Rather urgent printing problem - help, anyone? Please?

[*Jill*D*]

Kind of off-topic (sort of, in a round-about way, PSE-related?)

I'm getting ready to print 22 scrapbook pages for a gift album for my MIL's 80th b-day. (This after I found out, today, that the printer who was going to print them, WON'T, because there are a few pics in them that are from a photographer (a few school pics and a couple others) - I didn't realize they couldn't print those, and am SOOoo disappointed, as my printer quality doesn't even come CLOSE to theirs...:(

SO, ANYway.... I refilled my color cartridge, and went to clean and align the print heads, and LO and BEHOLD, I somehow managed to get some blue ink into my red chamber, and now have a lovely shade of purple where the red line SHOULD be - and a nice full cartridge! :rolleyes:

Is there a way to EMPTY the ink out of the cartridge and start over? I've got plenty of refill ink, so the loss is no big deal - but I *don't* have another cartridge, and I need these pages printed *tonight* as we're leaving town in the morning, heading to MIL's house.

I was wondering if maybe I just threw the whole cartridge in hot water and rinsed it out several times, then shake it out good (or something??), if I could then refill it (with the proper colors this time! LOL!)

Anyone ever done something similarly stupid before? (anyone care to admit it?? LOL!)

Thanks in advance for any help!
Jill

[JonE]

Print 50 pages of pure red (since it's your red cartridge). Or run out and buy a new one. Sorry that's all I can think of.

[snooze]

Jill, you should never use refill ink for your cartridge. The ink quality just isn't the same. I know thats not what you want to hear but thats the best advice that i can give you.

Dennis

[Carbone]

*usually*, the ink cartridge contains a foam (similar to something used to wash the dishes), saturated with the ink. Mixing two inks is going to be very tough to get rid of under these circumstances. Even if you'd empty the tank, a base of pigment would remain in the foam.

Ray

[NMarti]

Also, depending on your printer brand, you cartridge may have sensors that could be ruined by water too. Unfortunately, it is much more expensive to waste the paper and ink and then not be satisfied than to buy a new cartridge. I would not try it myself.

[*Jill*D*]

Thank you!! I knew someone here would be able to help! I printed a couple pages of solid red, and by the middle of the second page, my red (actually magenta, I think?) was printing correctly again - amazing - why didn't I think of that?? It must have just been a small amount somewhere near the print heads or something, because I'm sure if it had been in the chamber, just printing a couple pages wouldn't have done it...

I have always used refill ink that is specifically made by the manufacturer for my printer, so I've almost always had excellent results with refilling my ink... I've also always rinsed off the cartridges with hot water and never had a problem... so, although that may cause problems for some printers, it hasn't done so for me/mine. I do thank you all for taking the time to reply - I appreciate it! :)

Jill

[JonE]

I'm certainly not recommending refilling, but you seem to have it figured out for yourself. This was a last-minute crisis solution.

[*Jill*D*]

Yes - last minute crisis solutions is certainly accurate!! LOL! If I had gotten the pages done SOONER than the day before I needed them, I might have had time to find another solution - that and the fact that I am too cheap to go pay full price for an ink cartridge (can get them much cheaper online, but didn't have time!) really put me in a spin today! But, all is going well now, pages are nearly all printed... YAY!!

Thank you again for your help and input, folks - very much appreciated! I knew that this forum was the place to come! One more reason I love this site!! :D

JIll