Tricks for ReInking Printer Ribbons
Primarily about ReInking Printer Ribbons
Also see Re-Ink 026 Ribbons
- Considerations
- Current summary
- Commercially available
- Material from newsgroup
- Evaporating Marvel Lubricating Oil onto printer ribbons.
Considerations:
- We have a number of narrow (? 1/4")and wide (line printer)ribbons that
were in good working order (presumably well inked,
lots of black stuff) that have dried to unusability
in the intervening 40 years. Potentially, adding
an appropriate amount of appropriate fluid - evenly -
could restore these to service.
E-mail below suggests that WD-40 might work to "fluidize" or carry the existing dried ink -
- Hopefully we will use one or more well inked ribbons until they do not have enough what ever to make good black marks on paper, but that the fabric is good enough to "re-ink" and enter useful service again.
- It is known that re-inking is an imperfect art - maybe so imperfect that a good course might be to completely de-ink a partly used old ribbon before trying to re-ink.
Ed Thelen :-)) @ reink@ed-thelen.org
Current summary:
Billy Pettit has evaporated
Marvel Lubricating Oil onto printer ribbons.
Commercially available
GOOGLE Lexmark 1403 3203 ribbon
http://www.intimecatalog.com/supplies/mfg_LEXMARK_IBM_COMPATIBLE.phtml
LEXMARK IBM COMPATIBLE #MA2680CMPT (MA2680CMPT)
IBM 1403/3203 20 YARD RIBBON, 6/BOX, BAR REVERSE, PRICED PER EACH,
1/Pkg 22.95
http://www.shoplet.com/office/db/g11662.html
Nylon ribbon for Lexmark 1403/3203 printers, black, 6/box
[ black, 6/box ; 12 LBS ] $426.64
---------- 026 keypunch ---------------
http://bargain-barn.net/details.asp?prodid=MC25&cat=1008527347
IBM 026 Keypunch Compatible Ribbons
MC25 Relative: $9.00/ea
SKU: MC25 $54.00 USD/Unit (ofo 6)
Material from newsgroup
Most recent added here (top)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Thelen"
> I had one of these, maybe a cheaper model, about twenty years ago. No
> idea where it is, but I think it is no longer in my possession. Seems
> like it was bought from a company called "Computer Friends", which name
> still exists but reincarnated as a graphics company. IIRC, you had to
> have a custom mounting bracket for each kind of ribbon with which you
> used it. The only one I had was for the C.Itoh 8510 variety; by the time
> I replaced that old workhorse ribbons were cheap enough not to matter.
>
> FWIW I did not find it listed on eBay. This is the sort of thing that
> winds up in a box in the garage for future generations to puzzle over...
>
> Chuck Sterling
Jay Maynard (jmaynard@thebrain.conmicro.cx) writes:
> On 2005-02-12, Ed Thelen
Ed,
I met you yesterday at the museum. We discussed dried out ribbons.
The oil I used was Marvel Lubricating Oil. It has some volatiles in it.
I haven't seen it in years, though I think there is a newer version at OSH.
[Also available searching the web.]
What I used to do was get a long bottle like you store spaghetti in.
I would put oil in the bottom with a little stand to hold the ribbon
above the oil with out touching it. The ribbon stays on the spool.
The jar is tightly sealed with a cap. For a long ribbon like the 1403,
you need a second take up reel. Start the ribbon on the take up reel.
Every day or two wrap a couple more feet on the take up reel.
And flip it upside down when you do this. Add oil as needed.
When done, seal the ribbon in a baggie.
You can speed the process up by slightly heating the jar so the
volatiles are more agressive. Use the sun for heating, not a stove.
It's worked for me on a couple of bad ribbons. Does leave an oil
stain on the first few sheets printed.
Better was to use some re-inking compound. At one time you could
buy it in small bottles from ribbon manufacturers. I haven't had any in many years.
There is a large group of typewriter collectors. I'm going to get a message
to them and see if they have any other ideas. I know they have been having
some success in importing ribbons from India.
They may have contact with a manufacturer who still makes ribbons.
Billy Pettit