Each of these printer brands use greatly or somewhat differing
technologies to get the ink to paper.

The HP 1200 and most relatively current Canon printers both use
semi-permanent thermal inkjet heads. The Epson use piezo actuated
heads. Also, the types of ink may be different. Some may be pigment
and others dye.

As I recall, the HP 1200 used both replaceable heads and cartridges as
separate entities. If you replaced both heads and cartridges, for each
color (I seem to recall the 1200 being a four color model) then the
printer should be working as far as the ink delivery goes, and something
else is not working properly if you are not getting ink to the paper.

The Canon depends upon the model. Older ones had the cartridge
incorporate the head, so in that case, replacement of the cartridge
should supply you with a new head and cartridge, and again that's the
whole ink delivery system. Newer ones use separate head and ink cartridge.

Epsons all use permanent heads, but the ink types can vary considerably.

Replacing the ink cartridge may well not be enough to get the heads
clear. I can provide you with a cleaning manual I have written for
Epsons with suggestions on how to get them going again. It is free of
charge. Just email me at the address shown below.

People have adapted the information in that manual to use for Canon and
other printers. Many inks are similar in formulation and the cleaning
fluids I suggest seem to work with a majority (although not all) inks,
and I also provide a method of testing the inks and cleaners outside the
printer within the manual.

For the manual, email me at:

e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org

(at) = @
(dot) = .

Art


wrote:

What's the best way to get a dirty ink jet printing properly again? I
have a couple of inkjets (HP, Cannon and Epson) that have gotten
clogged up after sitting around unused for an extended time and I
can't get them to print properly anymore. I've replaced the ink
cartridges (a $250 expense for the HP 1200 and its 8 cartridges!) and
run the print head clean utilities, but none of the printers have come
clean. Is there some way to bring my printers back up to snuff?
===
Richard Lewis Haggard