Frugal Tip For InkJet Printers
Joe
I almost never print in color (once a year maybe?).
It keeps using color ink even when I print B&W...
So... Today, it told me I needed cyan ink. I removed the old cartridge and
didn't install a new one. Closed the trap doors and set it free. It thinks
there is plenty of ink, prints in B&W just fine and hasn't given me a
problem yet.
If it's a bad idea, someone will probably come along shortly to tell me
so... But it seems like I can just run it without color cartridges if I
only do B&W... Someone already told me that if the inlet for the ink dries
up, the printer has no mechanism to clean it up... So I may lose color
capabilities forever... Which is fine for me.
Thoughts?
Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
01.908.542.0244
Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
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V8013-R
Al Bundy
> I've got a Canon fax/printer/scanner/thing...
>
> I almost never print in color (once a year maybe?).
>
> It keeps using color ink even when I print B&W...
>
> So... Today, it told me I needed cyan ink. I removed the old cartridge and
> didn't install a new one. Closed the trap doors and set it free. It thinks
> there is plenty of ink, prints in B&W just fine and hasn't given me a
> problem yet.
>
> If it's a bad idea, someone will probably come along shortly to tell me
> so... But it seems like I can just run it without color cartridges if I
> only do B&W... Someone already told me that if the inlet for the ink dries
> up, the printer has no mechanism to clean it up... So I may lose color
> capabilities forever... Which is fine for me.
>
> Thoughts?
>
because the open vent you created allowed all remaining ink to drain
down. Very soon it will actually be totally empty and the light/
message should come back. All you will have accomplished is drying out
the print head. Carts are easily refilled with cheap aftermarket ink.
I've been lucky enough to find ink at the dollar store. I stocked up
while it was there and now it's gone. Still, online sources of cheap
ink are available. As a hack, you might consider filling the unused
carts with a mixture of water and alcohol 50/50 to fool the printer.
If it's one of the printers that mixes color to create black, you
won't get black with water or empty as you are now. I love to
experiment, but I always keep several backup printers and quarts of
ink to use in them. You can find many of the answers to these simple
questions on the printer peripheral site. Sometimes it's better to
learn by the mistakes of others.
Joe
You may be right... However, I got the idea from an old Cannon printer
(probably 8 years old) that has been running cartridge-less for about a
year... I didn't think to try it on teh new machine.
So what you are saying is that once the resivoir drys up, it'll probably
clog and then I'll have otehr problems?
This is where I get my ink dirt cheap:
Joe in Northern, NJ - V#8013-R
Currently Riding The "Mother Ship"
http://yunx.com/valk.htm
Ride a motorcycle in or near NJ?
http://tinyurl.com/5apkg
clams_casino
>I've got a Canon fax/printer/scanner/thing...
>
>I almost never print in color (once a year maybe?).
>
>It keeps using color ink even when I print B&W...
>
>So... Today, it told me I needed cyan ink. I removed the old cartridge and
>didn't install a new one. Closed the trap doors and set it free. It thinks
>there is plenty of ink, prints in B&W just fine and hasn't given me a
>problem yet.
>
>If it's a bad idea, someone will probably come along shortly to tell me
>so... But it seems like I can just run it without color cartridges if I
>only do B&W... Someone already told me that if the inlet for the ink dries
>up, the printer has no mechanism to clean it up... So I may lose color
>capabilities forever... Which is fine for me.
>
>Thoughts?
>
>
>
Can't comment on potential problems, but I'm envious. My HP printer
will not operate without a color cartridge (with ink). Even though I
rarely use the color ink (and could easily live without it), it needs to
be replaced about once / yr or the printer will not work.
I recently considered purchasing a Kodak unit, but was completely turned
off when I found out Donald Trump was their spokes person.
Guess I'll stay with the HP printer for a while longer.
Vic Smith
<PeterG...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote:
>
>Can't comment on potential problems, but I'm envious. My HP printer
>will not operate without a color cartridge (with ink). Even though I
>rarely use the color ink (and could easily live without it), it needs to
>be replaced about once / yr or the printer will not work.
>
Good to know. My HP672c has been running for years with an empty
color cartridge. Would have assumed if I bought a replacement HP
printer that it would do the same.
Now I know that's a bad assumption.
--Vic
Jeffy3
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thanks for the link. I see someone finally has replacement cartridges
for my Canon which has those stupid computer chips in the bottom.
Also, I wonder why Abacus's eBay prices are so much cheaper than from
their web-page!?!
Joe
>for my Canon which has those stupid computer chips in the bottom.
>Also, I wonder why Abacus's eBay prices are so much cheaper than from
>their web-page!?!
They have a "private" page somewhere with lower prices... I just can't find
it until I go to the office and remember to check my bookmarks there. I
order 100-200 cartridges at a time so I'm considered a good customer I
guess. <G>
--
pc
It must depend on the HP model.
I use an HP 460 for work in the field. I only need black and white. My
color car has been empty for a year and everything is still okay.
I do have other major issues with the printer. But, luckily, the
cartridges have been fine.
..PC
clams_casino
My current HP 1610 is turning out to be a piece of junk. It's only two
years old. About two months ago started have jammed carriage problems -
can't seem to find the paper. I've tried several brands of paper, so
it must be the printer. After about 2-5 hits on the reset. it finally
finds the paper. It's especially a problem at the start of each day.
My previous HP 872 lasted about 8 years of fairly heavy usage - I
finally had to toss it when the ink cartridges starting leaking out the
bottom of the printer. I was considering a Kodak model, but with
Donald Trump as their spokes person, there is no way.
May try a Cannon next.
John Weiss
>
> My current HP 1610 is turning out to be a piece of junk. It's only two years
> old. About two months ago started have jammed carriage problems - can't seem
> to find the paper. I've tried several brands of paper, so it must be the
> printer. After about 2-5 hits on the reset. it finally finds the paper. It's
> especially a problem at the start of each day. My previous HP 872 lasted
> about 8 years of fairly heavy usage - I finally had to toss it when the ink
> cartridges starting leaking out the bottom of the printer. I was considering
> a Kodak model, but with Donald Trump as their spokes person, there is no
> way.
>
> May try a Cannon next.
You also might try a printer designed for a small office instead of a "home"
model. My HP K550 cost a bit more than other options, but has been a solid
performer and relatively frugal on ink.
pc
Well it may be too late .. since you got rid of your HP, but we had that
same ink leak problem with a few printers in my work group.
We didn't have to do the fix ourselves because there is an IT department
that took care of it for us. But, there seems to be a reservoir of some
sort on the bottom of the printer that needs to be cleaned out /
replaced at certain intervals or it leaks.
..PC