Discuss the various aspects of direct to garment printing. DTG printers include Brother, T-Jet, Flexi-Jet, DTG Kiosk, Kornit, Mimaki, Tex-Jet and others! Discuss and learn about this up and coming printing technology.
None of these cleaners will work with the specific type of ink that is used with digital garment printers. They might help with the graphic inks that Epson uses for paper printing. Keep in mind, however, that the garment inks we're using are different formulations. That is why it's recommended to use the cleaning fluids that each garment printer manufacturer offers.
That's what I was thinking and why I posted here first.
The cleaning fluid I have from DTG works fine cleaning out the CMYK inks but doesn't seem to do anything for removing the white ink build up in the lines, dampers and head.
Does anyone use a different solution other than what is offered by the ink manufacturer. If so, why and what are your results.
That's what I was thinking and why I posted here first.
The cleaning fluid I have from DTG works fine cleaning out the CMYK inks but doesn't seem to do anything for removing the white ink build up in the lines, dampers and head.
Does anyone use a different solution other than what is offered by the ink manufacturer. If so, why and what are your results.
Two suggestions. You can try heating up some distilled water (as sold for use in irons) and trying to flush that through your lines. You may also try cleaning fluid from other printer manufacturers as they may be formulated slightly stronger for these type of textile inks. I would try the warm water first.
I have been using nothing but distilled water. I do heat the water first. I add the cleaning solution afterwards. I've been soaking the print head in less than 1/4 inch of water trying to soften the build up of white ink. Ive been doing this for more than a week, constantly changing the water and keeping it warm. The lite cyan channel cleared last night and appears to discharge as the cmyk channels do when shooting distilled water thruough with the syringe. I did call an epson technician and asked about doing this. He said it would be no problem but be assure not to wet the channel circuits.
My problem is always with the white ink clogging both dampers and head. I'm thinking that the problem is the white ink that I have. I shake the bottle every day and also swirl the white ink that is on the machine as well as leaving the agitator on. This problem has been persistent from day one. Unclog the head, replace the dampers, and clean out the lines the best I can. Getting the white to the head takes a long while. I don't believe it is the pump as cmyk pulls to the head very quickly. I have added some distilled water to the white as suggested by the tech at DTG but, the problem remains. When printing white the dampers and print head quickly clogs within a few shirts. I am thinking that the batch of ink that came with the machine and the bottles I bought have been the problem all along. Has anyone ever had an issue with a batch of white ink?
The surest way of determining if you have a bad bottle of white is getting a new bottle in, drain the old ink out and flush out your bulk system. Put the new ink in and see what happens. If this is a problem you're constantly having, the cost of a new bottle of white will be small compared to the time you might save fixing your problem.
I am on a third bottle of ink as I was told to dump the white I had on the machine, twice. That's $300.00 dollars right down the drain, literately. I did get the ink at the same time so, there is the possibility that it all came from the same batch. I just hate dumping out another $150.00. With what I've dumped down the drain, I could had got a new head and different ink. LOL. It's really not funny as I am going broke due to this and getting no help from DTG.
Most ink bottles from the manufacturers have batch numbers stamped on them. That should make it easy to see it they were all from the same batch. I am surprised that they told you to dump it. If bad ink is suspected most manufacturers would swap out your ink for fresh bottles.
Most ink bottles from the manufacturers have batch numbers stamped on them. That should make it easy to see it they were all from the same batch. I am surprised that they told you to dump it. If bad ink is suspected most manufacturers would swap out your ink for fresh bottles.
Plain old original Windex with Ammonia may be just what you need. You can use it full strength to soak for a while and then dilute by 1/2 with distilled water. It hasn't hurt our Flexi-jet. And when we have used it to flush white ink out of the system it worked great.
Do you vigorously shake your white ink daily? That can help a lot too.
Declogging fluid 
