Re: IWII smearing

[blackm00@cam.org (Michael Black)]

DoNOT@feed.the.trolls (SlickRBCD) wrote in message news:<DoNOT-2808021401080001@12-248-65-251.client.attbi.com>...
> In article <3d6cb661_1@news.iprimus.com.au>, "Mark Cummings"
> <NOTfigjams@primus.com.au> wrote:
>
> > I have only recently re-built my own version of a Mac-Inker, only to find
> > that ink is very hard to find in Australia. At best I have only found ribbon
> > replacements which defeats the purpose of having an inker. The last bottle I
> > bought has dried out after some 12+ years.
> > Anyone know of an Australian supplier of Black Ink for DOT Matrix printers ?
> >
> > Alternatively anyone know what to dilute the ink down with ?
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> As far as using a re-inker is concerned, I don't know. I do know another
> way to dilute the ink on an existing ribbon. Simply unroll the ribbon,
> spread it out on some newspaper, and spray it with WD-40. Let the excess
> dry overnight, then roll the ribbon back into the cartridge.
>[stuff deleted]

I don't see a point in unrolling the whole ribbon.  Just squirt and
move the ribbon further on; repeat, etc   Then let the ribbon sit
for a few days, while the WD-40 spreads out into the unsquirted portions.
Since the ribbon in the cartridge is tightly wound, it will be easy
for the WD-40 to migrate to adjacent layers, and into the spots that
haven't been sprayed.

I thought one of those ribbon re-inkers basically did the same thing.
Keep the ribbon inside the plastic, but advance it while rubbing it
against a source of ink.

As for ink, I've never done anything further than WD-40.  I've been
lucky in recent years to find Imagewriter ribbons at garage sales (I
think I bought 7 for fifty cents once) and then later in the garbage
next to an Imagewriter and some other computer junk.  With that
stock, I haven't had to go looking for ink.

My first guess for ink would be to try the stuff meant for replenishing
rubber stamp pads.  Surely that is available.  I've never read anything
about what specific ink is needed by dot matrix printers.

    Michael