How to Avoid White Ink Clogging on Your Converted Epson ET-8550 Printer: Pro Tips for Reliability

Question:
I recently converted my Epson ET-8550 to a CISS system and printed daily with excellent results. However, the white ink eventually clogged completely, and despite purchasing several items to fix it, nothing worked. What should I do differently if I buy another printer to ensure it remains reliable?

Answer:

Why White Ink is a Unique Challenge

White ink is notorious in printing because of its heavy pigment load. That pigment behaves like glue when it sits idle, so even a brief lapse in usage or maintenance can cause a clog. The ET-8550 isn’t alone—this is a common challenge with almost every converted printer using white ink, whether DTF, DTG, or hybrid workflows.

Think of white ink as a fluid always on the verge of solidifying. Like you wouldn’t leave a glue bottle uncapped for two days, white ink requires constant circulation, regular flushing, and attentive care.

Why Your First Setup Failed

It sounds like you were diligent initially—printing daily and producing good-quality prints. However, even daily printing might be insufficient if other preventive maintenance steps aren’t taken. The clog likely developed due to:

• Stagnant white ink is present in the lines or dampers, especially if the printer sits overnight without agitation.

• Lack of circulation system: Without a white ink circulation system, sedimentation in the ink lines and cartridges is inevitable.

• Environmental factors: Heat, humidity, and dust can also speed up ink thickening.

Even quality cleaning kits and tools can fail to restore full function when the clog sets in, especially if the white ink dries inside the damper or printhead micro-nozzles.

What to Do Differently on Your Next Printer

If you decide to invest in another printer and convert it for DTF/white ink usage, here are some key practices to improve reliability:

1. Install a White Ink Circulation System
   These systems stir the ink periodically to prevent settling. Some use a pump with a timer; others rely on magnetic stirring. BCH Technologies offers components that can help set this up.

2. Agitate Ink Daily
   Even with circulation, manually shaking the white ink cartridge once daily is helpful.

3. Perform Scheduled Head Cleanings
   Even if you print daily, an additional nozzle check and light head cleaning every 2–3 days can help prevent clogs.

4. Use a Maintenance Routine With Flush Solution
   Every 1–2 weeks, flush the white channel with a specialized cleaning solution to dissolve early-stage buildup.

5. Avoid Long Idle Periods
   Never leave the printer idle for more than 24 hours without a plan. If you’ll be away, run a scheduled test print or cleaning from a connected PC using automation.

6. Create a Humidity-Controlled Environment
   Dry environments cause ink to evaporate faster. Keep humidity between 40% and 60% in your print room.

7. Follow Maintenance Video Guides
   We’re working on producing more video content specifically about white ink maintenance for the ET-8550, so keep an eye on our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search bar next to the "About" tab to find relevant tutorials.

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. So, it might take a few weeks to get your printer to drop it off. 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 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.

Once again, thank you for reaching out and supporting BCH Technologies. We appreciate your engagement and hope your next printer conversion journey will succeed!