Can life of cartridge be extended without refilling?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Knack
  • Start date Start date
K

Knack

I seldomly use my inkjet printer, but when I do it's for color graphics
just a couple time per year. The almost unused cartridges are typically
at least 3/4 full but dried out enough to be nonfunctional when I'm
ready to print again.

Does anyone know how to either clear the clogged cartridges that are
mostly full of liquid ink?

Or to reseal and store away the used but still working cartridges, so
that they won't dry out and clog when they're ready to be used again
several months later? Has anyone had any luck with electrical tape used
in conjunction with plastic shrink wrapping (as is used for frozen food
storage)?
 
[This followup was posted to comp.periphs.printers and a copy was sent
to the cited author.]

I seldomly use my inkjet printer, but when I do it's for color graphics
just a couple time per year. The almost unused cartridges are typically
at least 3/4 full but dried out enough to be nonfunctional when I'm
ready to print again.

Does anyone know how to either clear the clogged cartridges that are
mostly full of liquid ink?

Or to reseal and store away the used but still working cartridges, so
that they won't dry out and clog when they're ready to be used again
several months later? Has anyone had any luck with electrical tape used
in conjunction with plastic shrink wrapping (as is used for frozen food
storage)?
Click to expand...

Many printers have some form of diagnostic or demo page you can print
that will use a bit of color. Maybe running that once every week or two
might keep things flowing. For Windows, under the printer's Properties,
there is a 'Print Test Page' that has a little color for the Windows
logo in the corner. Also, many printers have utilities to do a
'cleaning'. Again, maybe do that once a month or so might help.
Otherwise, get in the habit of printing a basic color page, like from a
web page or something. You can even try setting to Draft or FastDraft or
whatever to use little ink.

If the color cartridge has multiple colors in one (most commonly 3),
then storage is tricky. Once the original seal is removed, it's
difficult to impossible to re-seal without the danger of the inks
wicking into each other.
 
Andrew Rossmann said:
[This followup was posted to comp.periphs.printers and a copy was sent
to the cited author.]

I seldomly use my inkjet printer, but when I do it's for color graphics
just a couple time per year. The almost unused cartridges are typically
at least 3/4 full but dried out enough to be nonfunctional when I'm
ready to print again.

Does anyone know how to either clear the clogged cartridges that are
mostly full of liquid ink?

Or to reseal and store away the used but still working cartridges, so
that they won't dry out and clog when they're ready to be used again
several months later? Has anyone had any luck with electrical tape used
in conjunction with plastic shrink wrapping (as is used for frozen food
storage)?
Click to expand...

Many printers have some form of diagnostic or demo page you can print
that will use a bit of color. Maybe running that once every week or two
might keep things flowing. For Windows, under the printer's Properties,
there is a 'Print Test Page' that has a little color for the Windows
logo in the corner. Also, many printers have utilities to do a
'cleaning'. Again, maybe do that once a month or so might help.
Otherwise, get in the habit of printing a basic color page, like from a
web page or something. You can even try setting to Draft or FastDraft or
whatever to use little ink.

If the color cartridge has multiple colors in one (most commonly 3),
then storage is tricky. Once the original seal is removed, it's
difficult to impossible to re-seal without the danger of the inks
wicking into each other.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I do run those test routines included with printer's software.

Perhaps then at least the black cartridge can be individually resealed?

Interesting to note that the print heads don't clog on my seldom used
Lexmark X75. The problem is proven to be confined to the cartridges, because
after the problem cartridges are replaced the machine prints normally.
 
Knack said:
I seldomly use my inkjet printer, but when I do it's for color graphics
just a couple time per year. The almost unused cartridges are typically
at least 3/4 full but dried out enough to be nonfunctional when I'm
ready to print again.

Does anyone know how to either clear the clogged cartridges that are
mostly full of liquid ink?

Or to reseal and store away the used but still working cartridges, so
that they won't dry out and clog when they're ready to be used again
several months later? Has anyone had any luck with electrical tape used
in conjunction with plastic shrink wrapping (as is used for frozen food
storage)?
Click to expand...


Try putting them in a zip lock bag with a wet paper towel. I have heard
this works but have never really tried it.
 
I've found that those with tape seals that insert onto a spike tend
to leak if removed and re-inserted. The same often happens after
refilling, and it makes quite a mess inside the printer as ink gets
thrown around by movement of the carriage.
 
Back
Top