Storing Pro 100s, questions about Pharmacist's approach

[hud]

Hi,

I am planning to leave my almost new Canon Pixma 100s for a 1-2 years without use and would like to conserve/store my print head. I found an old thread with Pharmacist’s recommendations about it.

https://www.printerknowledge.com/threads/how-to-store-a-print-head.6343/#post-47497

The best way is to have a set empty cartridges ready (can be cheap refillables) and fill them with the following solution:

-20% isopropanol
-20% propylene glycol
-distilled water up to 100 %

Put the printhead and the cartridges filled with this clear preservation solution into your printer and execute a deep cleaning. Remove the print head from the printer after this cleaning cycle and put it into a zip lock bag and suck out the air. The propylene glycol works as a humectant and prevents the print head from drying out and also prevents the grow of microbes and fungi. After a long time the isopropanol will evaporate, but the preservative action is still there, as the propylene glycol does not evaporate and will ensure that nasty bugs will not have the chance to grow.

I have all high-quality (analytical grade) reagents ready but have some questions about the process itself and will greatly appreciate any suggestions!

I have about 1/4 of original cartridges left. I am planning to flush them with distilled water and refill with storing solution.
1. I understand that I can either run deep clean cycle or just gently pump the storing solution through the print head using a syringe. What would be a better option?

2. If I will refill cartridges with storing solution and run deep clean, do I need to store printhead in a zip-bag with cartridges installed or removed?
What if I just flush my PH with syringe, do I need to flush cartridges and put them back to PH before storing it in zip-lock bag, or not?

3. Do I need to clean the parking station/purge unit and how? Do I need to take any special actions to properly store the purge unit? The printer is almost new, I only used about 3/4 of each cartridge.

Thank you in advance!

 

[The Hat]

@hud, you could save yourself awful lot of work by letting the print head soak in warm water with a couple of drops of W5 washing up liquid for 24 hours, then let it dry for a few days and then apply a couple of drop of propylene Glycol to the ink inlets. (where the carts usually sit)

Now just wrap in a clean cloth and store wherever you can find it later the next time you want to use it, and the same with the carts just put the orange clips back on using (Rubber bands) to hold them in place and that’s it, the printer will be perfectly alright as is..

Or the lazy mans way, just store the printer in its box as is and take it out when you next need it, both ways will work..

 

[stratman]

W5 washing up liquid

Did Mrs. The Hat change from Fairy to W5?

I recently bought Dawn Ultra Platinum after using a less expensive version of Dawn. This new stuff seems to work better with my dishes, especially the greasy ones.

 

[hud]

@hud, you could save yourself awful lot of work by letting the print head soak in warm water with a couple of drops of W5 washing up liquid for 24 hours, then let it dry for a few days and then apply a couple of drop of propylene Glycol to the ink inlets. (where the carts usually sit)

Thanks! Just curios, the 24h soak will help to clean the internals of print head, right? and glycol is going to seal and protect the ink inlets?

 

[The Hat]

Thanks! Just curios, the 24h soak will help to clean the internals of print head, right? and glycol is going to seal and protect the ink inlets?

Correct and the Glycol will soak down into the nozzles also..

The Hat change from Fairy to W5?

The W5 is probably more popular, if not then use Fairy...