Epson Stylus Color 600
Dave Plowman
regularly for B&W. It worked fine last time I used it. I've tried a new
cartridge and cleaned it a dozen or more times.
Is it likely just to be a blockage, and if so what's the best way to clear
it?
--
*I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you
Dave Plowman dave....@argonet.co.uk London SW 12
RIP Acorn
Nigel J Dennigan
<URL:mailto:dave....@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> Mine seems to have lost the cyan. I rarely print in colour, but use it
> regularly for B&W. It worked fine last time I used it. I've tried a new
> cartridge and cleaned it a dozen or more times.
>
> Is it likely just to be a blockage, and if so what's the best way to clear
> it?
>
or perhaps the steam from the kettle?. (Cheaper than replacing the printer).
I create a 3 colour image in !Artworks and just hammer the printer at high
resolution until it does as its told. But the best solution is to make a
diary note to use the full colour range once in a while...
Good look 8-)
--
Nigel
Adam Maye
> Mine seems to have lost the cyan. I rarely print in colour, but use it
> regularly for B&W. It worked fine last time I used it. I've tried a
> new cartridge and cleaned it a dozen or more times.
>
> Is it likely just to be a blockage, and if so what's the best way to
> clear it?
>
I just had to junk mine a few weeks ago - it had gone through about half a
cartridge of "unofficial" ink on both black and colour, because I couldn't
find anything else at the time, and the head blocked entirely.
fixyourownprinter sell a kit with syringe and cleaning solution for the
Stylus 600, I wouldn't recommend soaking the head in anything. It it was an
unofficial cartrige you might have a harder time since the solvent in the
kit is that used by Epson for their own ink.
Good luck
Adam
Adam Richardson
> Mine seems to have lost the cyan. I rarely print in colour, but use it
> regularly for B&W. It worked fine last time I used it. I've tried a new
> cartridge and cleaned it a dozen or more times.
>
> Is it likely just to be a blockage, and if so what's the best way to clear
> it?
>
Yes, I've got a Stylus 460 and after not using for a year the output was
junk :-( After searching google I found a web page with very good
instructions for fixing this. (Culminating in removing the print head to
"back flush" the nozzels to clear the blockage.)
Anyway, to precis the article:
- Yes, your nozzle is blocked.
- To avoid this in future make sure you turn the printer on at least
once a week so it performs a automatic self clean (which is dependant
on the length of time it's been off for) - although I guess this
wasn't the cause of your problem...
- Use a PC to run the "Clean print Head"/"Print test output" cycle
repeatedly as this performs progressively more thorough self-cleans
- Experiment with window cleaner as this dissolves the dried up ink!
I got this far and my printer gives OK output now.
I recommend finding the article I read though - I got to it through
google groups, some printing group I think, from a good 5 years ago...
Sorry I can't be more specific.
Hope this helps,
Adam
--
Adam Richardson
Email me at: adamr dot bulk at ntlworld dot com
Carpe Diem
Thomas Milius
Dave Plowman <dave....@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> Mine seems to have lost the cyan. I rarely print in colour, but use it
> regularly for B&W. It worked fine last time I used it. I've tried a new
> cartridge and cleaned it a dozen or more times.
>
> Is it likely just to be a blockage, and if so what's the best way to clear
> it?
>
With my Stylus Colour 580 I had various print head problems.
Some attempts:
Check the ink percent indicators perhaps they did not have been
reseted properly. If you just have changed the catridge: I had a
very cheap catridge which never gave any ink from it. Of
course I felt kidded but even after removal of the catridge
no ink came out of it ...
It also might help taking out the print head and wiping it with toilett
paper and pure water. If too many ink is around the head (especally at
trouble or plenty of cleanings ...) it seems that it won't work properly.
During this procedure you can usually see whether ink is coming out
of the head or not. If not either ink is empty or it has dryed out.
Wiping long enough !!!carefully!!! with wet toilett paper usually helps.
Check whether the print head cable is still fixed at head
and printer main board. Check whether you can see that something is
broken.
I assume your ink has simply dryed out. Wipe the head and wait some
time. Don't clean the head to much by program printing with the required
colour in small portions is better.
Thomas Milius
Adam Richardson
> I recommend finding the article I read though - I got to it through
> google groups, some printing group I think, from a good 5 years ago...
I found it :-)
Read the section starting:
"THE ULTIMATE CLOG CLEARING PROCEDURE FOR THE EPSON 600"
at:
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=487475ebebmdavies%40DON%27T.SPAM.ME&output=gplain
This is a great article and well worth reading if you own an Epson Stylus...
(And it turned out to be from comp.sys.acorn.*!)
Hope it helps,
Paul Bunyan
news:4c4940be3a...@argonet.co.uk...
Ooooo, I could rant for hours about the Epson's non-removable print nozzles,
but here is neither the time nor place.
Depending on how you value your time, it will be easier to throw the thing
away and buy something like a Canon which has removable print head
cartridges *and* separate ink tanks.
Sorry to be so negative but I've wasted way too much of my life on blocked
Epson nozzles.
Good luck anyway.
Paul B)
Dave Plowman
assembly and after about 3 days of soaking and squirting with water, IPA
and window cleaner, I finally got the cyan jets clear. And on giving it a
final squirt through with distilled water managed to wreck it totally when
removing the tube. ;-( The 'head' part came away from the PCB part and
ripped the ribbon cables out so it's toast.
So what do I replace it with? I'd like the same maximum resolution and
preferably one which doesn't mind not being used every day and has less
expensive ink. Budget up to 250.
--
* What do they call a coffee break at the Lipton Tea Company? *
Paul Bunyan
Dave,
If it was me, I'd get the Canon i865:
http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Printers/Bubble_Jet/i865/
The most important part on that page being:
SINGLE INK TECHNOLOGY
With individually replaceable ink tanks for all colours, Canon's Single Ink
technology ensures all ink is used, eliminating expensive waste.
Oh, and it's parallel & USB.
RIiscOS drivers may be an issue though :(
HTH
Paul B)
Dave Plowman
Not much point in having the best printer in the world if it won't work
with my machine. ;-)
--
*Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy *
Adam Richardson
> removing the tube. ;-( The 'head' part came away from the PCB part and
> ripped the ribbon cables out so it's toast.
Oh no! Sorry :-(
Dave Plowman
Adam Richardson <cooladamr...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > removing the tube. ;-( The 'head' part came away from the PCB part and
> > ripped the ribbon cables out so it's toast.
> Oh no! Sorry :-(
Please don't be - I was so near success and should have been more careful.
I did it first thing in the morning while waiting for the kettle to boil
for the first cup of coffee of the day - I'll never learn. ;-)
--
*If PROGRESS is for advancement, what does that make CONGRESS mean?
Adam Maye
> Well, I followed the instructions given by Adam's URL, removed the
> head assembly and after about 3 days of soaking and squirting with
> water, IPA and window cleaner, I finally got the cyan jets clear. And
> on giving it a final squirt through with distilled water managed to
> wreck it totally when removing the tube. ;-( The 'head' part came away
> from the PCB part and ripped the ribbon cables out so it's toast.
>
> So what do I replace it with? I'd like the same maximum resolution and
> preferably one which doesn't mind not being used every day and has
> less expensive ink. Budget up to 250.
>
I replaced mine with a Canon i850, it's been brilliant so far, the print
speed is fantastic, and separate ink tanks are a bonus. No idea about
RiscOS drivers though..
Oh, and I complained to the makers of the ink which gummed up the Epson,
and got Ł100 towards the new Canon :)
Dave Plowman
Adam Maye <sparkc...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I replaced mine with a Canon i850, it's been brilliant so far, the print
> speed is fantastic, and separate ink tanks are a bonus. No idea about
> RiscOS drivers though..
It or the i865 certainly seem to crop up regularly. Wonder if they'll do
'simple' colour printing and of course ordinary stuff with an existing
driver?
> Oh, and I complained to the makers of the ink which gummed up the Epson,
> and got Ł100 towards the new Canon :)
I don't really think I could honestly go down that route with a printer
as old as this one - I knew the risks but just forgot to print in colour
once in a while.
--
*Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional
Lionel Smith
Paul Bunyan <paul.bunyan@the_obviousntlworld.com> wrote:
> Sorry to be so negative but I've wasted way too much of my life on
> blocked Epson nozzles.
Now there is a thing. I could say the same for a Canon I once had.
Now to tempt fate I have an ESC 800 here still working now well into year
6.
Lionel
--
___ ______
/ / / ___/ 4 children | Sea Vixen for pugnacity
/ / ionel A.| \ mith 7 grandchildren, | Hunter for elegance
/ /____ __\ | no wonder life is a breeze | Phantom for clout
/_______/ /_____/ http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/lionels | ZFC B+4+3
Get a better OutLook on life - use something else. ;-)
Lionel Smith
Dave Plowman <dave....@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> So what do I replace it with? I'd like the same maximum resolution and
> preferably one which doesn't mind not being used every day and has less
> expensive ink. Budget up to 250.
Oh Sh**!
Sorry. Picked up on this a bit late but for anybody else in the same
situation then attach to a machine that runs Windows.
Use the head clean feature of the software.
This does a much 'deeper' (yes awkward terminology but I am repeating
words used by Epson technician) clean which reaches the parts that a
control panel initiated clean does not.
I know the difference from experience, and the amount of ink consumed in
doing it.
Dave Plowman
Lionel Smith <lio...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> > So what do I replace it with? I'd like the same maximum resolution and
> > preferably one which doesn't mind not being used every day and has less
> > expensive ink. Budget up to 250.
> Oh Sh**!
> Sorry. Picked up on this a bit late but for anybody else in the same
> situation then attach to a machine that runs Windows.
> Use the head clean feature of the software.
> This does a much 'deeper' (yes awkward terminology but I am repeating
> words used by Epson technician) clean which reaches the parts that a
> control panel initiated clean does not.
> I know the difference from experience, and the amount of ink consumed in
> doing it.
Well, I tried the cleaning process on the PC side, but it seemed to me
exactly the same as doing it via the machine control panel. And despite
using a near full tank of colour, it didn't make a scrap of difference.
Soaking the head etc did, though. If only I'd been more careful.
I've got a near brand new 400 somewhere which has had blocked heads for
ages. I'll give that a try next - I've nothing to loose.
Anyone know what a new head for a 600 costs?
I've borrowed a Canon i865 from a mate to try, and can't find a driver
for it. The newest bubblejet driver I can find works, but prints
everything half size. The CD printing feature could be useful if I could
adapt it to Draw etc as my present method of printing on pre-made labels
is slightly hit or miss.
Is there a utility like MakeModes for doing your own PDF, or is it far too
complicated?
I seem to remember CJE selling Canon drivers, so perhaps I'll have to pay
for one.
--
*A plateau is a high form of flattery.*
Eddie Lord
"Paul Bunyan" <paul.bunyan@the_obviousntlworld.com> wrote thus:
Test report at...
http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Canon%20i865/page_1.htm
--
Best Regards
Eddie
Address is SPAM trapped.
Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. - Napoleon
Adam Richardson
> In article <4c4b226f...@argonet.co.uk>,
> Lionel Smith <lio...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
>>Use the head clean feature of the software.
> Well, I tried the cleaning process on the PC side, but it seemed to me
> exactly the same as doing it via the machine control panel. And despite
Hmm, it is supposed to be different - but you have to make sure you do a
clean then click "print nozzel check" then click "no, it's still
knackered" so it does another clean then click "print nozzel check" etc etc.
It must be a bit different because if you do it 6 (or 8?) times in a row
it gives up and spits the print head out so you can change the cartridge
even if the ink's not run out...
Paul Bunyan
news:4c4b220e...@argonet.co.uk...
> In article <JxKob.67$382...@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>,
> Paul Bunyan <paul.bunyan@the_obviousntlworld.com> wrote:
>
> > Sorry to be so negative but I've wasted way too much of my life on
> > blocked Epson nozzles.
>
> Now there is a thing. I could say the same for a Canon I once had.
>
> Now to tempt fate I have an ESC 800 here still working now well into year
> 6.
LOL Lionel,
Could you not have just changed the print-head cartridge? (You don't state
the model and I dont pretend to know the details of every Canon model). This
gives you new nozzles. An option you do not get on Epson machines.
I hope your 800 gives you many more years of service :)
Regards
Paul B)
Dave Plowman
Adam Richardson <cooladamr...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> It must be a bit different because if you do it 6 (or 8?) times in a row
> it gives up and spits the print head out so you can change the cartridge
> even if the ink's not run out...
I've been re-filling my own for years (and this definitely wasn't the
cause). Just put it into the cleaning cycle and pull the plug out when the
head's in the right position. Or take the top off - it's only four screws.
--
*Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat.*
Adam Richardson
> In article <Hlwpb.1759$3h5....@newsfep4-glfd.server.ntli.net>,
> Adam Richardson <cooladamr...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>It must be a bit different because if you do it 6 (or 8?) times in a row
>>it gives up and spits the print head out so you can change the cartridge
>> even if the ink's not run out...
> I've been re-filling my own for years (and this definitely wasn't the
> cause). Just put it into the cleaning cycle and pull the plug out when the
> head's in the right position. Or take the top off - it's only four screws.
Oh yes, fair enough - I wouldn't expect you to got through 8 cleaning cycles
just to refill it! I was just saying that the "software" clean function is,
in some way, different to the "control buttons" cleaning function.
Bye,
Brian Carroll
<lio...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
[Snip]
> Now there is a thing. I could say the same for a Canon I once
> had.
> Now to tempt fate I have an ESC 800 here still working now
> well into year 6.
And I've one too, following your advice. It's 6 years old almost
to the day. I also have an ESC 900 about 2 years old which has a
bit better performance and much bigger ink tanks. Both are good
solid machines, not your nasty bit of plastic from Dixons :-)
Brian.
--
______________________________________________________________
Brian Carroll, Ripon, North Yorkshire, UK bric at f2s dot com
______________________________________________________________
Dave Plowman
> speed is fantastic, and separate ink tanks are a bonus. No idea about
> RiscOS drivers though..
I've borrowed an i865 from a pal, and it works with an i850 driver
available from CJE who have them in stock;-)
Seems good, but I don't have a manual for it. Only observation is it
doesn't take the slightly oversized Tescos A4 envelopes, unless I can
remove something.
In terms of pressing the print button on Publisher plus, it's little if
any faster from start to finish than the Stylus 600, which surprised me.
--
*Avoid clichés like the plague. (They're old hat.) *
chris
Dave Plowman <dave....@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <4c4b226f...@argonet.co.uk>,
> Lionel Smith <lio...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> > > So what do I replace it with? I'd like the same maximum resolution and
> > > preferably one which doesn't mind not being used every day and has less
> Anyone know what a new head for a 600 costs?
Yes - I had the same problem and ordered a new head from Express Terminals
Ltd tel.01765 694100. They were very efficient and supplied a new head with
a full set of ink cartridges for 49.94 UKP inc p&p.
Works as good as new now.
The head can be dismantled by carefully unclipping the top and inner
partition (note the small plastic pips that can get broken if you are not
careful) and undue the screw holding the metal side bracket. Its not too
tricky if you are careful.
Chris
> I've borrowed a Canon i865 from a mate to try, and can't find a driver
> for it. The newest bubblejet driver I can find works, but prints
> everything half size. The CD printing feature could be useful if I could
> adapt it to Draw etc as my present method of printing on pre-made labels
> is slightly hit or miss.
> Is there a utility like MakeModes for doing your own PDF, or is it far too
> complicated?
> I seem to remember CJE selling Canon drivers, so perhaps I'll have to pay
> for one.
--
Chris Majer ma...@freeuk.com
Risc PC User at FreeUK
Dave Plowman
chris <ma...@freeuk.com> wrote:
> Yes - I had the same problem and ordered a new head from Express
> Terminals Ltd tel.01765 694100. They were very efficient and supplied a
> new head with a full set of ink cartridges for 49.94 UKP inc p&p.
Thanks Chris. I'm tempted, since I still like the 600.
--
*A day without sunshine is like... night.
Brian Carroll
[Snip]
> > Anyone know what a new head for a 600 costs?
> Yes - I had the same problem and ordered a new head from
> Express Terminals Ltd tel.01765 694100. They were very
> efficient and supplied a new head with a full set of ink
> cartridges for 49.94 UKP inc p&p.
Express Terminals is a large international firm with a good
reputation, that has steadily grown from small beginnings here in
Ripon. They specialise in printer repairs for businesses but
seem prepared to help anyone. They found me a new print head for
an old OKI Microline dot-matrix printer some years ago.
They have a web site at http://www.expressterminals.com with an
online shop. They also do fixed-price repairs on most makes of
printer.
Chris, will you please confirm the price you quoted included 2
ink tanks (ie black & 3-colour). Epson originals normally cost
me about £13 each from 7-Day Shop in Guernsey, so the new head
seems remarkably cheap.
Richard Watkinson
I've been following this thread with interest since I am trying to fix
an Epson Stylus color 660 for a friend
Most of what I've read seems to echo my experience in failing to fix
this printer.
Is the 660 very similar to the 600 in this thread?
If so I might be bolder with the head mechanism which I removed to
examine but have not tried soaking yet.
The other thing is if it ain't working now there's not much to lose if
it still doesn't work after my efforts
Richard
Dave Plowman
Richard Watkinson <rwa...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> If so I might be bolder with the head mechanism which I removed to
> examine but have not tried soaking yet.
I found soaking alone in water didn't work fully, although it did
partially clear the blocked colour. You need to force water through it. I
used an empty squeezy replacement ink bottle and linked it to the head
inlet with some PVC wire sleeving.
> The other thing is if it ain't working now there's not much to lose if
> it still doesn't work after my efforts
Absolutely. Just be careful when removing the tube from the head assembly
(after pressure cleaning) as it's in two parts which can separate and
wreck the ribbon cable if you hold it in the wrong place while pulling off
the tube. If you examine it, you'll see the join, so it's then obvious
which part to grip.
--
*What hair colour do they put on the driver's license of a bald man? *