Steve Bissell said:
I just read the request about how to store a Canon printer. Well my
Canon printer had been sitting idle for about 2 years.
I replaced the inks but it was no use because apparently the print head
was totally clogged up with dried ink. Just as I was about to trash
it... my friend suggested I try an inkjet cleaning kit, like the one he
had bought on 'Ebay' (
http://tinyurl.com/27lrd5) to unclog his Epson
printer. A bit sceptical at first, I bought a 'Magic Kit'
(
http://tinyurl.com/27lrd5).
They gave me a link to download a manual after ordering. Although it
did not have my exact model, it did have lots of color photos, so even a
dummy like me could use it! When the kit finally arrived... 2 weeks
later! I was all set
to go and it came with 4 items. I warmed the Magic bottle in the
microwave, (my wife was happy because it did not blow up and no smells)
Then I injected the warmed Magic stuff through both ends of the print
head with a special rubber tipped -Magic Applicator-. I then left the
printhead soaking overnight on a -Magic Pillow- which are easy to use.
Next morning I inserted the inks and used the -Ink Priming Pump- to
draw the ink down after unclogging, its easy to use and because you can
see the ink flowing... you know the ink clog has been unblocked and
saves wasting your ink. I then installed the print head and inks. It
printed 1st time ! That 'Magic Inkjet Flush'
(
http://tinyurl.com/27lrd5) stuff worked brilliant !!!
So if anyone else has an ink clog? here's the link to my frends
'Magic' (
http://tinyurl.com/27lrd5) Fix,
Good Luck it worked great for me !
'Magic Inkjet Flush Kit' (
http://tinyurl.com/27lrd5) (Ebay)
Good post. Now let's look at the no ebay, no cost, readily available
alternative. Use a folded over paper towel (magic pillow) in a plastic
refrigerator container and saturate it with a mixture of water and original
Windex (home made magic fluid, thanks to Arthur Entlich) that has been
warmed. Have enough fluid in the container to be just a few mm. over the
paper. Place the printhead on the soaked paper toweling (home made magic
pillow), nozzle plate down. Take some of the home made magic fluid in a
syringe or eyedropper (magic applicator), drip it onto the intake screens
where the ink carts go, and let sit for a while. Be patient. Pump gently
up and down to see if any ink percolates upward onto the ink intake screens
where the ink carts go. No response? Pick up the printhead and look at the
home made magic pillow. Ink pattern? Move the printhead over to a clean
area and repeat. Repeat process several times and be patient. When you see
percolation in all intake screens pumping the printhead up and down gently,
put the printghead into the printer and run a few deep cleanings. Print a
nozzle check. Successful? You are magically done. Unsuccessful? Repeat
the magic process. If you still get a poor nozzle check you can take the
printhead to the sink, get the water running hot, and carefully run hot
water into the intake screens. Be careful not to get the electronic
contacts wet on the back of the printhead. Your goal is to wash out all the
ink until the water coming out of the nozzles runs clear.
If the home made magic cleaning liquid doesn't work, add a bit of isopropyl
alcohol to the Windex/water mix and start over. I've also used straight
Windex successfully when necessary, and when in desperation, straight
alcohol. If you use straight alcohol, however, be sure to completely wash
it out of the printhead as the Canon system works by heating the ink with
heating elements in the printhead to expel drops of ink. Overly agressive
cleaning, however, can ruin a salvageable printhead, so be patient and go
gently. After you have given it your best shot, successful or not, send the
$20 the magic kit plus shipping would have cost you to your favorite
charity.
I'd suggest that Steve, the OP, was fortunate to get the clogs cleared after
two years of storage, no matter how magic the fluid. The printheads that
would be most difficult to clear would be the four or five color heads that
have a black pigment-based ink cart. The dye-based inks are water soluable.
The pigment based ink has a water carrier, but when it is applied to paper
and it dries it is much less soluable.
I don't know what might be in the magic kit that would be more effective
than what I have written above. This is information I have gleaned from
several sources, including Arthur Entlich's manual for cleaning Epson
printeads. The techniques for Canon are different because the Epson
printheads are not easily removable for cleaning, and the Canon printheads
are removable and replaceable.
For comprehensive info on clearing Epson printhead clogs, look for Arthur
Entlich on this NG and email him for his Epson printhead cleaning manual. I
understand that he also has made one up for Canon printers. For lots of
info on cleaning Canon printhead clogs go to the Nifty-stuff forum and read
through the first FAQ that you can access by clicking on FAQ at the top of
the web page.
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/