Refurbished Epson Printers: Avoid the Printhead Trap!

 If you are in the market for an Epson printer that has been used but wants a new printhead, there is something you should know. Refurbished Epson printers, such as the ET-8550 or XP970 you are probably planning to buy, have more complications in their functioning than usually perceived. This guide will break down Epson's CPO program to explain why you may not get the printhead model with which your printer shipped.

Suppose you currently work as a printer technician or are considering becoming one. In that case, this article will cover some of the categories to be aware of when it comes to printers that require repair expertise. You'll find a video demonstration at the end, so watch it! 

What to Know About Epson Certified Refurbished

Many printer owners looking for replacements or upgrades have found an answer in Epson refurbished printers. The only difference is that when you buy a refurbished one, the three major components (usually the head) should be new or used slightly. The ET-8550 and XP970 have been particularly big, thanks to their identical printheads being an opportunity to get one at a cheaper price. But buying a printer just for the printhead — you will be shocked. In general (in most units), the manufacturer put in a NEW printhead, but you may receive one refurbished unit with used printer heads. If you plan to alter the printhead for advanced needs, convert it to a nib set print head that allows pads and provides tools for direct-to-film (DTF) making or any customization developed using BCH Technologies.

Signs of a Used Printhead

For this assignment, we have chosen a used XP970 that was purchased to use the printhead. The assumption was that the print head would be new, something that is common with refurbished Epson printers. But on close inspection, it turned out not to be the case.

The behavior of a used printing portion can be tracked via many signs. This condition is most easily identifiable by the state of the mesh (discolored, residue) from use in an earlier printhead. However, Epson replaces the printhead's interior core while reusing its exterior cover. Although some parts of the printhead are new and others recycled or reused, the mainframe may still operate generally as if it were newly built. However, this is restrictive and would not be suited to those looking to adopt the printhead for specialist requirements.

Difficulties of Adjusting Recycled Printheads

Those experienced with printer modification or dabbling in specialty DTF ink solutions may find Epson's refurbished heads to reintroduce some new frustrations. One obvious problem was that getting your Printhead core out of its cover on the inside of a cooler is tough. Usually, the core is easily accessed by simply removing four silver screws that secure a new printhead. Nevertheless, the method is more challenging when it comes to removing Epson's refurbished printheads that have black screws instead of silver ones.

Brute force was the solution in this case. The printhead cover was so flush glued in place there was no way to remove it without gouging out the screw holes and extending into its surrounding. This suggests probably a deliberate attempt from Epson to discourage aftermarket modifications, such as modifying the printhead into a nipple setup for DTF printing.

Why Is Epson Doing This?

It is tempting to see this as Epson's escalation against third-party modifications, mainly because DTF and sublimation have recently gained ground. But the cause might not be simple.

That's a ream of paper costs 2/3 as much as an ink cartridge temperamentally bitching in the printer cost concerns Epson probably has with their customer's tormentor buying, something that you can modify U-turn and torque right back into them. A popular tactic includes replacing the heart of one's printhead, after which coming back to a printer to have your hard-earned money back. Epson rebuilds it with a new core when this happens, but they use the same original external pieces. During refurbishing, Epson should bond these pieces together to make it hard for customers to re-swap or meddle with the printhead.

The practice is not only reserved for the printhead; Epson is also becoming stricter in other regions. For example, when customers report a problem with their printers, Epson will typically ask for photos of the ink tanks and tubing. The aim is to find evidence that non-OEM inks have been used; white ink DTF stains and sublimation marks will negate warranties.

How to Make the Most of a Refurbished Printer Purchase

What should you do now, in circumstances like these? So, before diving into how to remove and repurpose a used printhead from old printers, you should know the hazards of obtaining a refurbished printer if all your intention is geared toward getting its head for other uses.

This can be done by using the other parts of the printer. A refurbished Epson printer is frequently delivered with other things that can be flipped off or otherwise used. For example: If you would like to purchase the printer and a CD tray, let me know. The CD trays can be bought separately for a low cost, which will help offset the already minimal charge I am asking for. You can also use the waste tank, especially if you have other Epson printers like the XP15000 that share common parts.

It covers every internal part, including Full-Function Cables (FFC) or anything usable inside it. You can sell it to recover some of what you invested in initially. Doing so could allow you to see a decent dent in the overall price when buying one refurbished printer, especially if that printhead is not as operational as promised.

Epson Refurbishment Process

Understanding how Epson's refurbishment process works is critical to making an informed decision. This place is for a handful of printers this company takes back and refurbishes. Often, customers return printers after tinkering with them or using them for specialized tasks like DTF printing. Even after these printers have been refurbished, the external components will likely show signs of wear or use, but the internal parts are typically replaced with new ones. This also means the printhead lid, required for some mods specifically, would still be consumable and potentially ruined (as in this case, where a glued-down core was used).

If you are considering purchasing a refurbished Epson printer, primarily to modify it, these limitations and the risk factors must be considered. So, now that you have a bit more info on purchasing your refurbished Epson ET8550 or XP970 printer, in which you would like to modify the printhead and use it for various applications, check out the video below to see how this process works and what might be your most significant troubles.