Printer problems

[Gazzer]

when was the last time you used it? if it was longer than 1-2 weeks ago (for colour) take the cartridges out and clean the heads, the ink drys on them and blocks them up. There will also be a bit of software that came with the printer in it will be a 'clean/purge cartridge' programme, you can use this instead of doing it by hand, the downside is, it uses a hell of a lot of ink. So if it was me i'd take the catrs out and have a look, if you can see 3 strips of magneta, yellow and blue then it's blocked as the carts should be clean on the out side

I thought it may have been a blockage but Dom said he had cleaned the heads. May need a few cleans though to clear it.

 

[Colour Republic]

I thought it may have been a blockage but Dom said he had cleaned the heads. May need a few cleans though to clear it.

whoops I should read more:mad2:
Ink jet printers always suffer from it to some degree but I got an HP printer a few months back and the heads would dry up after a few days so it was really bad, I rung HP and it seems they knew there was a bad batch so set me out some new cartridges worth over £50!

It's crazy the way they price printers nowadays where they sell 'em cheap but make the money on the new cartridges, it sometimes works out cheaper to buy a new printer when the ink runs out, so much for being eco friendly (although this doesn't apply to all printers as they some manufacturers ship them with half filled carts)

 

[Gazzer]

Yep just bought an all in one printer,scanner and copier and wireless too....only came with calibration ink but i have printed loads of photos off so far. £62 for 4 XL cartridges next time though.

 

[diamondtiling]

I have a brand new Lexmark all in one super duper but I am not paying nearly £55 for ink so I bought the Epson just for printing.

Just took the cartridges out as you mentioned, ink can clearly be seen on the heads so when you say clean them do you mean let the printer clean itself by running something or do I remove the dried ink myself?

Sorry if that sounds a silly question, computers are not my thing.

:20:

 

[Gazzer]

Let the printer do the cleaning, i had an Epson once that always clogged up the heads on the black mostly. They said it was due to me using non Epson ink but it made no difference. Sometimes i had to run the cleaning program 4 times to get it cleared.

 

[Colour Republic]

well I bought some re-fill ink from tescos once (they were rubbish) and it came with a bottle of cleaning solution, i'm sure it's just some meths, if you haven't got some then maybe nail varnish remover of white spirit, get a tiny dab on a duster and gently wipe. press to hard and it will draw ink out so carfully does it.

 

[Colour Republic]

failing that just run the programme like Neale says although it uses a lot of ink up

and if that doesn't work then get the crayons out and get cracking:smilewinkgrin:

 

[DHTiling]

I agree .. it will be with lack of use.. the ink congeals and it is hard to shift with just the jet cleaner itself... a quick wipe with a cotton bud and acohol will sort it..

2 of my previuos printers used to do the same but my new A3 printer cleans it's self daily..

 

[Colour Republic]

I think i'm about to make the leap to a colour lazer printer, they have become quite affordable now, even more so with cost per print being much cheaper than ink jets. 10 years ago the cheapest ones would set you back nearly 2K:yikes:

 

[doit4u]

Try the Tech Chat on Epson website they haelped when I had a problem with black not printing when the cartridge was changed on a machine that was only weeks old. It took several nozzle/head cleans to clear it, their info says it can take up to six cleans,