Can I Drill a Hole in My Canon Cartridge Cover Instead of Using a Modification Kit?

Question:
I live in India, and the modification kit for Canon cartridges [https://bch-youtube-fan-store.myshopify.com/products/modification-kit-for-making-spongeless-cartridge-with-canon-pg-210-cl-211-pg-240-cl-241-pg-245-cl-246-pg-243-cl-244-as-rfc-cb2] seems too expensive for me. Instead, I drill a hole in the original Canon cartridge cover and attach a pen cap to the back. The pen cap has a small hole, so I think it could regulate air pressure similarly. Would this DIY method work?

Answer:

We understand your concern about the cost and availability of the modification kit [https://bch-youtube-fan-store.myshopify.com/products/modification-kit-for-making-spongeless-cartridge-with-canon-pg-210-cl-211-pg-240-cl-241-pg-245-cl-246-pg-243-cl-244-as-rfc-cb2], especially in countries where international shipping fees make it more costly. The idea of drilling a hole and using a pen cap for air regulation is creative, but unfortunately, it won't work effectively for these specific Canon cartridge types.

Here's why:

Canon cartridges like PG-210, CL-211, PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, CL-246, PG-243, and CL-244 are sponge-based systems. In the factory design, the sponge not only holds the ink but also controls ink flow through surface tension and capillary action. When you remove the sponge, there’s nothing left to hold the ink in suspension, and the cartridge can either leak or fail to deliver ink reliably.

The BCH modification kit replaces the sponge system with a pressure-regulated chamber, which includes white columns adjacent to the refill holes. These pressure regulators are key. They control ink flow and prevent backflow or overflow, simulating the performance of sponge tension but in a spongeless setup. Drilling a hole and simply inserting a pen cap—even one with a vent—does not create a controlled pressure environment. This means ink could flood the printhead, dry out prematurely, or not flow at all.

If you’re not able to invest in a pressure regulator system, then your best bet is to keep the sponge inside the cartridge. You can still refill a sponge cartridge with care—just make sure the sponge is clean and capable of absorbing ink properly. Over time, the sponge will wear out, which is why long-term users often switch to spongeless systems like the one in our kit.

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