Epson C82 using DuraBright ink, about half time text prints, half time photo prints. About 3 years old, never had a clog, but slowly going broke buying Durabrite ink carts. Took a chance and replaced the black, cyan and yellow cartridges with 3d party carts from Rapid Fill, a storefront operation that appears to be a chain. The sales guy said Rapid Fill ink would work fine in the Epson. However, within a week the print head was clogged using yellow and cyan carts, and no amount of "clean cycles" helped. The clerk at the store denied any knowledge of any incompatability and suggested it was a printerhead problem. I hit the net and found this forum and discovered the sensitive and clog prone nature of this printer if you dare to use 3d party dye based inks (which Rapid Fill is); and how to disassemble the printhead and clean it all out with an inexpensive cleaner kit (a nod and a thanks to fixyourownprinter.com). I took out and flushed out the printhead, flushed out the suction tube, installed new DuraBrite ink carts, ran a few clean cycles, and all is back to working perfectly. I went back to the Rapid Fill store armed with some copies of some of the posts from this forum and after some arm wrestling from the clerk who still denied the ink was the problem, got a refund for the cyan and yellow carts (interestingly the black Rapid Fill cartridge has never clogged so i assume there may be a difference between black and the colored inks). This post is mostly a "thanks" to the forum and members for all the good info, and also an inquiry on whether anyone else with an Epson/Durabrite combo has found a compatible 3d party ink?
Epson C82 clogged by Rapid Fill Ink
- Thread starter Artee
- Start date
Durabrite inks are a pigment based ink. Whenever mixing Durabrite inks or any pigment inks with other dye inks, a test for compatibility should be made. You should check for gelling and separation. The new dye inks by themselves might have been ok but the mixing of the two may have caused issues within the printhead.
canonfodder
Printer Guru
Artee,
Why would the company called Rapid Fill dare sell a dye based ink for use in a printer that is designed for pigment inks? That is enough reason to never do business with them on any product.
Are they stupid? Is it just the guys at that particular store? Does the company have a policy that lets this happen?
I went to the franchise company's website at www.rapidfillink.com and they look quite complete and say all the correct things about the inks being special for the printer, not just one kind. If you really got the wrong type of ink, someone local is messing up.
Do you think that your local Rapid Fill Ink store does refilling at that store? It looks like the company is set up to do the refilling at the main office, just shipping carts to the franchises.
This is a bit mysterious.
Why would the company called Rapid Fill dare sell a dye based ink for use in a printer that is designed for pigment inks? That is enough reason to never do business with them on any product.
Are they stupid? Is it just the guys at that particular store? Does the company have a policy that lets this happen?
I went to the franchise company's website at www.rapidfillink.com and they look quite complete and say all the correct things about the inks being special for the printer, not just one kind. If you really got the wrong type of ink, someone local is messing up.
Do you think that your local Rapid Fill Ink store does refilling at that store? It looks like the company is set up to do the refilling at the main office, just shipping carts to the franchises.
This is a bit mysterious.
cannonfodder it is regular practice for the vast vast majority of compatibles manufacturers of Epson to exclusively put dye based inks in their cartridges. This also includes the better printers such as the R800/1800 and even the R2400. ( Now I have to wonder why someone who purchases an R2400 would go for a dyebased compatible afterwards... but I digress)
In the compatibles market, every fraction of a penny is important ....keep this in mind when you look at a compatible. It is indeed rare... very rare to see pigment ink in compatibles. I don't say they don't exist but they are rare, very rare. Pigment inks are not fractionally more expensive. They are 4 to 5 times more expensive... this is the reason why most refill shops and compatibles mfrs totally avoid them. Only the hobbyist or pro who knows what they are seeking and for what reason will ante up the cost of pigment inks.
In the compatibles market, every fraction of a penny is important ....keep this in mind when you look at a compatible. It is indeed rare... very rare to see pigment ink in compatibles. I don't say they don't exist but they are rare, very rare. Pigment inks are not fractionally more expensive. They are 4 to 5 times more expensive... this is the reason why most refill shops and compatibles mfrs totally avoid them. Only the hobbyist or pro who knows what they are seeking and for what reason will ante up the cost of pigment inks.
canonfodder
Printer Guru
Mikling,
Thank you so much for that information. I have not purchased an aftermarket cartridge, ever, so I had no clue. It is a little hard to understand the ink seller being so bold as to change ink types. With the price difference you quote, it is easy to understand how some refillers would try to get away with the substitute. How can the ordinary printer user defend themselves? I suppose sometimes the carts will do fair.
Thank you so much for that information. I have not purchased an aftermarket cartridge, ever, so I had no clue. It is a little hard to understand the ink seller being so bold as to change ink types. With the price difference you quote, it is easy to understand how some refillers would try to get away with the substitute. How can the ordinary printer user defend themselves? I suppose sometimes the carts will do fair.
canonfodder
Printer Guru
Oh by the way, Artee,
You would do well to learn how to refill your carts. It is not really difficult, and with the slightest care it is not messy. Your ink costs will drop way below the refill company's.
This website will give plenty of information, and Mikling who commented here can help you all the way. Look up how to send a personal message, a PM to us, and ask him what he can tell you.
You would do well to learn how to refill your carts. It is not really difficult, and with the slightest care it is not messy. Your ink costs will drop way below the refill company's.
This website will give plenty of information, and Mikling who commented here can help you all the way. Look up how to send a personal message, a PM to us, and ask him what he can tell you.
