Epson printer problems

vinylmusic

I have an Epson Photo R300
It's a great printer and I want to keep it going

I dont know if it comes from using cheaper inks or what but since changing cartridges picture quality has deteriorated
When I do a nozzle pattern cheque all but the magenta comes through ok.
Thinking it was a bad cartridge I contacted my cartridge supplier who replaced it
The replacement one was slightly better but after numerous head cleans it's got worse.

I'm wondering if theres a more physical method of cleaning up the nozzles.
I'm truly frustrated now because I'm getting nowhere

Any advice will be gratefully apreciated

DatabaseError

don't know if it will help, but i have an r200 which ive been using for a few years. i can't remeber how (possibly checking ink levels) but get the print head to the left or centre of the printer and toy should see a pad covered in ink, take it out and clean it, if the pad is 'full' i'd guess that the ink sprayed when cleaning will have nowhere to go and block the jets.
very useful utility to reset the counter etc. here used it a few times myself, ive done a lot of printing, thank goodness for cheap carts on ebay

just looked again at the util, it has a setting for deep clean of individual carts, and a head park function, so should help you!

fwor

Mine wasn't the same model as yours, but probably similar construction. I found that the "compatible" cartridges were much more prone to drying up than the Epson originals.

My "more physical" method was to attach several strips of cloth to a narrow strip of stiff cardboard, and push that in the slot where the paper comes out and upward onto the print head.

At the time I only had limited success, in that there was limited improvement. However, I've since discovered that I was probably not using the best solvent - I was using Isopropanol, but I think water is actually better.

Good luck if you decide to try it....

BillScarab

I always used to use Windolene to clean the print heads on my old Epson. Apparently the Ammonia in it is good at cleaning up dried ink.

rancid-a

Similar probs with an old Epson 810. at the time I was printing cd covers and the like. To sort the problem out, I just whacked up the print quality to maximum (say 1400x720?) and printed a detailed cover, by the time the cover was done, the heads had more or less been cleaned.

Other times I'd just use the printers 'clean heads' option in the tools section. but this tended to take 3-4 times before it sorted itself.

I think Aktiv direct at one point sold special cartridges that contained cleaning fluid instead of ink, might be worth investigating?

When my 810 finally bit the dust, I didn't mind - I'd bought 100's of compatable cartridges for it and no doubt saved tons of money. I'm still going to buy compatable ones for my new Epson, just waiting for it to run out

vinylmusic

rancid-a wrote: »

I think Aktiv direct at one point sold special cartridges that contained cleaning fluid instead of ink, might be worth investigating?

Thanks for that, but I find the cleaning cartridge idea a bit expensive.
I guess I;ll have to dig out a good old cotton bud with pure alcohol

I'm wondering if getting empty cartridges and injecting them full of alcohol may do the same

dc

vinylmusic wrote: »

Thanks for that, but I find the cleaning cartridge idea a bit expensive.
I guess I;ll have to dig out a good old cotton bud with pure alcohol

I'm wondering if getting empty cartridges and injecting them full of alcohol may do the same

Water is probably better.

A common problem with Epsons is that the tube that drains the surplus ink from the cleaning operations gets blocked with dried ink. It goes from the pad under the head parking position to a larger pad laid inside the base of the printer. It is part of Epson's policy to sell more ink by using/wasting a lot of ink in the cleaning process each time the printer gets switched on. The policy seems to have backfired by causing a lot of faults and dissatisfied customers, especially in the States where they seem to be more aware of it.