Usable Age of Hp Vivera Pigments

[deanwork]

For many years I’ve used out of date Vivera inks with never any problems.

But today I’m trying to finish something using the Z300 and I’m low on my red ink.

I’ve got a full ink cart that is 8 years old that I would really like to use and I’m kinda on the fence about it. The one I’m using now is 5 years old and normal gamut and quality.

This ink has been stored in a cool dark place but is 8 years old.

Should it still be usable ?   I do have an extra red print head for this machine in case it gums up my print head.

Just wondering if  really old Vivera inks have been used by others.

John

[nirpat89]

For many years I’ve used out of date Vivera inks with never any problems.

But today I’m trying to finish something using the Z300 and I’m low on my red ink.

I’ve got a full ink cart that is 8 years old that I would really like to use and I’m kinda on the fence about it. The one I’m using now is 5 years old and normal gamut and quality.

This ink has been stored in a cool dark place but is 8 years old.

Should it still be usable ?   I do have an extra red print head for this machine in case it gums up my print head.

Just wondering if  really old Vivera inks have been used by others.

John

On my B9180 I have used inks way older than 8 years without any problems.  Not giving any guarantees though....:-)

:Niranjan.

 

[deanwork]

Thanks Niranjan,

That’s helpful,

I would shake the cart after every big print. I think I’ll try it when the current one runs out.

John

On my B9180 I have used inks way older than 8 years without any problems.  Not giving any guarantees though....:-)

:Niranjan.

[kers]

shake well before use...

[deanwork]

Thanks Pieter,

Yes, I've been shaking it for days and still shake it every half hour :-).....So far so good..

John

shake well before use...

[plasakow]

I buy all my HP inks expired from eBay sellers. I've never shaken them, even after sitting in my closet for years, and I've never had problems. I don't think the sell-by date means anything at all in practice. This is just my personal experience in printing a few tens of thousands of reproduction art prints on my Z3200s. Your mileage may vary, and objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.

[deanwork]

I think you are correct with all the brands.

However! I will never ever buy a used Epson ink on EBay.

I bought a 700 ml Epson yellow for a 7890. It was sealed in what looked like the original plastic seal, and that inside of what appeared to be the original Epson box. It was only like a year out of date. Later I found out that this was most likely a scam coming out of China, even thought I bought it in the US. The seller disappeared.

When I put that yellow in immediately my yellow channel clogged really badly.

Over a couple of days I kept doing cleanings that did nothing. Then I did two power cleanings about a hour apart.

That did nothing to unclog the yellow but did delaminate my head. This printer had a new head and was hardly used and never had nozzle clogs. It was a perfect printer and I ended up selling it for $400.00.

No more used Epson inks for me.

But the HPs are a different story. First there are a lot of people who will not repair their Zs because they are old and not supported anymore. And second of course , if you gum up a head it only cost you $ 100.00 . I’d probably buy used Canon inks also.

John



quote author=plasakow link=topic=141284.msg1244875#msg1244875 date=1661016832]
I buy all my HP inks expired from eBay sellers. I've never shaken them, even after sitting in my closet for years, and I've never had problems. I don't think the sell-by date means anything at all in practice. This is just my personal experience in printing a few tens of thousands of reproduction art prints on my Z3200s. Your mileage may vary, and objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
[/quote]

[RaffiCoffee]

I too use expired inks and printheads on teh z3200. I have had issues with the Gloss Enhancer, but, this maybe more to not using that inktank than it is with it being expired. I also think it maybe something electrical as someone pointed out in some other thread. So from time to time I have to take out the GE that maybe half or so full and replace it.

All in all, I would say maybe 10% of some issues MAYBE linked to old ink. I think shaking them is not such a bad idea before doing a set of prints. As Canon does an agitation cycle when not printed in some set time. So, it cant hurt. I wonder it removing a ink wakes the printer up. If not, best time to do it.

I have had my Z3200 for a a long time, but I am not a print house, and I have only ran maybe 1000 prints through it total? So, I intend to keep it ..and I plan to finally start making prints for sale....Last 2 times I got all things ready to go the printer had some failure...LOL. I have learned a lot, and one of those key things is that specific printers work well with a select number of papers, and when you find those, it is a good idea to stay with those papers. Otherwise consider it mostly experimentation and prepare for hiccups.