how to thin out ink in a cartridge

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Veggie

Like most people, probably, I print 95% b+w. Because of that, the color
cartridge keeps getting clogged. I refilled the color once, but again
it is clogged.

I'm guessing that the ink is probably too thick in there, as it is
evaporating from non use. Adding ink kinda makes it ok for a week or
two, but is worse in the long run. If this is right, how can I thin out
the ink? What is the solvent for the stuff?
 
Veggie said:
Like most people, probably, I print 95% b+w. Because of that, the color
cartridge keeps getting clogged. I refilled the color once, but again
it is clogged.

I'm guessing that the ink is probably too thick in there, as it is
evaporating from non use. Adding ink kinda makes it ok for a week or
two, but is worse in the long run. If this is right, how can I thin out
the ink? What is the solvent for the stuff?
Click to expand...

Bear in mind that many printers use the technique of underprinting - which
is printing black over another colour to improve clarity. Yellow often goes
down first :-)
A solvent for dye based inks is Windolene (Windex USA) an ammonia based
window cleaner. Mr Muscle shower cleaner also does the trick.
The usual plan is to fill a spare cartridge with this mix and print a few
pages. This relieves the tendency for crud and debri from paper dust to
block a dried nozzle. You will then notice the print becoming faint as the
solvent works through.
Tony

--
Inkylink JetTec UK Quality - Wot others wanna-be
Epson C64/ C84 Lighfast pigmented inks. R200/300,
RX500 (all with 30% more free patent chip)
Canon BCI-3 i560 i750 BCI-6 i865 S-820 / S-900 series.
Specialist ink refill kits... http://www.inkylink.co.uk
remove pants for personal mail
 
Veggie said:
Like most people, probably, I print 95% b+w. Because of that, the color
cartridge keeps getting clogged. I refilled the color once, but again
it is clogged.

I'm guessing that the ink is probably too thick in there, as it is
evaporating from non use. Adding ink kinda makes it ok for a week or
two, but is worse in the long run. If this is right, how can I thin out
the ink? What is the solvent for the stuff?
Click to expand...
add my own concoction of 50/50 ammonia and water. I always keep a
litle bottle on hand. Then with a plastic tooth pick,(runs off
better), I dip into the ammonia mix and then use that toothpick to
depress the cartridge valve and a few drops go into the cartridge.
Then I shake, and use the cartridge . Too much will make the ink
thin, so .....a little at a time!!!
Mike
 
It somewhat depends upon what brand printer you are using.

For most, especially dye inks, it just water, however what helps it from
drying out is glycols are added.

Art
 
It's a Xerox multi function machine. Don't have the model number
handy. Does Xerox use dye ink (whatever that is ;) ?
 
I have never worked with Xerox inkjet printers, but I have seen them in
demos and they seem to be prone to clogging.

I would rather not make a direct suggestion as to what solvents they
use. Typically, they are water and glycol. However, with my cleaning
manual for Epson printers, I have an area that discusses how to test
inks for compatibility with the cleaning fluids I suggest.

If you send me a private email, I can send you a copy of the cleaning
manual. Then you can test the inks as suggested and see if they respond
similarly to Epson dye inks, and if so, you can use the cleaning fluid
to slightly dilute the inks. You make the cleaning fluids yourself, and
they cost next to nothing.

Art
 
Arthur Entlich said:
I have never worked with Xerox inkjet printers, but I have seen them in
demos and they seem to be prone to clogging.
Click to expand...

I had a free one of their cheap inkjets and it hardly got used as it was
kept at home and did clog up but that could have been a result of the
small amount of use it had, maybe twenty pages in about six months.
 
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