As the owner of a business who sell computer consumables 24/7 and a writer of computer related articles sometimes there is some crossover. This is one of those articles... basically we have started offering a refill service both in store and a refill by post service on our website and as such I have been learning a great deal about the processes involved.

Thanks to adverts such as those commissioned several years ago by JR Inkjet (the ones featuring motoring journalist Quentin Wilson), there are a great many people who believe that they are immediately qualified for the task. Whilst refilling is certainly good for both your pocket and the environment, it is also an exact art that when improperly executed can yield terrible results.

Certain companies (who normally also sell refilling supplies) say you all you require is a drill bit, some universal ink and adhesive tape but if you want a good cartridge at the end of the process, unfortunately, this is not completely true. Manufacturers of printer cartridges spend a lot of time and money making sure their ink is distinctively suited for each of their cartridges and that they are as hard to refill/remanufacture as they can and as a result a certain amount of knowhow is needed.

Preparation is as important as the actual refilling itself and whilst not everybody is as thorough as ourselves, we use the following equipment on a daily basis to ensure that we retain the original quality.

- Centrifuge - This literally spins every last drop of ink out of the printer cartridge so that when you refill you don't have two differing ink types mixing together inside the cartridge.

- Steamer - Removes any blockages that may have formed in the cartridge print head by focusing a concentrated jet of steam towards the bottom of the cartridge.

- Ultrasonic Bath - Breaks down any remaining blockages; these machines incidentally are similar to those used to clean surgical instruments in the healthcare industry.

- Replacement sponges - These are useful as not only to you often get a better quality by using fresh sponges but additionally some cartridges can have their capacity increased by the use of a different sponge.

- Replacement lids ' On all cartridges we refill we have to remove the lids to get to the sponge and replace them when we are done. This method prevents cross contamination due to overfilling common when using a 'drill and fill' technique often employed in home refills.

With the preparation done it is crucial that it is filled with ink that is similar to the manufacturers' original specification instead of simply using a 'universal' ink. If at all possible the refill should be done in a vacuum so no air is left in the cartridge ' this means once the vacuum is released the ink will spread more evenly in the sponge, ensuring contact with the nozzle plate so that the print head can begin to fill ready for printing. When filling outside of a vacuum you risk there being nothing but air between the ink and the exit of the cartridge.

Even with the all the training and equipment I have purchased, refilling can make quite a mess; our local customers are used to seeing the staff here with a substantial quantity of ink on their person (although the face tends to get the best response) but this is normally considered a occupational hazard. If you fancied having a go then we do have some excellent kits for sale, but since we guarantee to be the cheapest in Torbay, the smart advice would be to leave it to your ink splattered friends at Refresh.