Refilling Your Printer's Toner Cartridge

If you have a laser printer, you know that replacement toner cartridges cost a lot of money. Some are almost half the price of what you paid for the printer in the first place!

Some people buy off-brand cartridges for a fraction of what the manufacturer's brand costs. This isn't necessarily a bad idea, but you have to make sure that you find a good replacement. A poorly-designed cartridge - or one that just wasn't sealed properly when it was filled at the factory - can mess up, or even destroy, your laser printer.

Another option is to refill your original printer cartridges yourself. Many people choose this option because they can save quite a bit of money. Like anything else, though, there are pros and cons to this option.

The Good:
* You'll save lots of money. A new, "official" toner cartridge can cost sixty dollars or more. Replacement toner can cost you anywhere from twelve to twenty dollars: you'll get enough toner to print a few thousand pages before you have to worry about refilling again.

* Quality control is in your hands. Once you get the hang of refilling the toner cartridge, you'll know that the job is done right every time.

* Because you're refilling the original, "official" toner cartridge, you don't have to worry about a third-party, cheaply-made brand destroying your printer.

* Some companies - both online and storefront - make refilling easy. You can buy refill kits designed specifically for your printer. These can include everything from directions and funnels to plugs and other necessities.

The Bad:
* Refilling a toner cartridge is horrifyingly messy. You have to either do your refilling outside (on a day when wind is nonexistent) or in the bathtub or sink (both of which can be easily cleaned). Until you've practiced refilling a few times, you're probably going to make a huge mess. You can eliminate part of the problem by using a paper funnel, but you should still expect your first few attempts to be bad.

* Cleanup. You have to be conscientious about cleaning off the cartridge before you take it anywhere near your printer.

* At some point, you'll have to buy replacement cartridges. Depending on the brand of cartridge - and other factors - you can expect good results for three refills. After that, you need to be prepared to buy another cartridge. But at least you'll save some serious money in the meantime.

Many people have extra toner cartridges lying around. If you're one of those people, use one as a practice cartridge. If you don't like the results of your first few refilling efforts, you can chuck that cartridge (or turn it in for a recycling credit somewhere) without losing too much of your time or money.