Luminous Landscape Forum
Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Printing: Printers, Papers and Inks => Topic started by: cagen on November 08, 2012, 11:47:23 am
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Hi all
I'm Epson 9900 users.
I have Questions about expired epson ink.
I have a expired genuine new epson Ink.
It did not open packaging.
But expiration date has been exceeded 2years.
Does the problem occur when use this ink?
I'd like to hear your feed back.
Thank you for reading my message.
Sorry for my immaturity english.
Best Regards
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2-Years?
I would not use it. I'd trash it and buy new current ink. Reason? Simple, while it "might not" effect the printer it will in all likelihood effect the print and I'd rather not take the chance.,
Just my thoughts.
Don
Your English is better than others!
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I always gently agitate ink cartridges prior to installation, and even if left installed in the printer for extended periods of time. The thought is that gentle agitation keeps the pigments evenly distributed. I would have no problem using inks with an expiration date in the same year---in other words, within a few months of usage. But two years? I'd probably pass on that and consider the cartridge a loss. For me, I'd be weighing the cost-benefit of trying not to lose a few bucks versus, "hmmm, in light of all these forum threads on clogs and preventative maintenance maybe I shouldn't push my luck..." :)
I've got one of the workhorse 9900 printers with zero issues to date (knock on wood and yes, I will regardless be extending my warranty), but I'm in no mood for gambling---so avoiding expired inks is part of my preventative maintenance plan. YMMV.
:) ken
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Once again Ken is right (but please don't tell him I said so ;D). You can gently agitate the cartridges to stir them up however there's a time issue. A couple months and I'd use them anything over that and I'd toss them.
It's not worth the aggravation and additional expense trying to save a few bucks.
Don
My 9900 is turning into the workhorse that my 9800 was however like Ken I'll shortly be getting the extended warranty.
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Hi,
You might find this interview of Mr Kaufmann by Jeff Schewe interesting:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/Video-Library/video/Professional-Imaging_Markets_Photography/The-Epson-Stylus-Pro-900-Series-Larry-Kaufman-Answer
Jean-Michel
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I'd be interested if anyone has had a bad experience using expired ink. I use expired ink in my HP printers without any noticeable affects.
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Don't mean this as flippant however, I personally can't answer this question as I've never used expired inks in any of my printers.
I make money selling prints I've printed and the more prints I make the more money I make. If I have to reprint because of a printing error I loose money, if I have to reorder ink because of expiration dates I loose money. I keep a supply of media on hand and other supplies however I never stock/store ink. With ink I use the "just in time" method of ordering.
As always just my 2ยข
Don
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I've had minor clogging using expired inks in an old Epson 4800. I don't know if you'd call it a really bad experience, but it was one of those, "hmmm, that sucks" moments. Plenty of ink but nozzle check would not clear nor would cleaning. It was probably nearing the bottom 10% of the cartridge. Changed the cartridge, nozzle check, all was fine. My instincts tell me (and could be wrong too) that with print quality in mind, use fresh ink stock. Certainly with consistency in mind, I just don't want to have more unknowns or variables in the mix.
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I have an old Epson 2200 that I still use for office and non critical use. I bought a big box of ink many years ago at at a camera show that I am still using to this day. I am using up the ink until it runs out or the printer dies as somewhat of an experiment. The expiration dates on the ink are in 2006 and 2007. It has sat unused for a month at times. I have not had any clogging issues. I suspect these inks are serviceable for a very long time.
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Hi,
You might find this interview of Mr Kaufmann by Jeff Schewe interesting:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/Video-Library/video/Professional-Imaging_Markets_Photography/The-Epson-Stylus-Pro-900-Series-Larry-Kaufman-Answer
Jean-Michel
Link isn't working for me - I'm getting "An error has occurred. Please click here to return to the home page."
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I have an old Epson 2200 that I still use for office and non critical use. I bought a big box of ink many years ago at at a camera show that I am still using to this day. I am using up the ink until it runs out or the printer dies as somewhat of an experiment. The expiration dates on the ink are in 2006 and 2007. It has sat unused for a month at times. I have not had any clogging issues. I suspect these inks are serviceable for a very long time.
Yes, my experience too of a 2100. However letting an old 2100 printer get trashed by bad ink isn't much of a risk compared to terminally clogging a 9900.
I'd sell the old ink on eBay and buy new ink myself.
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Link isn't working for me - I'm getting "An error has occurred. Please click here to return to the home page."
Hi,
Try searching inGoogle for Schewe, Epson, and the link should show up in one of the first results. Or go through the Epson portal.
Jean-Michel
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This subject has been dealt with before in this forum, and, from what i remember, cartridges over one year past expiration have been used with no problem. Two years may be pushing it, but, please, seriously, get back to us if you use this ink. I'm afraid I don't trust Epson, of all people, to tell me the truth, since their primary revenue stream from the printing unit is the sale of inks.
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I'd be interested if anyone has had a bad experience using expired ink. I use expired ink in my HP printers without any noticeable affects.
I have a lot of expired inks (and print heads) in use with my Z3100, have printed lots and lots of prints on lots of different media types and have had no problems.
In the future I'll plan to not buy more than ink than i'll need. I had no idea how ink efficient the HP printer is! Anywho, until or unless there is a real problem, there is no reason to toss cartridges due to some misguided fear.
OTOH, Epson inks might be different than HP inks. I kinda doubt it but don't have a direct answer...
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I have a lot of expired inks (and print heads) in use with my Z3100, have printed lots and lots of prints on lots of different media types and have had no problems.
In the future I'll plan to not buy more than ink than i'll need. I had no idea how ink efficient the HP printer is! Anywho, until or unless there is a real problem, there is no reason to toss cartridges due to some misguided fear.
OTOH, Epson inks might be different than HP inks. I kinda doubt it but don't have a direct answer...
Justan, that is y exact experience on my 2 z3100 printers. I have been using expired cartridges for the past 3 years without any effects. I would love to hear from others that experienced either excessive clogging or poor quality using expired inks. Is there anything official on any of the ink manufactures that state the consequences of using expired ink?
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I own an Epson 7900. Admittedly, the printer may sit idle without use. However, this 7900 has been a nightmare with clogged heads. I have had Decision One out as many as five times to replace clogged heads which no amount of cleaning could fix. The machine seems to clog about 3-6 months after any warranty expires. I have read all the threads for dealing with maintenance and to no avail.
I would not risk old ink unless you are prepared to gamble $1,200-1,800 for your next service call!
I have to say I am ready to dump this printer and go with another brand (despite the beautiful output.) Why Epson does not address this with some better technology is a total mystery! They clearly know this is a huge problem with the 7900 and 9900's. This never happened on my 4800.
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Peter, I feel your pain. My 7900 appears to have the curse as well. Mine is in the yellow. Nozzle check shows two lines top and bottom.
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I own an Epson 7900. Admittedly, the printer may sit idle without use. However, this 7900 has been a nightmare with clogged heads. I have had Decision One out as many as five times to replace clogged heads which no amount of cleaning could fix. The machine seems to clog about 3-6 months after any warranty expires. I have read all the threads for dealing with maintenance and to no avail.
I would not risk old ink unless you are prepared to gamble $1,200-1,800 for your next service call!
I have to say I am ready to dump this printer and go with another brand (despite the beautiful output.) Why Epson does not address this with some better technology is a total mystery! They clearly know this is a huge problem with the 7900 and 9900's. This never happened on my 4800.
Were you using expired inks when the clogging occurred?
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My printer is going on 4 yrs. old. A few of my inks were up to 2 years old. I thought I had read everything until I found Eric Gulbransen's post ("Epson 7900 From The Inside - Out.") The post makes great bedtime reading if your printer is not actually suffering from a clogged nozzle at which point it may just make you become an insomniac.
Faced with this potentially large boat anchor, I realize that I do not want to disassemble my entire printer, as did Eric, replace the head at substantial expense, etc. when a new one can be delivered for $2,400 with a one year warranty (which I would extend to 3 yrs automatically after knowing what I already do.) I also realize that I should be doing way more to maintain the stupid thing if I go down the repurchase path! At which point I ask myself if being able to swap a print head out for $40 like on the HP Z3200 would be a great solution. Does anyone have a Z3200 that they have the same problems with?
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Were you using expired inks when the clogging occurred?
Precisely my thought.
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Have been using old and expired inks in two 2400 printers without problems. Oldest we are talking 2007 and the printer is working fine. Epson tech guys tell me I shouldn't use it - but taken aside say as long as the printer is working I'll probably get 90%+ of the full benefit compared to fresh cartridges. But, if I get clogs from old inks they won't service under warranty.(as if I still have a warranty left on these older printers)
Have found from experience that Epson inks for the 2400 can be frozen without any problems. This came about as UPS delivered them, left them in the back of the pickup outside and forgot to leave a notice on my door. Temps when they delivered were 20 below zero and the next two nights before I found them in the camper were around 40 below zero(farenheit). Called the Epson tech guys and they told me NO PROBLEMS from freezing. Just thaw at room temp and they would work fine. I did so and the cartridges printed without problems.
Appears some of the inks work fine when old - but the finest output is with fresh products - tho in side by side prints from the two 2400 printers on same image/same paper I and friends who look at them can't see any difference.
With a newer printer and warranty coverage - I doubt I would take the chance.
If you check, I have inks for the 2400 for sale, the same inks I have been printing with. So, somewhat self serving - but my experience with them is that they have been working for me. Upgraded to two new printers and the old 2400's are retired now so I don't have a use for the inks.