Prolonging the life of the ink...

PhotoTime · 17th January 2005

Hi,

I have a ink jet printer, which I seldom use. Is there anyway of keeping the ink cartridge so that the ink will not evaporate so fast? I am thinking of taking out the ink cartridge, seal it with Scotch tape, will it help to reduce the wastage?

Neo · 18th January 2005

Hi PhotoTime,

Yes. It's a crude solution, but it works. However, bear in mind that the printhead is the part that is the most sensitive to clogging due to the ink drying up, not the ink cartridges.

jsbn · 18th January 2005

The ink catridge itself is sealed, you wun have to worry about ink 'evaporation'. What's your main concern. If that's your case for worry, why not do away with your printer entirely? Or not remove the catridge from the sealed packaging in the first place?

PhotoTime · 18th January 2005

Quote:

Hi PhotoTime,

Yes. It's a crude solution, but it works. However, bear in mind that the printhead is the part that is the most sensitive to clogging due to the ink drying up, not the ink cartridges.

Even if I left the ink cartridge in the printer, the print head will still get clog, right?

Quote:

The ink catridge itself is sealed, you wun have to worry about ink 'evaporation'. What's your main concern. If that's your case for worry, why not do away with your printer entirely? Or not remove the catridge from the sealed packaging in the first place?

I know to keep the ink cartridge in the seal until required, however, if I need to print just a few pages, I still need to open the seal for the ink, so the ink will be left in the open for evaporation.

I am thinking of switching to Laser, but the startup cost and maintenance cost is still high. So I have to think of other ways of saving cost.

erwinx · 18th January 2005

Originally Posted by PhotoTime

Even if I left the ink cartridge in the printer, the print head will still get clog, right?

I know to keep the ink cartridge in the seal until required, however, if I need to print just a few pages, I still need to open the seal for the ink, so the ink will be left in the open for evaporation.

I am thinking of switching to Laser, but the startup cost and maintenance cost is still high. So I have to think of other ways of saving cost.

you say you hardly use your inkjet, if that is the case, why do you want to switch to colour laser? Kind of a waste if you don't use it?

i agree with jsbn, if you seldom use your printer, might as well get rid of it and rely on digital photo labs.

Ink-Specialist · 18th January 2005

Originally Posted by PhotoTime

Hi,

I have a ink jet printer, which I seldom use. Is there anyway of keeping the ink cartridge so that the ink will not evaporate so fast? I am thinking of taking out the ink cartridge, seal it with Scotch tape, will it help to reduce the wastage?

tat depend on what type of inkjet printer u are using, old epson inkjet printer tend to dry up faster than other lastest inkjet printer, like epson 41,43,cx1500..

maybe seal the ventilation holes (on the cartidge) and press power on/off button and then the printer head move to the resting point, store at the range of 21c-33c.
but this is not the best way, i agree wif jsbn & erwinx (Kind of a waste if you don't use it)...

Vince1484 · 23rd February 2005

You have to do a printer & ink cartridge maintenance if you are not using printing regularly. All you have to do is to turn on & off your printer once a week as printer normally cleans the printhead once you turn on or off your printer.(It is like doing the cleaning process if your head is clogg) Definitely, you would have to waste some ink performing this process. This will help to wet the printhead and flow of the ink cartridge to prevent it from drying.

17th January 2005	#1
PhotoTime Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 343	Prolonging the life of the ink... Hi, I have a ink jet printer, which I seldom use. Is there anyway of keeping the ink cartridge so that the ink will not evaporate so fast? I am thinking of taking out the ink cartridge, seal it with Scotch tape, will it help to reduce the wastage?

18th January 2005	#2
Neo Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 947	Hi PhotoTime, Yes. It's a crude solution, but it works. However, bear in mind that the printhead is the part that is the most sensitive to clogging due to the ink drying up, not the ink cartridges.

18th January 2005	#3
jsbn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Planet Eropagnis Posts: 2,977	The ink catridge itself is sealed, you wun have to worry about ink 'evaporation'. What's your main concern. If that's your case for worry, why not do away with your printer entirely? Or not remove the catridge from the sealed packaging in the first place?

23rd February 2005	#7
Vince1484 New Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: ANG MO KIO Posts: 2	You have to do a printer & ink cartridge maintenance if you are not using printing regularly. All you have to do is to turn on & off your printer once a week as printer normally cleans the printhead once you turn on or off your printer.(It is like doing the cleaning process if your head is clogg) Definitely, you would have to waste some ink performing this process. This will help to wet the printhead and flow of the ink cartridge to prevent it from drying.