why is this forum so active? no flaming, please!

[Paul W.]

I've been using Epson printers for years but now and then I am envious of Canon users who seem to have fewer clogs in their printers. Please, I do not mean to start a flame war. But I note that this forum has over four times the messages than the Epson forum. Is that because there are simply more Canon users? Or that Canons have their problems too?

Ducking for cover!

(I should add I'm primarily interested in black and white printing.)

 

[palombian]

I think Canon sells more consumer printers.
There are easier to refill than other brands (altough Canon too is making this more difficult) so more people start doing this.

No experience with Epsons, they seem more sophisticated to me.
Maybe their audience doesn't want to be involved with technical matters either (as Apple versus Windows/Android).

 

[turbguy]

Epson and Canon use two significantly different print head technologies.

Epson uses tiny piezoelectric elements to "spit" ink out a hole (nozzle). There is no significant heating involved in this technology, but such a mechanism requires the entire volume of the "spitting device" to be completely full of a non-compressible fluid. Any gasses will hamper the"spitting". Typically, piezo print heads are not a user-replaceable item.

Canon uses a thermal technology, using tiny electric resistance elements to flash boil ink in a small volume an "spit" it out a hole (nozzle). The operating temperature of the print head is monitored to enhance it's lifetime. Overheated Ink residue (kogation) can build up deposits in the holes. The current density required to drive the tiny heaters is HUGE, so the microelectronics on the print head can suffer thermal damage to wipe out the operability of whole banks of heaters. Typically, thermal print heads are a user-replaceable item.

Both types of technologies have plusses and minuses. They both wear-out, and both can "clog".

 

[kdsdata]

I can only speak for Canon. I had an i9900 for years, and had no problems. Back then I used OEM and third party carts, actually interchangeably without any compatibility problems. I replaced the i9900 when the signs pointed at a motherboard issue.

What I bought 4 years ago is the PIXMA Pro-100. I have had no issues that point to the printer itself. I had the yellow-gel issue when I mixed inks. With a flush of the carts and printhead, following the good advice in this forum, and YouTube videos, I was able to fully restore the printer. I now have 2 sets of OEM carts, refilled with ink from OctoInkjet.com. I used OctoInkjet because, when they have them, they sell OEM carts. They are used, but flushing and drying was very successful. I also like their plugs (no need to drill out the fill hole; just pull out the ball), and especially the filling kits, with the long needles, one for each color. That eliminates the measuring of ink into syringes, and really reduces spilling. For the last refill I dared, and used no gloves. That meant I was super careful to prove it can be done, and I did.

After my "Refill Gone Awry" , I am now a happy printer user. I am resurrecting photos that need printing, in large format, without breaking the bank.

 

[Nifty]

A lot of it has to do with how Google works. This forum started off with users that mostly had Canon printers, so most posts were Canon related. That made search engines point more searchers to this forum when searching for Canon related topics... so there were more Canon posters, etc.

 

[The Hat]

I've been using Epson printers for years but now and then I am envious of Canon users who seem to have fewer clogs in their printers.

I am solely from the Canon household, because I had so many issues with my Epson printers long ago, I must say, mostly of my own making, and have never looked back at another Epson since.

You can get perfectly good B&W prints from the Pro model Canon printers using all the inks, yes you would have to do a bit of tweaking to get exactly what you desire with no colour cast showing, and if you’ve got deep pockets then get the Pro 1000 and you’ll never look back either...
Trust me I'm a Printaholic...

 

[Ron350]

Canon has a secret pheromone in there printers that makes you crave more and more Canon printers.

Help!

 

[Paul W.]

Thanks, everyone, very helpful. But... something's gone awry. I'm not getting e-mail notifications when someone posts a reply. I've never had trouble before..

 

[The Hat]

@Paul W. you may have somehow altered your setting in your contact details, if this is the case, see the post below because that might help you restore your preferences.

https://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/unwanted-emails-from-forum.11989/#post-102903
I have flagged you in this post by using the “ @ “ Paul W. in front of your user name, so you should receive an Email for this post...

 

[Paul W.]

Thanks, @The Hat but the settings are the same as I've always had them. I'll watch to see if this post I'm creating now sends me a notification.