Digital BW, The Print

* -----Original Message-----
* From: Peter A. Klein [mailto:pklein@...] 
* Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2003 11:32 PM
* To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
* Subject: [Digital BW] Clog from Hell - Epson 1280

(snip)
* 
* I tried the Windex-on-the-sponge trick (from the Piezo website).  No 
* help.  I then tried the more drastic cleaning, removing the "color" 
* cartridge and blowing Windex through the print head via a plastic 
* tube (stopping well before any air got into the print head).

Peter,

I push cleaning fluid through with a syringe and the pull back sucking any
dried ink out of the nozzles in case there are any particles that might be
too large to be pushed through.

(snip)
* 
* Any thoughts on how to proceed?  Just keep printing and hope the clog 
* eventually dissolves?  Use Fantastic instead of Windex?

Besides Windex I have used ammonia diluted with water. This seems to really
dissolve the inks well. Generally though Windex works fine.

*  Buy some 
* Epson color ink and print color for a while, hoping the native ink 
* will dissolve the MIS stuff? 

Epson color cartridges make excellent cleaning cartridges. All the stubborn
clogs I have had were cleared up by installing a set and running a few
cleaning cycles.

* I'll send it in to Epson if I must, but 
* I'd rather not if I don't have to.

Get an estimate before you go this route. If they are going to charge $200
or $300 to replace the head you are probably better off getting a new or
refurbished 1280.

Good luck,
Martin Wesley
http://www.carolyn.cc/Guests/MartinWesley/pages/MW_01.html
http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html