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From: John Forkosh <forkosh@panix.com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: Dumb Pinter Question
Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2023 05:52:45 -0000 (UTC)
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and UNIX, NYC
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28A.I873 <28A.I873@noabzba.net> wrote:
> John Forkosh wrote:
>> 28A.I873 <28A.I873@noabzba.net> wrote:
>>>    <<snip>>
>>>    Alas if you aren't printing every day the
>>>    ink dries up and clogs the print heads ....
>> 
>> Any advice how to unclog them? I've googled the heck
>> out of that question, tried various solutions (i.e.,
>> both various procedures and various liquids) without
>> success. Two printers in particular,
>>    not-so-important: HP Envy 4500
>>    important 11x17" printer: Brother MFC-J6920DW
>> I only got the HP for occasional color requirements,
>> with most printing on B&W lasers. And the Brother's
>> actually mostly for scanning large-format originals.
>> So neither gets much printing use. Hence the clogs.
>> And if I ever do manage to unclog them, I figure the
>> heads should then probably be cleaned after each use,
>> before they clog. What would be the proper procedure
>> for that?
> 
>   Unfortunately "it depends" on the particular printer.
>   A mix of pure isopropanol with about 5% acetone will
>   dissolve most printer inks.

Thanks, I'd tried alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, separately,
but hadn't come across your particular suggestion before.
Not sure if the drugstore alcohol I used was specifically
isopropanol.

>   The PROBLEM is that you can't be sure what the printheads
>   can tolerate. It might melt THEM too.

I'll try isopropanol alone first, no acetone, and if that
fails (which it probably will), maybe successively try
adding 1%,2%,... acetone to find the minimum that hopefully
works. And will google a little further.

>   So, after throwing away several decent inkjets because
>   they always clogged-up ... well ... I only buy lasers now.

Yeah, I'd considered that, but color lasers are way more expensive
than the ~$79.95 (when I bought it circa 2016) Envy 4500. And the
tabloid Brother is primarily for scanning large documents (which
it still does quite well, with its sane driver working very nicely
with my slackware linux).

>   The ONLY excuse for inkjets these days is if you do
>   lots of really high-qual photos. Ink IS still better
>   for that.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions.
-- 
John Forkosh  ( mailto:  j@f.com  where j=john and f=forkosh )