Printers

November 1, 2004

I'm often asked by people why their printer isn't working. After some investigation, I learn that they haven't used the printer for a period of time, or they've just installed printer cartridges that have been on the shelf for months, sometimes even a year.

With today's inkjet printers, it's important to understand that they need to be used regularly - at least once a week - to keep the inkjets from drying out. If you aren't going to be using your printer for a month or more, and you know (from your owner's manual) that you can safely remove and replace your cartridges, then it might be worth the trouble to remove the cartridge(s) and seal them in a ziplock-type bag, removing as much air as possible, and storing them in a cool location (NOT cold), in an upright position.

As for buying cartridges in bulk, or on sale, be sure that you will be able to use them in a timely manner, not store them on the shelf for more than a year, as they can dry even when they are unopened! Some cartridges are now labeled with a "use by" date, be sure to check for this before you buy, and make sure that date is well beyond the time you expect to use it.

With some printers, it's possible to clean the printhead on the ink cartridge by removing it from the printer and then gently wiping the head with a lint-free cloth and a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Before attempting this, be sure you have consulted your user's manual!

I personally do not recommend refill kits, as I've yet to run across someone who has used them successfully. If you have, please let me know of your experience.

I use quite a few cartridges myself, averaging about 3 b&w and 3 color each year. For my Epson printer, I can buy 3 generic cartridges for less than the price of one Epson, which adds up to a lot of savings. That's why the prices of inkjet printers are so low - manufacturers expect to make their profit on the sale of the consumables, not on the printer. Keep this in mind when you buy your supplies. Of course, not all generics are equal, some are using lower quality inks, which can result in poor print quality, more frequent cleanings, and fast consumption of ink, so be sure to shop around carefully.

The same goes for the paper you buy. While it is important to use quality paper, you don't necessarily need to buy the manufacturer's paper. There are many high-quality papers produced that are far more economical, and if you buy in bulk, you can save even more. Just remember to buy quality paper - if you cut corners too tight by using cheap paper, or paper not specifically for inkjet printers, you may end up spending more on cleaning the printer or on repairs. Paper is made of tiny fibers. Lower quality papers will shed more of these fibers as they feed through the printer, which in turn will eventually cause wear and tear on the printer components, as well as paper jams and poor print quality.

Finally, when it comes to repairs, today's inkjets are considered "disposable". The cost of repairing an inkjet printer will almost always be higher than the cost of a new one. Rather than tossing your old printer in the trash, though, I suggest finding a repair shop to donate it to - in the hopes that if they have two similar printers with different problems, perhaps they can combine them to make one working printer, which they could then donate to a worthy organization.

Speaking of recycling, I do collect old computers and parts, which I then rebuild into 'new' systems that can be used as a child's first computer, or as a spare computer in a home with many users, or by schools and other needy users. Electronics don't decompose very well, so every effort we can make to recycle them will pay off in great dividends for our children and grandchildren, not to mention the benefits to those who get low-cost systems to use right now.

May God bless you one and all this coming holiday season!

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