Digital BW, The Print

I recently purchased Septone from BW Guys to use in an Epson 2200.
After three days effort I still cannot get anything close to
acceptable nozzle tests. I contacted BW Guys and they immediately sent
me a stock email with instructions for a standard windex type
cleaning. This didn't work. Apparently, the ink is thinner than the
Epson ink and the cleaning cycles create foam. There is no way to
prevent the cleaning cycles. The printer insists on cleaning either
when it is plugged in or when it prints a nozzle test.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Does anyone have any
suggestions. BW Guys doesn't seem to provide much support for their
product. It is just about impossible to get any information about this
system.

Please no lectures about getting Imageprint. I have Imageprint but
since I got a new computer Imageprint refuses to print and that is why
I am trying something else.

Wayne Firth

Hi Wayne,

Everytime you run the cleaning cycle, you need to wait for at least 
10 minutes for the foam to settle. Don't do anything after the 
cleaning cycle and wait for 15 mins, then do a nozzle print to see if 
it is alright. 

Another thing that will cause the problem is the capping station(the 
sponge where the print head rests when it is not printing). Everytime 
you run a cleaning cycle, ink starts to puddle up in the capping 
station. It will give you the problem of getting a good nozzle check. 
It can be cleaned by using a paper towel to soak up the ink in the 
capping station and then put a small piece of paper towel on the 
capping station and move the print head to the capping station for a 
minute or so. After 3 cleaning cycles and you can't get a good nozzle 
check, try this. You will see the difference. 

However, if you really like the Septone, I suggest you to get a 
Niagara CIS system for the Septone ink. It works really fine on my 
2200 without any nozzle problem so far. The pressure inside the 
Septone cartridge is different and causes a lot of problem and the 
ink runs out fast!!! I used to use the Septone cartridges and it's a 
pain. I received some recommendations from other Septone users and 
decided to buy the CIS system. It's a little expensive but it works 
great.

Good luck

Jim

-- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Wayne Firth" 
<wfirth@s...> wrote:
> I recently purchased Septone from BW Guys to use in an Epson 2200.
> After three days effort I still cannot get anything close to
> acceptable nozzle tests. I contacted BW Guys and they immediately 
sent
> me a stock email with instructions for a standard windex type
> cleaning. This didn't work. Apparently, the ink is thinner than the
> Epson ink and the cleaning cycles create foam. There is no way to
> prevent the cleaning cycles. The printer insists on cleaning either
> when it is plugged in or when it prints a nozzle test.
> 
> Has anyone else encountered this problem? Does anyone have any
> suggestions. BW Guys doesn't seem to provide much support for their
> product. It is just about impossible to get any information about 
this
> system.
> 
> Please no lectures about getting Imageprint. I have Imageprint but
> since I got a new computer Imageprint refuses to print and that is 
why

> I am trying something else.
> 
> Wayne Firth

Hello Wayne Firth

I saw your post regarding septone inks.  I use them with a CIS, 
but when I started with the non-CIS cartridges, I had the exact 
same problem as you.  It was very, very difficult to get clean 
nozzle checks with the disposable cartridges.  I used up 3 very 
expensive sets trying  The inks really are very thin and form 
bubbles extremely easily.  (If you even nudge a bulk-bottle of ink,  
you can see a huge bubble cluster form, and it takes ages to 
disappear).  However, the occasional good nozzle check 
provided an absolutely stellar print, much better than anything I 
had seen before, so I sort of recklessly took a flying leap off the 
pier and bought the CIS, about 4 months ago.  The nozzle 
checks since then have been uniformly flawless.  Apparently the 
CIS bottles keep the ink under higher pressure, and so bubble 
formation is suppressed.   My suggestion is that if you want the 
septone system, don't  do what I did  and waste any further time 
or money with the individual cartridges--just jump ahead with 
the CIS.  The prints that come out are so breathtakingly lovely 
and consistent that you'll forget about the temporary big dent in 
your wallet--

I'd be happy to answer any other questions if you have them.

Cheers, and kindest  regards

Yeung-Seu Yoon
Toronto, Canada

Yes, I am using Septone with a 9600 and have had it for about 4
months now.  I love it and 
have found the BW Guys to have excellent tech support.  Every time
I've called they've 
either answered the phone or have called me back within an hour.  The
only time I've had 
clogging problems was when I didn't use it for three weeks.  I called
BW Guys and they told 
me how to do a power clean (a maintenance cycle of the 9600 not well
documented in the 
manual) and the clogging disappeared. 

www.michaelfaye.com


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Wayne Firth"
<wfirth@s...> 
wrote:
> I recently purchased Septone from BW Guys to use in an Epson 2200.
> After three days effort I still cannot get anything close to
> acceptable nozzle tests. I contacted BW Guys and they immediately
sent
> me a stock email with instructions for a standard windex type
> cleaning. This didn't work. Apparently, the ink is thinner than the
> Epson ink and the cleaning cycles create foam. There is no way to
> prevent the cleaning cycles. The printer insists on cleaning either
> when it is plugged in or when it prints a nozzle test.
> 
> Has anyone else encountered this problem? Does anyone have any
> suggestions. BW Guys doesn't seem to provide much support for their
> product. It is just about impossible to get any information about
this
> system.
> 
> Please no lectures about getting Imageprint. I have Imageprint but
> since I got a new computer Imageprint refuses to print and that is
why

> I am trying something else.
> 
> Wayne Firth

Hi Jim,
Thanks very much for your reply. This is just the type of information
that I am looking for.

I did wait after the cleaning and I blotted the cap sponge but then
when I do the test again or when I plug the printer in, the printer
does another cleaning cycle on its own and defeats my previous good
deed. I also did the paper towel thing and parked the heads. I don't
doubt that all of this would work if I could just get the printer to
stop doing these cleanings that I don't ask for.

I managed to get one test print when six heads were briefly working at
about 50% and one head was doing nothing. Even with that problem I
could see that the print would be wonderful if I could get the ink to
work. I don't want to give up on this system because of the smoothness
of the image.

It's good to know that the system works with the continuous feed. The
ink carts do not last long at all. I have emptied one set already just
trying to clear the heads. Thanks for the advice. I will look into the
CIS.

Thanks again for the help.
Wayne

> 
> Another thing that will cause the problem is the capping station(the 
> sponge where the print head rests when it is not printing). Everytime 
> you run a cleaning cycle, ink starts to puddle up in the capping 
> station. It will give you the problem of getting a good nozzle check. 
> It can be cleaned by using a paper towel to soak up the ink in the 
> capping station and then put a small piece of paper towel on the 
> capping station and move the print head to the capping station for a 
> minute or so. After 3 cleaning cycles and you can't get a good nozzle 
> check, try this. You will see the difference. 
> 
> However, if you really like the Septone, I suggest you to get a 
> Niagara CIS system for the Septone ink. It works really fine on my 
> 2200 without any nozzle problem so far. The pressure inside the 
> Septone cartridge is different and causes a lot of problem and the 
> ink runs out fast!!! I used to use the Septone cartridges and it's a 
> pain. I received some recommendations from other Septone users and 
> decided to buy the CIS system. It's a little expensive but it works 
> great.
> 
> Good luck
> 
> Jim

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Yeung-Seu Yoon" 
<yeungseuyoon@y...> wrote:
> Hello Wayne Firth
> 
> I saw your post regarding septone inks.  I use them with a CIS, 
> but when I started with the non-CIS cartridges, I had the exact 
> same problem as you.  It was very, very difficult to get clean 
> nozzle checks with the disposable cartridges.  I used up 3 very 
> expensive sets trying  The inks really are very thin and form 
> bubbles extremely easily.  (If you even nudge a bulk-bottle of 
ink,  
> you can see a huge bubble cluster form, and it takes ages to 
> disappear).  However, the occasional good nozzle check 
> provided an absolutely stellar print, much better than anything I 
> had seen before, so I sort of recklessly took a flying leap off the 
> pier and bought the CIS, about 4 months ago.  The nozzle 
> checks since then have been uniformly flawless.  Apparently the 
> CIS bottles keep the ink under higher pressure, and so bubble 
> formation is suppressed.   My suggestion is that if you want the 
> septone system, don't  do what I did  and waste any further time 
> or money with the individual cartridges--just jump ahead with 
> the CIS.  The prints that come out are so breathtakingly lovely 
> and consistent that you'll forget about the temporary big dent in 
> your wallet--
> 
> I'd be happy to answer any other questions if you have them.
> 
> Cheers, and kindest  regards
> 
> Yeung-Seu Yoon
> Toronto, Canada

Yeung,

Your helpful message came just in time today - I was going mad with 
re-filled carts on my 1280, - ink slopping about as described by 
Wayne. Guess I should hook up a CIS. Just wondering - anyone know if 
the MIS UT2 inks are "thinner" than stock inks?  Just yesterday I was 
bragging about how well my printing was going with these inks :-)

Thanks,

AZ

Build a Lookaround!
The Lookaround Book, 2nd ed.
NOW SHIPPING
http://www.panoramacamera.us

Hello Yeung-Seu Yoon,

Thank you very much for the information. That is just what I needed to
know. I had a feeling that I was chasing my tail with all of those
cleaning routines. I would hate to give up the print quality that I
have seen from this system. I just want to make prints.

It's good to know that an investment in the CIS will not be throwing
good money after bad. Thanks for the advice.

Wayne


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Yeung-Seu Yoon"
<yeungseuyoon@y...> wrote:

> Hello Wayne Firth
> 
> I saw your post regarding septone inks.  I use them with a CIS, 
> but when I started with the non-CIS cartridges, I had the exact 
> same problem as you.  It was very, very difficult to get clean 
> nozzle checks with the disposable cartridges.  I used up 3 very 
> expensive sets trying  The inks really are very thin and form 
> bubbles extremely easily.  (If you even nudge a bulk-bottle of ink,  
> you can see a huge bubble cluster form, and it takes ages to 
> disappear).  However, the occasional good nozzle check 
> provided an absolutely stellar print, much better than anything I 
> had seen before, so I sort of recklessly took a flying leap off the 
> pier and bought the CIS, about 4 months ago.  The nozzle 
> checks since then have been uniformly flawless.  Apparently the 
> CIS bottles keep the ink under higher pressure, and so bubble 
> formation is suppressed.   My suggestion is that if you want the 
> septone system, don't  do what I did  and waste any further time 
> or money with the individual cartridges--just jump ahead with 
> the CIS.  The prints that come out are so breathtakingly lovely 
> and consistent that you'll forget about the temporary big dent in 
> your wallet--
> 
> I'd be happy to answer any other questions if you have them.
> 
> Cheers, and kindest  regards
> 
> Yeung-Seu Yoon
> Toronto, Canada

Michael,

Thanks for the information. One reason I am trying to get this to work
on the 2200 is to get some experience with their system and if all
goes well, I would like to convert a 7000 to quadtone. 

I will give them the benefit of the doubt about service and try to
contact them again. 

Wayne


--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "mfp90021"
<mfp90021@y...> wrote:

> 
> Yes, I am using Septone with a 9600 and have had it for about 4
> months now.  I love it and 
> have found the BW Guys to have excellent tech support.  Every time
> I've called they've 
> either answered the phone or have called me back within an hour.  The
> only time I've had 
> clogging problems was when I didn't use it for three weeks.  I called
> BW Guys and they told 
> me how to do a power clean (a maintenance cycle of the 9600 not well
> documented in the 
> manual) and the clogging disappeared. 
> 
> www.michaelfaye.com
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Wayne Firth"
> <wfirth@s...> 
> wrote:
> > I recently purchased Septone from BW Guys to use in an Epson 2200.
> > After three days effort I still cannot get anything close to
> > acceptable nozzle tests. I contacted BW Guys and they immediately
> sent
> > me a stock email with instructions for a standard windex type
> > cleaning. This didn't work. Apparently, the ink is thinner than the
> > Epson ink and the cleaning cycles create foam. There is no way to
> > prevent the cleaning cycles. The printer insists on cleaning either
> > when it is plugged in or when it prints a nozzle test.
> > 
> > Has anyone else encountered this problem? Does anyone have any
> > suggestions. BW Guys doesn't seem to provide much support for their
> > product. It is just about impossible to get any information about
> this
> > system.
> > 
> > Please no lectures about getting Imageprint. I have Imageprint but
> > since I got a new computer Imageprint refuses to print and that is
> why
> > I am trying something else.
> > 
> > Wayne Firth