Unclog old HP cartridges?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Larry Fieman
  • Start date Start date
L

Larry Fieman

Hi,
I have a bunch of old HP cartridges, mostly for the 700 DeskJet and
all-in-one office jet series. They are quite dried out by now. I'd like to
use some of them, and wonder what should I do to unclog them prior to
refilling.
Thanks,
Larry
 
Hot water like faucet hot, or heat on the stove hot?

Quick like dip-in and pull directly back out? Or,
let it sit in the water for a few minutes?
 
www.inkjetsaver.com has a nice kit with a soaking tray and special solvent
that works nicely. However, if your carts are completely dry, don't get your
hopes up. Generally, they don't recommend soaking the color carts, just the
black.
 
Walt said:
Hot water like faucet hot, or heat on the stove hot?

Quick like dip-in and pull directly back out? Or,
let it sit in the water for a few minutes?
Click to expand...

The following is from a refill kit I recently used, my cartridge didn't
need to be cleaned.

"Soak the cartridge in a solution of 1/2 hot distilled water and 1/2
ammonia for about four hours. Put just enough in the container to cover
the print head -about 1/2". Make sure the mixture does not touch the
electrical contacts on the side. Soaking overnight is recommended for
badly clogged cartridges. After soaking the cartridge, use a mixture of
Windex and ammonia sprayed on a paper towel to dab the print head clean."

Other instructions I've seen say to use steaming hot distilled water and
let it set for five to ten minutes before blotting with a lint-free cloth.
 
Hot water like faucet hot, or heat on the stove hot?

Quick like dip-in and pull directly back out? Or,
let it sit in the water for a few minutes?
Click to expand...


I found a link on the net that suggested running the 'head' under cold
water for a couple of minutes would unclog the cart. I tried it, and
it did.
 
To unclog the print head you could try steaming them or buying
something like cartridge flush or cleaning fluid that the
remanufacturers use to clean out cartridges before refilling.
 
Soak nozzles in alcohol and use a de-solder tool/solder sucker
to draw the ink through, if this wont work, bin them.
 
they might be worth some credit with refiller companies
Click to expand...
Ive had two carts stop working on my hp 5550. Both not long after
being reinked. Supposedly the ink quality is good. The 5550
cartridges have their print heads built in.In hindsight i'm worried
about the reink's recommended way of getting the ink to flow. They
provide a bracket which the cartridge clicks into. Around the print
head is a rubber seal and a hole. A siringe is put in the hole and
used to suck ink out. Given the microscopic size of the print heads
i'm worried that pulling ink through that fast would damage them.
 
Jim said:
<[email protected]> wrote in message
Ive had two carts stop working on my hp 5550. Both not long after
being reinked. Supposedly the ink quality is good. The 5550
cartridges have their print heads built in.In hindsight i'm worried
about the reink's recommended way of getting the ink to flow. They
provide a bracket which the cartridge clicks into. Around the print
head is a rubber seal and a hole. A siringe is put in the hole and
used to suck ink out. Given the microscopic size of the print heads
i'm worried that pulling ink through that fast would damage them.
Click to expand...

I doubt it as its no faster than dabbing on a paper towel but less
chance of cross contamination with colour carts. The reason that most
stop working is the mix of inks with residue HP ink causes the ink to
foam and stop or at least slow the flow to the head IE you only get
fresh air
 
Ive had two carts stop working on my hp 5550. Both not long after
being reinked. Supposedly the ink quality is good. The 5550
cartridges have their print heads built in.In hindsight i'm worried
about the reink's recommended way of getting the ink to flow. They
provide a bracket which the cartridge clicks into. Around the print
head is a rubber seal and a hole. A siringe is put in the hole and
used to suck ink out. Given the microscopic size of the print heads
i'm worried that pulling ink through that fast would damage them.
Click to expand...


I had a clogged Black cart after a refill a while back and after going
online to find out some tips, I acted on one that recommended holding
the cart under 'cold' water. It worked.
 
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