Cleaning an ink-jet head?

[Koldov]

We have a couple of legacy ink-jets in a few offices, only used by the person in that office.

 

They weren't the cheap 'ink cartridges cost more than the printer' types you get now, these are more the fax/scan/copy MFD capable of A3 printing etc.

 

To be fair they don't actually get much use (which is fatal for an ink-jet) but I have one user that is constantly complaining about the print quality.

 

I've done so many head cleans I've almost used up all the ink cartridges (I've always insisted on brand cartridges - so not cheap) and there's been little improvement, so I need a better option (other than throw it away and buy a laser).

 

I'm tempted to drip some isopropyl-alcohol on the ink inlets, or maybe the jets but don't really want to have to take the thing apart... any better ideas?

[andy_b]

In my experience once they are that far gone it is just a sunk cost.

 

I know you said it wasn't an option, but imho the only option is to replace it. Anything else is a waste of time and money.

[Chris_Cook]

If you can get the print head out of the printer, then you can leave it sitting in some IPA, or press some tissue against it and leave it to soak.

 

I'm not sure how far you can go before you damage the head. I'd be tempted to try an ultrasonic cleaner, but I suspect that would damage it beyond repair.

 

If its not getting regular use though, then you will keep having to do this. Its probably worth re-thinking the type of printer. A laser or copier are much more suited to intermittent use.

[steveg]

Haven't had to clean an inkjet printer in years, but i remember using nail varnish remover quite effectively in the past.

[Koldov]

Hmmmm... in that case any recommendations for cheap/reliable laser for the use case mentioned in OP...?

[steveg]

Hmmmm... in that case any recommendations for cheap/reliable laser for the use case mentioned in OP...?

 

Follow-me printing and exercise? :-)

[Alex0x7F]

then you can leave it sitting in some IPA

Beavertown or Magic rock?

[Fazza]

If as you say they are not the normal home inkjet printer and are MFD devices then are the print heads replaceable?

[Koldov]

Follow-me printing and exercise? :-)

 

Trust me I've already made the comment about 'getting your steps in' and 'it's always good to get up and walk around for a bit when you're sitting at a desk all day'... I don't think it went down well! Plus we have to be very sensitive about who you say those sort of things too these days don't we...

 

Beavertown or Magic rock?

 

Yeah, I wondered if I really wanted to waste a good beer...

 

Thing is even looking at the cheap -£200 consumer grade ones, then you've got to factor in +£200 for toner!

[robintech]

For a black and white laser printer I can recommend the HP LaserJet M402dn , aftermarket cartridges are about £20 each. Have two in operation and never touched them apart from replacing toner. Ideally will get rid of all desktop printers so we're doing no replacements for dead desktop printers.

[dmj]

Many, many years ago I've cleaned these with a cotton bud and acetone. Isopropyl alcohol would also work.

[Koldov]

Thanks, it will absolutely have to be colour (of course).

 

I don't know about 'aftermarket/compatible' toners in a brand new printer (having said that our print provider has never supplied us with original toner, it's always been compatibles)... however I've also read HP printers especially can be quite fussy about not using original and actively blocks compatibles.

[hallb15]

If they insist on colour then you could consider getting an inkjet printer that has the head built into the cartridge, like HP, rather than the Canon/Epson ink only cartridge type.

Cheaper than laser/toner and if the head gets blocked and several cleans doesn't work, at least you can get it working again with a new cartridge.

[Millgate_Jon]

I`ve supplied plenty of 3rd party cartridges and they don`t have any worse failure rates than the original manufacturers versions (less than 1% get RMA`d).

When it comes to manufacturers getting funny about warranties when 3PC are used the general rule is......did the cartridge cause the issue? If not, they couldn`t care less and will honour the warranty.

[Koldov]

I`ve supplied plenty of 3rd party cartridges and they don`t have any worse failure rates than the original manufacturers versions (less than 1% get RMA`d).

When it comes to manufacturers getting funny about warranties when 3PC are used the general rule is......did the cartridge cause the issue? If not, they couldn`t care less and will honour the warranty.

 

It wasn't so much the quality of the compatible cartridges I was concerned with, only whilst researching HP printers in particular I saw this:

 

"It uses dynamic security measures to block cartridges that are using non-HP chips or circuits. Periodic firmware updates will maintain the effectiveness of these measure, and block cartridges that previously worked."

 

Our main printers are all MFDs and are on a managed service, so I don't have to worry about them ever (apart from changing toners and the occasional paper jam). It's just these odd ones that I have to deal with and so the last thing I want is something that's going to give me more issues or to find out it isn't going to take compatible toners somewhere down the line!

[Dos_Box]

I got a new inkjet MFD (Epson) last year after my trusty HP finally gave up the ghost after 12 years hard service.

They cam supplied with 'starter' carts which only allowed you to print a few pages befor running out. They wanted as much as the printer for a branded pack of carts, so I went for third party versions which wored fine, Until I didn't print for a month and they have now blocked fully. I'm just trying to raise the energy to strip it down and clean them manually with, as @dmj said, with acetone or alcohol.

The situation is not helped by MFD devices shooting up in cost since covid and not coming back down again, which could very well be down to the chip shortages.

[JATSO]

I got a new inkjet MFD (Epson) last year after my trusty HP finally gave up the ghost after 12 years hard service.

They cam supplied with 'starter' carts which only allowed you to print a few pages befor running out. They wanted as much as the printer for a branded pack of carts, so I went for third party versions which wored fine, Until I didn't print for a month and they have now blocked fully. I'm just trying to raise the energy to strip it down and clean them manually with, as @dmj said, with acetone or alcohol.

The situation is not helped by MFD devices shooting up in cost since covid and not coming back down again, which could very well be down to the chip shortages.

 

A couple of links, might help you out. The first is Northlight Images - Keith's channel is well worth watching if your an ink user.

 

https://www.northlight-images.co.uk/inkjet-printer-cleaning/

 

https://bchtechnologies.com/blog/how-to-fix-blocked-or-clogged-epson-printhead-nozzles-cleaning-and-unclogging-tips/

 

https://www.perfectcolours.com/blog/how-to-clean-a-printer-head/