Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (
More info?)
I also used Naphtha on a letterpress platen and rollers to clean off the ink
after a print run.
"Ron Cohen" <d+r+c+0+2+3@sbcXXXglobalYYY.ZZZnet> wrote in message
news:zoVye.1132$Ku6.55@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com...
> It (naphtha) worked for me to clean offset printing press rollers. Many of
> the commercial roller cleaners are/were naphtha based.
> --
> Ron
>
> "Burt" <sfbjgNOSPAM@pacbell.net> wrote in message
> news:tfTye.1326$6%2.73@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
>> Art - Many years ago I had a commercial grade copy machine in my office
>> that required on-site periodic maintenance. When the technician serviced
>> the machine he cleaned the rollers with cigarette lighter fluid! Worked
>> quite well. It cleaned off the dust and any lint that probably came from
>> the paper and also gave the rubber surface some "tooth". I kept a
>> container in the office and used it occasionally when the feed rollers
>> needed cleaning. I don't know if this is advisable on today's roller
>> material.
>>
>>
>> "Arthur Entlich" <e-printerhelp@mvps.org> wrote in message
>> news:HxQye.167256$El.74245@pd7tw1no...
>>> There is some controversy about using isopropyl on synthetic rubber
>>> parts, but I don't really know of a better alternative. SOme people
>>> have suggested using a "rubber restorer" made of orange oil compounds,
>>> which slightly dissolves the rubber/plastic.
>>>
>>> If you find a better cleaning agent, let me know... I'm certainly up for
>>> a better solution.
>>>
>>> Regarding ease of changing the rubber rollers, I honestly don't know
>>> without looking into the manual, and i have no idea about availability
>>> of parts, even if you could do so easily.
>>>
>>> Art
>>>
>>>
>>> PL wrote:
>>>
>>>> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Could you email me with these specific issues and I will try to hunt
>>>>> down the cause of the snag (it may take several days for me to get to
>>>>> it... I've been swamped)
>>>>>
>>>>> To clean the paper transport in general if you cannot get to the
>>>>> wheels and other parts, I suggest getting hold of some medium weight
>>>>> absorbent paper, like student grade watercolor, which is about a $1 or
>>>>> less a large sheet. Spray a light coating of isopropyl alcohol on one
>>>>> side of it and then feed it through the printer several times without
>>>>> printing on it (Use the load/eject button). If the alcohol
>>>>> evaporates, spray the other side and do the same thing. This may be
>>>>> enough to clean the many wheels and the rubber tires.
>>>>>
>>>>> Art
>>>>>
>>>>> PL wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Arthur Entlich wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Before getting too crazy, it depends a lot on what the printer's
>>>>>>> paper feed problem is... If it's like most Epson printers, and it's
>>>>>>> just not picking up the paper sometimes/often/ or the paper is being
>>>>>>> picked up too late causing an out of paper error, you like do not
>>>>>>> need to stripe down the printer or even replace parts. It is likely
>>>>>>> just oem glazed pick up wheels, easily remedied with a bit of
>>>>>>> judicious cleaning.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Art
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for that Art. Yes, it is mainly the paper pick up problem,
>>>>>> but as A2 paper goes through, it snags on something on the left hand
>>>>>> side. It doesn't happen all the time and when it does, it generally
>>>>>> results in a small fold on the top left hand side of the finished
>>>>>> plot. Once in a while though the 'snag/fold' is a major incidence
>>>>>> causing the paper to jam.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The other thing about cleaning the pickup wheels; I simply can't get
>>>>>> at them - there's no working space. What cleaning fluid do you use?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'll try out the cleaning process you suggest and, in due course will
>>>> take you up your kind offer regarding the specific problem.
>>>>
>>>> Just one thing Art. I remember reading, somewhere, that isopropyl
>>>> alcohol shouldn't be used on the rubber rollers. IIRC, whilst it is a
>>>> good short term fix, long term it hardens/glazes the rubber and
>>>> exacerbates the problem of paper pickup?
>>>>
>>>> Regarding the DIY aspect, I was thinking more in terms of replacing
>>>> those 'worn-out(?)' rollers. Is that a big task?
>>>>
>>>> Once again, thanks.
>>
>>
>
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