Canon ip4000 requires deep cleaning after refill - how to avoid?

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DK

Every time I refill cartridges in ip4000, in order to print successfully
after the refill, I need to go through several cleaning, sometimes even
few deep cleaning cycles. After that, all is 100% fine.

I read this is not good for printhead. It seems that the time needed to fill
the cartridge (few minutes) is sufficient to let enough of the ink dry in the
head - requiring declogging after that.

I wonder if anyone else has this problem and if yes, how to best deal
with it. Would placing an empty cartridge temporarily in place of the one
to be refilled be useful enough?

DK
 
DK said:
Every time I refill cartridges in ip4000, in order to print successfully
after the refill, I need to go through several cleaning, sometimes even
few deep cleaning cycles. After that, all is 100% fine.

I read this is not good for printhead. It seems that the time needed to fill
the cartridge (few minutes) is sufficient to let enough of the ink dry in the
head - requiring declogging after that.

I wonder if anyone else has this problem and if yes, how to best deal
with it. Would placing an empty cartridge temporarily in place of the one
to be refilled be useful enough?

DK
Click to expand...
This is canon's way of helping you to use more ink and burn out the
head's quicker. They hope you're using oem ink (doesn't really
matter)cause that's where they make all those billions of dollars. The
canon heads are thermal, they heat up to high temp in order to print, so
they're subject to burn out just like a light bulb.

That's why I use only high quality after market inks and have for over a
decade. So when the head burns out (and it will) I can either replace it
or get a brand new printer with all the billions of dollars I've saved
by using after market inks.
Frank
 
DK said:
Every time I refill cartridges in ip4000, in order to print successfully
after the refill, I need to go through several cleaning, sometimes even
few deep cleaning cycles. After that, all is 100% fine.
Click to expand...

I don't claim to be an expert in the mechanics of it all but I would say
priming the printhead with ink is necessary after a refill or a change
of cartridges. This removes air bubbles in the system caused by the
removal and re-insertion of cartridges. And besides, since you refill,
the cost of ink is dirt cheap. The tiny amount of ink used in
priming/cleaning cannot even be calculated in cost (nano fractions of a
penny?).
I read this is not good for printhead. It seems that the time needed to fill
the cartridge (few minutes) is sufficient to let enough of the ink dry in the
head - requiring declogging after that.

I wonder if anyone else has this problem and if yes, how to best deal
with it. Would placing an empty cartridge temporarily in place of the one
to be refilled be useful enough?
Click to expand...

It appears you take out a cartridge from the printer and then refill it
on the spot. That's not the best way to do it. You're asking for trouble
by leaving the printhead exposed to air.

The way I do it I have several SETS of spare refilled cartridges waiting
in cool storage (a basement). This seems a good system as they've been
refilled and put away for several weeks, or even months. This gives them
ample time to balance internal pressures and settle down in colorful
bliss :-).

When I have a cartridge that reads "low" I remove the whole set (the 4
photo cartridges only) and replace them with a set from storage. I then
promptly refill/top off the ones I removed, date them, and put them in
cool storage. Then when I need a set for the printer I look for a set
with the oldest refill date.

The large black text cartridge (BCI-3e) gets replaced separately as it
empties on its own terms. I have several of those at my refill storage
bank. Generally I find the photo black requires less topping off, and
sometimes I don't even bother changing it when I change the CYM colors.

Happy printing!

-Taliesyn
 
DK said:
Every time I refill cartridges in ip4000, in order to print successfully
after the refill, I need to go through several cleaning, sometimes even
few deep cleaning cycles. After that, all is 100% fine.

I read this is not good for printhead. It seems that the time needed to
fill
the cartridge (few minutes) is sufficient to let enough of the ink dry in
the
head - requiring declogging after that.

I wonder if anyone else has this problem and if yes, how to best deal
with it. Would placing an empty cartridge temporarily in place of the one
to be refilled be useful enough?

DK
Click to expand...


I have a spare cartridge filled with isopropyl alcohol.
Before I insert the next full cartridge- I do a deep clean with
the iso- alcohol cartridge.Works well
Laurence
 
Never leave a tank out of the printer for more than a couple minutes. If
you're set up right, it shouldn't take longer than that to refill. It's also
possible to fill a tank in the printer. You can also keep a spare set of
re-filled tanks handy

Never let the tank run dry, always fill before it's empty.

I refill all the time, never had this problem. Of course, the printer will
do a cleaning cycle after every time you open the lid and replace a tank.
 
It appears you take out a cartridge from the printer and then refill it
on the spot. That's not the best way to do it. You're asking for trouble
by leaving the printhead exposed to air.
Click to expand...

Yes. Even though I try to do it as fast as I can and it certainly takes no
more than couple of minutes, the ink in the printhead has enough time
to dry.
The way I do it I have several SETS of spare refilled cartridges waiting
in cool storage (a basement). This seems a good system as they've been
refilled and put away for several weeks, or even months. This gives them
ample time to balance internal pressures and settle down in colorful
bliss :-).
Click to expand...

How do you seal the outlet of the cartridge for long-term storage?
The orange stopper with rubber bands? Anything else?

DK
 
DK said:
Yes. Even though I try to do it as fast as I can and it certainly takesno
more than couple of minutes, the ink in the printhead has enough time
to dry.




How do you seal the outlet of the cartridge for long-term storage?
The orange stopper with rubber bands? Anything else?

DK
Click to expand...
Wrap them in something like Glad® wrap and store in a dark cool place.
Works for me.
Frank
 
DK said:
Every time I refill cartridges in ip4000, in order to print successfully
after the refill, I need to go through several cleaning, sometimes even
few deep cleaning cycles. After that, all is 100% fine.
Click to expand...

You probably need to waste some of the inferior ink. It is cheap so you
should not mind.
I read this is not good for printhead.
Click to expand...
That is correct. Canon BCI6 ink is good for the printhead. Generic ink
can ruin the head.
It seems that the time needed to fill
the cartridge (few minutes) is sufficient to let enough of the ink dry in the
head - requiring declogging after that.
Click to expand...

I use Canon ink and never had a problem.
I wonder if anyone else has this problem and if yes, how to best deal
with it.
Click to expand...
The best way to deal with it is to do what I did. Use the recommended
supplies for the printer. I do find that the choice of paper, as long
as it is not the cheap stuff, is fine. I like Epson matte heavyweight.
 
measekite said:
You probably need to waste some of the inferior ink. It is cheap so you
should not mind.
Click to expand...

Bullshit! You're an idiot!
That is correct. Canon BCI6 ink is good for the printhead. Generic ink
can ruin the head.
Click to expand...

More BS! No ink is "good" for the printer and after market ink will NOT
ruin the print head.
I use Canon ink and never had a problem.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah...you're the clown who says your printer never, ever did a print
head clean. That's the biggest lie we have ever hear. When you install
oem carts the printer automatically runs a print head clean. Every time!
NO MORE LYING!
Also you're the clown who keeps running your stupid mouth about after
market inks yet, by your own admission, you have never used them.
YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE AT ALL!
STFU!
Frank
 
DK said:
Yes. Even though I try to do it as fast as I can and it certainly takes no
more than couple of minutes, the ink in the printhead has enough time
to dry.




How do you seal the outlet of the cartridge for long-term storage?
The orange stopper with rubber bands? Anything else?
Click to expand...

Yes, the orange cap with two rubber bands in case one breaks (never
has). Plus I "Scotch Tape" the tiny air vent at the top after a half
hour to keep the cartridge from drying. I leave the vent open for a
while to balance pressures. I also use with some cartridges the longer
orange covers, the ones that seal (cover) the entire bottom of the
cartridge. These are generally found with compatible cartridges.

-Taliesyn
 
Taliesyn said:
Yes, the orange cap with two rubber bands in case one breaks (never
has). Plus I "Scotch Tape" the tiny air vent at the top after a half
hour to keep the cartridge from drying. I leave the vent open for a
while to balance pressures. I also use with some cartridges the longer
orange covers, the ones that seal (cover) the entire bottom of the
cartridge. These are generally found with compatible cartridges.
Click to expand...

I forgot to add that after I finally seal the air vents I place the 4
photo cartridges in a plastic baggie for storage.

-Taliesyn
 
DK said:
Every time I refill cartridges in ip4000, in order to print successfully
after the refill, I need to go through several cleaning, sometimes even
few deep cleaning cycles. After that, all is 100% fine.

I read this is not good for printhead. It seems that the time needed to
fill
the cartridge (few minutes) is sufficient to let enough of the ink dry in
the
head - requiring declogging after that.

I wonder if anyone else has this problem and if yes, how to best deal
with it. Would placing an empty cartridge temporarily in place of the one
to be refilled be useful enough?

DK
Click to expand...
Best to have another set of carts already filled and just trade them out
when necessary. If you are set up to really refill quickly it shouldn't be
a problem, however. I use Howard Electronics squeeze bottles so there is no
opening of the ink container, drawing ink into the syringe, etc. Also, if
you have refilled these carts several times you will find that they don't
feed quite as well so you have to either purge them to make them good as new
again or use new carts. I am still using a three year old set of OEM carts
that have been through several cycles of purging, refilling several times,
and purging again to start over. Good info on the Nifty-Stuff Forum on all
issues of refilling - especially canon carts.
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/
 
Every time I refill cartridges in ip4000, in order to print successfully
after the refill, I need to go through several cleaning, sometimes even
few deep cleaning cycles. After that, all is 100% fine.
Click to expand...

Manually? A deep cleaning cycle is done automatically whenever you take
out cartridges.
I read this is not good for printhead. It seems that the time needed to fill
the cartridge (few minutes) is sufficient to let enough of the ink dry in the
head - requiring declogging after that.
Click to expand...

Cleaning is done frequently. I doubt that this will do a major damage to
the head.
I wonder if anyone else has this problem and if yes, how to best deal
with it. Would placing an empty cartridge temporarily in place of the one
to be refilled be useful enough?
Click to expand...

Personally, I have a second set at hand. Since cleaning is done that
many times, cartridges will run empty even without use (e.g. printing
black most of the times, color will become empty).

You will damage your print head when you continue printing with an
empty cartridge. So take out the empty one, insert a new one and refill
the empty one soon.

- Martin
 
Many people using Durabrite ink cartridges for Epson have a similar
problem. The ink dries so quickly that just removing the cartridge is
enough time to cause an air lock or dried ink tube

My suggesting is to take a drop of ammoniated window cleaner (which
seems to work with both Epson and Canon inks at least) and place a drop
or two at the ink outlet or the cartridge and another where the ink
outlet aligns with the tube that feed the heads in the head carriage.
This seems to get thing flowing, prevents drying out and air locks, etc.

Art
 
Many people using Durabrite ink cartridges for Epson have a similar
problem. The ink dries so quickly that just removing the cartridge is
enough time to cause an air lock or dried ink tube

My suggesting is to take a drop of ammoniated window cleaner (which
seems to work with both Epson and Canon inks at least) and place a drop
or two at the ink outlet or the cartridge and another where the ink
outlet aligns with the tube that feed the heads in the head carriage.
This seems to get thing flowing, prevents drying out and air locks, etc.
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone for the replies!

I think I'll go with a ready-to-go set of cartidges next time but the
hint with a bit of Windex on the printhead before setting in the new
cartrige sure sounds like something to try as well.

DK
 
DK wrote:

Many people using Durabrite ink cartridges for Epson have a similar problem. The ink dries so quickly that just removing the cartridge is enough time to cause an air lock or dried ink tube My suggesting is to take a drop of ammoniated window cleaner (which seems to work with both Epson and Canon inks at least) and place a drop or two at the ink outlet or the cartridge and another where the ink outlet aligns with the tube that feed the heads in the head carriage. This seems to get thing flowing, prevents drying out and air locks, etc.



Thanks everyone for the replies! I think I'll go with a ready-to-go set of cartidges next time but the hint with a bit of Windex on the printhead before setting in the new cartrige sure sounds like something to try as well.


I do not bother with any of that. But I use the recommended ink for the printer.


DK



DK wrote:



Every time I refill cartridges in ip4000, in order to print successfully after the refill, I need to go through several cleaning, sometimes even few deep cleaning cycles. After that, all is 100% fine. I read this is not good for printhead. It seems that the time needed to fill the cartridge (few minutes) is sufficient to let enough of the ink dry in the



head - requiring declogging after that. I wonder if anyone else has this problem and if yes, how to best deal with it. Would placing an empty cartridge temporarily in place of the one to be refilled be useful enough? DK
 
measekite said:
I do not bother with any of that. But I use the recommended ink for the
printer.
Click to expand...


You haven't printed anything for years. I doubt that old ip4000 you said
you have will even turn on.
Oh & BTW, did you know that http://www.digimedia.com, (they own the
domain name www.oem.com) are asking your ISP about you since you're
illegally using their web addy?
Did you know that?
No need to thank me but you may need to consult legal advice in the near
future. :-)
Frank
 
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