Likely cause of this terrible printing?

[Terry Pinnell]

I have an old Epson Stylus C82 which has recently started printing black
text very badly. Here's a photo (but taken in poor light so paper looks
brown instead of white):
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/EpsonStylusC82-1.jpg

I tried another black cartridge but no change.

Colour printing (maps etc) look OK, apart from any titles or captions.

As I have several colour and black cartridges, I'm reluctant to buy
another printer. And my printing requirements are light anyway. Plus the
fact that I don't want one of these combined printer/scanner/copier units
that appear to dominate the market.

So I'm still hoping to find a way of fixing this problem. Research into
dismantling the unit was discouraging as it seems pretty complicated. I'm
rather hoping one of the experts here can help me isolate the cause
please.

 

[Jan Alter]

I have an old Epson Stylus C82 which has recently started printing black
text very badly. Here's a photo (but taken in poor light so paper looks
brown instead of white):
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/EpsonStylusC82-1.jpg

I tried another black cartridge but no change.

Colour printing (maps etc) look OK, apart from any titles or captions.

As I have several colour and black cartridges, I'm reluctant to buy
another printer. And my printing requirements are light anyway. Plus the
fact that I don't want one of these combined printer/scanner/copier units
that appear to dominate the market.

So I'm still hoping to find a way of fixing this problem. Research into
dismantling the unit was discouraging as it seems pretty complicated. I'm
rather hoping one of the experts here can help me isolate the cause
please.

Hi Terry,

Sorry to hear that the C82 is continuing not to behave. Short of going
out to look for another used one I would write to a gentleman who has
extensive knowledge and experience dealing with cleaning Epsons. His name is
Arthur Entlich. He has a free manual that could give you good information to
how to clear the printer jets.
You can write to him at

e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org

(at) = @
(dot) - .

Arthur Entlich

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Hi Terry,

Sorry to hear that the C82 is continuing not to behave. Short of going
out to look for another used one I would write to a gentleman who has
extensive knowledge and experience dealing with cleaning Epsons. His name is
Arthur Entlich. He has a free manual that could give you good information to
how to clear the printer jets.
You can write to him at

e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org

(at) = @
(dot) - .

Arthur Entlich

Thanks Jan. My latest step was to remove the seal and then reseal it then
give it a very vigorous shaking. Only done one printout so far but it
looks rather better than that example I posted.

But if that proves only temporary, I plan to buy one more compatible black
cartridge of a different type tomorrow. If THAT fails, then I'll contact
Arthur.

 

[Peter]

I have an old Epson Stylus C82 which has recently started printing black
text very badly. Here's a photo (but taken in poor light so paper looks
brown instead of white):
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/EpsonStylusC82-1.jpg

I tried another black cartridge but no change.

Colour printing (maps etc) look OK, apart from any titles or captions.

As I have several colour and black cartridges, I'm reluctant to buy
another printer. And my printing requirements are light anyway. Plus the
fact that I don't want one of these combined printer/scanner/copier units
that appear to dominate the market.

So I'm still hoping to find a way of fixing this problem. Research into
dismantling the unit was discouraging as it seems pretty complicated. I'm
rather hoping one of the experts here can help me isolate the cause
please.

IMHO this is several blocked nozzles. I have found (with damage to my
wallet (or billfold if US))that the print heads are pretty fragile.
Running dry of ink seems pretty terminal, as does even gentle syringing
of solvents through the ink channels. I would get some info from the
expert A Entlich before thinking about any dismantling or squirting of
fluids.

 

[MD34]

IMHO this is several blocked nozzles. I have found (with damage to my
wallet (or billfold if US))that the print heads are pretty fragile.
Running dry of ink seems pretty terminal, as does even gentle syringing
of solvents through the ink channels. I would get some info from the
expert A Entlich before thinking about any dismantling or squirting of
fluids.

Yup.

I have one staring at me, waiting for attention.

Buy a cheap laser like the HP P1006
Seen them as low as $85 at Staples.
Print is fabulous...frills are few

 

[Yianni]

Make a couple of cleaning cycles. You didn't mention any cleaning using the
driver of the printer.

My latest step was to remove the seal and then reseal it then
give it a very vigorous shaking. Only done one printout so far but it
looks rather better than that example I posted.

Removing and placing again the ink cartridge, makes the printer to do a
cleaning cycle. I think this improve the printing quality.