Cheap to run ink jet?
 

I'm after a new all-in-one inkjet to replace my ageing Lexmark X85 - the main redeeming feature of which is the fact that I've been able to refill it's unchipped black and colour cartridges many times over the years saving me ££££s.... :)

Can anyone recommend a good AIO printer with, preferably, unchipped cartridges which can be easily refilled. If that's not possible, something reliable with good print quality for which cheap compatible cartridges are readily available and which doesn't suffer from issues like print heads regularly getting blocked etc.

I've read that some printers require 'self cleaning' frequently using loads of ink and I'd obviously like to avoid that problem.

TVM as always.

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

Anything that does not have the print head fitted to the cartridge. Canon and Epson for example are just reservoirs whereas Lexmark and HP are complete cartridge and print head in one

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

To be honest, I've had very few issues with my Lexmark cartridges over the years. I was always wary about the prospect of having to junk an expensive combined head/reservoir type cartridge but have hardly ever had to do that. I don't do a vast amount of printing and tend to not to do it regularly so I'm wanting to avoid printers which really need to be used frequently to prevent the print head being damaged.

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

I can recommend Epson too. my DX3800 uses four individual cartridges and I can get 14 (3 of each plus 2 extra black) for around a tenner on ebay.

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

Interesting - I've been considering the Epson 425w but have heard reports that the heads suffer from clogging problems and that cheap ink refills aren't available. Know anything about that?

Cheers.

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

No, sorry, I don't. All I know is mine's fine; and has been for a few years now.

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

Kodak 100%


Lexmark and Brother left me fuming and out of poocket

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

Canon, get loads of ink cheap on ebay, and they use multi tanks, unlike those stupid 'colour' ones where you use all the green say, and to print more green you have to replace the entire cartridge, despite the other colours being ok.

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

I owned two epsons and both suffered clogging problems, especially when used with refills.

That combined with their truly awful customer service and tech support means I'm determined never to own another Epson product, ever again.

---------- Post added at 13:37 ---------- Previous post was at 13:35 ----------

Green is a combination of (mostly) cyan and yellow ... if your printer won't print green, then two of the three colours in the combined tank are depleted. ;)

</pedant>

Fair point though, separate tanks are more economical in the long run. I use Canon these days, they have championed separate tanks for years.

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

I still run a R300 this printer is old. Yes when not used for a long period of time the inks do clog but I am yet to see a printer brand this has not happened with ( in the field I have seen loads and loads before anyone says my one doesnt do it) 6 seperate inks cost me less than a fiver so on the odd occassion it blocks it only costs a few pence to pass a few runs using the epson utility. The most ive had to do is change the cartridge meaning the head has actually never clogged really anyway

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

Interesting TVM for that. Any idea if the sx425w cartridges can be 'zapped' using that thing or similar?

---------- Post added at 21:13 ---------- Previous post was at 21:12 ----------

Where do you get your inks from Zing?

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

I use a HP Deskjet F4180 AIO and usually pay £15-20 for a pair of compatible cartridges from ASDA, they last a while too. Printer only cost me £30 as well :)

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

SVP. I aint bought any for a while and buy discs at the same time to soak up the delivery

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

I couldn't find a reference to the 425 cartridges (T12... series) on the list so not sure it it'd be compatible. I also read about that sensor thingy last night on one of the websites I checked out after posting here. I really detest that sort of thing and it's hardly environmentally sound is it?.... :(

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

To be honest I would never buy an inkjet.

I would always buy a colour laser, yes the cartridges cost a lot (cheaper online) and will be far far cheaper in the long run.

Ink jet ink is the one of the most expensive liquids on the planet, I did hear that it costs $750,000 to fill the space shuttle with fuel. If they used printer ink it would be over $500,000,000 to fill.

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

Yes I use a mono laser for nearly all my b&w printing and it is far cheaper than even refilling my ink cartridges. I did consider a colour laser some time back but I don't think the cheaper versions print photos very well and that's what I'd be using a colour inkjet mainly for. I've stayed with my Lexmark until now as I've been able to quickly and easily refill the ink cartridges but it's getting to the point where I want better photo output. Bit of a quandary really....

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

As the above have said, branded inkjet cartridges is the easiest format for the printer ink manufacturing companies to print money in the first place. I like the part they say in the instructions "always use the same branded ink as your printer for best results" In another words pay our rip off prices for your ink, other wise maybe you printer will stop function, most times very false fact! :td:

If you want a long term printer Colour/Mono laser is the cheapest, it has the longer shelf life compared to 'wet liquid inkjet cartridges'.

Life span of laser vs inkjet
# Laser cartridge (powdered ink crystals -heat activated) = 3 years Average print count : @1500 for refill

# Inkjet cartridge (wet liquid ink though a filter mesh) = @3 months max Average print count : @357 (brother inkjet)

I can tell you for a fact if you live in/have (summer) a hot climate or humid part of the world, that pricey 'inkjet cartridge' will be a plastic weight in a few day from the ink drying out in the filter mesh hence unusable- yes person/s have tried to put a few holes on the mesh but all that does is leak all the still 'liquid ink' out of the cartridge = useless & still useless after. Can I say that I go far back using printers since the early days of 12 pin parallel dot-matrix printers with a early windows 3.1 microsoft.

Laser toner is "crystals" after all, so no drying out, no need for water to keep it usable like 'inkjet liquid'. It may be more like wise in once off buy of the machine, first toner & drum but the "laser printer" will pay for it's self over a few years or more using refill kits & re-manufactured drums not using OEM toner & drum. Take my word for it I use a Brother DCP7010 (mono) for over 5 years - 4 1/2 years of using toner refill & remanufatured drums. It normally works as (normal mid level detail use) 2 toner refills to one drum replacement. Did I say using remanufatured parts save you over 50% in prices over OEM parts, there the same but reworked hence you are recycling some of the IT waste /reusing that we use to throw away.

Anyhow look at this thread I posted & added to for the same reason the first poster wanteed to know:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/19...mendation.html + page heavy (4 pages full)

To add I know there other printer methods out there but laser, inkjet are the most popular as to price of usage & replacement items.

I hope my input helps
Toonlight :dunce:

Re: Cheap to run ink jet?
 

Luxury!!! My first business printer was a Brother HR20 daisywheel which cost me IIRC £399 back in 1986 and printed at the astonishing rate of 22cps! In fact it ate daisywheels faster than it printed...... ;)

Thanks for the rest of your post too BTW.. :)