Reviving a pro-1

[Frederik Forsberg]

Hi guys!

You helped me get my pro-1 in working order after I bought one with a burned-out printhead sometime ago. For this, I will be grateful for a long time!

So anyway. I recently bought some ink from a lady who gave up on hers. She asked if I wanted the printer too since it was broken somehow. I, of course, replied yes mainly thinking of the extra 12 ink canisters. I got the printer yesterday and thought that I might as well check it out to see if I could salvage any spares.

Long story short, I got a B200 on the first try then turned it off and back on at it seemed to be working. Changed three empty canisters and tried to go for a nozzle check as you can see below. On the first nozzle check, (photo 1) a few things stood out to me.

1: The red is smeared out and is patchy (the canister is almost full, however). See photo 2 for a closeup with enhanced contrast.
2: I see a couple of barely visible streaks (very thin white horizontal lines) in some of the colors (GY, PBK, LGY, DGY, Y, C). See photo 3 for a closeup with enhanced contrast.
3: The bottom part of the LGY color is faded. See photo 3 for a closeup with enhanced contrast.

View attachment 10008

Thinking that this might be cleared up with a second nozzle check I did one (photo 4) and I noticed three changes.

1: The red disappeared altogether - canister is still almost full, however.
2: The thin streaks have disappeared for Y and C, but remains for all the colors in the first block (GY, PBK, LGY, DGY)
3: PC has a weird fade now (it might have already been fading in the first nozzle check. See photo 5 for a closeup with enhanced contrast.

There are so many things that I'm unsure where to begin and so far my searches on the forum haven't really helped me out too much, which is why I once again ask you assistance! After all, what better than to do some stay at home projects in these corona times?

I guess my main questions are - would it make sense to try and revive this printer? How would I go about doing this?- I suspect that jumping headfirst into the cleaning cycle that my printer tells me to do is not the best approach. Soaking the printhead maybe? Would it be worth the ink?

This is just for fun and a side-project for me (thanks to you I already have a working printer so I'm not panicking). However, I would of course still be grateful for any comments and suggestions!


/Fred

 

[The Hat]

This is just for fun and a side-project for me (thanks to you I already have a working printer so I'm not panicking). However, I would of course still be grateful for any comments and suggestions!

Hi Fred, the printer does not look in bad shape and I can see why you don’t want to stop with your investigation, the first thing you should do is to run a deep clean and follow that by a nozzle check.

Now leave the printer sit idle and turned on for 24 hours, next day first run a nozzle check, now compared both nozzle checks and see if anything has changed in them, has the red made a turn and by how much, then let the printer sit for 12 hours.

Then run a normal cleaning cycle and a nozzle check and once again check the progress of the red channel, patients is the key here so no rush, but whatever you do don’t try to remover the print head, because that could spell the end of this adventure..

Good luck..

 

[Frederik Forsberg]

Hi Fred, the printer does not look in bad shape and I can see why you don’t want to stop with your investigation, the first thing you should do is to run a deep clean and follow that by a nozzle check.

Now leave the printer sit idle and turned on for 24 hours, next day first run a nozzle check, now compared both nozzle checks and see if anything has changed in them, has the red made a turn and by how much, then let the printer sit for 12 hours.

Then run a normal cleaning cycle and a nozzle check and once again check the progress of the red channel, patients is the key here so no rush, but whatever you do don’t try to remover the print head, because that could spell the end of this adventure..

Good luck..

Great! I will try this as soon as possible and hope for the best

On another note. What is the correct way to store a Pro-1? I suspect that the only correct way is topped up with ink, plugged in and used regularly?

 

[The Hat]

On another note. What is the correct way to store a Pro-1? I suspect that the only correct way is topped up with ink, plugged in and used regularly?

No Pro1 or any other Canon Pro model store very well, it’s only a matter of just turning off the power button and walking away and when it’s time to reuse them just turn them on and hope for the best..

No printer does long term storage very well, and if you get this printer back to full health then I recommend you sell it while its performing at its best, otherwise it will drain every penny out of you, having one is acceptable, but two is downright fool hardy..

plugged in and used regularly?

Yes and yes again...

 

[Frederik Forsberg]

No printer does long term storage very well, and if you get this printer back to full health then I recommend you sell it while its performing at its best, otherwise it will drain every penny out of you, having one is acceptable, but two is downright fool hardy..

Well, in this case, I would rather revive it if possible, put some ink in it and sell it with some of the extra paper I have leftover. Almost seems like a printer of this type deserves a second life and I think it could be a pretty neat deal; paper, a little ink, and a full functioning printer. Definitely a better way into the hobby than I had myself

I actually just got an offer to buy another pro-1 with a similar issue and some extra ink. Maybe I should just change career and become a printer technician that gets paid in ink...

Anyway thanks for helping me out here - even if it's not critical. Perhaps I can give something back to the hobby and score som ink at the same time. Thanks!

 

[Frederik Forsberg]

Today I did a deep clean on the (third?) group containing the red color. Then did a nozzle check. Everything honestly looks just like my own printer now. Solid colors all around and no ink where it shouldn't be. I had a single thin white line in one of the colors. Did a second nozzle check and it dissappeared.

I guess next step is to put it up for sale and If I get a buyer I will check with a large scale print to make sure it can do the job. I might check before that, but I would feel better doing the last test right before getting rid of it.

Thanks for the help Mr. Hat, please let me know if I'm about to do something stupid - feeling good about something might not be enough

@The Hat

 

[stratman]

I might check before that, but I would feel better doing the last test right before getting rid of it.

The best thing you can do is use the printer now and until you sell it. Printers are more likely to function properly when used regularly.

Using the printer regularly till sold is assurance the printer functions properly for whomever buys it. Just a single print the night before sold may end up creating more work and some embarrassment.

Whether you sell it or not, use the printer regularly, even if it just a nozzle check every few days or a week. Date and keep those prints or nozzle checks to demonstrate to the buyer proof the printer is functioning.

 

[Frederik Forsberg]

The best thing you can do is use the printer now and until you sell it. Printers are more likely to function properly when used regularly.

Using the printer regularly till sold is assurance the printer functions properly for whomever buys it. Just a single print the night before sold may end up creating more work and some embarrassment.

Whether you sell it or not, use the printer regularly, even if it just a nozzle check every few days or a week. Date and keep those prints or nozzle checks to demonstrate to the buyer proof the printer is functioning.

Noted!

I will for sure be doing nozzle checks on it regularly, however I am unsure as to how many actual prints I will be needing in the near future and I don't wanna drain it too fast. It is my second printer, so I can't be using both of them all the time for actual prints. But I think I should try at least a couple before selling it.

 

[palombian]

The best thing you can do is use the printer now and until you sell it. Printers are more likely to function properly when used regularly.

Using the printer regularly till sold is assurance the printer functions properly for whomever buys it. Just a single print the night before sold may end up creating more work and some embarrassment.

Whether you sell it or not, use the printer regularly, even if it just a nozzle check every few days or a week. Date and keep those prints or nozzle checks to demonstrate to the buyer proof the printer is functioning.

A very good advice.
I bought my PRO-10 since the seller provided nozzle checks and an acceptable story.
Wasn't disappointed.
Most people only think about selling their printer much too late.
Wouldn't think about buying second hand printers to make a profitable trade, though.

 

[Artur5]

On a photo forum where I’m a member, there’s a guy trying to sell a Pro9500 MkII since February 2018 with no luck, Not surprising, as he asks ‘only’ 500 euros ( plus shipping). No clear information of the actual working condition is given, only that he used always OEM carts. According to him, the reason for the sale is lack of use and I bet that, for the last two years, this Pro9500 II has been stored away untouched. Go figure the present condition of the printhead and cartridges.

Any bidders ?