Possible to store already used refillable carts, and then use 1+yrs later?

[Denvers Dawgs]

If I were to stop using my refillable carts (these ones have sponges) and store them away for say a year, and then decide to use them again, would they actually work. Would the dried ink cause problems?

[nwo]

only if you put them inside a bag and sucked the air out!

[redwudz]

Get one of those vacuum 'Seal a Meal' machines from K-mart or Target. Handy for other stuff, too. No guarantee that that will keep them from drying out, but it's about the best you can do.

[Denvers Dawgs]

Here is the thing, the carts are already empty, but there is still a illt bit of ink inside the carts. I don't really care if that ink dries, what i was actually wondering about is after the ink dries out, will these carts work again? These carts are the ones with sponges. I kow, I should have bought spongeless, but I got them before I read about that.

[oldandinthe way]

Most inkjet inks are self soluble, ink residue can be dissolved in the ink. It make take time and effort but you could remove dried and caked ink.

Some ink refill kits include a cleaner fluid, this would work as well.

The sponges will of course make the process more questionable, since they my dry out and then shred..

[dmagic1]

I actually had to use my old home made refill carts that had been stored for almost that long. My tubing on my CIS had a hole in it and I had to order another one. Until then I had to brake out my old refill carts. I was surprised that I didnt have not one problem with them. I refill them and went right to work. The were not in a bag or closed off in any way.

[redwudz]

What I have done with a cartridge with plugged nozzles is to soak the nozzles or ink output openings in a bowl of warm water with some dish washing liquid. It may take a few hours. Isopropyl alcohol will work also, but I like the water method. Once the chunks are dissolved or softened, dry them off and the cartridges should work again after a cleaning cycle or two.

I don't know if oil based and water based inks are still both used, but the alcohol may work better with oil based and the warm water and soap better with water based inks.

[Denvers Dawgs]

thanks guys

[handyguy]

Wouldn't you have a new computer printer in a year?

[Denvers Dawgs]

I actually just bought a brand new r200 on ebay, (previous printer was also a r200), and have run out of refill ink for the smart carts. However I do now have the epson originals, and several generic brand ink set that expire in 07, so I figured i better use them, before they do, other wise it was a waste of money buying them. So that's why I plan on storing my empty refillables, until all my other carts are gone