Hello,
My 9880 printer just failed for a final time, and I am in the market for a new printer. I typically make 30x50 and 40x60 prints using Piezography K7 neutral inks, with mat black.
One of my great frustration with the 9880 was the constant trouble shooting, which I think was a combination of mechanical failures on the printer and using 3rd party carts. I also tend to print full time for 2-3 months then not use the printer for 8-9 month, during which time I flush out the inks with Ink Jet Mall flushing fluid and do bi-weekly nozzle checks.
I am looking at either a refurbished 9890, 8000, or P9000. Can anyone make recommendations about the durability and maintenance requirements of these printers? I've read horror stories about all of them. I've also read that Epson has improved the durability of the printhead in the P9000, but I wonder in comparison to what.
Some of my questions and concerns are:
1. Are Epson's extended warranties voided by using Cone inks?
2. The lack of programable head cleaning cycles on the 9890. Do you find that programming daily cleaning cycles helps lower clogging issues and extend the life of the printhead?
3. Are more cart slots an advantage because I can eventually map out a failed ink positions on the printhead, or do more cart slots create more problems with pressure, ink delivery, and air in ink lines?
4. Are the mechanics of the new printers an upgrade from the older 9890, or should I expect the durability to be the same or worse?
5. Iv'e read an initial fill can damage the thin membrane on the P9000 printhead. Can anybody confirm this?
6. Has anyone made direct comparisons between BW prints from Epson's OEM BW inks and Piezo inks?
Thanks for any advice. I love photography but dread printing because of the constant problems and cost of maintaining printers.
Drew Harty
www.drewharty.com