Printer Woes

[Donut417]

I have one of those HP Photo Smart Printers. We have had it a few years and just started having issues with the black ink. We looked at the ink levels and ended up buying more ink. But even with the new ink the printer wont print black. It seems to sub in a really dark red that looks close ish to black, but its not black. I have tried cleaning the print heads. Any other ideas? Like could I disassemble the printer and give it a cleaning that way? Im thinking the black printhead thingy is clogged. Or is this a sign we needed a new printer? 

[Anghammarad]

Usually when HP printers do that stuff they think black is empty and try to mix it up using the other colors. 

 

Seriously I don't know if it fixable, and what I usually won't advise, think about time and money spent in trying to get it fixed and the amount needed to get a new printer.

[Donut417]

Just now, Anghammarad said:

Usually when HP printers do that stuff they think black is empty and try to mix it up using the other colors. 

 

Seriously I don't know if it fixable, and what I usually won't advise, think about time and money spent in trying to get it fixed and the amount needed to get a new printer.

Yeah, but we bought new ink for it. And cant return it because its in the printer. Which is why we want to try to fix it. The printer knows the black was changed. Which is why I think its a print head issue. I know Print Heads cost as much or more than what the printer costs. Though Im not sure if you can clean them out yourself. 

 

If we need to buy a new printer I guess we will. Just have to decide on what we want. I personally want Laser, only because you dont have to worry about Toner drying out. But we need to be able to do photos which means we are stuck with stupid inkjet with its ridiculously priced ink. 

[Anghammarad]

If you got cottontip sticks, you know the ones to clean your ear, get a few, soak them in isopropanol and rub the cotton tip slowly on the bottom of the print head to let the rubbing alcohol soak in. Then remove the black inc and to the same on the inc funnel in the printer.

 

With this I fixed dried in inks in printheads quite often.  

[kirashi]

43 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

I have one of those HP Photo Smart Printers. We have had it a few years and just started having issues with the black ink. We looked at the ink levels and ended up buying more ink. But even with the new ink the printer wont print black. It seems to sub in a really dark red that looks close ish to black, but its not black. I have tried cleaning the print heads. Any other ideas? Like could I disassemble the printer and give it a cleaning that way? Im thinking the black printhead thingy is clogged. Or is this a sign we needed a new printer? 

Consumer printers are designed to be thrown away these days. However, you may be able to unclog the printhead by using a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol. If the printhead can be removed, even better, since you can get an old tupperware container, fill it with about 1cm of rubbing alcohol, and let the printhead sit in it overnight to loosen up whatever is clogging it. What model of Photosmart printer is it?

 

[Donut417]

8 minutes ago, kirashi said:

Consumer printers are designed to be thrown away these days. However, you may be able to unclog the printhead by using a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol. If the printhead can be removed, even better, since you can get an old tupperware container, fill it with about 1cm of rubbing alcohol, and let the printhead sit in it overnight to loosen up whatever is clogging it. What model of Photosmart printer is it?

 

Its the HP Photosmart 6520. 

 

If I end up replacing it, because as you said they make them to throw away, and this printer is like 5 years old. Any brands you would recommend? 

[Anghammarad]

1 hour ago, Donut417 said:

Its the HP Photosmart 6520. 

 

If I end up replacing it, because as you said they make them to throw away, and this printer is like 5 years old. Any brands you would recommend? 

I'm currently quite happy with Canon... got a MX 925 MFP. That one works with wireless lan, I really like being able to place it where there is space without throwing around usb cables.

 

It can print photos, normal letter/a4, and even has a tray to print onto DVD/CDs directly that are coated white for printing.

[Donut417]

Got up this morning and my mom seemed to discover youtube and tried cleaning the printer her self. She didnt get it to work yet, and when I got home from School we had a new printer. She got a Cannon Pixma MG3022. It was a cheap printer, but what ever, we can print. We I get a little time Im going to see if the Print Heads in the HP can be removed and try to soak them in Alcohol over night. If we get it working, my sister got her self a new to her printer.