HP designjet cartridge- new & clogged

[Roger Weichert]

Hi Ian,

I use a HP650C for various work and if I have problems with blocked nozzles, I remove the cartridge and sit it with the print head down, on a folded over piece of paper towelling … which has been dampened with windex.

I only leave it for about 5 min or so, otherwise too much ink will wick out.

Then reinstall and do a test print pronto, to try and blast it clear.

If I have a persistently clogged cartridge, I print a ‘purge’ pattern. That’s just an image (of the colour that’s giving trouble) with lots of thin lines criss-crossing the page, interspersed with a few blocks of solid colour.

You can make your own pattern in a min or two using Corel or Illustrator.

Either of these two methods work ok for me.

I have better results with windex or often just plain water than with alcohol or anything else I’ve ever tried 🙂

Regards, Roger

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

Thanks Roger- I’ll try the cross-hatched lines idea. Previously I’ve just tried blocks of solid black.
I’ve ordered a new cartridge- but the current new one shouldn’t have been faulty and i’d still like to coax life from it.

What part of Oz are you from?

P.S. can you get the 650C to do a longer plot than the 108" max that seems to be set in it? I’d like to know how- there’s supposed to be a way to do long axis plotting past that restriction.
Thanks!

[Roger Weichert]

Hi Ian,

quote :

Previously I’ve just tried blocks of solid black.

Yeah, I tried that too with limited success. I think the criss-cross lines work best because the nozzles are continually firing on and off and eventually blast the particles free.

I’d still recommend soaking the head on a damp paper towel first to loosen the dried ink … assuming it is blocked.

I just had a thought … you have cleaned the contacts in the carriage already ?? … plus the contacts on the back of the new cartridge. Just a bit of tarnish or a smudge of ink can give the same symptoms also.

I generally refill the cartridges .. and have had good results. I bought some black which was advertised as a "super black" and it is a much deeper black than the standard, almost greyish black. Nearly twice the price, but worthwhile I feel .. and still much cheaper than genuine carts.

quote :

What part of Oz are you from?

I’m in Murray Bridge, an hour from Adelaide. And you?

Regards, Roger

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

an hours’ drive NW of Toowoomba, Qld.

(any idea on the long axis plotting query I edited in above?)

What’s your source for the alternative black ink carts?
I’ve seen refills on ebay- but that’s pigment ink (black) not a cartridge, though I’ve been tempted to try it.

I will have a go at cleaning the contacts in the cartridge carrier- the cart. itself is OK.

Thanks again!

[Roger Weichert]

Hi Ian,

The ink I use comes from http://www.ausjetinks.com.au

Physical Address: No.8 Natasha Street, Capalaba, Queensland 4157

Look under “Bulk Ink” > HP Ink (page 2) > H3WL3

Costs about $30 for 200ml. That’ll fill the cart at least 5 times.

A bit fiddly to do, but once you know how, it’s easy, and the savings suit me.

As you noted, the black is a pigment ink .. the original is too, and the colours are dye.

Having said that, I’ve recently seen some pigment inks for the colours, advertised on eBay.

I am tempted to buy some to try out, as they should handle uv light much better, plus be a little more water resistant.

This is an old link, but will give some details. (in Canada though)

http://cgi.ebay.com:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll … AQ:US:1123

I’ll get back on your other question .. gotta go out. 🙂

Regards, Roger