Bulent,
My printing with my R2880 is sporadic: I have periods when I can print
quite a few photos, and then, there could be several months without any
printing.
For me, this printer is not a way to save money on printing, but rather
it provides the flexibility of printing:
I can quickly print what I need or want when I want, - even in the middle
of the night.
I often print a personalized birthday (or other occasion) card (using my
photographs) for a friend or my daughter's friends right that day, just
before going to the birthday.
I bought my printer in late 2008 or very early 2009. Actually, I still
have one spare "Matte Black" cartridge that I bought soon after the
printer. Because this printer wastes so much ink every time you change
matte to glossy black cartridge, - I very seldom print on matte paper.
I think this swapping of cartridges is the main design weakness of this
printer (which AFAIK was corrected in most [all?] subsequent models).
I am very happy with this printer. At some earlier points, I was thinking
that if this printer would break, I'd buy a new one where it would be
easier to switch papers. At this point, I am not sure I would justify
the purchase of a new one, - so, I am happy this one is still working
well.
Cheers,
Igor
Bulent Celasun Tue, 19 Mar 2019 12:10:32 -0700 wrote:
Igor,
Thank you very much for your detailed message.
As you guessed correctly, I lived almost everything you wrote one by one.
This includes the final analysis which includes exactly the same
printers you mentioned.
My printer, which might have printed not more than a hundred images,
is simply, practically dead.
I see that a buying a new one is certainly the better option compared
to replacing the head of the 2880.
Yet, I cannot afford such an amount at this time.
The prices are much higher (both in real terms and comparatively) here.
I still hope I can buy a new printer before the end of this year or
early next year.
By the way, I have found some unopened (in original packaging) ink
cartridges for the printer.
Their Best Before Date is 09/2015.
I remember buying them while I was quitting printing for an indefinite
time.
The cartridges were difficult to find even then and very expensive as
well.
So I guess, my poor printer was sleeping for about 4 years.
Perhaps, I shouldn't be allowed to own another one!
Bulent
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Igor PDML-StR, 19 Mar 2019 Sal, 21:28 tarihinde şunu yazdı:
On Tue, 19 Mar 2019, Igor PDML-StR wrote:
Hi Bulent,
I am a bit more pessimistic than Paul: I would expect that the print-head
nozzles will be clogged. The only question if it could
be unclogged or not.
Inkjet printers need regular printing (at least once a month, better every
couple weeks) to prevent ink from drying inside the nozzles. Sometimes, even
after 2-3 months of not printing, I am having hard time getting some of the
nozzles to work. The most recent time it happened, I went through about 7
cleaning cycles before it started working properly. And my brother was unable
to revive his printer (it wasn't R2880, but its first successor, Epson
R3000).
While considering the options for my brother's printer, - I remember finding
a couple of webpages that described DIY procedures of how to unclog inkjet
head nozzles. I don't have those links, - but you can try googling.
I vaguely remember that it may have involved some soaking of the printer
head, but I don't remember at all - how (maybe using a piece of a sponge?).
That, of course, only after the cleaning procedure from the printer utility
repeated many times (10? 15?) will be unsuccessful.
I don't remember all the details, but that procedure didn't help my brother,
and he decided to buy a new printer. (The cost of the head
replacement was more than 1/2 of that of a new printer.)
I would mention one more point to consider.
The cleaning procedure wastes considerable amount of ink.
A full set of inks costs about $110-120. I would compare that
to the cost of a new printer.
I am not sure what is the current exact replacement model for R2880:
Epson P600 or P400.
The current price of Epson P600 at B&H, after Mail-in Rebate is $473,
and that for P400 is $390. Those prices are equivalent to 3-4 ink-cartridge
sets for R2880.
And the new printer, includes a full set of inks.
So, the new printer (minus the cost of a full set of inks) costs about ~2-3
sets of the ink cartridges for R2880.
Note also, that both P400 and P600 have larger size of ink cartridges (14 ml
and 26 ml, respectively, vs. 11 ml for R2880).
Lastly, while I've used to buy ink from Atlex.com, a few years ago, I've
switched to B&H and Adorama. The price from these two is usually on par, or
even slightly lower when you consider the shipping cost that is separate with
Atlex. The difference is more apparent when you need only 2-3 cartridges, and
not the full set.
By the way, I've just found that Atlex.com is no more. It was merged
with IT Supplies not that long ago. (Presumably, both companies were owned by
the same entity.)
Good luck!
Igor
Bulent Celasun Tue, 12 Mar 2019 06:38:08 -0700 wrote:
I intend to start using my (in electronic hardware terms) antique
Epson R2880 printer again. It had been very lightly used for a year or
so when both of us were a lot younger.
I read about issues like clogging and ways of dealing with them.
Mechanical problems are apparently uncommon...
Buying a new printer is no option (still married!).
I thought I should seek advice before approaching the printer. It is
sitting unused (with ink set on) for at least 3 years (perhaps more).
Is there hope?
Any precautions?
Is there a workflow to awake a sleeping ink jet printer properly?
...
Bulent
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