Digital BW, The Print

Hello, I have a Epson Stylus Photo 870 with CFS and MIS Variabile B&W 
inks, can I change the inks with MIS Ultra-Tone inks with the same 
CFS?

Thank You

Stefano

Stefano,

>I have a Epson Stylus Photo 870 with CFS and MIS Variabile B&W 
>inks, can I change the inks with MIS Ultra-Tone inks with the same 
>CFS?

Change the cartridge parts and clean out the tubes.

(I'm not s CFS user, but I assume MIS has a vacuum charging or other
procedure on its web page.)

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

For UT2 information and settings see:
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/

> 
> Change the cartridge parts and clean out the tubes.
> 
> (I'm not s CFS user, but I assume MIS has a vacuum charging or other
> procedure on its web page.)
> 
> Paul
> www.PaulRoark.com 
> 
> For UT2 information and settings see:
> http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/

So Paul, do you refill your carts?  If so do you follow the MIS 
guidelines exactly?  Any tips or tricks that might help me avoid, 
what I think is, foam/air bubbles in the carts on my 1280?  I've had 
terrible nozzle checks with the UT ink and MIS carts using their 
bottom fill method.  I would expect clogs on the second or third 
refill but not on the first.  I tried the Media Street top fill 
method and, while easier to do, I still had clogs.  If I remove the 
UT carts and put the OEM Epson carts in the clogs immediately 
disappear.  It's only happening on the color cart and mainly in the 
magenta position but not always.  I bought some filled MIS UT carts 
and, while better, they still clogged.  I now have some UT2 carts in 
and I think they're better but I'd still like to be able to fill my 
own (I'm liking the UT2 ink set very much by the way).  Any 
suggestions?

Thanks,

Tom

Thanks

Tom,

>Paul, do you refill your carts?

I fill empty, virgin carts.  But, that is because I'm constantly trying new
ink formulations.  If I were interested in just printing and not tinkering
with the inks, I'd have a CFS with UT2 ink it.

> If so do you follow the MIS guidelines exactly? 

I think they have instructions that are good.  My ideal would be vacuum
filling, but the color carts often do not seem to work well with this fill
method.  Bottom filling is easy.  I've never had any trouble with it, but in
theory it's better to vacuum fill or use a CFS so that you have the 1 micron
screen at the bottom of the cart to catch any over-size particles or other
un-wanted junk.

>I've had terrible nozzle checks with the UT ink and MIS carts using their 
>bottom fill method.

Hmm, I've not had that problem.  What I do is pull only about half the ink
into the syringe.  Then point the syringe up, pull in air, tap the syringe
hard a few times with a finger nail to dislodge bubbles.  Then I take a
paper towel that is folded over several times.  With the syringe pointed up
still, I press the syringe into the paper towel and press the plunger.  The
paper towel lets the air and foam out easily (you can hear the foam fizz).
When all the foam is out, it's obvious.  Then I fill the syringe the rest of
the way (to 15 cc).  (I have 30 cc syringes from MIS but prefer 20 cc.  I've
suggested MIS get some.) 

When I'm filling the cart, the first half of the ink goes in (slowly) with
the cart tilted back away from the outlet.  The second half goes in with the
cart level.  I watch for any bubbles at the end and don't push them in if I
see any.  I withdraw the bottom-fill adapter slowly and tape the bottom of
the outlet.

That's about it.  I usually have a near perfect nozzle check immediately.

>  I would expect clogs on the second or third 
>refill but not on the first.

I agree.  Air and foam are the big problems.  Most clogs are air from what I
can tell.

>If I remove the UT carts and put the OEM Epson carts in the clogs
>immediately disappear. 

Epson appears to have a superior vacuum fill system.

> I bought some filled MIS UT carts and, while better, they still clogged.

I think the 3rd party carts and filling systems are just not as good as what
Epson has.

I do recommend CFS systems for those who do not change inks.  UT2 looks like
it's going to be a stable platform for a while.

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com 

For UT2 information and settings see:
http://home1.gte.net/res09aij/

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark" 
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:
> Tom,
> 
> >Paul, do you refill your carts?
> 
> I fill empty, virgin carts.  But, that is because I'm constantly 
trying new
> ink formulations.  If I were interested in just printing and not 
tinkering
> with the inks, I'd have a CFS with UT2 ink it.
> 
> > If so do you follow the MIS guidelines exactly? 
> 
> I think they have instructions that are good.  My ideal would be 
vacuum
> filling, but the color carts often do not seem to work well with 
this fill
> method.  Bottom filling is easy.  I've never had any trouble with 
it, but in
> theory it's better to vacuum fill or use a CFS so that you have the 
1 micron
> screen at the bottom of the cart to catch any over-size particles 
or other
> un-wanted junk.
> 
> >I've had terrible nozzle checks with the UT ink and MIS carts 
using their 
> >bottom fill method.
> 
> Hmm, I've not had that problem.  What I do is pull only about half 
the ink
> into the syringe.  Then point the syringe up, pull in air, tap the 
syringe
> hard a few times with a finger nail to dislodge bubbles.  Then I 
take a
> paper towel that is folded over several times.  With the syringe 
pointed up
> still, I press the syringe into the paper towel and press the 
plunger.  The
> paper towel lets the air and foam out easily (you can hear the foam 
fizz).
> When all the foam is out, it's obvious.  Then I fill the syringe 
the rest of
> the way (to 15 cc).  (I have 30 cc syringes from MIS but prefer 20 
cc.  I've
> suggested MIS get some.) 
> 
> When I'm filling the cart, the first half of the ink goes in 
(slowly) with
> the cart tilted back away from the outlet.  The second half goes in 
with the
> cart level.  I watch for any bubbles at the end and don't push them 
in if I
> see any.  I withdraw the bottom-fill adapter slowly and tape the 
bottom of
> the outlet.....

Thanks very much Paul.  I'll try your method of filling half way, 
clear the foam and then fill the rest.  Also I think a CFS will 
ultimately be the answer especially now that the UT2 ink is working 
out so well.  I was refilling trying to decide what ink I liked but I 
think I found it.

Again, thanks for your time and your knowledge that you so graciously 
share with us.

Tom