Preventing DTF Print Head Clogs: Best Practices for Using DTF Ink

DTF ink is unique. When it dries, it turns into a chemically resistant rubber, making it extremely difficult to unclog a print head. However, you can clean a print head with partially dry DTF ink using specially formulated recovery fluids S1 and S2, which break down polymer chains before they form solid rubber. Here are some tips to prolong your print head's life:

1. Address nozzle problems immediately after spotting them in nozzle tests. Do not let the print head print with blocked nozzles.
2. If the cleaning cycle doesn’t recover all missing nozzles, soak your print head in fluid S1 or S2 for an hour, then repeat the cleaning cycle and print a test. If necessary, increase the soak time to 2-3 hours or overnight.
3. You can soak your print head directly on the capping station of your printer by pouring the recovery fluid into the cap and parking the print head over it. If your printer doesn’t have a soak service function and it draws down the fluid from the capping station, turn it off when the carriage is in the middle, add the fluid, and park the carriage manually.
4. If soaking the nozzle plate didn’t solve the problem, you can repeat the soaking, but this time you’ll need to push a few ml of the recovery fluid into the print head’s input ports. You’ll need to pull the dampers before pushing the fluid with a syringe. Don’t apply too much pressure, or you could damage your print head.
5. If soaking doesn't work, you will need to remove the print head and clean it on a Print Head Doctor machine.

IMPORTANT: If you remove a print head from a printer, flush it with distilled or deionized water immediately. Don’t let the ink dry! Even 30 minutes of exposure to air can make your print head unrecoverable.

You might be interested in watching this video on DTF print head recovery: Epson i3200 print head recovery with PHD18.

For more information, please visit PrintHeadDoctor.com or contact us here.?

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