Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
I have a Canon IP4000, the best value in a standard format, and use
Canon OEM inks with Costco/Kirkland paper or Canon Photo Paper Pro and
get stunning results with no problems. I cut my own Kirkland paper to
size using a Fiskars rotary paper cutter obtained at Costco for $29.00.
Some say that Ilford is the manufacturer of Costco Paper. If there is
not a Costco nearby you can go to www.costco.com and purchase it there.
Costco sells the ink carts at $9.00 a cart. While still expensive, it
is cheaper than any other place I found and much cheaper than Epson carts.
anon wrote:
>Thank you for that feedback Tony.
>There seem to be so many things that can go wrong - I could end up paying
>out more than the printer is worth to end up with a still malfuntioning
>printer. The only reason I went for the CX5200 in the first place was for
>it's individual inks and scanner quality.
>
>I have had four failures with different epson printers and this chip of mine
>now says that I have only 50% remaining and I haven't seen so much as a drop
>on paper yet. I cannot see any coming out of the bottom of the printer yet
>so it can only be the Epson chip that is trying to bleed me dry out of
>another 36 UK pounds.
>What with the Epson unreliability, and the expensive ink cartridges, I am
>thinking Epson is a bad buy whatever the model.
>I am now thinking about Canon as some of their models are individual inks,
>and some printers have a seperate ink head which can be replaced.
>
>Thank you very much for the feedback.
>
>Terry
>
><Tony> wrote in message news:115u3reiokd1ued@news.supernews.com...
>
>
>>Terry
>>You can try soaking overnight, my experience is that it works sometimes
>>
>>
>and not
>
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>>always for very long. Distilled water is best (no tiny particles that may
>>
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>clog
>
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>>the head).
>>Some people soak in Isopropyl Alcohol but there is evidence that alcohol
>>
>>
>can
>
>
>>damage some printheads. You need to be aware that printhead replacement
>>
>>
>can be
>
>
>>tricky with some epson printers, electronic re-alignment sometimes needs
>>special software, don't know this model so can't help there. But if you
>>
>>
>put the
>
>
>>old one back there should be no problem so long as you ensure the
>>
>>
>mechanical
>
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>>alignment is precisely maintained.
>>Ink jet printers suffer from lack of use.... ie the more you use them the
>>
>>
>more
>
>
>>reliable the printheads are, they do not become clogged so easily if
>>used regularly. I recommend to our customers that they use their ink jet
>>printers at least twice a week if possible. The Epson zealots will say
>>
>>
>that non
>
>
>>Epson
>>ink will damage the heads. The truth is that there is good and not so good
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>compatible ink and the ink from a good manufacturer will not shorten a
>>printheads life.
>>(I do not want to get into a debate about this since it would go on
>>
>>
>forever,
>
>
>>lots of entrenched opinions there.)
>>If worst comes to worst you may have to replace the printer and I would
>>seriously look at HP (you get a new head with each cartridge) or Canon
>>
>>
>(the
>
>
>>IP4000 is a lot of printer for the money and the printhead is easily
>>
>>
>replaced
>
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>>at a price!).
>>By the way the symptoms you describe match Epson printhead failure
>>
>>
>perfectly.
>
>
>>Good luck
>>Tony
>>
>>"anon" <ngr@tdrd.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I have an Epson Stylus CX5200 multifunction printer and all of a sudden
>>>
>>>
>the
>
>
>>>magenta stopped working.
>>>I replaced the ink with originals and all of a sudden all the heads are
>>>giving me problems.
>>>I have run the head cleaning process a dozen times and also re-seated and
>>>recharges the catridges, but the nozzle check is very erratic. The Cyan
>>>
>>>
>will
>
>
>>>work, then the Yellow and not the cyan, the magenta one is dead.
>>>It was all fine two weeks ago and it has not been used that much - only
>>>having printed around 50 A4 photographs in it's life so far (about a year
>>>and a half).
>>>
>>>I am an computer engineer, and am prepared to try and strip the printer
>>>
>>>
>head
>
>
>>>down, and wonder if anyone has a code-of-practice or service manual which
>>>would help. Should I try dismantling the head and soaking it in warm
>>>
>>>
>water
>
>
>>>or what?
>>>
>>>I once dismantled an Epson stylus 400 and got it to work, but only for a
>>>short while before the printer head burned out.
>>>Any useful information regarding print-head overhaul and replacement will
>>>
>>>
>be
>
>
>>>greatly
>>>appreciated.
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance
>>>
>>>Terry
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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