Printer inks

[2Margaret]

I am about to purchase a laptop and printer for use in a second home. There may be long gaps between visits eg visiting possibly for 2-3 weeks every couple of months. I have been told the printer inks may dry up and/or damage the printer head. Would it be possible for me to remove the inks and perhaps wrap them in cling film ready for the next use? Would that overcome the problem? Many thanks.

[Wak]

Yes, you could use cling film to stop the air drying them out but the ink may still leech out by contact with the cling film and make a hell of a mess of the cartridge.
Some cartridges (like Kodak. I think?) are supplied with a holder which seals the print head when removed from the printer which is very handy.
I believe that Canon also supplied small plastic boxes for storage of some cartridges.
I've also seen for sale on the Internet that you can buy a roll of cartridge tape which you stick over the print heads to stop them drying out.
Sellotape might do the job but it's possible that the actual adhesive on the tape might cause a blockage to some parts of the print head.
It could be a trial and error job for you!

[jomifl]

sellotape doesn't work very well but the more fleible electrical insulating tape works if you make sure that the bits you are sticking it to are dry. For long term storage I use a small kilner jar.

[Hymie]

I have not seen any problems with my ink jet printer on returning from a 2-3 week holiday – admittedly only once or twice a year.

My advice would be to make sure cheap compatible cartridges are available for the printer.

If you don’t use colour, consider a laser printer – they can be had from around £50. Although the replacement toner cartridges might appear expensive (compared with compatible ink jet cartridges), they work out at not much more that 1p in toner per print.

[2Margaret]

The gaps are going to be longer than 2-23weeks. We will use the holiday home for 2-4 weeks at a time but there may be 1-2 months gap in between when we are at our main home. jomifl - when you say storage in a small kilner jar, do you mean you put the individual cartridges in the jar? Do you wrap them first? Do they leak? Many thanks.

[2Margaret]

Sorry, line 1 should read....2-3 weeks (not 2-23).

[rojash]

Consider a colour laser instead of an ink jet.

[jomifl]

The kind of small kilner jar with a rubber washer and spring clip that holds the top on, alternatively a small jam jar. No need to wrap as the air volume is very small, they won't leak if the print face is on top. If you don't need colour the suggestions of a laser printer would be a better option.

[RATTER15]

I would imagine that if you remove the ink cartridges the print heads are more likely to dry out and get blocked! I may be wrong.