Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
Mike O'Donnell wrote:
>Replies mixed in the text
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>"Arthur Entlich" <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote in message
>news:KgjMe.226789$s54.200419@pd7tw2no...
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>
>>Use your judgment on the amount of ammonia to add. I would stick to
>>pre-mixed window cleaner (with ammonia). Try a smaller amount to start
>>and see if it is enough. Never use more than required to have the ink
>>flow well.
>>
>>
>>
>I'll go ahead and try the window cleaner stuff, I don't have much to lose at
>this point.
>
INKY STINKY AFTERMARKET PROBLEMS. I TOLD THEM SO AHA HA HA HA
>I assume I just remove the cartridge and put some in the
>opening on the cartridge that the ink flows from, correct? After I put the
>stuff in, do I need to mix or shake it or wait any time until I replace the
>cartridge? I don't want to start to put the cartridge back and have all the
>cleaner fall out.
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>>As far as I'm concerned the R200 is a toss away printer. Apparently, once
>>the waste ink pads fill, the chassis is so flimsy that they have to
>>replace the whole bottom of the printer to replace the waste ink pads,
>>meaning the cost is probably near/more what the printer is worth new.
>>
>>
>
>Unfortunately, it seems like any of the low cost printers are disposable.
>When the ink cost is 2/3 of the cost of a new, better printer it's hard to
>justify keeping the old one too long. For my amount of use, with the cost
>of commercial prints in the 19 cent range, it's pretty hard to even justify
>a cheap $80 printer, let alone some high end $300+ model. It's just so nice
>to be able to pull the pics up on the computer, tweak them, and get the
>immediate print. Or take pics at a family get together and print out
>snapshots for everyone to take home before they leave.
>
>If I was going to replace my Photo 820, and with the amount of my uses,
>which printer would you suggest? I've seen that it usually works better to
>keep the paper and printer matched, and I have a fairly broad mix of Epson
>papers, so I'd prefer to stay in the Epson line, or at least with a printer
>that will work well with the Epson paper.
>
>
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>>Individual ink cartridges do not have individual cleaning stations. Most,
>>if not all of the recent Epson printers have only one cleaning station.
>>Individual cartridges save ink on 6 color systems, because the LC and LM
>>always run out first. On 4 color machines the advantage of individual
>>cartridges is usually lost, due to extra cleaning and purging cycles.
>>
>>
>
>I know I don't go through the cartridges too much (that's probably why I'm
>having the original problem!), but it's always bugged me to throw away a 3
>color (or 6 color) cartridge when only one is empty.
>
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>
>>Art
>>
>>
>
>Thanks for answering.
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>
>
>>Mike O'Donnell wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>"Arthur Entlich" <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote in message
>>>news:kHtLe.212022$s54.11491@pd7tw2no...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Answers integrated into text
>>>>
>>>>Mike O'Donnell wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I have a question about the ink in an Epson Stylus Photo 820. I've had
>>>>>this printer for several years, using it as a secondary printer for
>>>>>photos. My general printer is an old Stylus color 800.
>>>>>
>>>>>I don't use the 820 as often as I thought I would, so I have to deal
>>>>>with the cleaning cycles more often than I wish. I use the Windex on
>>>>>the ink pad trick and it usually works OK.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>However, what's been happening recently is that even after the windex
>>>>>and cleaning cycles, the black square on the test pattern will still
>>>>>have major white streaks in it. The color squares are fine.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I have two questions:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Is it possible to trigger a cleaning cycle for only the black cartridge,
>>>>>like in my old Stylus 800? I hate the idea of wasting the color ink
>>>>>trying to clean out the black.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>No. The 820 has only one cleaning station and therefore one purge pump
>>>>for all the heads, so all get cleaned at the same time.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>My other question is: Can the black ink cartridge be too old? I pulled
>>>>>up the printer information and it shows the black cartridge production
>>>>>date as 7/2001 (I can't believe I've had it that long without changing
>>>>>it). Both cartridges show about half full, and the last time I printed
>>>>>some photos with it (about 4 weeks ago), they came out fine. I've only
>>>>>used Epson cartridges. I have a new black cartridge, but I don't want
>>>>>to open it if it's not going to make a difference. With the cost of the
>>>>>photo printers, I could take the cartridge back and apply the refund to
>>>>>a new printer.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>Yes. That's an old cartridge, and I expect the ink has become too thick
>>>>since there is an exposure to air through a vent. You can remove it and
>>>>add several eyedroppers full of ammoniated window cleaner to it to dilute
>>>>it slightly. It will also help to break up the clogs.
>>>>
>>>>If you do not have my cleaning document which will explain about
>>>>underhead cleaning, email me privately and ask for it.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Art
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Any opinions would be appreciated.
>>>>>
>>>>>- Mike O.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>Thanks. I would like a copy of the cleaning document, I've sent you an
>>>email requesting it.
>>>
>>>You talked about "several eyedroppers" of ammoniated cleaner, that sounds
>>>like a lot considering the size of the cartridge. Also, considering the
>>>amount that would be going into the cartridge, would it be better to use
>>>plain ammonia?
>>>
>>>On a related note, do you have any thoughts on the R200 printer? I print
>>>labels that I put on CD's, and being able to print directly would be a
>>>nice feature. Also, I really like the idea of individual ink color
>>>cartridges instead of disposing of a six color cart just because you're
>>>out of one color. Do you know if those can be cleaned individually?
>>>
>>>The R200's are going for abour $80 locally, and changing both of the
>>>cartridges for my current Photo 820 would run about $50..
>>>
>>>Mike O.
>>>
>>>
>>>
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