Epson ET-4550 Ink Pad Maintenance Made Easy: Replace or Reuse?

Question: Where can I find the ink pads for the Epson ET-4550? Are there any alternatives to replacing them?

Answer: 

Ink pads, also called waste ink pads, are essential for absorbing excess ink during cleaning cycles. If you want to replace the ink pads, they are typically available from third-party sellers on platforms like eBay or Amazon. Search for "Epson ET-4550 ink pads and find compatible options.

However, you may not need to replace the ink pads entirely. Cleaning and reusing them is a practical alternative. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Carefully remove the ink pads from the printer.

2. Rinse them thoroughly with water to remove excess ink.

3. Allow the pads to air dry completely before reinserting them into the printer. This method can save time and money while keeping your printer in good condition.

Consider installing an external waste ink tank for a more permanent and hassle-free solution. This modification, which we’ve demonstrated in several videos, redirects the waste ink to an external container. This makes future maintenance much easier, as you can empty the tank instead of dealing with saturated pads. To see the setup process, check out our videos on the BCH Technologies YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies).

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. So, we cannot 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. It may take a few weeks before you can drop off your printer. Our services are structured to repair a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. However, we acknowledge that our rates could be more economical. Thus, we 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.