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Thread ID: 30355	2003-02-17 04:18:00	Printer's heads need cleaning?	Sanco (683)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
121877	2003-02-17 04:18:00	My printer- an epson stylus 760 colour - just recently has started giving me problems every time I try to print anything in colour. It started, that is, ever since I have replaced the original ink cartridges with some I bought from Consumables, a company advertised on the NZ PC World. Whether that is just coincidence I cannot say. In fact if any of you are using ink cartridges bought from the same people and are having problems (or not ), please let me know. I have used the cleaning utility that came with the bundled software, and it solves the problem momentarily, until the next time I use the printer again. Since using the cleaning utility consumes ink I am not very happy to do so continually. I think that maybe the heads need cleaning, manually. Is there anybody who could give me some advice on how to do so? I.E. what solvents to use and the easiest way to do so (if there is one!!!). Thanks in advance for any help.	Sanco (683)
121878	2003-02-17 04:32:00	Epson don't like people using "foreign" inks, becsaue they make their profits by selling ink, not printers. I don't think they would like "manual" cleaning of the heads, either, becasue you could do damage if yoy used too much force. I have seen a cleaning cartridge for an Epson prionter at Harvey Normans once ... I think it is just an ordinary cartridge filled with isopropyl alcohol. You could try gently washing the print head with isopropyl alcohol, but it's unlikely to be as good as "squirting" ink (or IPA) through the very small jets. Try cleaning before you print anything, for a few sessions. Things will probably improve as the remains of the original ink are flushed out.	Graham L (2)
121879	2003-02-17 04:43:00	Read This Thread (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz) and then decide if you want to use cheap cartridges anymore. Be patient, it is a long thread but it gets to the point eventually. Cheers Billy 8-{) [/b]Thinks: This should be post #900 :D[/b]	Billy T (70)
121880	2003-02-17 04:53:00	> [/b]Thinks: This should be post #900 :D[/b] Nope - #901! You missed #900 by about 12 minutes :D 123 to go .... :D	Jen C (20)
121881	2003-02-17 05:19:00	I know all about the risks of using third party ink carts Graham, but this time I somehow thought that if the PC World mag advertised this company it was somewhat worth my trust. Now, I'm not in any way implying that these ink are not good, in fact I have said that it could well be just coincidence, pure and simple! What I am asking you is this: do printers of a certain age (I had mine for the best part of 4 years) ever need a clean? If yes, and I believe so, what kind of approach should I take? Maybe the cleaning carts are a good option, all in all. Any other ideas? Thanks.	Sanco (683)
121882	2003-02-17 05:32:00	A new printer can need head cleaning. They like to be used often. If they are not, the printhead holes can get clogged. The newer Epsons work out how long it has been since they were turned off. They then automatically "clean" for what they think is an appropriate time. That gets very expensive in ink. If you only use it rarely, and not much each time, you will get clogging. I don't think it's a matter of age: a "worn out" print head would probably have oversized holes, and give splodgy printing. :D PW World are like all publications: they are paid for the space advertisements use; they don't test the products. (The old American magazines which let advertisers use the "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval" used the amount the advertiser spent with them each year as the criterion, not any opinion of the products.)	Graham L (2)
121883	2003-02-17 06:14:00	Thanks Jen:D Nice to know you are out there keeping an eye on my progress. Next stop the 1K Klub :8} Cheers Billy 8-{) :)	Billy T (70)
121884	2003-02-17 06:20:00	The cartridges used in the older epsons could be cleaned manually by soaking the heads in a saucer of warm warm water and a touch of dish wash but like I said they were the older cartridges. Don't know if I would too game in trying this with the newer cartridges with there built in chips etc.	Gordon. (2217)
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