build quality of the older canon printers

[jimbo123]

been a while, not sure if any members are still using older canon printers, but here's quick recap on a 15 year old MX700 that has been brought back to life.

MX700 was introduced in 2007 https://www.cnet.com/reviews/canon-pixma-mx700-review/

uses PGI5 CLI8 ink carts, gave it to a friend about 6 years ago, i'd refill them for her when needed. she used it for 2 years, then her husband bought a HP printer so it sat in a closet for the past 4 years. they were going to toss it out, so i said bring it back and i can maybe use it for parts, etc.

ink carts were empty, i refilled them and let it sit overnight, for fun i tried a nozzle check, not expecting much, see pic #1. (not good)

i had a set of new PGI5/CLI8s that i opened up and tossed in. see pics #2-5 nozzle checks, with cleanings in between.

not sure what i will do with this MX700, i do have 3 active printers now, MX870, MP980, PRO100.

a testament to the build quality of the older canon printers, 15 years old w a perfect nozzle check, even after sitting for 4 years.

last count, up to 1,955 refills

J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Active Printers: MX870, MP980, PRO-100
• Stored Printers: IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870
• Past Printers: MP830
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: first Hobbicolors, then OCP, now ASPEN
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes

 

[PeterBJ]

I was also lucky a couple of months ago. I found a Canon MP990 at a thrift store at DKK50 or $7. It had a good printhead and a set of OEM cartridges installed. This printer of the PGi-x20/CLI-x21 cartridge generation is not the same build quality as the PGI-5/CLI-8 printers but much better than the printers of the PGI-x50/CLI-x51 generation which I think are flimsy, clumsy and noisy.

The MP990 has a CCD scanner and is in very good condition so it has replaced the MP980 I used earlier as my default printer, here is the most important info from the EEPROM print and the service test print combined.

I'm still looking for PGI-5/CLI-8 printers in good condition but the chances of finding one are slim.

 

[jimbo123]

good find on the working MP990, i use my MP980 primarily as a photo printer(6 ink carts)

been a while since i've run an EEPROM report. the MX700 enters service mode the same as my old MP830s.

good news, this 15 year old MX700 has only seen 128 pages printed, so just barely broken in.

my old PGI5/CLI8 resetter apparently died given it's lack of use, so another one is on its way.

it's the least i can do to keep this old printer running.

J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Active Printers: MX870, MP980, PRO-100
• Stored Printers: IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870
• Past Printers: MP830
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: first Hobbicolors, then OCP, now ASPEN
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes

 

[The Hat]

been a while, not sure if any members are still using older canon printers, but here's quick recap on a 15 year old MX700 that has been brought back to life. it's the least i can do to keep this old printer running.

The only problem I can see with your great collection @jimbo123, after you’ve passed on , all your lovely printers with be lonely, orphaned and in need of a good safe home, most likely they’ll get dumped as rubbish without a second taught..

Nobody appreciates good quality anymore..

 

[jimbo123]

i hear you, funny how we think alike. instead of my tagline being "Printer Master" is should be "Printer Dinosaur" or "Printer Hoarder", your call.

my printer hoarding was an attempt to future proof my refilling effort, i think i am covered.

agreed, there is no printer rack on a hearse. i did start my daughter and son-in-law refilling 10+ years ago, first MP830s, now MX870, with one MX870 stored. so hopefully my stored printers will get some use once the game clock stops.

most of my backup printers cost $59, $69 each, i looked at it as cheap refill insurance, same cost as a set of new canon ink carts.

last count over 1,900 ink cart refills.

J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Active Printers: MX870, MP980, PRO-100
• Stored Printers: IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870
• Past Printers: MP830
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: first Hobbicolors, then OCP, now ASPEN
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes

 

[jimbo123]

the saga continues.....

got a perfect nozzle check, so i thought OK good to go, but no...... when i tried to connect with any of my WIN10 machines(5) and the printer could not be found. dug in a bit turns out that canon decide to not port or make available the MX700 s/w drivers for WIN10.

several forums suggest success w the WIN8 or WIN7 drivers, but i have tried both several times w/o any success.

have thought about buying a cheap WIN8 machine to get it on the network, but not sure if my WIN10 machines could see/print to it.

works fine as a standalone copier(remember those....), but i'd really need to print to it from my WIN10 machines

this MX700 only has 128 pages printed, so lots of life left, ink carts easy to refill. oh to add to this saga, i have another brand new MX700 stored away

hate to see these fine machines go to waste

any ideas ?

J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Active Printers: MX870, MP980, PRO-100
• Stored Printers: IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870
• Past Printers: MP830
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: first Hobbicolors, then OCP, now ASPEN
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes

 

[PeterBJ]

I suggest to try this driver. Select the Win 8.1 64 bit (or 32 bit?9 version. The Mini Master Setup is run in the same way as when installing from the install CD. The printer must be disconnected from the printer while running the setup. You connect the printer to the computer when asked for by the setup program, just like as when installing from the CD.

My oldest working Canon printer is an iP4000. It works with Win 10 64 bit. I have also had an MP500 installed on Win 10 64 bit, but sadly the printhead died. The MP500 is also of the PGI-5/CLI-8 generation like the MX700.


I hope this works.

 

[Ink stained Fingers]

You may have to deactivate driver signature recognition for older drivers - Win 7 or Win 8/8.1 drivers

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials...river-signature-enforcement-windows-10-a.html

There are more similar internet postings with this subject

 

[jimbo123]

much thanks for the suggestions. have tried them all several times but still NG for my W10 machines.


i blasted off some mail to canon requesting the W10 drivers, that is a long shot.


the MX700 can be used as a standalone copier so i may donate to a local church/business and offer to refill for them.

any other suggestions let me know


thx

J

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Active Printers: MX870, MP980, PRO-100
• Stored Printers: IP4500, MX700, MX860, MX870
• Past Printers: MP830
• Method: German Durchstich Method
• Ink: first Hobbicolors, then OCP, now ASPEN
• Misc: Squeeze bottles - so much easier than syringes

 

[The Hat]

any other suggestions let me know

This one is the stupidest but it works !
My experience with non-compliant printer drivers is to let the O/S install the driver for you..

It sounds simple enough, just delete any reference to the problematic printer on your system, that way it doesn’t exist anywhere, and then pull the USB cable from the printer.

The next day when you start up your computer, plug the printer USB cable into the computer and let the O/S/ find the printer itself, it will take a little bit of time and patience..

All dough this O/S is plug and play, it still takes its Feckin time to check what you have connected to your computer, and when it detects the printer it should install the correct print driver.. That works for me on Win 10..