Is this bad? Is this bad?

[alan802]

Well, our 4800 has been suffering from recent clogging, to the point that nothing prints, sublimation or film.  This is what I walked into yesterday afternoon.  My artist just went in after the printhead and we have decided to try and bring it back to life come hell or high water.  So far we have failed.  We've put it back on after soaking it with several different chemicals that people have mentioned and still nothing.  Anyone brought back a printhead from the dead?  It is extremely clogged and the little test prints yield hardly any ink from any nozzle coming through.  In the past 24 hours, we've tried everything, and as a last resort, we went for the screen opener about 10 minutes ago!  We'll see if that does the trick but something tells me that isn't going to fix the clog.  Updates to come.

[blue moon]

GOOD LUCK!

[tonypep]

Alan.......GET AN EPSON TECH! You're in Texas there must be one around. We had same problems. Brought the guy in for a day. Not only did he get us back to perfect he showed us countless and priceless tips and techniques on how to keep her running smooth and clean. Yes it was $900 well spent.
best tp

[inkbrigade]

Hey Alan,
Sucks when the film printer is down. Not that this is much help now, but ever since we switched to this system about a year ago i haven't had a single problem with our epson 4800.
http://www.filmdirectonline.com/products/Single-Black-Large-Format-Ink-Kit.html
Maybe when you get things worked out look into it. Also keep an eye on craigslist for a back up 4880. They pop up from time to time at a steal!

[rmonks]

The best thing I have found is warm windex through the veins of the system

[mk162]

Or you can get the solution from squaredot.com  it really helped our 3000.  I think it's watered down alcohol...but the syringe is a great thing to have.

Screen opener won't do much since you are mixing polar and non-polar liquids.  Your best bet is windex.

[Command-Z]

fixyourownprinter.com sells a solution and syringe as well, but for only $10

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/kits/epson/K70

It saved an old Epson 1200 of mine once. Only ten bucks, it's worth a shot.

[ZooCity]

So how did this happen? Did you leave the machine turned off for awhile?  And, if it's just one color that's clogged, screw it- use another for the black. 

Replacing the heads on these isn't as difficult as it might seem.  And, by the looks of it yer halfway there anyhow!
Brian made a set of videos for me, walking me through the steps so I could replace our head rather than him having to fly out to Montana.

Epson 4800 Head Replacement part 1

Epson 4800 Head Replacement part 2

You can easily pickup a 1400 locally for backup while you wait on the head.  Tony is right about the tech, use 'em if you got 'em. 

[3Deep]

I brought my 3000 back to life by pumping straight alcohol into the printhead until it sprayed out clear, dried then and replace working fine ever since

[inkman996]

I wouldn't use screen opener it could delaminate the nozzles right off the head!

[alan802]

Every nozzle is clogged right now, except #5.  I've been printing most of the day so I haven't had much time to check on the status of it, and our artist has been busy helping us outside.  I think he's tried the alcohol and of course the screen opener didn't work.  I'd almost rather buy a new printhead for 450 than bring in a tech, but on Monday, I'll check our options on a visit from an epson guy.