Do inkjet printers tolerate being unused for a long period?

[Al Deveron]

Is there anything I should do before putting my inkjet printer (Canon
ip4200) into storage for several months? I'm concerned that the
printheads will be irrevocably clogged with dried ink when I next try
to use it..

Thanks,

Al D

 

[babalooixnay]

Is there anything I should do before putting my inkjet printer (Canon
ip4200) into storage for several months? I'm concerned that the
printheads will be irrevocably clogged with dried ink when I next try
to use it..

I have a relatively complicated set-up as I use two printers and often
have to travel for months at a time. I use blank carts filled with a
cleaning solution to clean the heads and then leave the cleaning
solution inside. If it's only a one shot deal and you can leave your
printer hooked up, there are utilities (mostly free or dirt cheap) that
can print something as simple as a nozzle check every few days. The
only drawback to that method is it's difficult to cover the whole
printer to kep dust out while the paper feeds are set up. That is the
drawback to ink-jets. I'd think the pigment inks, which I use, would
be worse than the dye inks. I hear tell of people who just douse the
print heads with Windex after a clog or run Windex through empty carts
but not knowing the ip4200 I don't know how complicated that is, I've
never had to go that far with my own.

 

[Al Deveron]

I have a relatively complicated set-up as I use two printers and often
have to travel for months at a time. I use blank carts filled with a
cleaning solution to clean the heads and then leave the cleaning
solution inside. If it's only a one shot deal and you can leave your
printer hooked up, there are utilities (mostly free or dirt cheap) that
can print something as simple as a nozzle check every few days. The
only drawback to that method is it's difficult to cover the whole
printer to kep dust out while the paper feeds are set up. That is the
drawback to ink-jets. I'd think the pigment inks, which I use, would
be worse than the dye inks. I hear tell of people who just douse the
print heads with Windex after a clog or run Windex through empty carts
but not knowing the ip4200 I don't know how complicated that is, I've
never had to go that far with my own.

Than you for the tips. Yes, I just want to keep the current printer as
a backup printer for very occasional use.

Al D

 

[TJ]

Than you for the tips. Yes, I just want to keep the current printer as
a backup printer for very occasional use.

Al D

Don't know anything about Canons myself, so take my advice with several
grains of salt. However, I believe I've read on this newsgroup that many
Canons have user-removable/replaceable print heads. If so, they should
be fairly easy to flush out before putting the printer into storage.

TJ

 

[Al Deveron]

Don't know anything about Canons myself, so take my advice with several
grains of salt. However, I believe I've read on this newsgroup that many
Canons have user-removable/replaceable print heads. If so, they should
be fairly easy to flush out before putting the printer into storage.

Thanks. Yes they do have removeable print heads. I must try to obtain
flushing cartridges - if they are available at an affordable price.

Al D

 

[measekite]

Don't know anything about Canons myself,

Your right

 

[Burt]

Thanks. Yes they do have removeable print heads. I must try to obtain
flushing cartridges - if they are available at an affordable price.

Al D

Al - if you have a set of old used carts for your canon printer, go onto
Nifty-Stuff forum, sign in, and look up the thread on back-flushing carts
for refilling. you can then fill them with Windex (the original formula
with ammonia) or even plain water with a bit of windex and alchohol and use
them to flush the printhead. You might also look up the first FAQ on that
forum regarding cleaning of printheads for more info on what people have
used to clear clogs. This might give you a sense of the relative safety of
various fluids for cleaning. As I recall, the canon printheads arrive with
some sort of fluid in them. Might be some combination of water and
glycerine to prevent drying.
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/

 

[Richard Steinfeld]

Is there anything I should do before putting my inkjet printer (Canon
ip4200) into storage for several months? I'm concerned that the
printheads will be irrevocably clogged with dried ink when I next try
to use it..

Thanks,

Al D

I can't say much about this, but my old HP850c inkjet can sit for a
month without being used, then print perfect sample pages. The machine
is loaded with OEM Hewlett-Packard ink that's been sitting in the
machine for many months; I believe that the cartridges are out-of-date, too.

Richard

 

[ato_zee]

I can't say much about this, but my old HP850c inkjet can sit for a
month without being used, then print perfect sample pages. The machine
is loaded with OEM Hewlett-Packard ink that's been sitting in the
machine for many months; I believe that the cartridges are out-of-date, too.

Though not wishing to sound like Measkshite non-OEM inks may not
be formulated to prevent drying out, they may just be a carrier with dye
and little else.

 

[Jeb D]

Though not wishing to sound like Measkshite non-OEM inks may not
be formulated to prevent drying out, they may just be a carrier with dye
and little else.

The OEM inks may not either, if printer manufacturer's typical
mercenary tactics are anything to go on.

Jeb D

 

[Burt]

Though not wishing to sound like Measkshite non-OEM inks may not
be formulated to prevent drying out, they may just be a carrier with dye
and little else.

Hobbicolor inks may be typical of aftermarket inks formulated for Canon
printers. On their web site I believe they mention some of the additives
that are in their inks. I believe that the quality aftermarket inks have
additives to prevent growth of microorganisms, prevent drying in the cart
and head, and speed drying once applied to the paper. In addition,
viscosity is carefully controlled. Water and dye with no additives would
definitely create problems.

Those of us who use aftermarket bulk refill inks or prefilled carts
shouldn't forget that Canon OEM ink works really well and is basically the
yardstick against which the aftermarket inks are measured. I just won't pay
the price when the inks I use make beautiful prints and haven't faded so far
under the conditions that I display or keep them. Some people may like the
color response of some of the aftermarket inks over OEM - prints made with
Hobbicolor inks don't have the oversaturated appearance of Canon OEM. MIS
is extremely close to the OEM color response.