Cleaning the heads on a Printer?

[Jamoe]

I've got this Epson printer and the bloody thing just keeps blocking, I've had it at an epson service place befor and they left the heads in some sort of solution to clear the block. It's well out of warrent now so I don't want to spend £x amount when the printer only cost £60. At the same time i would rather just clean the heads then throw more crap away (enviro friendly Jamoe etc).

To the point, anyone know how to clean the heads, what solution do i need? Has anyone done this themselves? Is it an easy job? etc etc. I know the heads are part of the printer and not with the cartridges.

oh the printer is an Epson Stylus C86.

I am trying to google for stuff but i havent got the right search terms yet cuase im getting crap back.

edit: It's too hot to type sentences that make sense

[Liberator]

I think this is what you are after.

They usually bundle a 30ml bottle of it with their refill kits, but if you don't like using 3rd party ink they just sell the flushing liquid which you just pour a little in a dish and submerge the print head in it for a while and little bits of dried ink start to separate from the heads.

Not sure if this is the cheapest available but the URL was on the bottle I have.

[delanvital]

Maybe something like this..

http://www.maxpatchink.com/epsonclean.shtml

[Jamoe]

Libs one is probablty my best bet, Delans link is a US only

Cheers I think ill be sorted now

[Bastet]

well shouldnt be to hard to find some1 state side to forward it to you if you want

[Jamoe]

i didnt think about that  :blush:  I've already ordered some cleaner and afew other bits so I should be sorted

[Carr0t]

Tell us if it works wouldya, cos my girlfriend is having similar issues with another Epson printer (at least, I think it's similar issues. Streaks and blots on the page, and the ink coming out all faded-like, even after a new cartridge and running the printers 'slef test/clean cycle).

[Jamoe]

will do Carrot, I think the biggest problem we have is infrequent use and leaving it on for weeks, the ink in the small holes on the heads just dry up.

[Carr0t]

Sounds much like ours. It gets used fairly infrequently, and evrey time i wander past she's left it turned on (and the speakers, and the monitor. The only thing she ever remembers to turn off is the main system, and I think that's only becuase it's my old one and thus sounds like a small jet aircraft readying for takeoff  :ranting: - I love having water cooling in my newer box )

[Wordan]

Originally posted by Carr0t@Jun 12 2006, 12:01 PM
Sounds much like ours. It gets used fairly infrequently, and evrey time i wander past she's left it turned on (and the speakers, and the monitor. The only thing she ever remembers to turn off is the main system, and I think that's only becuase it's my old one and thus sounds like a small jet aircraft readying for takeoff :ranting: - I love having water cooling in my newer box )

[post=131212]Quoted post[/post]

[/b]

I think all that stuff should really be automatic

We have a rather dated Epson 600, and its murder. Probably time for a replacment. It stays on all the time, no longer prints at highest resolution, usually needs a clean before every print because it sits for so long, and after that the prints are usually still smudged and scattered looking.

[Liberator]

The old Epsons (not sure about the newer ones or other makes) actually had a felt pad in the bottom of the printer that is used for all its cleaning cycles and so pumped ink into it to blast the head clean.

It may be that the pad is so clogged up that its just not effective any more.

It was a full dismantling task to get to it and the fixed heads, thats why I ended up throwing my old Epson away and going for a Canon.

I probably use my printer once a fortnight, but it always fires up and works. The only time I open it up is to refill the ink and I've only cleaned the heads once.

[Jamoe]

Conclusion

More hassle then it's worth, if you are really bothered take it to an Epson service place and pay someone £20 to get it fixed.

I have dismatled the thing and got so far, gave up and have been squirting the fluid (with my syringe) all over the place. I gave up trying to remove the actualy heads its just too difficult when you have no idea .

Maybe ill give it another shot tomorrow (pun intended).