Best Practices for Refilling HP 962/962XL Cartridges: Understanding Dye vs Pigment Inks

Why Choose Dye Ink for HP 962/962XL Cartridges?

1. Compatibility:
   Dye inks are generally compatible with most printers, including those designed initially for pigment ink. They have a thinner consistency and don’t require the frequent cleaning cycles programmed for pigment inks, reducing the risk of clogs.
2. Advantages of Dye Ink:
   
   • Cost-effective: Dye inks are more economical than pigment inks.
   • Clog Prevention: Dye ink is less likely to cause permanent clogs. If a clog occurs, it can usually be resolved quickly using cleaning solutions.
   • Improved UV and Water Resistance: Recent advancements in dye ink formulations have addressed fading and water damage concerns, making dye ink suitable for most everyday printing tasks.
3. Use Case Considerations:
   
   • Unless you are printing materials intended for outdoor use or prolonged exposure to water, dye ink will meet your needs. It provides excellent quality and durability for documents, photos, and general-purpose printing.

BCH Dye Ink Recommendations:

• Standard 600 mL 4-Color Refill Ink for HP [https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-hp-kd600x-ch/]

Can You Switch Between Dye and Pigment Ink?

1. Switching From Pigment to Dye Ink:
   
   • Safe to do. The printer’s programmed cleaning cycles will clean more frequently than needed, but this won’t harm the printer. It might even reduce the chances of clogs.
2. Switching From Dye to Pigment Ink:
   
   • It needs extra care. Since pigment ink uses a chemical matrix to suspend particles, it doesn’t mix well with dye ink. Flush the remaining dye ink as much as possible before adding pigment ink to avoid clogs.
3. Mixing Pigment and Dye Ink:
   
   • While mixing is generally not recommended, up to 20% of different types of ink can coexist temporarily without causing issues. However, prolonged mixing increases the risk of clogs.
4. Best Practices for Switching:
   
   • A flushing solution is used to clean the printhead and ink system thoroughly.
   • Print multiple pages to flush out old ink and ensure the new ink flows consistently.

Additional Resources:

• Compare Dye and Pigment Inks [https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200555919]
• Why Dye Ink's Printouts Look Better [https://support.bchtechnologies.com/hc/en-us/articles/200677489]

Important Considerations:

• Dye Ink Base [https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-dye-ink-base/]
• Pigment Ink Base [https://bchtechnologies.com/universal-pigment-ink-base/]