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borgward

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 8, 2021
61
7
OSX 10.13.6. How do I print test page? HP OfficeJet 6970 all in one?
 
Go to System Preferences, then Printer & Scanner preferences pane.
Select your printer in the list, then open the Printer Queue.
Go to the Printer menu, and choose Print Test Page.
 
Thanks.
I just cleaned up inkjet printer. Works now. I go through periods of non use and it finally clogged up. Any thoughts about what to print and how often just to keep it in condition. I thought test page because it prints all the colors and black. Don't know if that is enough. I want to avoid using the printhead cleaning option as that is wasteful if I do it all the time.
 
Ah, yes, most inkjets need to print occasionally - kinda goes with the inkjet tech.
Working in a service shop, I've seen lots of clogged printers.
I remember working on cheaper Epson printers in late '90s that would have dried ink in the printhead, and would just refuse to clean out. I tried lots of tricks: soaking printhead in 90% alcohol, plus some other types of solvents, and nothing much helped except trying (multiple) test pages, with epson-brand ink. Even that was not always successful. At that time, I recommended doing test page once a month, just to try to keep the ink flowing a little bit. I think that's still a useful tip - inkjet technology is better now than Canon's early inkjets in mid-90s
Worst way to treat an inkjet is to move it to the high shelf in the closet, and leave it there for a couple of years. Good luck getting that one to work again...
 
Ah, yes, most inkjets need to print occasionally - kinda goes with the inkjet tech.
Working in a service shop, I've seen lots of clogged printers.
I remember working on cheaper Epson printers in late '90s that would have dried ink in the printhead, and would just refuse to clean out. I tried lots of tricks: soaking printhead in 90% alcohol, plus some other types of solvents, and nothing much helped except trying (multiple) test pages, with epson-brand ink. Even that was not always successful. At that time, I recommended doing test page once a month, just to try to keep the ink flowing a little bit. I think that's still a useful tip - inkjet technology is better now than Canon's early inkjets in mid-90s
Worst way to treat an inkjet is to move it to the high shelf in the closet, and leave it there for a couple of years. Good luck getting that one to work again...
I put distilled water on the print heads, ran cleaning program several times and finally sprayed DeoxIT 5 on each print head. I then ran the cleaning program afterwards. That worked. DeoxIT D5 is a non destructive contact cleaner. Guitar techs use it on vintage guitar controllers. works good on Rapidograph technical pens as well. I always use HP ink cartridges. HP InstantInk sends me supplies before I run out. About $6 per month. Thats cheaper than buying 1 large Black ink cartridge at the store (if they have it)
 
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