CFOG's PIP, February 1986, Volume 4 No. 4, Whole No. 40, page 4
REINKING RIBBONS -- A REHASH OF SOME OLD STUFF and SOME NEW INFORMATION
by Benjamin H. Cohen
I've mentioned the MacInker before -- it's a small device that reinks fabric ribbons for printers. One drawback of the MacInker has been that you needed another MacInker for each ribbon type that you had. For people or offices with more than one printer this meant that the MacInker was not as economical as it might be and you had more MacInkers to store -- often meaning you couldn't find the right MacInker when you needed it. Well, Computer Friends has done it -- they've created a Universal MacInker. Well, actually, there are TWO Universal MacInkers -- one for cartridge ribbons and one for open spool types.
The Universal MacInker consists of a base with a motor, two holes into which to screw ribbon drivers, and a bunch of holes in which to position the ink holder and a ribbon positioner. The ribbon type Universal MacInker sells for $68.50 with one driver -- each additional driver costs $8.50. The spool type Universal MacInker sells for $66.95.
I've been using a MacInker for about two years. In the summer of 1984 I bought four ribbons for my Transtar 130. One of them got chewed up when I left it on the MacInker overnight and the gear mechanism failed. I'm still using the other three. Each one has been reinked eight or nine times. When I reink the ribbons, I get darker print than I got when the ribbons were new. I'll concede that sometimes I don't realize how light the ribbon has gotten, but my intent is to change the ribbon long before it gets to the point that I would throw out a ribbon if I couldn't reink it.
Reinking ribbons is not something for a "clean room". You're going to get a bit of ink on your fingers. It cleans off readily with WD-40 or waterless hand cleaner. On the other hand, using the MacInker is not "messy" -- you don't need to worry about getting ink all over, it's just that you can't avoid getting a bit on your fingers, no matter how careful you are. Keep a few paper towels around, and work on a few sheets of old newspaper, and you won't have any problems.
A 2 ounce bottle of ink costs $3 -- but they come in a box of 4 and the minimum order is $12! You might want to order an extra one when you order your MacInker. A bottle of ink lasts a long time. I don't have a count, but I'm sure that it's not far wrong when Computer Friends says it costs about 5 or 6 cents for the ink to reink a ribbon.
For those who don't use many ribbons, or who don't want to spend the $60+ that a MacInker costs, there is another inexpensive method that works well for some ribbon types. Two purveyors sell a pressurized spray can of ink. RE-INK-IT comes in a 5 ounce spray can from RE-INK-IT, Lynchville Park, Chatel Ave., Goffstown, NH 30345. I paid $8 for the can. EBONIZE comes in a 3 ounce spray can from UPWEGO Computer Supply, Inc., 120 West Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60602. I paid $14.95 plus tax.
Reinking ribbons with a spray can is, in a word, MESSY. You had best have a bunch of newspapers spread around. You have to pry open the top of the ribbon cartridge. This works well with some types, such as Epson, which have metal cartridges which you can easily open. With these you can also replace the ribbon in the cartridge. Once the cartridge is open, you spray the ink on the ribbon, trying to get it evenly all over the ribbon without getting too much on the newspaper or the carpet. Then you have to close the cartridge, a process that isn't so easy with some ribbons.
If the ribbon pops out, it's often not too hard to get it back in. Make sure the gear mechanism is in place properly. The best way seems to be to let it all hang out, put in a strip that goes through the cartridge, and close it up. Then get out a hand drill -- electric ones go too fast and put in a screwdriver bit that will fit in the bottom of the cartridge where the printer turns the ribbon. Most of the cartridges have either a star shaped driver that takes a Phillips head screwdriver bit nicely, or a straight slot that takes a straight screwdriver bit. Stick the cartridge in a vise, or have someone hold it, while you turn the drill and wind the ribbon into the cartridge. You can use a plain screwdriver, or the knob on top of the cartridge, too, but it's quite slow.
RE-INK-IT says that reinking a ribbon costs about 20 cents. Figure a bit more with EBONIZE, but in either event, it's a lot cheaper than new ribbons. You'll have to decide whether the extra mess with the spray cans balances against the initial expense.