why is this forum so active? no flaming, please!

Paul W.

Print Addict
Joined
Jan 9, 2013
Messages
339
Reaction score
183
Points
192
Location
Billings, MT
Printer Model
Epson 1430 HP 932 Canon iP8720
I've been using Epson printers for years but now and then I am envious of Canon users who seem to have fewer clogs in their printers. Please, I do not mean to start a flame war. But I note that this forum has over four times the messages than the Epson forum. Is that because there are simply more Canon users? Or that Canons have their problems too?

Ducking for cover!

(I should add I'm primarily interested in black and white printing.)
 
Last edited:

palombian

Printer Master
Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
1,869
Reaction score
2,243
Points
297
Location
Belgium
Printer Model
PRO10,PRO9500II,MB5150,MG8250
I think Canon sells more consumer printers.
There are easier to refill than other brands (altough Canon too is making this more difficult) so more people start doing this.

No experience with Epsons, they seem more sophisticated to me.
Maybe their audience doesn't want to be involved with technical matters either (as Apple versus Windows/Android).
 

turbguy

Printer Master
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
1,557
Reaction score
1,424
Points
293
Location
Laramie, Wyoming
Printer Model
Canon i960, Canon i9900
Epson and Canon use two significantly different print head technologies.

Epson uses tiny piezoelectric elements to "spit" ink out a hole (nozzle). There is no significant heating involved in this technology, but such a mechanism requires the entire volume of the "spitting device" to be completely full of a non-compressible fluid. Any gasses will hamper the"spitting". Typically, piezo print heads are not a user-replaceable item.

Canon uses a thermal technology, using tiny electric resistance elements to flash boil ink in a small volume an "spit" it out a hole (nozzle). The operating temperature of the print head is monitored to enhance it's lifetime. Overheated Ink residue (kogation) can build up deposits in the holes. The current density required to drive the tiny heaters is HUGE, so the microelectronics on the print head can suffer thermal damage to wipe out the operability of whole banks of heaters. Typically, thermal print heads are a user-replaceable item.

Both types of technologies have plusses and minuses. They both wear-out, and both can "clog".
 
Last edited:

kdsdata

Printer Guru
Joined
Feb 28, 2017
Messages
154
Reaction score
141
Points
138
Location
Calgary, AB Canada
Printer Model
Pro-100 & Brother-L8900
I can only speak for Canon. I had an i9900 for years, and had no problems. Back then I used OEM and third party carts, actually interchangeably without any compatibility problems. I replaced the i9900 when the signs pointed at a motherboard issue.

What I bought 4 years ago is the PIXMA Pro-100. I have had no issues that point to the printer itself. I had the yellow-gel issue when I mixed inks. With a flush of the carts and printhead, following the good advice in this forum, and YouTube videos, I was able to fully restore the printer. I now have 2 sets of OEM carts, refilled with ink from OctoInkjet.com. I used OctoInkjet because, when they have them, they sell OEM carts. They are used, but flushing and drying was very successful. I also like their plugs (no need to drill out the fill hole; just pull out the ball), and especially the filling kits, with the long needles, one for each color. That eliminates the measuring of ink into syringes, and really reduces spilling. For the last refill I dared, and used no gloves. That meant I was super careful to prove it can be done, and I did.

After my "Refill Gone Awry" , I am now a happy printer user. I am resurrecting photos that need printing, in large format, without breaking the bank.
 
Last edited:

Nifty

Printer VIP
Administrator
Joined
Nov 3, 2004
Messages
3,046
Reaction score
1,405
Points
337
Location
Bay Area CA
Printer Model
CR-10, i560 ,MFC-7440N
A lot of it has to do with how Google works. This forum started off with users that mostly had Canon printers, so most posts were Canon related. That made search engines point more searchers to this forum when searching for Canon related topics... so there were more Canon posters, etc.
 

The Hat

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
15,617
Reaction score
8,691
Points
453
Location
Residing in Wicklow Ireland
Printer Model
Canon/3D, CR-10, CR-10S, KP-3
I've been using Epson printers for years but now and then I am envious of Canon users who seem to have fewer clogs in their printers.
I am solely from the Canon household, because I had so many issues with my Epson printers long ago, I must say, mostly of my own making, and have never looked back at another Epson since.

You can get perfectly good B&W prints from the Pro model Canon printers using all the inks, yes you would have to do a bit of tweaking to get exactly what you desire with no colour cast showing, and if you’ve got deep pockets then get the Pro 1000 and you’ll never look back either... ;)
Trust me I'm a Printaholic...:lol::lol:
 

Paul W.

Print Addict
Joined
Jan 9, 2013
Messages
339
Reaction score
183
Points
192
Location
Billings, MT
Printer Model
Epson 1430 HP 932 Canon iP8720
Thanks, everyone, very helpful. But... something's gone awry. I'm not getting e-mail notifications when someone posts a reply. I've never had trouble before..
 

The Hat

Printer VIP
Platinum Printer Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2010
Messages
15,617
Reaction score
8,691
Points
453
Location
Residing in Wicklow Ireland
Printer Model
Canon/3D, CR-10, CR-10S, KP-3

Paul W.

Print Addict
Joined
Jan 9, 2013
Messages
339
Reaction score
183
Points
192
Location
Billings, MT
Printer Model
Epson 1430 HP 932 Canon iP8720
Thanks, @The Hat but the settings are the same as I've always had them. I'll watch to see if this post I'm creating now sends me a notification.
 
Top