Help! Epson Stylus dx3850 printer-horizontal lines on printing-advice pls??!

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi kind folks,

Got the above off Ebay (my Canon won't feed paper after just 2 years)-mainly because the compatible ink is SO cheap!

Set up properly via enclosed disk....tried printing on normal 'text' setting...horizontal lines through it all. I've done all the maintenance-head alignment, nozzle checking etc etc but still the same! The printer apparently was owned by an old lady & probably has not had much use if that makes a difference?

Strange thing is-if I change setting to 'best quality + photo' it will print clearly-allbeit colours are 'a bit' washed out & it takes ages to print a sheet. Photocopying provides same result-horizontal lines. Now I don't print that much-maybe recipes or articles online-don't print photo's so can bypass the photocpying bit by scanning & printing in 'top quality/photo mode'.

Any ideas????? I wonder if the printer hasn't been used for ages if replacing the ink would sort it out? Another website said print at least 10 copies on 'phot/best quality' as this uses all nozzzles & would force out dried ink/air-did this but on standard 'test' setting still the same! Please don't anyone say serves you right for buying on ebay lol (!). Any advice would be great!

Le_Kirk

If the ink has dried out and blocked the nozzles, you could try the nozzle check and head cleaning a few times, that normally does it on my Epson.

AndyPix

calibration and nozzle clean should fix that

DEBTMONKEY1A

Andy-sorry-what is calibration?

AndyPix

Sorry, in the software that you got with your printer you should have a calibration tool, and a tool that allows you to clean the nozzles (not manually , with a cloth, but the printer does it by spraying various amounts of ink through the nozzles)


The calibration tool will print out a page, ask you questions about it, and then adjust its self and print out another page etc etc.


The lines could either be that the printer is feeding too much/not enough paper through after printing each "line", or could be blocked nozzles due to the printer not being used for a while some ink may have dried up in there ..

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi-thanks for all replies. Have done the calibration & all the nozzle/head cleaning etc....certainly a lot better now (but not perfect-if I print a picture-not that i ever will do this in reality-still a few faint horizontal lines but for example copying a typed letter it's 85% there-when I got it you couldn't read it!) & will print on text ok too. Can't believe how slow this is to print-not that it ralyy matters. So I'm guessing the useage & the cleaning has helped. I think what I'll do is have this as a printer on my 2nd pc downstairs. I've found a brand new epson 235 on Argos for £35-again cheap compatible cartridges-not done much digging but around a tenner for 4 cartridges-I think the official Epson ones are WAY more than this! It's wifi too so can print upstairs from downstairs if needed & from tablet/smartphone. Again-thanks all for your help.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Update....well now I've printed a few sheets it prints fine even in text (I say fine but 90% ok & seems to improve a bit after a few sheets printed)...it will photocopy a letter no issue & pictures are 'ok'ish-still with very faint horizontal lines (about 65% but as mentioned don't really copy pix). Colour is a bit crap (again not overlly concerned about this for what I print). But-scan facility works fine so will be of use.

I guess the ink is ages old as it belonged to a granny of 82....does ink deteriorate over time? Think I'll still splash out on the £35 Epson 235 at Argos & use this as a 2nd printerdownstairs.

Ainsley1

Well, only from experience but....
Does sound very like blockages that are clearing with use/cleaning.
I have found that a few drops of water/meths mixture (75/25 %) and just a very little drop of detergent in the mixture applied on to the print heads can help eventually. You will need to take out the inks and apply with a dropper. Maybe best doing an Epson print test and just trying on the one(s) that are problematic. A clean cycle and a few sheets printed might be required afterwards.
If you get it working well enough load with new set of inks. I found compatibles fine and currently use jetplay via Amazon for my Epson and very cheap. Others are available.....
As a final tip I find leaving the printer switched on, it does not dry out and does not waste ink during the boot process.

DEBTMONKEY1A

Update! Ordered some compatible ink from Ebay (£2-69 for 4!!! On further digging you can get 3 x 5 packs (colours + 2 blacks) with free p&p or in some cases click & collect-working out at £1-29 for 4 cartridges!!).....now works fab without a hitch. Sure-the machine was released about 9 years ago but as I bought it from someone who's 82 yr old nan had hardly used it (in perfect nick) I can only assume ink was ancient & the useage/& some of the nozzle cleanig/head cleaning/alignement has fixed problem. Can't get over the price of the cartridges-thanks all!

bloss0m

I had trouble with my Epson a Xp-760. I did several ink cleaning cycles which didnt help. I got some luke warm water and put a few drops in each nozzel when ink cartridges go in. Then dried them out with paper towel I also cleaned the ink pad where the inks sit. This did trick for me