Honky Tonk Transfers

Mind to email me the secret recipe? Specialtydesigns@comcast.net or text me  615-948-6994?

Can anyone tell me what is going on with my printer?

https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/mAvDeToIlE3R

On 7/28/2021 at 2:11 PM, johnson4 said:

Windex is a bad idea, Usually in my opinion. It doesn't clean well and it can damage the printhead. People used it back in the day because the ammonia helped break down stock inks. The problem with Windex, It's designed to DRY/EVAPORATE. So while it may work, In the very beginning when I though I would " cheap out" and get good results, All I got was clogs, a hard time cleaning, and eventual printhead failure. That's why it's equally a bad idea to use alcohol. Sometimes it seemed to help, but directly afterwards I'd get even worse clogs, blaming the ink, printhead, printer etc.. Not myself for using inferior cleaning solution on an expensive setup. 

You can purchase good cleaner for $20-$30 a liter, I go through 2-3 liters a year with at least 4-5 prints being cleaned and used daily. $60-$80 a year isn't bad at all to maintain my fleet of equipment and prevent costly repairs/downtime.

I've been doing this now for about 3 years with only fantastic results, I mean, ever since I started using this cleaner to clean the wiper, head, flush, etc I haven't had a single failure, or failure to unclog a clog, except when the printhead was damaged due to a lack of flow and the nozzles being permanently damaged, which happened once. This usually stemmed from a clogged cartridge, damper, or bad capping station and I didn't notice it in time, and has always been the white ( since there are 4 whites, sometimes it's hard to tell).

 

If you built a machine that could make you  several thousands of dollars a month, I genuinely think it's work the little extra cost to maintain that printer properly, even if it seems like your using $1 liquid that you paid $20 for, Your not. I learned the hard way. It's actually cheaper for the cleaning solution in the long run, I was buying windex by the gallon, and went through a ton of it because it took so much to get things going. If I had to choose between distilled water and glass cleaner at this point, I'd rather use the water. If water wasn't an option, I'd rather risk the printhead sitting as-is until I can obtain distilled water than using Windex, Especially on a printhead that is so expensive. 

 

I get short term these solutions seem like a great idea, but anyone with real experience, who has experienced the cost of downtime, maintenance and repairs, possibly costing thousands of dollars a day ( This has happened to me too) generally use proper materials. Making the machine work is easy, keeping the machine working long term without replacing components every month or two, well that comes from experience. After you lose a $1,000 printhead, and miss out on $2,000-$4,000 worth of orders, You learn it's not worth it. 

 

Even 500ML of stock EPSON cleaner is only $20, while that seems expensive, it lasts a very long time- and works fantastic- especially if you dilute it a bit with distilled water. 

 

Anyway, Again, My opinion based from my experience, results may vary. 

May i ask what cleaner you have been using?