Date   : Thu, 17 May 1984 15:42:00 EST
From   : Bruce Hawkins <bhawkins%umass-cs.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa>
Subject: Ribbon inker reply summary

       Replies to my query about ribbon re-inkers.

From: EB%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA

    I have been using a "Mac Inker" for about nine months.  I have had
no problems with it and have been very satisfied.

From: RREINER@SIMTEL20

Sorry I got lost inside Babyl.  The extra lubrication may have caused
my print head to fail prematurely.  The cost $100. from the factory.
From: mknox@ut-ngp.ARPA

No personal experience, but read a noticeably unsatisfactory review
of the MacInker in Two/Sixteen a few months ago.  Very poor consistency
in applying the ink, and a serious tendency to jam.
From: Jerry E. Pournelle <POURNE%mit-mc.arpa@csnet-relay.csnet>

I also have [MacInker] one and it is very good.  It works.
From: KSPROUL%rutgers.arpa@csnet-relay.csnet

I have 3 different versions of the 'Mac-Inker' (No not because of macintosh)
from Computer Friends in Oregon (I think) or somplace out west..

These are very nice, and if you can split the cost between a couple of friends
they are VERY worth it...

One thing to be careful of!!!!

A lot of printer manufactures get lubrication for the print head from
a lubricant in the ink on the ribbon!!  So if you have a printer like
this (Mostly dot matrix)  make sure the ink you use has lubrication in
it... The safest way to do this is to buy the Ink straight from Computer
Friends,.   I called them and asked them directly about the lubrication,
and the guy I talked to knew exactly what I was talking about and said
that there ink has even more lubrication than what the companies that
need it required as a minimum...

They sell many different kinds re-inkers, so you have to get the one for
your type of ribbon....

Their address is:

Computer Friends
6415 Southwest Canyon Court #10
Portland, Oregon  97225

From: Richard P. Wilkes <RICK%mit-mc.arpa@csnet-relay.csnet>

The ribbon re-inkers are fine as long as you are using a daisy-wheel or
thimble printer.  Most people with dot matrix use the ribbons until they
are extremely faint.  At that time any of the natural oils in the ink
have been removed and the fibers weaken.  After re-inking the ribbon may
not be able to handle the additional use without fraying.  Someone in
Alexandria VA bought a re-inker.  After two re-inkings the ribbon on the
Epson printer caught one of the wires and destroyed the printhead.  No
real biggy on the Epson--$30.  But, on some others it can be quite
expensive.

I suggest instead that you find a wholesale ribbon house.  I know that
replacement pancakes for most printers run from $1-$2.  I use Aspen
Ribbons in Aspen, CO, but those are their dealer prices, not END-USER.
They are several places which adv. in Byte.  You might want to check
them out. -r
From: howard@Brl-Tgr.ARPA

       I have an Epson MX80 printer. After about one year, printing
became very faint. A friend suggested that I pry open the ribbon
cartridge and spray the ribbon with WD40. This causes ink at the edges to
migrate to the center. The first few prints were
smudged and uneven but, after several pages, the print quality looked like
a new ribbon.

Howard Walter
howard@brl
!decvax!brl-bmd!howard
From: abc@Brl-Tgr.ARPA

Gee, 
I dunno about ribbon re-inkers, but I rejuvinated mine on the Epson MX70
with WD40, the automotive solvent.  Just don't use too much.
From: Leah Larkey <SP.LARKEY%MIT-SPEECH@MIT-MC>

       I have a "Le Ribonizer" reinker.  I'm fairly happy with it.  It is a
little messy, and I have had some problems with ink bleeding on certain
kinds of paper.  From other people's comments, it sounds like it is worth it 
to pay the extra 10 or so dollars to get MacInker.
     Leah Larkey
sp.larkey@mit-speech@mit-mc
From: cyb-eng!topher@ut-sally.ARPA

We use a local re-inker here in town and it seems to work ok.

Cheers,
Topher Eliot
Cyb Systems, Austin, TX
{seismo, allegra, ihnp4}!ut-sally!cyb-eng!topher