Inkjet Print Head Cleaner

[borgward]

Trying ink jet head cleaning kit from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P18Q9WV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
The adapters for For the red, blue and yellow heads fit poorly, too small. The one for black is larger and fits the head snugly. Anybody used a kit that fits well over the color heads?
And no, I do not want a color lazer printer. They print lower dpi than inkjet, are very expensive and toner is $200 a color.

 

[zrxkawboy]

I repair copiers, and occasionally we are asked to look at an inkjet. If the print head is clogged, we will run the built-in cleaning cycle, sometimes multiple times. If that doesn't fix it, soak a lint-free cloth with either warm water or alcohol and let it sit against the bottom of the print head for 5-10 minutes. If that doesn't help, there's probably not much you can do.

This is one of those cases where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Don't let an inkjet sit unused for more than a couple weeks, and you'll probably never have a clogged print head.

 

[Hall]

Don't let an inkjet sit unused for more than a couple weeks, and you'll probably never have a clogged print head.

This is a big reason why most people shouldn't buy or own an inkjet anymore. Who prints things (at home) anymore ? Okay, for those that do, do you print more than once a week, once a month ? I remember when replacement cartridges cost as much or more than a new printer !

 

[Marrk]

This is a big reason why most people shouldn't buy or own an inkjet anymore. Who prints things (at home) anymore ? Okay, for those that do, do you print more than once a week, once a month ? I remember when replacement cartridges cost as much or more than a new printer !

All true. But the piece of crap printer that I have now is, well, a piece of crap. It is an $89 laser printer. The prints are always too weak to bother reading. Besides, I like to print things in order to keep a hardcopy record. Like for taxes. When the IRS rings my doorbell and starts asking questions, I want to be able to wave a piece of paper in their faces.

 

[BHopkins]

It used to be that buying a replacement print head was expensive, and didn't make financial sense for a printer that was obsolete, compared to buying a new printer. But any longer, new print heads can be bought for $40-$50 for most ink jet printers. I've never tried this, but I'm curious, is this a reasonable option? @zrxkawboy, since you are experienced in the field, would you recommend this as an option?

I remember when replacement cartridges cost as much or more than a new printer !

An excellent reason to select tank type injet printers.

 

[Geekhead]

Trying ink jet head cleaning kit from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P18Q9WV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
The adapters for For the red, blue and yellow heads fit poorly, too small. The one for black is larger and fits the head snugly. Anybody used a kit that fits well over the color heads?
And no, I do not want a color lazer printer. They print lower dpi than inkjet, are very expensive and toner is $200 a color.

Inkjet DPI is misleading as it yes can spray a fine dot of liquid ink but once it hits paper, starts wicking and spreading. Lazer can put a fine toner(plastic powder) dot down and it just melts into the paper and does not spread much at all. Get a used one and running costs are a fraction of inkjets.

 

[Geekhead]

I repair copiers, and occasionally we are asked to look at an inkjet. If the print head is clogged, we will run the built-in cleaning cycle, sometimes multiple times. If that doesn't fix it, soak a lint-free cloth with either warm water or alcohol and let it sit against the bottom of the print head for 5-10 minutes. If that doesn't help, there's probably not much you can do.

This is one of those cases where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Don't let an inkjet sit unused for more than a couple weeks, and you'll probably never have a clogged print head.

Another fellow tech here, spent 35 years with Canon, just retired 2 years ago servicing the segment 2-3 equipment.

 

[borgward]

It used to be that buying a replacement print head was expensive, and didn't make financial sense for a printer that was obsolete, compared to buying a new printer. But any longer, new print heads can be bought for $40-$50 for most ink jet printers. I've never tried this, but I'm curious, is this a reasonable option? @zrxkawboy, since you are experienced in the field, would you recommend this as an option?
I could not find a HP printer with replaceable print head.

An excellent reason to select tank type injet printers.

I could not find a HP printer with replaceable print head. HP had them last year.
How are the tank type doing? No problems with clogged heads?

 

[zrxkawboy]

Another fellow tech here, spent 35 years with Canon, just retired 2 years ago servicing the segment 2-3 equipment.

Wow, many years of experience there! Congrats on your long career and retirement. I work for a Toshiba dealer.

 

[borgward]

Inkjet DPI is misleading as it yes can spray a fine dot of liquid ink but once it hits paper, starts wicking and spreading. Lazer can put a fine toner(plastic powder) dot down and it just melts into the paper and does not spread much at all. Get a used one and running costs are a fraction of inkjets.

Misleading or not I have seen the results of various Color Lazer printers and was not impressed. Might be good enough for bar graphs.

This is a big reason why most people shouldn't buy or own an inkjet anymore. Who prints things (at home) anymore ? Okay, for those that do, do you print more than once a week, once a month ? I remember when replacement cartridges cost as much or more than a new printer !

I go from printing pages and pages of stuff and corrections to slack periods. I now print a test page from my computer once a week when I don't have a work load on our newer printer that is so far working fine.

Does anybody know what the HEX ? code for CYAN. That's the problem color on the older printer. I was thinking of printing a big square of CYAN to keep that color clear.

 

[zrxkawboy]

It used to be that buying a replacement print head was expensive, and didn't make financial sense for a printer that was obsolete, compared to buying a new printer. But any longer, new print heads can be bought for $40-$50 for most ink jet printers. I've never tried this, but I'm curious, is this a reasonable option? @zrxkawboy, since you are experienced in the field, would you recommend this as an option?

I wish I could offer some advice, but the majority of work we do is on copiers and a few laser printers. Once in a while, an individual will bring an inkjet in and ask if we can fix it. As a courtesy, we will try to clean the print head, but if not successful, we recommend replacement of the printer. By the time we buy a print head, mark it up to cover our expenses, and charge labor, it is almost always less expensive to replace the printer. So unfortunately, I really don't have any experience with the aftermarket parts available. If you like the printer, and don't mind doing the work yourself, it may be worth a try.

 

[Geekhead]

Wow, many years of experience there! Congrats on your long career and retirement. I work for a Toshiba dealer.

Thanks, went from the tail end of analog technology right into digital printing /scanning. As you know it is a tough business to be in now as it contracts after covid so I rode the wave right on to the beach.

 

[MHartfield]

There's a printer forum that has lots of good advise:
https://www.printerknowledge.com/whats-new/

 

[JeffChaseFan]

I repair copiers, and occasionally we are asked to look at an inkjet. If the print head is clogged, we will run the built-in cleaning cycle, sometimes multiple times. If that doesn't fix it, soak a lint-free cloth with either warm water or alcohol and let it sit against the bottom of the print head for 5-10 minutes. If that doesn't help, there's probably not much you can do.

This is one of those cases where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Don't let an inkjet sit unused for more than a couple weeks, and you'll probably never have a clogged print head.

I repair copiers as well. Well I just retired 3 weeks ago after 33 years of Ricoh Konica Minolta and Sharp. I’ve got a HP 8610 I’ve had 10 or 11 years print 50 or 60 a month on it never a problem never even had to clean anything and I think it’s like what you said and running it on a regular basis I use the HP instant ink maintenance program cost me 3-5 dollars a month delivered to my door. I thought about going and getting a laser cannon color probably be a little cheaper on the prints, but I can fix it, This one has been bulletproof so why even consider it I guess

 

[blain450]

This is a big reason why most people shouldn't buy or own an inkjet anymore.

I battled the inkjets for a long while. Then several years ago I threw in the towel and moved to a laser multi-function.
I've never looked back. Any photos that I care about printing, I care enough to print so the colors and images don't fade away.
I upload to CVS or Walgreens and pick up great looking pictures, that last.

 

[BHopkins]

I could not find a HP printer with replaceable print head. HP had them last year.
How are the tank type doing? No problems with clogged heads?

On two or three occasions, I've had a clogged color, but have always been able to fix it with the maintenance routine that is in the firmware. One good thing about the Epson tank printers, is that the ink waste tank is replaceable, and replacements are available at all kinds of online sources.

 

[Ericm]

Trying ink jet head cleaning kit from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P18Q9WV?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
The adapters for For the red, blue and yellow heads fit poorly, too small. The one for black is larger and fits the head snugly. Anybody used a kit that fits well over the color heads?
And no, I do not want a color lazer printer. They print lower dpi than inkjet, are very expensive and toner is $200 a color.

I imagine this may not apply to your printer. I soak my clogged old Canon MP490 printer (removable) cartridge / print heads in a dish of about 3/8" (9mm) deep of ~200F hot water. Allow to cool to room temp. and continue to soak over night. Refill cartridge if low or empty. Install and follow up with the printer "deep cleaning" step once or twice.

 

[dubber09]

This is a big reason why most people shouldn't buy or own an inkjet anymore. Who prints things (at home) anymore ? Okay, for those that do, do you print more than once a week, once a month ? I remember when replacement cartridges cost as much or more than a new printer !

People still do print at home and many choose inkjet printers due to their low prices and due to lack of knowledge on their deficiencies.
Laser printers are much better choice for printing documents but cheaper ones are black and white only and people turn to inkjets due to price.
Professional photo printers are inkjet but are built much better heads included and ink normally contains solutions helping prevent clogged print head nozzles. They are much more expensive, ink is more expensive, and if heads are clogged they are worth repair or head replacement.
My general advise would be same, print on regular basis, and if possible stay away from inkjet printers.