Epson reliability?

[David French]

My Stylus Photo 870 is on the blink - spitting black ink around, jets
clogged and won't clean. I'm tempted to bin it and go for a 1290 or 2100,
but I realised this will be the third Epson I've replaced in less than 6
years.

Do Epson printers really have a life of about 2 years, or have I been
unlucky? I can just about cope with spending several hundred quid on a
printer, but not when I have to replace it every couple of years, even
though it's not obsolete.

Should I avoid Epson and go for another brand? If so, what recommendations
for A3 photo printing - quality and calibrate-ability a priority?

(I'll try some cleaning carts / paper / whatever before I go the whole
hog...)

Thanks,
David.

 

[Safetymom123]

I have had my Epson printers last a very long time. I have given them away
to others that are still using them. Are you following the directions such
as turning the printer off using the power button, leaving it off until you
need to print?

 

[David French]

I have had my Epson printers last a very long time. I have given them away
to others that are still using them. Are you following the directions such
as turning the printer off using the power button, leaving it off until you
need to print?

Probably not religiously, at least with the most recent one. I have
followed the alternative advice to not keep turning it off and on, because
it wastes ink. So maybe it's not entirely the printer's fault.

David

 

[davefr]

I've had Epson, HP, and Lexmark.

Epson's are "clogmonsters" and once it happen's you're SOL. In
addition, Epson's new cartridge chip scheme is stupid. The only reason
I have an Epson is because the price was about $10 after rebates and
coupons. It's a C84 and I've printed less than 20 average pages and
the ink is already down to 3/4. It developed banding but the head
cleaning fixed it. If you print daily, Epson's might be OK but for
the occasional printer, they're a poor choice.

At least with HP and Lexmark you can replace a dried up cartridge and
odds are the printer will print like new. Everyone seems to hate
Lexmark's due to cartridge cost, but they're amazingly easy to refill.

 

[Safetymom123]

The longer you keep the printer turned on without printing the longer the
cleaning cycle will be. Also by leaving it turned on all the time the heads
are uncapped meaning the ink in the nozzles can dry out. If you leave the
printer off until you go to print it will run a mini cleaning cycle instead
of a long one because you left it on. By turning it off using the power
button it runs a little cycle that caps the heads.

By following this advice I have not had a clog with any of my Epson's and I
have owned them for years.

 

[Ototin]

The longer you keep the printer turned on without printing the longer the
cleaning cycle will be. Also by leaving it turned on all the time the heads
are uncapped meaning the ink in the nozzles can dry out.

Not true. Each Epson Stylus ink jet model has a set amount of time of
inactivity before it parks and caps the print head.

 

[Safetymom123]

No you are incorrect, Epson does not cap the heads after a certain period of
time.

 

[cwo3sir]

I've had Epson, HP, and Lexmark.

Epson's are "clogmonsters" and once it happen's you're SOL. In
addition, Epson's new cartridge chip scheme is stupid. The only reason
I have an Epson is because the price was about $10 after rebates and
coupons. It's a C84 and I've printed less than 20 average pages and
the ink is already down to 3/4. It developed banding but the head
cleaning fixed it. If you print daily, Epson's might be OK but for
the occasional printer, they're a poor choice.

At least with HP and Lexmark you can replace a dried up cartridge and

I have WORKED on Epson, Lexmark and HP when working for a dealer. I
still take Epson. Now, back in commercial photography, I ABSOLUTELY
pick Epson.

You should make a print a week on ANY inkjet, just to keep the heads
clean. Just fact. Even when they are capped and parked that foam
will dry and eventually get there.

You are referring to a C84 which is pigment. Therefore, more likely to
dry than a base liquid. Because it gives you that quality and
longevity, a once a week print seems miniscule. The monitor showing
3/4 full is just a graphic.

With each cartridge replaceable, and colors at $10 each, what's the
complaint on a $79 printer?

 

[Ototin]

No you are incorrect, Epson does not cap the heads after a certain period of
time.

Obviously the Epson Stylus ink jet printers you are familiar with are
different from the one I'm familiar with. The models (Pro 5000, Color
800/850/900, Photo series, just to name a few) I'm familiar with all
cap and lock the print head after a certain period of inactivity.

 

[Safetymom123]

I have used a number of Epson printers over the years and the only time that
they cap the heads is when you turn the printer off. That is why it is so
important to use the power button to power down the printer. It runs the
extra cycle to cap the heads.

 

[Yianni]

I also have used many Epson printers (600, 740, 1160, 1270, c80 to name
them), I haven't had any problem with them. I have experience with other
brands too, especialy HP and Lexmark.
Of course each model printer is a bit dedicated to some jobs. E.g. the newer
durabrite inks aren't suitable for many weeks of inactivity.


--
Yianni
(e-mail address removed) (remove number nine to reply)


--

 

[Greg]

How would I know whether my Epson 2200 caps the heads after a certain amount
of time, or not?
I don't think it's in my documentation. Will it be audible?

Greg.

 

[Safetymom123]

The only time the head is capped is when you turn the printer off. Listen
and you will see it run a little before it turns it off. I sit by my
printers all day and I have never heard them do anything to go into
hibernate mode.

 

[Ototin]

I have used a number of Epson printers over the years and the only time that
they cap the heads is when you turn the printer off. That is why it is so
important to use the power button to power down the printer. It runs the
extra cycle to cap the heads.

Have a look at the Stylus Color 800 or Color 850. Observe its
operation and then prove it to me that it does not cap and lock the
print head after a period of inactivity.

 

[Ototin]

How would I know whether my Epson 2200 caps the heads after a certain amount
of time, or not? I don't think it's in my documentation. Will it be audible?

It's very difficult to see it with the upper housing in place. You
could compare the position of the print head carriage assembly with
the power off and its position in the standby mode.

 

[Ototin]

The only time the head is capped is when you turn the printer off. Listen
and you will see it run a little before it turns it off. I sit by my
printers all day and I have never heard them do anything to go into
hibernate mode.

It does not prove anything.

 

[Safetymom123]

The head is parked either in the on position or when you turn it off it
moves to the right further.

 

[Greg]

The head is parked either in the on position or when you turn it off it
moves to the right further.

So when it's parked when the printer is on, is that the same as being
"capped"?
Is it only "capped" when it's all the way over to the right?

Greg.

 

[Safetymom123]

It is always parked on the right, when you go to shut off the printer it
runs for a bit while it parks the heads further to the right. So when it is
sitting there waiting to print the heads are NOT capped.

 

[Gary Tait]

I've had Epson, HP, and Lexmark.

Epson's are "clogmonsters" and once it happen's you're SOL. In
addition, Epson's new cartridge chip scheme is stupid. The only reason
I have an Epson is because the price was about $10 after rebates and
coupons. It's a C84 and I've printed less than 20 average pages and
the ink is already down to 3/4. It developed banding but the head
cleaning fixed it. If you print daily, Epson's might be OK but for
the occasional printer, they're a poor choice.

At least with HP and Lexmark you can replace a dried up cartridge and
odds are the printer will print like new. Everyone seems to hate
Lexmark's due to cartridge cost, but they're amazingly easy to refill.

And then there is Canon, which has a removeable printhead, which means
you can rmove the head to maintain it (by steaming or soaking) or
in theory, replace it (although the cost of a replacement head can
approach the cost of a new printer).