printer and ink use advice

[emperor]

I have an HP all-in-one Deskjet 1050 and find it gobbles ink. Can anyone suggest a sensible alternative. It's only for home use. Friends seem to do very well with cheap ink supplies for Epson but the Epson models I have tried to check out seem to want cartridges as pricey as HP. Any recommendations please?

[scotman]

Are you wanting sources of cheap ink for HP or an alternative printer?

[moonraker558]

Look at the CISS ink system.

[Wak]

If you really want to save money then try refilling the cartridges yourself.
I've refilled cartridges for Lexmark, Canon and HP for over 11 years now and my current cartridges (for HP F4580) cost approx 33pence each to refill (and 30 minutes total time) whereas two new cartridges (300XL high capacity) would be approx £35.
Also, by using a small digital scale it is a simple matter to check on how full/empty the cartridges are and to inject the correct amount and avoid any over spills.
Cartridges should be refilled BEFORE running empty in order to avoid the print head drying out and causing partial blockages.
The following site is good for refilling information and refill kits can be bought in most cheap shops or supermarkets.
http://www.stratitec.com/

[commoner]

I sympathize with you on the price of "genuine" printer inks....it is possible to buy printers filled with ink for less than the price of a set of inks.......they are so cheap it's almost a case of get a new printer when the inks run out.

I have had an Epson R300 for a few years now...slow maybe but still prints beautifully. A full set of inks can cost as much as £70 for this and I can honestly say that I have NEVER bought any thing other than "compatible" inks....without I might add, a moments hassle: either from the machine or the prints...some I've had for years now. I just buy what I see at the price I like...as little as £8.00 a set to maybe £12.00 but never more. It's not that I'm a miser, in fact at times I have changed the whole set when a couple have run out, it's just that I begrudge being taken for a ride.I source mine from all over the place...computer fairs...markets..carboots...anywhere I see a bargain....

Those are jus my personal thoghts, based on personal experience...hope it helps..

commoner.

[scotman]

I agree with the price of brand inks. A few years ago I bought an Epson D92 for £30. A typical local price for a branded CYMK multipack of ink is now £31 or more. Fortunately I do very little colour printing so was not too bothered about speed or running costs.
I can get a CYMKK pack in local Cartridge World for £17 and probably get for less by mail order. I stuck with branded until warranty ran out but am now using compatibles.

[Old_Geezer]

It's just hearsay on my part, but I read that cheap inks don't do your printer any good, shortens the life of the heads/jets/whatever.

My advice would be to check the net for a decent deal on genuine article inks for now, and next time you buy a printer bear in mind that most of them have an artificially low price because the manufacturer is hoping to make the profit on the inks. Read reviews, check ink prices.

[commoner]

Hi old Geezer....I have heard that about any old inks hurting the printer heads...it certainly says so in my Epson manual......so maybe it's the manufacturers who spread the hearsay.

Your right about selling the printers cheap to get the money back on the ink sales. It's the old Gillette Razor maxim.... "Give 'em the razor and you get a lifelong customer for the blades"

In the end it's a case of suck it and see as with most things.