Refilling your own laser printer cartridge with toner (specifically HP 5L)

[J]

Refilling your own laser printer cartridge with toner (specifically HP
5L and 6L).

Well, I just got a case of free toner for a Pitney Bowes C600.

Well with so much free toner, I think I'll take one of those
empty HP5L cartridges and melt a hole in the top an re fill it
with toner.
I know this toner might be wrong size, lack magnetic
or electric charge particles properties, but all the
ingredients are trash otherwise.
I also have some other Canon Toner from
another cartridge.

So where do I melt the hole?
PRobably in the top?

Probably the waste bin in the
cartridge does not need to be emptied, but
it is probably in the bottom?

I suppose waste bin toner can be moved back
to the supply bin and re used?
Thanks in advance
J

 

[cgmusselman]

Refilling your own laser printer cartridge with toner (specifically HP
5L and 6L).

Well, I just got a case of free toner for a Pitney Bowes C600.

Well with so much free toner, I think I'll take one of those
empty HP5L cartridges and melt a hole in the top an re fill it
with toner.
I know this toner might be wrong size, lack magnetic
or electric charge particles properties, but all the
ingredients are trash otherwise.
I also have some other Canon Toner from
another cartridge.

So where do I melt the hole?
PRobably in the top?

Probably the waste bin in the
cartridge does not need to be emptied, but
it is probably in the bottom?

I suppose waste bin toner can be moved back
to the supply bin and re used?
Thanks in advance
J

J12 --

I would be reluctant to reuse toner that has passed thru the machine,
as it has likely picked up contaminants.

As far as procedure, my friend Curtiss writes here:

http://groups.google.com/group/comp...st+drill+&+fill&rnum=1&hl=en#262e10a20745934e


-----------------
Here are my hints in refilling either PC (A20) or CX (EP) cartridges:

1. Always use a small soldering iron to make openings
(do not drill, as shavings will drop in)

2. Cut the two small openings to remove the "spent toner"
in such a way you know 2" plastic tape will reseal to
all surfaces. (These holes must run almost to the side
and no more than about 1 inch in, or you hit an inner
plastic wall towards the middle. They go on the narrow
sloped area below the finned plastic area and above the
rolling door to the drum. So they measure about 1/4 inch
high and about 7/8 inch wide)

3. Trim excess plastic rim from each opening

4. Take 2 paper towels and tape them lengthwise above
and below the holes, and then 2 more paper towels on
each side (on the outside of each hole). Now -- when
you shake the spent toner out, it won't coat the outside
of the cartridge!

5. STAND UP WIND (and outdoors)! Shake one end out, then shake the
other end out. Do that twice until no more is liberally
coming out. (Toner washes from hands with soap and water, easily)

6. Peel away the papertowel masking -- clean cartridge!

7. Wipe lip around holes and cut 2" tape about 1 1/2 inch long
and tape so that you see sealing on all four sides of each
hole, and the tape must not buldge or the door that opens
to expose the drum will snag on it.

8. Of course, the 2-5th fills are easier, the holes are already cut.

9. Remove cardboard instructions from toner vessel and cut an
oblong hole about 1 1/4 inch high, and about 2 inches wide.
Put the hole at one end of the vessel, not in the middle.
Again, with an exacto knife (and a papertowel in the hole to
catch anything plastic) trim the lip away so tape will be smooth
later.
(I originally would cut a hole that matched the mouth of
the toner bottle -- but that always made the hole come too
close to the sides, and the tape wouldn't seal all 4 sides,
and it would leak. There should always be about 1/4 inch of
flat
plastic around this hole.)

10. Remove cap from toner bottle, crush the end of the bottle
and
lip so that it is oblong to match the oblong hole in the
cartridge. This is the real "trick" to avoid a funnel.

11. Poke the snout of the bottle into the cartridge, hold the
cartridge so the fill hole is up and the other end is
leaning down. Just shake everything. The toner falls into
the vessel, and the shaking causes it to fall to the other
end of the vessel, away from the hole. If you've been
careful there isn't even a trace of toner on the surface.

12. Cut a 2 inch strip of 2" wide plastic tape and seal. Make
sure
you see all 4 edges go to black as the tape adheres.
(don't use electrical tape and do this well because the
next time you start shaking the cartridge to remove
the spent toner, stuff will fly out of here if not well
sealed.)

13. Remove old wick from toner wiper blade (the one on the
fuser roller) with a flat bladed screwdriver. Take
replacement wick, remove "sticky back tape" and press into
holder, and reinsert into green fuser holder.