beware of some color printers

[FJ and G]

So you like to do decals for your trains or make signs using your color printer? Beware.

I have an HP932C inkjet with a fairly new, used only once or twice color cartridge that doesn't work.

Reason, according to a technician at Best Buy and some complaints I googled online, is that HP made particular color inks for that cartridge that dry up unless you print a color page about once a week. Also, the cartridge will dry up anyway after a certain period of time, labeled on the cartridge. The technician I spoke with said HP has developed better inks for newer printers.

I looked into buying a new printer instead of a new ink cartridge. New printers are as low as $99. But guess what? None come with a simple little usb cable. That is $30 or one-third the cost of a printer.

Now go figure.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I had the same problem with Epson printers.   And even worst they have software that says one of the cartriges is empty before it is, and will not let you print.  So you have to replace color cartridges even if all you ever print is black and white.

Jim H

[dbaker48]

David,
Try a couple of options, with the exisiting cartridges for the 932, don't throw them away just yet.  Take a paper towel and fold it into a pad then saturate it with prefferrably distilled water.  Place the pad in a bowl and heat it in the microwave.  After it is hot take it out of the microwave and set the cartridge on top of it, this will help breakdown any dried ink in the nozzles.
If you are considering a new printer, a lot of them are considered to be disposable today.  The printer is around $49, and the replacement ink is 32 to 37.
I would be happy to give you advise on a printer.
How much do you print?
Do you do many photo prints?
How often (Typically) do you print?

Jim,
Download this website, it is a dos based program and will let you see the actual percentage of ink in a cartridge.  If I get a low ink indicator I will typically replace all the cartridges with less than 15%, this actually saves ink.  www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

[dwiemer]

Good topic, I have a HP photosmart printer and a Dell printer both needing ink.  Does anyone have a suggestion for replacement cartridges?  I know Dell says you need to order from them, but they are pricey.

Dennis

[FJ and G]

Thanks, Don,

I'll call my daughter now before she throws it away. I gave it to her to use for college projects. Thanks!

[dbaker48]

Dennis,
Depending upon which Dell you have their may be alternatives.  Ref. www.klassicspecialties.com, or you may find it more economical replacing the Dell with a Canon or Epson.  You can use the above referenced site as a cartridge cost resource for various printers you may consider.  THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN PURCHASING A PRINTER IS KNOWING THE COST OF INK BEFORE YOU TAKE THE PRINTER HOME.

[ChiefEagles]

Hey guys, Don is in this business.  He knows what he is talking about.  Don, thanks for the advice.

[dwiemer]

Thanks for the information Don.

Dennis

[daan]

Well then, what would you expect.. You want the color to be dry when leaving the printer, otherwise you would only get one smear of colors instead of a picture. The side effect though is that when the ink is in the printer, it also dries out slowly.

I don't think any make of color cartridges doesn't have that side effect, since it's common with almost every printer we had the past 6 years..They count on it that you buy new cartridges about 3 times a year, and that is exactly why the printer itself only costs 90 bucks.. Their profit is in the cartridges, not in the printer..

(There are some printers using separate color cartridges which are way cheaper the the 3 color ones, but those printers are very expensive compared to the others..)

[trainbrain]

Dennis: Cartridge World will refill your cartridges for about 1/2 the price of new ones. I have an Epson Photo R200 with 6 cartridges and 2 kids printing up a storm sometimes. They just swap out filled used cartridges for your empties. So far, no problems!
Brian

[markn]

About two years ago, I happened to catch an HP rep at the Office/Depot/Max/Buy? while I was shopping for printers- and after some quizzing/pressure he basically said/inferred the business plan was to "give" ($99) away the printers to get you locked into their brand and make money from the cartridges.

[Demon09]

Well, after reading this I went to print a picture and see how my printer would do. 

And the verdict is: I spent about $45 on replacement cartriges about a month ago, and haven't printed color the whole time, and sure enough my brand new cartriges don't print correctly.

And sure enough, it is an HP just as you said.  As if I don't pay enough money as a university student as it is, now I get to waste money on cartriges for the printer I have to use for school.

Thank God I don't have to print color too often, or any time soon for that matter....

[phillyreading]

I have an HP Deskjet 5550 printer for almost two years and don't have any problem with it, even printing color is fine! Ran low on ink but no problems otherwise.

Had trouble installing the CD that came with the printer but after that no problems, prints everything like it is new.

Found a place in West Palm Beach that refills ink cartridges so I can save a few dollars on ink.  Have tried to refill my own ink cartridges, what a sloppy mess I ended up with!!  NO more refill kits for me!

Lee F.

[jefelectric]

If you print a lot, the best bet is a color laser printer. They have come down in price a lot in recent years and although the cartridges are more expensive, they last a long time and I have never had a problem with them not working after sitting a while.

[phillyreading]

If you print a lot, the best bet is a color laser printer. They have come down in price a lot in recent years and although the cartridges are more expensive, they last a long time and I have never had a problem with them not working after sitting a while.

John,

I must have a laser printer because it prints well and I don't have to worry about how long it sits unused.   Bought it on sale at Radio Shack over two years ago for about $40.00, it was the display model that was being sold because of making way for a newer model. Had to buy the printer cable separately for about $7.00 at Wal Greens (CVS competitor)on sale.

Lee F.

[dbaker48]

Unfortunately, you guys are right.  I have spent the last 10 years peddling ink and paper, currently on a 3 week tour conducting seminars on printers media and ink.
If you have a HP, printer and you think the cartridge is dried.  Most likely it is only at the print head.  If so  this usually will work.
1. Fold a paper towel into a pad and place it in a microwave safe bowl
2. Saturate it with water, prefferably distilled
3. Place it microwave until it is VERY hot
4. Remove bowl w/paper towel
5. Set cartridge on top of towel for 3 or 4 minutes with the print head down.

This will effectively steam the hardened ink and should disolve.  The paper towel should have some ink deposits on it.  Do NOT place the cartridge on a dry towel, the towel will pull the ink out, and then the ink can mix in the other chambers and you have a mess, and 1 less cartridge.

In the near future systems such a pictured below will become available, improves printer performance, and extremely cost effective!  The pics below are for Epson R200, R300 series.

[Anonymous]

Continuous Ink Systems (CIS) actually have been around awhile.  The future is here.  I was looking into one of these for my EPSON R200, and, without any recommendation, found  a seller that also posts a lot of general information about inks and such
http://www.echostore.com/coinksy.html?gclid=COmg5bOFhIgCFVAuGgodKmvkFg
and a review that was quite helpful, including the most recent comment that for lack of time the reviewer didn't get a CIS for his new printer, but found success using third-party cartridges.
http://www.brandonstaggs.com/epson-r200-continous-ink-system-review.html
I'm going the third-party cartridge route with this printer (an older Epson photostylus 820 worked well with them) for awhile.

[dbaker48]

NHRRFan,
I don't think it would be appropriate for me to publishing pricing and other specifics but the echostore site is actually expensive for that system.  And, in case some other folks may be reading over our shoulders they are offering pigmented or dye-sublimation ink in as options.  The original ink is a dye based ink as supplied by epson.  The printer is designed for dye based ink only, the viscosity of the pigmented and dye-sub, is too heavy for the printheads in this printer.  It will lead to excessive clogging and WILL invalidate the printer warranty.  The use of dye ink will not.
I also looked at the other website you refferenced and the information is based upon his experiences begining in 2004.  I wouldn't disagree with him, however since then the systems have improved a lot!  Installation is simple, install the CIS cartridges, secure the ribbon cable, Turn the printer on.  That easy today.  Thank gosh they have improved.  The CIS system is not for everyone, compatible cartridges are also great.  The only issue their is they may be disappearing very soon due to arbitration as a result of a case filed by Epson in Portland Federal Court.

I would be happy to provide more detail, but I don't feel it would be appropriate on this forum.  If you (or anyone) would like additional information please email me ([e-mail]) or call me at 800 786-9272.  (Please note I will be in the office on Monday, currently conducting seminars in Arizona)

Keep on Trackin'

[ben10ben]

As for buying a color laser, I have one. It's great for graphics and so forth, but it doesn't have nearly enough resolution to print photos or anything of the like. Laser printers are great at turning out crisp text and bar graphs, but lack the ability to produce the subtle tonal variations present in photos. It is cheap to operate, though. Each of the four cartridges cost $100, and are good for 10,000 pages. We're still on the 3000-page starter cartridges that it came with 4 years ago.

I seem to recall reading that the older printers that used dye-based ink weren't nearly as bad about clogging with disuse as newer pigment ink printers. I've seriously looked into buying an older Epson, like a 1200, partially for this reason. The other big reason is that I don't know where else I could get a 13" photo printer for $100.

[philo426]

Go to island ink jet which will refill both the black and color printer cartridges for about 20 bucks.i have refilled the original HP cartridges 2 times with no problems.

[Smoke Stack Lightnin']

We use an HP 9xxCi at work.  This particular printer is at least 4 years old and has had at least 4 color cartridges and at least a dozen B/W.  Sometimes we won't use color for months, then print nothing but color.  We've had no problems with the printer.  Also, I think the cartridges that come with new printers have much less ink than the refills, so I'm not sure buying new printers instead of replacement cartridges is the way to go.  Thats what I've been told, not sure if it is true.

Rich F.