On Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:08:02 -0600, Jim Yanik
wrote:

G. Morgan wrote in
:

ng_reader wrote:

1) How do you know when your print-head has gone bad? I took it off,
soaked it in alcohol, put it back and it was a little better, but not
completely. Seriously, is there any difference between a new print head
and mine other than the new one isn't clogged?

Yes, unfortunately.

Once a print head gets clogged I've found no remedy other than to
replace it. I've tried alcohol with swabs, even acetone.

You have to decide whether it's cost effective to buy a new head,
or a new printer. In your case, if nothing else is wrong with the
printer or it's other multi-function features it may be better to
buy the print head. I see one on Amazon for $70 that is
refurbished by Cannon.

it's cheaper to buy the whole Canon printer from WalMart($35) than to buy a
single print cartridge,and you need both color and black cartridges.


You can help prevent a clogged head by leaving the printer on all
the time, so it can do it's self cleaning everyday. Did you
regularly turn yours off?



I wonder if an ultrasonic cleaner would unclog a printhead?

I've tried, and it actually killed some of them instead of cleaning
them. They are Piezo Electric, and the shock waves MAY have killed
them. (they sorta half worked before cleaning - then totally dead)

If you leave your printer on all day,the heads stay uncovered and dry out
faster. when the printer is off,the heads are parked and covered by a cap.
that's why new ink cartridges don't dry out in the packaging while on the
shelf.