Troubleshooting Squiggly Lines in Black Ink on Epson WF-3640

Question: What causes squiggly lines in the black ink on my Epson WF-3640? I have three WF-3640 printers running with your continuous ink systems, and all three are experiencing various issues with just the black ink, making them unusable for high-quality printing. Additionally, if we run the black ink dry and flush the printhead with your cleaner, how can we get the black ink to work again? I've performed numerous black-only printhead cleanings with no success. I have your wetting agent and printhead cleaner.

Answer: Thank you for contacting us! We at BCH Technologies are grateful for your engagement and support, particularly with regard to our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Your feedback plays a crucial role in further developing our technical expertise.

It appears that the squiggly lines in your black ink are a symptom of an aging printhead. Over time, the pigment in the black ink can wear down the printhead nozzles, leading to partial blockages or nozzle wear. This wear can cause the ink to spray sideways, creating the squiggly lines you're seeing. Unlike dye ink, which lasts longer and is less prone to such issues, pigment ink can cause more permanent damage to the printhead.

Here are some steps you can take to address this issue:

1. Adjust Printer Settings: Switch the printer settings to high resolution. This adjustment ensures that the same area is covered multiple times by different nozzles, potentially improving print quality by compensating for worn nozzles.
2. Avoid Over-Cleaning: Since this isn't a regular clogging issue, using cleaning solutions might worsen the problem. Excessive cleaning can further damage the already worn printhead nozzles, especially with pigment ink.
3. Regular Maintenance: Ensure that you perform regular maintenance and avoid running the ink dry. Running the printhead dry can exacerbate wear and lead to more severe issues.

If you need to flush the printhead, you can use our wetting agent and printhead cleaner, but be cautious. Here’s how to proceed:

• Flush the Printhead: Use our wetting agent and printhead cleaner to gently flush the printhead. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid causing further damage.
• Prime the Printhead: After flushing, prime the printhead with new black ink. Ensure the capping station and ink pathways are clear and functioning correctly.

For a visual guide, you can watch relevant videos on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). While this might not solve the issue permanently, it can help maintain print quality in the short term.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. For instance, resolving a simple clog might involve advice on unclogging procedures. However, if the printer remained inactive during downtime, a comprehensive service for the ink system could be necessary. Situations like a "paper jam" can arise from hundreds of potential causes, and solving such an issue has become something of an in-office jest. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks before we can get your printer to drop it off or mail it to us. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed if you opt for mail-in or local drop-off services. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel’s homepage (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thank you again for reaching out to us, and we appreciate your continued support. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us or visit our website for more resources and assistance.