Nozzle check/head cleaning - so annoying!

[justme]

I have an Epson 1400 and generally love it!

It is very reliable and works for print after print with no problem...then SUDDENLY it decides that it's going to do a 'liney print'...(it's just done this and it was perfect yesterday). So, I do a nozzle check and one colour isn't great, so I do a head clean...then a nozzle check and a different colour goes funny, another nozzle check and a different colour goes wrong. I never do more than 3 head cleans as I know it's not good to flood the printer.

However, once it gets in this 'mood' I have to generally leave it over night...the ridiculous thing being, that the colour that was initially the problem is now printing a perfect nozzle check and the colours that were fine have now significantly deteriorated. In the morning it will be fine, at least it always has been up until now!!

Any tips on hurrying the process up as I have a load of mugs I wanted to get printed tonight...or is it just a waiting game?!

Thanks in advance

P.S. Sulk over - it sorted itself quicker this time!

[Justin]

Are you using CIS or refil carts? A cheap A4 backup printer on hand is always a useful thing to have

[justme]

CIS - yes, good point re back-up printer

[Justin]

May seem a little over the top, and usually unnecessary but can get you out of a pickle Just wondering if it's an airlock problem. When it happens, have you tried sucking the ink through the nozzles hole with a syringe (no needle) to see if any air comes out?

I moved back over to refil carts from a CIS a while back now and touch wood have had no problems whatsoever. Could just be coincidence but I'm happier this way.

[whitesquizzel]

So is it OK to switch from CIS to refil carts on the same printer? Also when you say above about the nozzles and using the syringe do you mean on the underneath of the CIS cartridge eg where they would clip onto the print head in the print head carriage?

[bms]

So is it OK to switch from CIS to refil carts on the same printer? Also when you say above about the nozzles and using the syringe do you mean on the underneath of the CIS cartridge eg where they would clip onto the print head in the print head carriage?

You can do, but there wouldn't be any support available from the supplier of the inks if you're using refillable cartridges. Your supplier would be able to help with replacement cartridge and tube assemblies if this were the problem with the CIS. To re-prime you do this with the cartridges in the printer, through the small rubber bung near the chip block - go through the bullseye with a sharp needle on a syringe and suck back to pull the ink through the system.