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Desktops: Generic Printer Ink
Couldn't get it to work
by TinaBelle - 9/8/06 9:43 AM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI've tried refills and also Staples cartridges for my two HP printers. Neither worked at all! The re-fill attempt was several years ago and I can't explain why it wouldn't work. (Maybe HP has some super chemical sensor that detected alien ink?) With the Staples ink cartridge on my 3 year old multifunction printer, the mechanism for moving the cartridge just wouldn't go. I was afraid it broke, but when I replaced the cartridge with the HP brand, it worked fine again.
Printer ink cheap
by tbnorris - 9/8/06 10:56 AM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI've been using Inkjets R Us at http://www.acsmsupplies.com/ for years now on my Epson Stylus 740 with no problems. I recently bought 12 cartridges for just a litte more that the price of one Epson at Office Max.
Been Happily Re-filling for better than 4 years
by najie - 9/8/06 10:57 AM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI haven't purchased a manufacturer cartridge for at least four years. I have to say that it wasn't a smooth transition and when I started refilling HP cartridges, it was always hit or miss. Love their printers, didn't like refilling their cartridges. I tried Canon printers(twice)and they failed mechanically within the first few months. Never got a chance to try refilling. I understand that the newer models are mechanically better and easily re-fillable. I now use only epson printers. I am currently using an R220 and an R320 and went through one R200. The R220 has had only one set of original cartridges, the ones that came with it, all others have been refillable cartridges. I'm on my second set. The first set had foam in the ink supply side of the cartridge and lasted through about a year of re-filling before having problems with trapping air. They were replaced with the new foam-less cartridges and have had no problems. My R320 uses an auto re-fill system with external tanks and auto-reset chips. I never have to remove the cartridges from the printer, I just refill the external tanks. I use a good brand of bulk ink that is designed just for the epson models that I use. I have printed pictures and color graphics using the original inks and bulk inks to compare colors. There is always some difference in the colors but, not enough that anyone who was looking at one picture or the other, would say that anything was off.
My reason for replying to this is: Epson printers have a bad reputation of failing just after the warranty runs out. My R200 did fail just after warranty, was repaired and failed again within two months. For this reason, I don't think that I Owe Epson any allegence to buy their ink cartridges since I believe that their printers are designed to fail. I can refill at a fraction of the cost per cartridge $2.00 as apposed to $13.00 to $18.00 per new and I do a lot of color printing. One set of cartridges for either printer is about $85.00. I can replace the R220 printer for that price and It comes with a set of cartridges. It would make better sense to just throw the printer away and buy a new one, each time you needed to replace the cartridges.
As long as I am able, I will refill my cartridges.
My advise: Search the internet for ink refills and re-fillable cartridges. Find a site that has a good rating and dive in. Once you get the hang of it, you'll never go back. Oh, buy rubber gloves and keep alchohol handy for cleanup.
Failing Epson Printers
by Derek R - 9/8/06 12:46 PM In reply to: Been Happily Re-filling for better than 4 years by najieAbsolutely agree with the short life from Epson printers. I have had 4 R300s fail, due to faulty PC boards,in two years and told that all were uneconomical to repair. Epson were polite but absolutely useless at coming up with any repacement help. As for paying the ridiculious price of their cartridges when I obtain the same results for a tenth of their price, they must think we were born yesterday. Stick to tank feed systems which have no sponge in the cartridges.
generic inks?
by bliq - 9/8/06 11:17 AM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryHere's not an opinion but facts...
First, the cheaper the printer, generally, the more expensive the inks.
Secondly, some printers have lower per page costs than others, and this difference can be significant.
I chose to buy a highly rated printer (MP780) from a company that tends to have the lowest per page costs (Canon). Because of that, each cartridge tends to cost less than $10 anyways and even the generic stuff is only $2 a cartridge cheaper at retail. But it's not like I buy more than one cartridge at a time since there are 6 separate tanks.
Sure I can buy the "10 of every cartridge" on ebay but I'm not willing to bet that after the second cartridge or so used, the remaining will be dry- it's true, inks tend to last just a year or two. I guess I don't print as many photos as the rest of you...
Amen to That!
by SpamFighter - 9/11/06 7:07 AM In reply to: generic inks? by bliqYes, cheaper printer = higher ink cost. It's not all that obvious at first, because you can't always tell by the price of the cartridges - you have to consider how much ink is actually in the cartridges! I may be old & fat, but I think I can still run fast enough to get away from someone trying to give me another Lexmark. I have a really cheap Lexmark that I actually like, but no longer use it because I can't afford to keep ink in it! Had another Lexmark all-in-one that I gave away brand new in the box - I got it free with a computer I bought (used the same ink cartridges!) I have an Epson 1280 I paid around $400 for. Besides the fact that the ink cartridges seem to last much longer (must have had 3-4 times as much ink as the lexmarks), I now have it outfitted with a CFS (continous flow system - referred to in earlier post as a "Feed System" aka Bulk feed system. I chose that particular printer because I needed a wide printer and I wanted one that I could get a CFS for. I haven't found anyone who makes a CFS for lexmark. The lexmark cartridges were difficult to refill (compared to previous experience with refilling HP, Canon, & even Epson cartridges) and then most didn't work even with a chip resetter!
Epson breakdown.
by john814 - 9/8/06 12:56 PM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryFirst of all, Epsons do break down after heavy use. Secondly, with the money you save on generic ink, you can buy a newer, more advanced printer. I have never in five epsons had a problem with klassicspecialties.com. Epson must love your buddy.
Buying alternative printer ink
by DanaRid - 9/8/06 1:36 PM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI have used ink kits for ink refills for Lexmark cartridges with very good results, provided I print out every day a test page or other material. I am now using a kit called iPRiNT with no problems (I have used up all the ink in the kit in some 3 or 4 refills) so long as I follow the rule of a printout everyday. I used, in the distant past, a kit called Universal Inkjet Refill System. The results with it were equal to or better than the iPRiNT kit. A refill kit consisting of plastic bellows with attached needle filled with ink from Wal-Mart was a disaster.
The iPRiNT I found at Target; the Universal kit was some time ago advertised by CVS at something like $10 for three 25 ml bottles of ink. Included was a syringe, bottle of solvent, and instructions. The iPRiNT kit is essentially the same as the Universal kit.
I have also tried the technique of pulling out the cartridge and setting it on a wet paper towel to get the ink flowing after a time of no use. This works very well. However, after several removals and replacements of the cartidge a ridge locking the cartridge in place broke off and the cartridge would no longer lock in place. Under those conditions a replacement cartridge was needed.
I have used a tool which I made consisting of a strip of metal about three-quarters-inch wide with a layer of felt cemented to it. This tool I use to soak the bottom of the cartridge while in place without removal. The Lexmark cartridge can be parked in place at the center-front of the carriage permitting the water-soaked felt strip to be slipped under; a minute or less of soaking is generally enough to get the ink flowing. This also worked well.
I have used a remanufactured cartridge in one case and gotten satisfactory results. There will always be one that will not perform well, or will leak ink, or show other problems. In the one case, the first cartridge did not work and the supplier replaced it without charge. Remanufactured cartridges save only little in cost and it is a turkey shoot to get a satisfactory replacement.
In my view, the difference in cost between a new cartridge, a remanufacture cartridge, and a refill system is totally in favor of the refill and I intend to go looking for a Universal kit shortly.
Good luck,
Sick of Bush
It's relative to the cost of the printer
by yukiuk - 9/8/06 2:59 PM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryIt's a very good question. I have just purchased a top of the range Canon all-in-one printer and the integrated software will NOT allow me to use generic inks. It will also record any instances of me doing so and void any warranty. Canon tell me that generic inks are inferior and can damage the print head. I am not prepared to risk it because the printer is very pricey. If, however you have a cheaper printer, I would certainly take the risk as the money saved over time would more than compensate if the printer ultimately needed replacing.
Staples ink
by ldinorci - 9/8/06 5:01 PM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI have been refilling ink cartridges for years in my HP printer. I had no poblems filling them myself. I would refill original HP cartridges 3 times and then buy a fresh OEM cartridge, refill that 3 times and so on. The one time that I use a refurbished cartridge from Staples, the cartridge leaked and ruined my printer. Luckily, the printer was old anyway so it wasn't a loss. Thew problem with refurbished cartridges is that you don't know how many times it has beed refilled.
Generic ink is good for the wallet!!!
by bross2k - 9/9/06 12:57 AM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI've had good and bad experience with refill ink. good ink I have used is from 123refills.com and also from sameink.com - good comprehensive refill instructions and also they have tech support by email if you need it. I have not used it on an epson printer as I don't own one! but I have used it on my cannon pixma 3000 and also on my hp all in one unit. they both worked great for regular printing. sameink inks worked best on my cannon for picture printing. the bad ink I purchased was from filljet.com - not that it did not work, but the colors were not as bright. the black was almost gray!
Generic Printer Ink
by jafragirl - 9/9/06 6:57 PM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI have 3 Epson printers and use generic ink in the one that I don't print photos with. I've never had a problem and it's 1/3 the cost of the regular cartridges from Epson. I'm not aware of any hardware problems from the ink., Is there something specific that you know of that your friend had happen? It does depend on what you are printing, too, as far as longer term quality retention.
ink
by slh53041 - 9/9/06 9:15 PM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI have an epson printer and use generic cartidges that are 1/2-1/3 the price of OEM. I have never had a problem with this method.
I had a previous Stylus that was ruined by trying to do refills. I strongly advise against. It is not worth ruining the printer head; which means you might as well get a new printer.
I have a one year old canon Pixma 850. I love it. I only buy generic, both the photo and regular inks. I order online (from xxx injets.com). Shipping is free and no tax.
Since I do very little color printing and the black gets used a lot, I buy 12 30ml. cartidges for every one color or black for photo. Although printing with color(maps, etc.) is prety, I never do it. What a waste.
I can remove and replace the color cartridges at will. Can't do that with the HP and Lexmark rip-off machines!
BTW, if you believe that your cartridge has dried out rather than being empty, here's a fix.
put a small amount of Windex in a shallow saucer and set the catridge in it for a short while. The spongy material will absorb it and dissolve the dried out ink.
Epson Problems and Good Canon Results
by fredschernig - 9/9/06 10:20 PM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryI used an Epson 777 for about three years. Worked very well in the beginning but with time the print-jets seemed to work less reliable. I would spend endless times and lots of expensive ink to run cleaning-cycles, ever less successfully. Print quality was getting very bad. Because of high cost of Epson cartridges used up just in cleaning-cycles tried "generic ink" and cleaning-solutions. Not any better. A Fry offer of refurbished Canon I550 for $ 50 looked great as a replacement: the cartridges in the printer were worth more than the total cost! Two other good points: the print-nozzles are on a separate frame and can be bought ~$ 50. Also, the BCI-3e cartridges are only ~1/2 foam and the rest are fluid-reservoir --- allowing more ink to be put into the cartridge. Refill signal works well: reservoir is really empty when warning comes up. Have used IMS-Ink bought at COSTCO for $ 17, with 240 ml Black, 80 ml each Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Photo-Cyan, Photo-Magenta. Did 24 refills by now of the black cartridge delivered with printer, 8 refills each with the three original color-cartridges. Almost used up one refill kit over three years! No problems, no cleaning cycles ever done. Seems to be a good combination for me!
More to consider than $
by SpamFighter - 9/11/06 7:52 AM In reply to: Generic Printer Ink by LewmaryWhile not all generic inks are created equal, it really depends mostly on what kind of printing you do. If mostly text & 2D artwork, generic is probably OK. I have had experience with some generic ink colors looking muddy or dull on photo prints.
On the store branded generics (ie Staples, OfficeMax, etc.) I don't see a big enough difference in the cost for the loss of quality for photo printer (paper quality also makes a big difference for photos.) I also tried some ink that was very cheap I got online, but had to order 4 cartridges to make shipping charges worthwhile - Well I have 3 unopened, collecting dust on the boxes and took the first one out and put it in trash while it still had plenty of ink. I could not accept the poor quality for my purposes (mostly photos & T-shirt transfers). When used for T-shirt transfers, even with professional quality transfer paper & professional heat press, the colors from the cheaper ink ran when washed.
The ink I'm using now is not OEM, but I wouldn't call it generic or even cheap (although it does save me more $ than the cheap cartridges). I bought a CFS (continous flow system) for my Epson that I am extremely pleased with! There are many companies to choose from for Epson printers & even some Canons. I did a lot of research before investing - some systems said you could only use their inks, and others had very complicated installation instructions. I finally chose a system from http://www.inksupply.com/. Their system was supposed to work with most any bulk inks, but they had several kinds to choose from depending on your needs. I chose the archival inks for T-shirt transfers (and they also sell a very good transfer paper actually cheaper than our previous supplier). Their archival ink produces better results than the original Epson branded inks.
You have to spend a little more upfront for the system, but I've already done enough printing that I would have already spent more on individual cartidges than what the system & ink cost and I had even bought an extra refill set because I wasn't sure how much printing I could do before refilling. The lowest bottle of ink is still over half full! Also, when I need more, I can order just the color I need - not all six. Also, the bottles sit outside the printer and you can actually see how much ink is in them. I am thrilled with this set-up.
It will cost a little more to get started if you have a lexmark printer, because you'll have to trash the lexmark & buy Epson or Canon (but check which models you can get CFS for before you buy).
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