Mixing homemade cleaning solution for Epson Stylus Pro 4000

[confusedartist]

Hello, I've never posted to any forum before, so please forgive me if I don't do this well.

I have an older Epson Stylus Pro 4000 (6+ years I think), that has not been turned on for about 9 months. At that time, the 220 ml OEM ink cartridges were running low, but the machine needed a power clean (ugh) and, luckily, there was enough ink left to do my printing job as well. I have avoided biting the bullet and shelling out $800.00+ dollars for new cartridges, but now I need to print out a new portfolio in the next month, and I'm a little afraid to turn the printer on.

I know the nozzles will be clogged at this point, given that the printer required a power clean the last time it was used. Several articles floating out on the web have discussed using a homemade Windex (or ammonia) solution, in refillable OEM compatible cartridges, as a method for cleaning a stylus pro 4000. They also mention Arthur Entlich's printer manual which I've been trying to find.

First question: Do any of you know a recipe for the homemade cleaning solution to use in refillable cartridges for stylus pro 4000?

Second question: Does anyone have Arthur Entlich's current email address? He apparently posted to another forum in July, writing that his address had changed and that his new address was in the message 'header'. I couldn't find it, (the email address or the header for that matter).

Third question: Anyone have ink recommendations for the Epson Stylus Pro 4000? I'm planning on refilling myself, though as a newbie, that may be courting disaster. I've read so much in the past few days that it has all blurred together, but everyone seems to agree that you shouldn't buy garbage ink (i.e. $5.00 ink), but how do you tell what inks (and ink companies) are garbage? Consumer reviews have not been helpful, as every company seems to get very mixed customer write-ups. I am in the U.S. and am considering MIS (now inksupply.com).

Thank you, and my apologies for any rambling.

 

[jtoolman]

Common supermarket Windex ( with ammonia )!
Rather than tell you which are garbage I'll just tell you the excelent ones.
Jon CONE most expencive of the 3rd party inks but trully excellent.

Since you mention $5 I will asume you are in the USA so....Image Specialists inks and those sold by Precision Colors, Inkjetfly, Injetcarts.us, inkrepublic.

There you go.

Joe

 

[confusedartist]

Do you dilute the Windex or just use it straight?

And thank you very much for the ink recommendations!

 

[jtoolman]

Straight!

 

[cls]

I used pharmacist cleaning formula to clean up my old 4000 Pro
but know I am trying to get rid of it, since I have to print A2 size to randomly and will save for the 3880 Pro
this is the auction i put together
http://www.ebay.de/itm/400554933751

 

[pharmacist]

Hi Serhat,

I read your contribution on druckerchannel.de about your tip of setting the paper setting of your WF-7015 to "Inkjet Photo Paper", but this setting is unavailable on my Epson WF-7525, only "Epson Matte". This is what you wrote:

PS: Dank dem PhotoBlack und der wie @Ede-Lingen schon vorgeschlagen hatte Druckeinstellung "Inkjet Photo Paper" wird der Drucke auch mit allen vier Farbkanlen aktiv.

Where did you obtain OCP K3 Vivid inks, as Octopus-office.de does not sell it all ?

 

[cls]

@pharmacist
I did give OCP a call and spoke to Sebastian Bruder, he works at EWEKO. You could order directly via skype too or by phone email
Skype connact is ewekosbr

 

[cengell]

Hello all, I would not use Windex because of the ammonia, it can be used if that's you last option but I would suggest Simple Green in lemon if you can find it. It's cheap and safe and makes a great and safe cleaner around the house. First I would take it and dilute it 50% with distilled water from Walmart at 99 cents and soak the capping station for a few days and every day do a quick 3 sec clean and then a nozzle test to see progress (if any).

I took a 2 + year Epson 4000 and a 7600 all with Epson in it and unplugged in a warm garage during the summer for over 2 years without turning it on! Of course I got some improvement but got some cleaner from a company that is known to help Epson owners and he helped me, so I got his most powerful safe cleaner and after a week of putting a few drops on the capping station pad started to see improvement and about 2 weeks I had a near 100% clog back to 100% working!

I say I was happy happy guy! On both Epsons I had 100% nozzles firing.

That company that has the cleaner and great inks as I got some for my 7600, is americaninkjetsystems2.com.

I don't work for them just a supper happy customer. I recall he has a CLF007 and a CLF007P, the CLF007P is a normal cleaner that you can leave on the capping station pad for weeks, but the CLF007+ is so strong a week of using is ok then I went back to the CLF007 for a few days then the CLF007+.

Just my experience.
Christopher

 

[fotofreek]

I hate to contradict a new member, but original windex (with amonia) had been recommended by a contributor to another forum who is an expert on solving Epson problems for the ten years I've known him. He aactually mixes it with water and alchohol - I don't recall the proportions. I've used straight windex for almost ten years on Epsons and Canons with great success.

I was cautioned to not use any windex except the original one with amonia. If you download the MSDS you will find that the amount of amonia is just a trace. Mostly water, some alcohol, a surfactant, and some blue dye to make you think you are not paying a premium for watered down alchohol!

I don't know about Simple Green for this use. Someone who knows the components of Simple Green might chime in with their thoughts. With the original Windex, apparently the alcohol content and the little bit of ammonia does help greatly in cleaning printheads and paper paths.

 

[cengell]

Hello I am just concerned that the Windex could cause the coating on the nozzle plate to be damaged. I know on the 4000 the coating gets removed and some think that's whats causing the Epson 4000 and just about all users are having that issue with Epsons ink.

I understand me being a new member here but have been a old member on DPReview and LL and a few others but more important, just giving info to all to help to not cause more issues. And by mixing with distilled will lessen the possible damage that could be caused, also please take some time and read what I found at americaninkjetsystems2.com, as the Windex and the ink and the nozzle coating must be protected to insure replacement of the head won't be necessary in the future.

We all want the same thing to prolong our older and newer Epson & Canon printers. We are all here to learn and have 100% perfect nozzles with my 4000/7600 and almost 10 years old and just providing some info but what works for some may not work for others..

Hope others chime in.

Thanks fotofreek
Christopher