Can a photosensitive drum be damaged if cleaned with isopropyl alcohol?

3

Some background: I've got a drum for a Brother MFC-8710dw that has some streaks. As per the instructions I've been cleaning it with a dry lint free cloth.

I've noticed though that lots of people online recommend that you clean them with isopropyl alcohol, yet the instructions from Brother specifically forbid the use of alcohol (and for that matter any liquids in general).

Are the people at Brother being overly cautious? Or can the use of isopropyl alcohol on the photosensitive drum really cause damage? And if so what sort of damage can it cause?

Zell Faze

Posted 2013-07-31T18:29:38.313

Reputation: 151

I went ahead and used it and it appeared to work well without damaging the drum. I've repeated this now several times with great success. – Zell Faze – 2014-08-13T13:59:35.797

1My suggestion (not an answer) would be that if you're about to discard / replace the drum, consider trying the alcohol to see if it works. If it doesn't then you're back to where you started. No loss. – TecBrat – 2014-04-17T17:33:47.887

Answers

1

It mentions using a cotton swab after printing a Drum Dot Print to get specks and streaks off the drum. Can apply a bit more pressure and be more accurate with a cotton swab than with a cloth. (From the online instructions for Title: Clean the drum unit) There is a specific warning against using liquids on the drum surface which should probably be followed.

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Brian

Posted 2013-07-31T18:29:38.313

Reputation: 8 439

1The drum has an organic photosensitive coating that could be damaged by contact with solvents. – David Schwartz – 2013-08-01T21:35:05.370

So alcohol could wear away at the coating? – Zell Faze – 2014-05-02T16:01:54.643