Advisable to cover printer when not in use? If so, what is preferred?

l_d_allan

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I anticipate that my printing pattern will be to do quite a bit of printing sporatically. The printer might sit unused for weeks at a time, then I might use it for 10 to 30+ prints within a day or two.

I was wondering if it was advisable to cover the printer with something like a pillow case, or other light-weight, high thread count material between usage. Seems like this might keep it cleaner, but perhaps there are negatives to this, or better materials for a cover. Plastic sheet like a garbage bag? Or would this hold in undesirable moisture and/or gases?

Sorry if this has been asked before. I came across threads talking about "best practices" for moderate to long term storage, but didn't see anything about whether some kind of cover was advised.

And am I correct that it is best to keep the printer plugged in with power on so it can self-maintain itself to minimize clogs? I'm just getting started with refilling cartridges, so I don't anticipated that the cost of self-cleans will be that much of a factor.
 

ghwellsjr

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I don't think there should be any problem with a cover of any type over your printer but I also don't think it is necessary. If you do it, you should feel how warm the printer gets after being covered for a day.

Yes, you should leave it turned on and you should do a nozzle check once a week just to keep everything flowing as it should and to let you know if a problem is creeping up on you.
 

l_d_allan

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Thanks for the feedback. I will probably continue using the cover, but I will check if it gets warm.

For a Canon Pro-9000-2, is a "Nozzle Check" accomplished in the "Maintenance" tab of the print driver? (sorry ... as a forum newbie I can't include a snapshot image link yet)



My speculattiopn is a Nozzle Check would use/waste less ink than the "Cleaning" option? Correct?
 

stratman

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I am not so sure that leaving a printer on will be enough to prevent clogging. Looking at the maintenance cycles on my MP830, the cleaning cycles begin to spool out hundreds of hours apart.

I agree with printing something that uses all the cartridges, like the nozzle check, once a week will help keep the printer working, or at least be an early warning for emerging problems like clogging.

I use custom made vinyl covers for my printers and love them. They also come in nylon in a few colors as well. They have endured for several years despite temperature and humidity swings well and protect against dust and other debris and liquids. Cost is reasonable and they look good. One place to look at is http://www.compucover.com/. There are other sites. You may be able to find a universal type cover at your local big box store or computer store. Found a few listed on Amazon, including one supposedly for your printer. (http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&ref...l=search-alias=aps&sprefix=printer dust cover) Prices seem substantially more than when i purchased mine.

Don't know where you locate and initiate a nozzle check for your particular printer, but you are correct that a nozzle check wastes less ink per color than a cleaning cycle.
 

ghwellsjr

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l_d_allan said:
My speculattiopn is a Nozzle Check would use/waste less ink than the "Cleaning" option? Correct?
Yes, that's true, but if you haven't printed anything in a week, the printer will probably do an automatic cleaning cycle just before it actually starts to print the nozzle check.
 
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