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Thread: printer long term storage

  1. #1

    Join Date
    May 2006
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    18

    printer long term storage

    Epson response to my long term storage inquiry was vague...

    "We do not test for storage. However, it is recommended that ink be used within 6 months of installation. If your printer is being moved and/or stored for longer than 6 months, it would be best to have it covered and make sure you turn the printer off with the power button to insure that the printhead is in the capped and locked position. When you start the printer back up again you will need to do some cleaning cycles to get the printhead working again."

    I will be out the country for about 2 years. Don't want to lose this very nice Pro Stylus 3800. Do you think the above is enough? Just turning it off and covering it? I assume they mean to remove the ink tanks as well.

    Any suggestions or experience with storage will be helpful.

    Thanks,

    Herbert

  2. #2
    Resident Heretic Bruce Watson's Avatar
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    Sep 2003
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    Re: printer long term storage

    Sell it. You'll play hell getting it to run again after two years. It will very likely require a head replacement. And, there will very likely be a better newer model printer out by then. Epson doesn't support their printers very long -- they haven't been good about updating drivers for older printers when new OS upgrades come out. That's a problem too for putting a printer in storage for a couple of years.

    Sell it. Use the money for film while you're gone ;-)

    Bruce Watson

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    Montrose, Colorado USA
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    Re: printer long term storage

    Herbert, you will be money ahead by selling it now. It will only depreciate. One less thing to take up storage space. Buy a new one when you get back.

  4. #4

    Join Date
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    Re: printer long term storage

    Epson's suggestions sound good. I don't think there's a whole lot more you could do. My Epson 2200 was "stored" by movers packing it upside down in a carboard box with all the ink cartridges in it. It then travelled 3,000 miles by moving van from the east coast to the west coast in winter, where it sat upside down in the unopened box in my Oregon garage from January to May. I opened it up, plugged it in, and it ran like a charm. I don't think I even had to do a cleaning cycle. Even over a longer time I'd expect no less from the 3800 if you follow Epson's suggestions. Of course it will depreciate. Everything depreciates (especially my house and my stock portfolio) but that doesn't mean we sell everything we own.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Washington, D.C.
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    1,498

    Re: printer long term storage

    Two years? I'd sell it or lend it to a trustworthy friend that will give it light, but regular use. The 3800 is much less prone to clogs than previous models, but two years is a long time. My 3800 had a six month stretch with no use, and only needed a couple of light cleaning cycles, so maybe 2 years would be ok. Some of my ink carts are two years old, and they're still fine.

  6. #6

    Join Date
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    Santa Cruz, CA
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    Re: printer long term storage

    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce Watson View Post
    Sell it.
    I'm 100% with Bruce on this one. Great suggestion.

    They will be at the next number, or two more by the time you get back and you will wonder why you kept this thing when there was that advance just down the road. Two years is a long time in the technology arena.

    Lenny
    EigerStudios
    Museum Quality Drum Scanning and Printing

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Wisconsin
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    208

    Re: printer long term storage

    So if it sits in the cart it goes bad within 6 months but if you spray it on some paper it's supposed to last 200 years! Weird.

  8. #8
    Whatever David A. Goldfarb's Avatar
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    Mar 2000
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    Honolulu, Hawai'i
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    4,658

    Re: printer long term storage

    Sell it. You'll want a different printer in two years anyway with 27 inks and eleventysevenzillion dpi.

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Jan 2009
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    Denver, Colorado
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    245

    Re: printer long term storage

    Quote Originally Posted by David A. Goldfarb View Post
    Sell it. You'll want a different printer in two years anyway with 27 inks and eleventysevenzillion dpi.
    And still you will have to switch out blacks.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    May 2006
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    18

    Re: printer long term storage

    Thanks for the advice. I will sell it. Hate to though. Got real attached to the little honey.
    Regards,
    Herbert

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