Dell inkjet cartridges can be expensive to replace, especially since the housing and microchip are still perfectly usable. In order to save money, you can purchase an ink refill kit which lets you refill the ink in an existing cartridge at a fraction of the cost of replacing it. The key is finding the right inkwells in the particular Dell cartridge you have, then filling it with the right color ink.
Basics
Dell cartridges are like most other inkjet cartridges. Black ink cartridges contain an inkwell with just a single type of ink. Color ink cartridges contain three separate inkwells with cyan, yellow, and magenta inks respectively (those three colors can be combined to produce any color imaginable in the printer). Some Dell inkjet printers also have photo ink cartridges specifically for printing photos. They contain three inkwells holding photo black, photo magenta and photo cyan inks, respectively.
Finding the Filler Holes
Most Dell cartridges--the 922 through 960 models--have inkwell holes on the top of the cartridge just beneath the label. You can peel the label off and find them, then dip a toothpick into each hole to determine which ink goes where. For Dell color cartridges preceded by a letter (J740, A720, A920, A940 and A960), pry the top of the cartridge off with a pen knife in order to reach the filler holes. Black Dell ink cartridges preceded by a letter have no filler holes. You can create one by drilling a hole in the topmost part of the cartridge using a household drill or the drilling instrument included in the ink refill kit.
Refilling
Once you've located the holes, you can fill them with the proper color ink using the syringe in the refill kit. It's usually a good idea to lay down some paper towels beneath the cartridge and wear old clothes, since spilled ink can stain. Depress the syringe gently and note how many milliliters the particular inkwell holds. If you're worried about overflow, consider filling the well only three-quarters of the way; it should still be good for plenty of printing cycles. When you're done, place a piece of Scotch tape over the hole (especially if you've drilled it yourself) or secure the plastic top you removed with tape. Fit the cartridge back in the printer and run it through several printing cycles until you're certain the ink is flowing freely. Almost all Dell ink cartridges have sponges, which must be soaked with ink before the cartridge will work. Consider leaving the refilled cartridge in the printer overnight before you use it; it may make for better results.
