Cartridge Refill kits available again!

[CMaxx]

Hey everybody,

 

It's been a year, and I decided that I needed to offer some cartridge refill kits again. If you are already familiar with what I'm talking about, the only EXCITING difference you need to know about is that the dispensing needles this time around are 2 inches long. (Last time I was offering the 1.5 inch needles.) I like the longer length because they reach farther down into the cartridges, making it easier to rinse them out prior to refilling.

 

For those new to this idea, here's my entire shpiel:

 

I was looking for some syringes to use for washing out and refilling my ink cartridges. Like any other small, cheap, lightweight item, the problem with buying them online is that you get killed on the shipping. (If I remember right, one place wanted to charge me a couple bucks for a syringe, and then $7 for shipping and handling--you get the idea.) So, rather than buy a syringe or two and get killed on the shipping, I bought a metric buttload of syringes (and their accompanying needles) and paid a reasonable amount for shipping.

 

Now I've got a bunch of extra syringes, and I'm offering them for sale as Cartridge Refill kits. The best part of this deal is that I'm working it out so you WON'T get killed on the shipping. I'm using the good old United States Postal Service (they need all the help they can get right now). Their first class service is pretty cheap.

 

The syringes are 5CC calibrated Luer Lock syringes (that look like this),

 

 

and the needles are 18 gauge 2 inch needles. These needles are labeled "dispensing needles" and you can hit your finger on them pretty hard and they won't break the skin. Note: If you are Jack Bauer, you'll eventually be able to stab yourself (or a terrorist) with this size needle, but you'll have to work at it. The inside diameter of these is .038" and the outside diameter is .049". They're great for moving ink around, I know that.

 

For those of you who don't know, these are extremely useful for washing out cartridges after you've used all the ink in them. You take one syringe to rinse the cartridge out. After it is dried (or, if you're impatient like me, you've shaken all the water out) you use a dry syringe to fill the cartridge with your favorite bottled ink.

 

Some major benefits of using syringes to refill your cartridges:

1) You save money not having to keep buying cartridges.

2) You save money not having to buy converters.

3) Cartridges hold more ink than converters.

4) You can use inks that don't normally come in cartridges.

 

Syringes are also very nice if you want to mix your own inks. It is easy to put 3 ccs of Waterman Florida Blue in one syringe, and 3ccs of Waterman Purple in another, and then mix them in a little container to make Richard Binder's Blurple, for example.

 

How much are they?

 

In the interest of making my life easier, I'm offering two different "cart. refiller purchase plans" right now.

 

2 cartridge refillers (which includes the syringe and the needle) for $6, which includes shipping.

5 cartridge refillers for $11, which includes shipping.

 

I will ship these within 2 days of receiving payment.

 

If you would like to place an order, the easiest way is to simply send the correct amount (either $6 or $11) via PayPal to the address contained in my personal statement. (Click on my user name located at the top and to the left of this post, then click on view member profile, then look at the personal statement on the left side of the screen). I apologize for being so shifty, but I don't want to post my address in a public forum and end up getting more spam than I already do.

 

If you have questions, feel free to send me a personal message.

 

[Edited to add] International buyers may be asked to pay a bit more for shipping. For example, for orderers in Australia the cost will be $8 or $13.50. I'll have to look it up on a case by case basis, and I'll edit this post if and when that happens.

 

A couple of important notes:

1) I am only willing to sell these to established members of the Fountain Pen Network. I have had a bunch of people contact me wanting to buy syringes, and when I look at their information, I find that they have just registered that day and they have zero posts. Because of the sensitive nature of these items, I just don't feel comfortable shipping them out in that situation. To any lurkers of FPN who want to buy some, I apologize in advance.

2) I can ship these overseas, but it might take a day or two extra due to me having to go to the PO to fill out customs forms. Also, I'm not comfortable stating that these are gifts.

3) [This post has been edited to add this point] I only ship to confirmed PayPal addresses. This hasn't been a problem, but I thought I should be clear.

 

Thanks so much for your interest, and happy cartridge refilling.

Edited May 5, 2009 by CMaxx

[kiavonne]

Great to see you offering these again! Best deal going.

 

 

[Jimmy James]

Perfect timing for me. It has been several days since I got my first cartridge only pen (actually my second if you count my Petit1, I guess), so I have been contemplating what to do.

 

PM sent, just to confirm offer still stands, etc.

[CMaxx]

Hello again,

 

I just responded to a PM, and in trying to respond to another one, was reminded about some of the safety features of the private message system. In short, I can't send another PM for about 8 more minutes.

 

Due to this slight inconvenience, I hope you'll understand if you don't necessarily get a response from me right away (or even ever).

 

Just so you know, I do have plenty of these right now, so feel free to order (Mr. James or anyone else). I will try to respond to PMs as much as I can. Thanks to those who have ordered so far--yours will be sent out tomorrow.

 

CMaxx

[someonesdad]

Nice to have someone do this for the FPN group... I don't want to "spoil" CMaxx's deal, but some folks might not be aware that in some places you can just walk into a store and buy syringes and needles (I know this for a fact in both Idaho and Washington, as I've done it in both places). Agricultural supply places are the typical places, but also try a medical supply place. You can also ask your doctor to "prescribe" you some needles and syringes if you tell him/her what they'll be used for. I just got some 5 cc syringes and 18 gauge needles the other day (I have to give myself injections) and they were 25 cents at the local pharmacy. The usual prices in the consumer stores are around a buck for the syringe and 50-75 cents for the needle.

 

If you have a friendly vet, they might be a source. I once asked a vet for some 14 gauge horse needles and he let me take whatever I wanted from a bucket of used needles he had in the back of his truck. I boiled them for 20 minutes when I got them home.

 

I always grind the sharp tips off the needles to reduce the chance of sticking myself.

 

That said, CMaxx's deal is pretty reasonable. Figure you'd pay a buck and a half locally for the syringe and needle, a buck for the padded envelope to ship it in, and a buck and a half for the postage. The rest is profit for him/her, and is quite reasonable for his/her time. A decent syringe and needle will last a long time. And the 18 gauge needle is the perfect size for cartridges.

[Gretchen]

Wonderful -- I've been using one that a scientist friend gave me, and it's unpleasantly sharp! Also, the plunger on mine seems to be getting stiff and worn, which leads me to a question; do these things have a material shelf life, or is it simply the wear and tear from ink and repeated cleanings that makes them stiff and uncooperative?

[Jimmy James]

Thanks for the note, OP. I went ahead and sent payment as instructed for 2 syringes.

 

ETA: I know there is a chance I could find what I need locally, but $6 is well worth it to not have to go out to doctors, vets, and pharmacies explaining all of this to them!

Edited May 5, 2009 by Jimmy James

[OcalaFlGuy]

  Gretchen said:

Wonderful -- I've been using one that a scientist friend gave me, and it's unpleasantly sharp! Also, the plunger on mine seems to be getting stiff and worn, which leads me to a question; do these things have a material shelf life, or is it simply the wear and tear from ink and repeated cleanings that makes them stiff and uncooperative?

 

And on mine, the numbers and graduate lines are wearing off.

 

I don't think they have a "shelf life" per se. They are hermetically sealed and should last unused for about

forever. They were never intended to be used more than once before being tossed into a medical hazmat

box.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

[someonesdad]

  Gretchen said:

Wonderful -- I've been using one that a scientist friend gave me, and it's unpleasantly sharp! Also, the plunger on mine seems to be getting stiff and worn, which leads me to a question; do these things have a material shelf life, or is it simply the wear and tear from ink and repeated cleanings that makes them stiff and uncooperative?

Grind off the needle end -- it's easy to do on a shop grinder or sharpening stone.

 

Some of the elastomers on the plungers are designed to be pressed once in the syringe, then not work after that. I've had that happen on some Monoject syringes, but not others. The plungers can also be sensitive to what's in the syringe. For example, I keep numerous syringes in my shop loaded with various greases and oils. Vaseline is innocuous, but 3-in-1 oil has degraded every syringe plunger I've put it in.

 

I found the Vaseline in the syringe with a blunt needle is absolute dynamite for greasing the roller bearings on the kitchen drawers. It made them so smooth that it took us a while to quit pulling them out so hard! I used to oil them about once a year, but the Vaseline was done 3 or 4 years ago and continues to work like a charm.

[kiavonne]

I don't have a grinder, I'm not handy with that type of stuff, so CMaxx has been my supplier in the past. I still have a couple of his syringes. The outside print eventually wears away, but my syringes keep on filling just fine. I don't like using sharp needles so I ditched the one syringe I bought from my pharmacy. CMaxx's deal is the best going so far for us FPN folk who are willing to forego the hassle of self grinding and self piercing.

[mitchjg]

I just ordered a pair (thanks CMaxx). Does anyone know if these can also be used to fill inkjet cartridges? (not planning on using fountain pen ink but am tired of buying refills, even on ebay).

 

 

[CMaxx]

Hey guys and gals,

 

I don't have any hard data on the material shelf life of these, but I know I still use the original couple of syringes I started with back in November of 2007. The numbers and graduate lines will wear off (you'll take it right off with scotch tape, so be careful). The dispensing needles are thick enough that they are really tough. I've graduated to the longer ones, but they seem to last forever.

 

Someone's dad: I don't think you spoiled my offer at all—you actually did a great job of demonstrating the value. Let's see, I can make friends with a horse vet in the hopes that he'll let me take some of his old (used—ewwwwwwwwwwwwww ) needles, which I'll then boil for 20 minutes before heading over to my grinder (oops, gotta hit the hardware store for a grinder—now these needles are getting really expensive) to get rid of the hazardous point. Okay, maybe it's not really that bad. If you think about it though, even your "easy" scenario has you paying $1.50 to $1.75 for a needle and syringe. If you buy 5 from me it's only $2.20 per set.

 

Oh, and can I just say, I hope you're talking about a different 18 gauge needle than the ones I'm selling if you're using them to give yourself injections!!! Holy cow that would hurt.

 

Kiavonne: thanks for the recommendation, and I have to admit you kinda freaked me out with your mention of "self piercing." Ick.

 

Mitchjg: I've never refilled inkjet cartridges before, so I don't really know if they'll work.

 

Thanks again everybody,

 

CMaxx

[Ernie Wayne]

I just ordered them too -- good deal. I had bought some on Ebay that were supposed to be blunt, but they were for injections, and sharp!

[CMaxx]

I've had a few more people order today, so thanks everybody.

 

I've also had a few people PM me asking if I still have some available. Consider this the notice that I have plenty in stock right now. When I start getting low, I'll be sure to post something about it in this (or a subsequent) thread.

 

In a worst-case scenario (someone sends me money but I'm out of syringes), PayPal lets me refund your payment without penalty for you or for me. Again, I'll make sure to make it known if I'm running out, so that shouldn't happen. Just feel free to send me all your money. In fact...you are getting sleepy...you feel yourself entering the most relaxed state of your entire life...you feel your wallet getting heavy...you want to lighten your load...........

 

CMaxx

[nickyd]

  Ernie Wayne said:

I just ordered them too -- good deal. I had bought some on Ebay that were supposed to be blunt, but they were for injections, and sharp!

 

You could always ask your Dentist for a few 'Endo' syringes which the special needles ('side exit').

I think the widest are 23ga.

 

Having said that, I think this deal here is good value.

N.

[PatientType]

Vet needles? Now I'm waiting to see a post from some imaginative and incredibly cheap pen person who realizes that they can go down to their local needle exchange program office. I hear that there are LOTS of free needles there! I imagine a conversation that goes like this...

 

"No, I'm not an addict but I really, really like fountain pens. Yes, I said pens. And, I have this fountain pen well, several of them actually, that only take cartridges. You know, those round little plastic tube thing-ies. So if you could see clear to provide a few of those needles... No, I really don't want an HIV test, thank you."

Edited May 6, 2009 by PatientType

[someonesdad]

  CMaxx said:

Someone's dad: I don't think you spoiled my offer at all—you actually did a great job of demonstrating the value. Let's see, I can make friends with a horse vet in the hopes that he'll let me take some of his old (used—ewwwwwwwwwwwwww ) needles, which I'll then boil for 20 minutes before heading over to my grinder (oops, gotta hit the hardware store for a grinder—now these needles are getting really expensive) to get rid of the hazardous point. Okay, maybe it's not really that bad. If you think about it though, even your "easy" scenario has you paying $1.50 to $1.75 for a needle and syringe. If you buy 5 from me it's only $2.20 per set.

 

Oh, and can I just say, I hope you're talking about a different 18 gauge needle than the ones I'm selling if you're using them to give yourself injections!!! Holy cow that would hurt.

Actually, I had to give our horse lots of injections, so I wound up with lots of needles and syringes from that. I do lots of things in the shop and am a real DIY-er, so I always figure out ways of doing things that cost no money (besides, my wife keeps my wallet locked up in a financial chastity belt).

 

I had to give myself an injection this morning and put the 18 gauge needle on the syringe. I looked at it and chickened out this time and used the default 21 gauge needle and it worked just fine. When the nurse at the doctor's office showed me how to give myself injections, I used an 18 gauge needle 1.5 inches long. What was funny was that I stuck it into my leg like you give injections into a horse's rump. By this, I mean that I held it in my fist and rammed it into my leg, not knowing any better. The nurse was horrified and shouted "Jeez, not so hard!". I learned my lesson, as when I pulled it out, blood spurted all over the place and my leg was sore for a week. But I never felt a thing while doing it.

[Gretchen]

  someonesdad said:

I found the Vaseline in the syringe with a blunt needle is absolute dynamite for greasing the roller bearings on the kitchen drawers. It made them so smooth that it took us a while to quit pulling them out so hard! I used to oil them about once a year, but the Vaseline was done 3 or 4 years ago and continues to work like a charm.

 

What a great idea!! Are there some things that work better with vasoline than silicone glop? Or not?

[Gretchen]

  mitchjg said:

I just ordered a pair (thanks CMaxx). Does anyone know if these can also be used to fill inkjet cartridges? (not planning on using fountain pen ink but am tired of buying refills, even on ebay).

 

I think Nathan Tardif of Noodler's Ink uses his ink in inkjet refils and has recommended certain colors for that.

[Gretchen]

  someonesdad said:

What was funny was that I stuck it into my leg like you give injections into a horse's rump. By this, I mean that I held it in my fist and rammed it into my leg, not knowing any better. The nurse was horrified and shouted "Jeez, not so hard!". I learned my lesson, as when I pulled it out, blood spurted all over the place and my leg was sore for a week. But I never felt a thing while doing it.

 

lolol -- I'm very sorry that your leg was sore for a week, but that is a very funny scene you've described! You must have really worried that nurse, lolol.