Digital BW, The Print

I just had to reset the flashing red & green lights on my old 1280,
the ones that indicate by counting that the waste ink pads are saturated. 

Questions:

1) anyone know what the safety margin is from when the indicator
flashes (and locks up the printer) and when the waste ink pads
actually are dangerously saturated?
2) where to get new waste ink pads for a 1280? I don't think Epson
sell parts direct to consumers. 
3) how to replace them?

I'd really like to avoid boxing up my printer and sending it
someplace. Of course, I'd also like some idea of when old ink is going
to start to seep out of the bottom of the printer. 

Bob Michaels