Canon printer & Calidad inks .

jabaarli · Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 26

I have a printer problem that I ca'nt handle . It's a Canon Pixma ip 4200 . I've gone for Calidad inks and my printer is fully Calidad'd . Must admit I used the wrong inks a few times . I have cleaned and deep cleaned many , many times
but my colour printer is not coloured any more . I used to get Ink News , and I recall seeing this problem being discussed , and there was a solution , but I've forgotten what it was . I've mailled Max Patch but they do'nt answer . If someone can help I'd appreciate it .

John

BudDurland · Joined: Dec 05, 2002 Posts: 426

Some printers drivers have an option for "monochrome only" output. Other than that, I'm afraid I can't be much help.

jeber · Joined: Dec 19, 2002 Posts: 4194 Location: The Village

I manage a store similar to Calidad (though I am not aware of their practices or procedures).

We manufacture our own inks that are as close in composition to Canon's, without violating their patent, as possible. That's important because ink has to be the right molecule size to work with each brand of print head. There's no such thing as a generic ink that works in any printer.

Your printer uses ink tanks and a fixed print head. If the ink has dried in the print head or the feed lines between the cartridges and print head, the ink can't get from the tanks and out through the print head.

I've had many customers with a similar problem. The first thing I do is to take a narrow piece of paper towel, lay it in the track under the print head and slide the cartridge cage with the print head mounted on it over the paper towel (the cage will move freely if you unplug the printer while it's turned on without shutting it off with the power button). With the cartridges removed, I put a drop of ink dissolver (hot distilled water with a little bit of ammonia in it may work as well) in each ink channel, where the ink feeds from the cartridge into the print head. I also put some dissolver on the paper towel. Let the water/dissolver work its way through the channels while gently sliding the print head cage back and forth over the paper towel. The paper towel will clean off any dry ink on the outer face of the print head while the water/dissolver should flush dry ink out of the feed channels. Then let it sit overnight to allow the liquid to dry. The next day put the cartridges back and try to print.

I do this for our customers as a free service regardless of what type of ink they use. Almost all printer repair shops won't touch inkjet printers. The cost of repair usually exceeds the value of the printer.

This can happen whether you use remanufactured ink or OEM ink. It has more to do with the ink drying than the type of ink. If you don't use the printer frequently, we recommend at least every week printing something with color just to keep the channels from drying out. You can remove the cartridges and store them separately if you're going not going to be printing for an extended period.

The built-in cleaning function just tries to force ink through those channels. This usually doesn't work because ink can't dissolve dried ink.

I'm not positive if your model has a removable print head cage, but if it does you can replace the entire print head unit.

Let me know if this helps. I'll check with our techs tomorrow to see if they have any other suggestions.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1134 Location: Central FL, USA

Years ago, when ink jet printers were still in their infancy, I was service manager in a printer repair facility. I was factory trained on most all major brands of printers,... dot matrix, ink jet and laser.

We saw a boat-load of Epson Stylus printers coming in with the print heads clogged up. Without exception, every one of those printers had some After-Market ink cartridge in it. As Jeber said, one ink does not fit all printers.
Even within a brand, like Epson, there are many different models of print heads and every one takes a specific ink. Putting in the wrong ink not only stops the print head from printing, but it can VOID warranties as well.
That comes under the category of "Misuse".

As a result of my extensive experience in the Printer Service Center, I will only buy Epson printers and I will only use Ink that I'm CERTAIN won't foul the print heads.

I do buy my ink in 480ml bottles and I refill my ink cart's myself. I also have a chip resetter to reset the page counter chips on the back of the Epson (compatible) ink cart's.
The ink cart's from Epson are NOT refillable, but I have purchased ink cart's that ARE refillable.
The people I buy my inks from are very particular about the quality of their inks and they must meet or exceed OEM spec's.

I've been out of the printer repair business now for quite a few years, so it's not unusual that I've never heard of 'Calidad' inks.

Jeber's method of head cleaning sounds a lot like methods I've used myself, in the past. The company I get my inks from also sells a head cleaning solution.
Ammonia, the household cleaning type, is one of the best ink solvents you can get. I particularly like the Lemon scented variety. Wink

I use it for cleaning up ink and I put some in the Windshield Washer tank on my car for much improved window cleaning. (Hint!) Rolling Eyes

Good Luck to you,
The Doctor Cool

jabaarli · Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 26

Bearly1227 · Joined: Feb 21, 2003 Posts: 32

[ quote] "I have a printer problem that I ca'nt handle . It's a Canon Pixma ip 4200 . I've gone for Calidad inks and my printer is fully Calidad'd .

: snip

I used to get Ink News , and I recall seeing this problem being discussed , and there was a solution , but I've forgotten what it was . I've mailled Max Patch but they do'nt answer . If someone can help I'd appreciate it .

John

[ endquote]

Hi John,

I have had good luck using Calidad black ink in my HP DeskJet 722C, but marginal luck using their colored inks. On the HP, the ink jet nozzles is part of the cartridge so the risk is lowwer.

I have been getting MaxPatch news quite a awhile and tend to be an electronic packrat. Give me some keywords and I'll search my "database" and see if we can find the article for you!

I've also used refilled cartridges from a company called: ResponsibleInk. I've had two of their cartridges fail in a row, and like your experience, they don't seem to answer their emails nor do they have a direct contact phone number either!!

I wound up getting a "double fill" (2X) HP Cartridge ($60) so my wife can print out her custom greeting cards!!

Bob

Bearly1227 · Joined: Feb 21, 2003 Posts: 32

Hi John,

When i tried their website, I got to a "simple.com" web hosting service. It looks to me like they've gone on extended vacation. < Sad

Maxpatch Ink Supplies
2299 Kietzke Ln
Reno, NV 89502

Contact Maxpatch Ink Supplies
Phone: (775) 825-1975

jabaarli · Joined: Oct 17, 2004 Posts: 26

Hi Gnomes
I have just completed Jebers suggestions regarding the cleaning of my Pixma ip 4200 Canon printer . If you read this Jeber , you were right on with your advice . and thanks for it , but a new problem emerged that is probably technical in nature . incidentially , my print head is removable , making for easier cleaning . I printed out a nozzle check , it read OK so I printed two 4x6 photos . They were spot on , good colour , everything real good . BUT when I tried to print more , I drew a blank , a real blank , no printing at all , letters , photos , and nozzle checks . I think I may be the problem , 'cos everything else is OK , If I'm at fault , I do'nt know how . Jeber , anyone ? any ideas are very welcome . Like I said before , the two photos I printed came out excellent colours . If it's the printhead , I can replace it , but I do'nt think it is . I mean , two excellent photos and then absolute blank .
Jabaarli