Digital BW, The Print

Having used all three on different inks, printers, etc for well over a 
year, I've begun to wonder why and what is happening.

I had a year of engineering chemistry 25 years ago, but the brain 
cells storing the info have long since shriveled up breathing stop 
bath and later sniffing ink bottles.

I only remember that in the chem labs we always used a three step 
process to clean lab equipment. We rinsed with distilled H2O, alcohol, 
and I think- acetone. I don't remember the exact order, but alcohol 
was in the middle, because it is miscible in both polar and non-polar 
molecules. IOW, alcohol disolves both water based stuff and oil-ketone 
based stuff. Of couse we never used Windex or Fantastik, and these are 
composed of different substances mixed together.

I'm starting to formulate some ideas to keep an average printer 
running MIS or PiezoBW inks happy. Putting drops on the Parking Pad 
has long been a favorite for everyone, for example. I'm trying to 
watch my printer very carefully as I have a lot of ink problems, more 
than most. To continue with this one example, as I live in an arid 
climate and high altitude (less air pressure), I might want to put 
drops on pad not only to clear a clog but as a preventative to keep it 
from drying out. Therefore, a solvent that not only would dissolve 
clogs but not evaporate quickly or leave a harmful residue (say a 
perfume) on pad would be desirable.

That's just one example, but an important one. So, as this is beyond 
my knowledge, I'ld like to throw the question of the virtues of the 
various substances we use out to you chemistry folks, I know you're 
out there. Admittily, a complex issue.

I'm currently using MIS VM inkset, but recognise this issue covers 
other inks as well. The only other thing that I could add as a guess 
is that I think MIS uses Epson dye base to make even their pig inks, 
but I'm not sure. If this is true, there's a good bet that diethylene 
glycol is in the mix, since Epson OEM carts have that info printed on 
them.
Jim H.