do the trick. However,
I have found the a snap and fill adapter for the color cartridge works great
for removing any foaming and air from the sponges after filling.
http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/snapfill.html
http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/snapfill45.html
http://www.inksupply.com/index.cfm?source=html/hp_primer.html
 
you don't even have to worry about pressure/vacuum in the cart. Just fill
with the syringe and then let the cart sit with the head up for 5-15 min and
the pressure will equalize. Then run a couple clean cycles with it before
putting it away in storage.
 
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