A Good Infrequently Used Printer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrPaulm
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MrPaulm

I have two Epson inkjet printers: one at work and one at home. The
output is very good, but there are problems when I don't use them for a
month or two -- they dry out. I understand this is to be expected.
Should I consider some other type of printer besides inkjet, one that
can sit for a couple of months? Of if I stick with inkjet, are there
differences between manufacturers/models as regards how quickly they
dry out?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.
 
I have two Epson inkjet printers: one at work and one at home. The
output is very good, but there are problems when I don't use them for a
month or two -- they dry out. I understand this is to be expected.
Should I consider some other type of printer besides inkjet, one that
can sit for a couple of months? Of if I stick with inkjet, are there
differences between manufacturers/models as regards how quickly they
dry out?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Arthur Entlich's manual for Epsons suggests blocking
cartridge vent holes when a printer is to be stored.
Other readers suggested maintaing general humidity during
storage by enclosing the printer in a plastic bag with a
damp sponge in the bottom (touching no printer components.)
 
I have two Epson inkjet printers: one at work and one at home. The
output is very good, but there are problems when I don't use them for a
month or two -- they dry out. I understand this is to be expected.
Should I consider some other type of printer besides inkjet, one that
can sit for a couple of months? Of if I stick with inkjet, are there
differences between manufacturers/models as regards how quickly they
dry out?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Generally you need do nothing more than print something every week to
keep them happy. I run 2, sometimes 3, printers (all Canons) on
compatible and bulk inks. I get no clogging whatsoever simply because I
use them a couple of times a week. It's also quite possible Epsons clog
more easily than Canons. I gave up on Epsons with the oft clogging 740
so I can't speak for their later models. If even weekly printing doesn't
solve your problem you may consider a move to another brand.

-Taliesyn
 
Taliesyn said:
Generally you need do nothing more than print something every week to
keep them happy.
Click to expand...

THAT NOT WHAT WAS ASKED.
I run 2, sometimes 3, printers (all Canons) on
compatible and bulk inks. I get no clogging whatsoever simply because
I use them a couple of times a week.
Click to expand...

YOU SAID YOU PRINT A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY. AND LONG RUNS.
It's also quite possible Epsons clog
more easily than Canons.
Click to expand...

IT IS A KNOWN FACT.

AND PRINTERS THAT USE AFTERMARKET GENERIC INK CLOG EVEN MORE.
 
I HAVE A CANON AND AN HP. THE CANON IS FASTER AND PRINTS BETTER PHOTOS
BUT THE HP IS NOT A PHOTO PRINTER SO I WOULD EXPECT THE NEWER HP PHOTO
PRINTERS TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED. THE HP DOES BETTER ON BUSINESS
DOCUMENTS AND DRAFT.

THE HP CAN ALSO SIT LONGER. I HAVE LET MY HP UNUSED FOR OVER A MONTH
WITH NO PROBLEM. IF THERE IS ONE THEN YOU CAN DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

IF THE INK CART IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY HP WILL REPLACE IT.

IF THE INK CART IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEN JUST PURCHASE A NEW ONE.

THE PRINTHEAD IS INTEGRATED (DEPENDING ON MODEL) INTO THE INK CART SO
YOU GET A NEW ONE EACH TIME YOU CHANGE IT OUT. THIS SETUP IS MORE
EXPENSIVE BUT SINCE THE USAGE IS SO VERY LOW COST WILL NOT BE A FACTOR.

DO NOT SCREW UP THE MACHINE BY NOT USING GENUINE HP INK.
 
I have two Epson inkjet printers: one at work and one at home. The
output is very good, but there are problems when I don't use them for a
month or two -- they dry out. I understand this is to be expected.
Should I consider some other type of printer besides inkjet, one that
can sit for a couple of months?
Click to expand...

Yes. Lasers use dry toner and don't mind sitting for months or years.
 
No problem with Canon printers. My Canon printer tends to sit for six
months at a time between marathon printing sessions; and I've never
experienced any kind of clogging.
 
I HAVE A CANON AND AN HP.
Click to expand...
I don't know how you've done your OEM vs. aftermarket ink studies with way
less than ten printers.
THE HP CAN ALSO SIT LONGER.
Click to expand...
My Canon knows how to sit just as long as your HP.
THE PRINTHEAD IS INTEGRATED (DEPENDING ON MODEL)
Click to expand...
In other words, the print head is integrated, or it might not be.
DO NOT SCREW UP THE MACHINE BY NOT USING GENUINE HP INK.
Click to expand...

And make sure you get an HP. The other brands will not sit still for long.
 
Prime said:
measekite <[email protected]> posted the exciting message [email protected]:



I don't know how you've done your OEM vs. aftermarket ink studies with way
less than ten printers.
Click to expand...
10 IS DA BEEFER IQ
My Canon knows how to sit just as long as your HP.
Click to expand...
BUT CAN IT BARK
In other words, the print head is integrated, or it might not be.
Click to expand...
YOU ARE STUPID AND YOU MIGHT BE DUMB
And make sure you get an HP. The other brands will not sit still for long.
Click to expand...
AH TIS MEDIUM RARE
 
Stan said:
No problem with Canon printers. My Canon printer tends to sit for six
months at a time between marathon printing sessions; and I've never
experienced any kind of clogging.
Click to expand...
THAT IS NICE TO KNOW. MAYBE YOUR ENVIRONMENT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
 
You don't mention which Epson printers you are using, so it is hard to
make comments about which other printers may offer similar features.
Epson offers three different inkset types. The 4 color Durabrite, which
are designed principally for business use and offer relatively fast
drying pigment colorant inks, the 6 color or more Ultrachrome inks,
which are slower drying, but also pigment colorant, mainly designed for
image production, and finally there are dye colorant inks which are fast
drying, but don't offer the permanence that pigment inks do.

Also, if you are using 3rd party inks, the clogging characteristics may
be different to Epson products.

The most major clogging problems are with the Durabrite ink types.
These are used in the some C and CX printers. Epson printers use
permanent ink head, and so they are used throughout the life of the
printer. Assuming any ink head can be left that long without some
maintenance is asking too much.

The least likely to clog are the HP printers using the head incorporated
into the cartridge, if for now other reason than the head goes when the
cartridge is replaced.

Canon printer use dye inks which are less likely to clog but they have
poorer permanence than the pigment inks. That is why I asked about
which models are in use and what the use is.

Regarding the Epsons, my suggestion is to place a few drops of water or
ammoniated window cleaner on the parking (cleaning station pads) prior
to shut down, as the printer is printing the last document before shut
down, using an eyedropper. This can help prevent clogging for many days
or even months.

Laser can sit for months or even years without use and not degrade in
most cases. It is a very different technology, however.

Art
 
Actually, I also suggest the plastic bag with a small damp sponge. In
fact, I probably was the person to first promote this concept.

I mainly suggest blocking the vent hole (on the older gang color
cartridges) when storing the cartridges on removal or while storing
after refilling. The new individual color ones seal the vent on
removal, and have minimal air exchange even when installed.

Art
 
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