"The kit also includes three syringes and needles, plus other assorted tools and plugs for the various types of cartridges. Once the BB has been removed, adding ink only requires taking the cartridge out of the printer, placing a bit of tape over the bottom cartridge opening to prevent leakage, and then adding some ink with a syringe through the top opening. Then the rubber plug is replaced and the cartridge put into the printer. The whole operation takes five minutes. Here's a link to the company whose kit I am using: customer.stratitec.com/index.php?cPath=192_209 ."

And this from G. Fessard: "I have tried to solve the problem by purchasing ink and trying to inject it into a cartridge. The stains on my fingers are just about gone at this point. What a mess! A better solution I have found is the purchase of ink cartridges from an online supplier called klassicspecialties.com .

"Depending on the make of your printer, you can obtain high-quality cartridges and other printing supplies at as much as one-half the cost of retail stores. The ink and cartridges are first-rate and the service very good. I recommend this supplier to you and your readers."

Martin Cohen wrote: "We had the same problem. Our solution: We looked at the printing we did and concluded that more than 90 percent was black and white, no color needed. So, we bought a laser printer (in our case, a Brother HL-1440, now less than $200). It is much cheaper per page, faster (12 pages per minute) and the toner cartridge lasts a long time."

There were many more e-mails about cartridge costs and wishing me well in finding answers. Let me know if any of the above offers a complete solution. Or just write, I get lonely.

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