radio shack duh!

[alondra]

I have a tandy (radio shack) DMP 203 matrix printer, works fine, need a new ribbon for it. always got them there before. went to the store, no luck, went to them on the net, would you believe no BLACK ribbons, they do have color in three packs, can any one explain why a company would have color ribons for a dot matrix and NOT black. I can find no other sourse of ribbons for this thing, you will of course ask why I want a dot matrix printer, I print only text and it works great and cheap per page.

[dkozloski]

When your old dot matrix printer ribbon quits printing, just squirt it with a little WD-40 and you'll be good to go for a long time. The same thing works on permanently inked rubber stamps. I've been using the same one for over ten years.

[alondra]

please explain, this thing is a plastic case about 12" long, do I take the cover off, (I"ve done that,) and spray the ribbon bunch inside. its a long,long. continious ribbon. with about 11" of ribbon showing.

[alondra]

....

[oxOGradiusOxo]

Yeah, I'd like to know how to do that as well. I've got an old Panasonic dot matrix ribbon printer that's dirt old but in great shape, it's just the printer ribbon is running out.

[dkozloski]

The Panasonic printer I use pulls the ribbon neatly out of the plastic cartridge but just crams it back in the other side after it makes a round trip. I just popped off the plastic cover so I could see the ribbon inside all wadded together and gave it a squirt. You might also put a small amount on the little sponge rubber ink applier inside. Wait a little while for the WD-40 to soak in good and it ought to work. A little bit goes a long way and you can always add more later.
Enjoy!

[alondra]

thanks for the reply, will save it for next time,
the tandy ribbon is made the same way, went back to RS and they had a ribbon for a different number machine, same config but 1" short, opened them both and transfered the new ribbon to the old case, works,
moving the ribbon is a nerve wracker, need to make a cardboard channel to slide the ribbon bunch into as you remove it, otherwise it will expand outward and all over the floor. took about an hour. this may work for other cartreges. make a carefull drawing of how the ribbon is arranged, the ribbon is a moubus (sp)loop, (Any body know the proper spelling.?) makes a 180 degree flip before it comes back out.thus it prints from both sides of the ribbon. well technicaly it only has one side. I paid $70.00 for it in 1996

[This message has been edited by alondra (edited 06-17-2000).]

[This message has been edited by alondra (edited 06-17-2000).]

[DEMENTEDEVIL]

Glad to hear that these DOT printers lasted......**** Canons, they SUCK!!!!
Had a Multipass C2500, C5000, C3500 and a **** L6000 that went bust!!! NO MORE CANON FOR ME!

[Unsecured Loner]

Radio Shack. You've got questions, we've got ...cables.