Ok, what inkjet printer is the most reliable and clog-free?

[Joel Truckenbrod]

I use Cone K7 inks with my 2880 (not directly comparable, I know) and I have to follow the "print often" routine to avoid clogs. This said, the prints are beautiful and dot free (a gripe I have with ABW prints upon close inspection) - well worth it IMO.

[Bill_1856]

Looking at the B&H listing for Epson 3880, it appears there are three of them. Can anyone explain what the difference is, and why it is/isn't important?

[Greg Miller]

Looking at the B&H listing for Epson 3880, it appears there are three of them. Can anyone explain what the difference is, and why it is/isn't important?

The Designer edition is the same as the base model except that it also has a network interface card - so you can connect the printer directly tio a network (to a switch or router) in addition to plugging into a computer's USB port.

The Signature Worthy edition is the same as the base model except that it also include 125 sheets of Epson paper.

[neil poulsen]

I consulted with someone today who said that his 2880 clogs.

I have a 3880 that I've used sporadically, and I've not had a clog. Again, months at a time can go by, and no clog.

[paulr]

I've been talking to my friend who prints professionally ... has a room full of large format Epsons and Canons. He's convinced humidity makes a big difference and that clogs are more likely in dry weather. I basically live in a victorian barn, so humidity is not really controlable here.

Do any of you who have such blessed, clog-free printers keep them where the humidity swings low?

[Greg Miller]

I'm not that far from you. I have an Epson 4800 that rarely clogs and only after long periods of non-use. The printer is in my office that gets some air conditioning in the summer and forced air heat in the winter, with many months just the windows open. I have never noticed any patterns to the clogging other than the long periods of non-use. A few cleaning cycles is all I have ever needed. I have never used the power cleaning cycle.

Before I do a print job, I run the Auto Nozzle Check and Head Cleaning from the Printer Service Utility - this prints large rectangles of each ink and is much more likely to detect a clog than the nozzle check that just prints diagonal lines. It rarely finds a clog. Not that this says a lot, but I just ran an auto nozzle check after not having printed for about 2 weeks and it came up clean.

[Noah A]

I've been using a 4880 for a few years and have really only had one clog, and that was after a particularly long period of non-use. I certainly don't print daily or even weekly.

I've been very happy with the printer.

[Oren Grad]

I've been talking to my friend who prints professionally ... has a room full of large format Epsons and Canons. He's convinced humidity makes a big difference and that clogs are more likely in dry weather. I basically live in a victorian barn, so humidity is not really controlable here.

Do any of you who have such blessed, clog-free printers keep them where the humidity swings low?

I have forced hot air heating without a humidifier. Epson recommends a 20-80% RH range for operation at all, a 40-60% range for optimum print quality and a 35-45% range for "optimal operation", which presumably means health and welfare of the hardware. It regularly dips into the 25-35% range here over the winter, but I've had no problems so far.

[Tyler Boley]

I use a humidifier when I have to, in Seattle that is rare, only during extremely cold dry spells in winter when the heat is running a lot. But the other trick I use sometimes during these spells is to place a wet sponge in near the head every night. Just don't forget to take it out before printing!
Tyler

[DennisD]

Epsons are great printers. I nave a Canon ipf6300 about 2 years old. Works like a charm - never clogs or skips a beat. Print heads are user replaceable, if ever a problem, unlike comparable Epsons.