dot matrix printer ribbon shelf life?

[carkenord]

I have a Star NX-1000 non-color 9 pin dot-matrix printer.

It works fine, but I don't use it very much. Ribbons are getting
harder to find. I can buy a 6-pack of ribbons for a good price, but 6
ribbons would take me forever to use up.

If I store the new ribbons in a ZipLock bag or something, what might
be expected shelf life? Any tips on extending the shelf life of new
ribbons of this type? Refrigeration? High or low humidity?

Lee Carkenord

 

[Warren Block]

I have a Star NX-1000 non-color 9 pin dot-matrix printer.

It works fine, but I don't use it very much. Ribbons are getting
harder to find. I can buy a 6-pack of ribbons for a good price, but 6
ribbons would take me forever to use up.

If I store the new ribbons in a ZipLock bag or something, what might
be expected shelf life? Any tips on extending the shelf life of new
ribbons of this type? Refrigeration? High or low humidity?

In the old days, people said that spraying a dried-out ribbon with WD-40
would rejuvenate it. That's probably as bad as ribbon reinking, another
idea that hung around far longer than it should have.

For the price of a 6-pack of ribbons, you can probably get a used laser
that prints better, faster, quieter, and has toner that never dries out.

 

[GEO Me]

I have a Star NX-1000 non-color 9 pin dot-matrix printer.
It works fine, but I don't use it very much. Ribbons are getting
harder to find. ....

In the old days, people said that spraying a dried-out ribbon with WD-40
would rejuvenate it. That's probably as bad as ribbon reinking, another
idea that hung around far longer than it should have. .........[snip]

Actualy it works very well with the ribbons for my Panasonic
KX-1123.

Geo

 

[Fred McKenzie]

I have a Star NX-1000 non-color 9 pin dot-matrix printer.

It works fine, but I don't use it very much. Ribbons are getting
harder to find. I can buy a 6-pack of ribbons for a good price, but 6
ribbons would take me forever to use up.

If I store the new ribbons in a ZipLock bag or something, what might
be expected shelf life? Any tips on extending the shelf life of new
ribbons of this type? Refrigeration? High or low humidity?

Lee-

I don't know the answer to your question, but sympathize. Based on my
experience, the ZipLock bags would help, but you still might not get
full use from all 6 ribbons.

Years ago, when dot matrix was the only commonly available printer, I
did a lot of re-inking. It was a messy process, but you could save a
lot of money. My re-inked ribbons would also dry out. However I did so
much printing back then, that it wasn't a problem.

The company that sold me the re-inking equipment and supplies is still
around. They are Computer Friends,
http://www.cfriends.com/ and have a lot of other printing stuff now. I
think they have an 800 number, and may have some suggestions for your
situation. They may have already-inked ribbons for your printer.

As I recall, Computer Friends was a good company to deal with. They
were friendly and shipped promptly. I never had any problems with them.

Fred

 

[zakezuke]

I have a Star NX-1000 non-color 9 pin dot-matrix printer.
It works fine, but I don't use it very much. Ribbons are getting
harder to find. ....

In the old days, people said that spraying a dried-out ribbon with WD-40
would rejuvenate it. That's probably as bad as ribbon reinking, another
idea that hung around far longer than it should have. .........[snip]

Actualy it works very well with the ribbons for my Panasonic
KX-1123.

Geo

I can agree with WD-40 on the STAR nx-1000 rainbow, the panasonic I
believe it was a 2421 or some such, a nice 24 pin model with lcd
display and silent mode.

Eventually gave that printer away to an Atari user, or perhaps I sold
it for $20 or so, I can't remember, this was pre 1995

 

[GEO Me]

carkenord wrote:
I have a Star NX-1000 non-color 9 pin dot-matrix printer.
It works fine, but I don't use it very much. Ribbons are getting
harder to find. ....
In the old days, people said that spraying a dried-out ribbon with WD-40
would rejuvenate it. That's probably as bad as ribbon reinking, another
idea that hung around far longer than it should have. .........[snip]

Actualy it works very well with the ribbons for my Panasonic
KX-1123.

I can agree with WD-40 on the STAR nx-1000 rainbow, the panasonic I
believe it was a 2421 or some such, a nice 24 pin model with lcd
display and silent mode.
Eventually gave that printer away to an Atari user, or perhaps I sold
it for $20 or so, I can't remember, this was pre 1995

There are two different models that I am familiar with, both 24
pins. One is the KX-P1123, and the other is the KX-P2123, which can
use an adapter that allow it to print in color. The 'quiet' mode seems
to be just a slow print mode.

Neither has an LCD display, so you must have had a fancier newer
model.

Use of WD-40 is not recommended on the color ribbon.

Geo

 

[zakezuke]

There are two different models that I am familiar with, both 24
pins. One is the KX-P1123, and the other is the KX-P2123, which can
use an adapter that allow it to print in color. The 'quiet' mode seems
to be just a slow print mode.

Neither has an LCD display, so you must have had a fancier newer
model.

Use of WD-40 is not recommended on the color ribbon.

Geo

Your memory of history panasonic is better than mine. However, what I
owned and used wd-40 on was above and beyond the kx-p2123, it was
probally the p2124 with better sound proofing, better quiet mode, out
of the box color support, and ofcorse the ability to use a color or
just a black ribbon.

What I had was a fancier older model, mine was abandoned IIRC in favor
of the lower cost kx-2123. Wasn't a bad printer, heck i'd consider
one, it just lacked the features mine did. I sort of bought mine
during the dot matrix crash, where the kx-2123 remained for several
years and increased in value.

 

[GEO Me]

Your memory of history panasonic is better than mine. However, what I
owned and used wd-40 on was above and beyond the kx-p2123, it was
probally the p2124 with better sound proofing, better quiet mode, out
of the box color support, and ofcorse the ability to use a color or
just a black ribbon.

What I had was a fancier older model, mine was abandoned IIRC in favor
of the lower cost kx-2123. Wasn't a bad printer, heck i'd consider
one, it just lacked the features mine did. I sort of bought mine
during the dot matrix crash, where the kx-2123 remained for several
years and increased in value.

Good memory? Nah. I wish. I still have both of them, but now, since
I got a Canon BJC-2000 and an older Epson, I only use rarely.

I don't know much about the dot matrix crash. ...??

Geo

 

[thoss]

In the old days, people said that spraying a dried-out ribbon with WD-40
would rejuvenate it. That's probably as bad as ribbon reinking, another
idea that hung around far longer than it should have.

For the price of a 6-pack of ribbons, you can probably get a used laser
that prints better, faster, quieter, and has toner that never dries out.

But can't handle sprocketed paper or multi-part forms.

 

[thoss]

I have a Star NX-1000 non-color 9 pin dot-matrix printer.

It works fine, but I don't use it very much. Ribbons are getting
harder to find. I can buy a 6-pack of ribbons for a good price, but 6
ribbons would take me forever to use up.

If I store the new ribbons in a ZipLock bag or something, what might
be expected shelf life? Any tips on extending the shelf life of new
ribbons of this type? Refrigeration? High or low humidity?

As far as I can remember, it was recommended that ribbons be stored in a
refrigerator. I suspect that the ribbons will be individually packed in
a sealed bag, in which case the ziplock bag may not be necessary, but it
can't do any harm.

 

[zakezuke]

I don't know much about the dot matrix crash. ...??

When lasers and inkjets became popular, stores closed out their supply
of dot matrix printers. Cooler models with LCD screens, extra padding
for noise reduction, that sort of thing. The market shifed from
consumer needs to business, and that nitch was filled nicely by mostly
the oki series. I'm describing circa 1996 or so.

 

[Warren Block]

But can't handle sprocketed paper or multi-part forms.

s/can't handle/don't need/, but that's a matter of perspective.

Neither were mentioned in the original post.

 

[thoss]

s/can't handle/don't need/, but that's a matter of perspective.

Neither were mentioned in the original post.

Nor was replacing the dot-matrix printer with a laser. We don't know
how he uses the printer, only that he wants to continue to do so.