Posted by Wayne Jones on November 3, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Several companies (not printer manufactureres) make solvents and head cleaning kits for all kinds of inkjet printers. Does anyone have any experience with them?
My Epson 1400 (13-inch, Claria ink dye-based printer) is hopelessly clogged. (I had a minor problem that turned into a major problem thanks to following Epson's manual and then their telephone support advice.) Shipping or traveling to the nearest Epson service center, 250 miles away is cost prohibitive.
There are several head cleaning kits online, mostly from makers of those 3rd-party inks that I have avoided. They involve various methods for delivering (and removing) cleaning fluid to the printhead. Does anyone have any experience with these? The most viable options appear to be:
A. "i-Remove Cleaning Kit" = ONE "DAMPER" cartridge and syringe to clean each color one at a time. (3 or 4 steps each, includes sucking up dirty cleaning fluid) $29.95 from http://www.inkrepublic.com/iRemove.asp
C. " Print Head Clog Buster and Cleaning Cartridges" Fluid to manually put on head parts, or ink cartridges filled with cleaning fluid to use if just putting drops of cleaner on parts doesn't work. (Cleaner: 2 oz = $15, or Set of 6 cleaning cartridges = $60) from http://www.shopdyesub.com/Clog%20Buster1.htm
I have read about using home-brew solutions from Windex to vodka, but I wonder if they really work on a severely clogged head.
Any other cleaning options short of buying a new printer (I know, that's the most popular advice I will get, but I want to try to salvage this one first, as it has done a good job until now making prints up to 13x44, and it's just for home printing, not for prints to sell).
THANKS
Posted by Mark Stadsklev on November 4, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Hi,
I've used windex on my Epson 2200, when the cleaning cycle would not take care of it. The 2200 was nice because I could slide a clip and then move the head back and forth. I put windex on a folded paper towel, and then slid the head back and forth over the damp towel. I also soaked up the excess ink from the pads on either end.
My 1800 , I could not find a release to allow me to move the heads, and so it was harder to manually clean.
Keep us informed if you find a solution that works.
Mark Stadsklev
www.artwithinnature.com
Posted by Greg Vaughn on November 4, 2011 at 3:28 PM
If you can manually move your printhead, here is what another photographer passed on, and which worked for me. Similar to what Mark says above. Tape a microfiber cleaning cloth to a postcard or heavyweight 4x6 photo paper, spray the cloth with Simple Green household cleaner. Insert in the paper path of the printer and move the printhead back and forth repeatedly.
My Epson 4000 had the nozzle from one ink severely clogged, so I ran this procedure once, then put a clean cloth on another card, moved the printhead over it and let it sit for several hours. Then ran the procedure again with another clean cloth.
The ink washes out of the microfiber cloth easily when laundered in a washing machine.
Another thing that you might try is "puddling the cup". Try a search on Google for that + Epson printer.
Posted by Bud Friesen on November 4, 2011 at 4:04 PM
Hi Wayne - Understand your frustration. One time I had a clog on the LiteCyan on my Epson 4000. Tried everything. I found cleaning carts on www.inksupply.com. You get a cleaning cart for whatever color is clogging. On my printer it took a few cleaning cycles but it worked. Of course all heads are using their ink for cleaning as well. I checked inksupply and they do have cleaning carts for your Epson 1400. The cleaning carts have starting letters of CC.
Bud Friesen
Posted by Wayne Jones on November 4, 2011 at 9:26 PM
Thanks guys. Sounds like there is some hope hope for the home rememdies. I'll try them this weekend, and if that does not solve the problem, I'll order a set of those cleaning carts.
I feel confident now about clearing my clogs. When that's done, I'll remember the preventive lessons I learned from this:
(1) use the printer at least once a week, even if just to print a single 4x6 or smaller, to prevent clogs;
(2) remember NOT to do repeated jet cleanings with the Epson maintenance program (just makes it worse, beside using up at least 10% of the ink supply with each "cleaning");
(3) remember that Epson help staff don't seem to be allowed to do anything but repeat the harmful advice in their manuals, and are probably forbiden to offer the cleaning advice that really works, because it often comes from people who sell or use third-party inks.
Discussion
4 repliesMy Epson 1400 (13-inch, Claria ink dye-based printer) is hopelessly clogged. (I had a minor problem that turned into a major problem thanks to following Epson's manual and then their telephone support advice.) Shipping or traveling to the nearest Epson service center, 250 miles away is cost prohibitive.
There are several head cleaning kits online, mostly from makers of those 3rd-party inks that I have avoided. They involve various methods for delivering (and removing) cleaning fluid to the printhead. Does anyone have any experience with these? The most viable options appear to be:
A. "i-Remove Cleaning Kit" = ONE "DAMPER" cartridge and syringe to clean each color one at a time. (3 or 4 steps each, includes sucking up dirty cleaning fluid) $29.95 from http://www.inkrepublic.com/iRemove.asp
B. "Refillable Damper Printhead Cleaning Kit w/Chip" = with 6 cartridges and "set to full chip" $42.50 from http://store.inkjetcarts.us/epson-1400-refillable-damper-printhead-cleaning-kit-wchip-p5217.aspx
C. " Print Head Clog Buster and Cleaning Cartridges" Fluid to manually put on head parts, or ink cartridges filled with cleaning fluid to use if just putting drops of cleaner on parts doesn't work. (Cleaner: 2 oz = $15, or Set of 6 cleaning cartridges = $60) from http://www.shopdyesub.com/Clog%20Buster1.htm
I have read about using home-brew solutions from Windex to vodka, but I wonder if they really work on a severely clogged head.
Any other cleaning options short of buying a new printer (I know, that's the most popular advice I will get, but I want to try to salvage this one first, as it has done a good job until now making prints up to 13x44, and it's just for home printing, not for prints to sell).
THANKS
I've used windex on my Epson 2200, when the cleaning cycle would not take care of it. The 2200 was nice because I could slide a clip and then move the head back and forth. I put windex on a folded paper towel, and then slid the head back and forth over the damp towel. I also soaked up the excess ink from the pads on either end.
My 1800 , I could not find a release to allow me to move the heads, and so it was harder to manually clean.
Keep us informed if you find a solution that works.
Mark Stadsklev
www.artwithinnature.com
My Epson 4000 had the nozzle from one ink severely clogged, so I ran this procedure once, then put a clean cloth on another card, moved the printhead over it and let it sit for several hours. Then ran the procedure again with another clean cloth.
The ink washes out of the microfiber cloth easily when laundered in a washing machine.
Another thing that you might try is "puddling the cup". Try a search on Google for that + Epson printer.
Bud Friesen
I feel confident now about clearing my clogs. When that's done, I'll remember the preventive lessons I learned from this:
(1) use the printer at least once a week, even if just to print a single 4x6 or smaller, to prevent clogs;
(2) remember NOT to do repeated jet cleanings with the Epson maintenance program (just makes it worse, beside using up at least 10% of the ink supply with each "cleaning");
(3) remember that Epson help staff don't seem to be allowed to do anything but repeat the harmful advice in their manuals, and are probably forbiden to offer the cleaning advice that really works, because it often comes from people who sell or use third-party inks.