Ink absorber for Canon Printer is full

[Rufus]

After 10 years, my Canon ip4700 has politely notified me of its intention to retire as it says its waste ink absorber is nearly full.

Happily I bought a far superior printer recently, but was intending to keep this old one for printing office documents as it was perfectly adequate for that purpose and the inks are far cheaper.

Replacing the mat does not appear to be a DIY job, and I guess I could buy a new cheap colour printer for office documents for little more than the cost of a repair, and the future service life of a new printer should be longer too.

So, two questions arise:

1. Am I right that a repair is beyond a DIY solution?
2. Which cheap printer for non-photography purposes do you use/recommend?

[odds]

2. Which cheap printer for non-photography purposes do you use/recommend?

I got an Epson Eco Tank ET-3750 for a remote office. Slightly more expensive than the cheapest inkjets, but ink tank refill is cheaper than cartridges. It connects via USB2 and WiFi (2.4GHz), I don't think there is a connector for wired network on my model.

Canon and Brother have also entered the "ink tank" segment of small printers, you should probably check out all three brands if you think the tank concept is for you.
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Odd S.

[Rufus]

I got an Epson Eco Tank ET-3750 for a remote office. Slightly more expensive than the cheapest inkjets, but ink tank refill is cheaper than cartridges. It connects via USB2 and WiFi (2.4GHz), I don't think there is a connector for wired network on my model.

Canon and Brother have also entered the "ink tank" segment of small printers, you should probably check out all three brands if you think the tank concept is for you.
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Odd S.

Thank you for the information, Odd. That is a nice device, but looks far more capable than my occasional requirements would warrant, and at GBP 450 more than I would be prepared to spend. My Canon cost GBP87 ten years ago and has been very reliable up to now.

I use an old HP laserjet for fast, good quality B&W documents so I would use a colour printer very little.

Nevertheless I am reluctant to use my new very good quality photo printer for printing on plain copier paper due to the ink cost and the dust etc from plain paper.

[DanK]

I've never had to change the pad, although I see a bunch of postings online about how to do it.

However, if what you want is a printer for color documents on regular paper, e.g., hard copies of slide presentations, Canon makes a bewildering number of printers of that sort that sell here for under $100. Some have scanners, some not. The big difference seems to be the number of color ink cartridges they use. More expensive ones use more cartridges, which makes for better color and avoids tossing a multi-color cartridge when single color runs out.

[Rufus]

I've never had to change the pad, although I see a bunch of postings online about how to do it.

Yes, and there are posts about how to clean the pad, too. The pads are not accessible to the DIYer on all printers and I have not been able to establsh whether they should be accessible on the iP4700 without service tools or significantly disassembling the printer.

However, if what you want is a printer for color documents on regular paper, e.g., hard copies of slide presentations, Canon makes a bewildering number of printers of that sort that sell here for under $100. Some have scanners, some not. The big difference seems to be the number of color ink cartridges they use. More expensive ones use more cartridges, which makes for better color and avoids tossing a multi-color cartridge when single color runs out.

A scanner would be a nice, but non-essential facility. Thank you for alerting me to the two tank systems, I shall certainly disqualify them from any short list

[ST1]

Re Q1, I have looked at an online forum that I found useful when I was experiencing problems with a printer (Printer Knowledge) whilst there is post on that forum regarding the printer model and issue you described. I would suggest that you would be better to recycle the printer and purchase a replacement to suit your budget and printing requirements.


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[Manfred M]

David - I can't speak for the Canon ink jet printers, but the Epson ink jet printers that I have used do have have a waste ink tank. It is basically a large sponge set into a plastic holder. Let me just say, changing the tank is even simpler than changing an ink cartridge and there are great instructions in the user manual showing one to how to do this. All of the on-line ink suppliers I use stock these replacement waste ink tanks.

I think it is safe to assume if your user manual doesn't give instructions on changing this component, it is not a user replaceable part.

[Rufus]

...I think it is safe to assume if your user manual doesn't give instructions on changing this component, it is not a user replaceable part.

There seem to be a number of Canon printers which do have replaceable ink absorbers so I have been through the online manual again and it definitely does not give any instructions for changing that item. It mentions it only in the context of the number of flashing lights when it is nearly full (85%) followed by instructions to send it in for repair.

I shall be moving home soon so it will be one more thing to take to the tip, and one less to take with us.

Maybe I shall see how long I can make do with just the B&W laser printer given that all my computer gear is only for domestic use and volunteering roles.

[Rufus]

Re Q1, I have looked at an online forum that I found useful when I was experiencing problems with a printer (Printer Knowledge)...I would suggest that you would be better to recycle the printer and purchase a replacement to suit your budget and printing requirements.

Thank you for the link to the forum.

There are some instructions on the site for slightly earlier models that are probably very similar. It seems to involve opening the case and taking the print mechanism off of the base plate. It is not worth the hassle. It is going to the tip on Friday to be recycled before the ink absorber is so full it spoils the upholstery in the car!

I am glad more recent models appear to be designed in a more environment-friendly way to allow replacement of the ink absorber.

[DanK]

I always have three printers attached to my main computer: an inexpensive B&W laser for most of my work, my dedicated photo printer for photos, and a cheap color multi-function printer for the other things. Before I retired, I used the multifunction printer routinely to print color copies of the powerpoint decks I used in class. I no longer need that function, but I use the scanner often enough that it's worth keeping one just for that.