Inkjet Ink

[hobbes]

Interesting ... in Iceland, inkjet ink is inexpensive

OK, so I won't be able to ask what I want by only using words that start with 'i', so ...

I'm getting an old Epson Stylus Photo 1280 going again for printing photos, and thought I'd look around at ink options. The Epson cartridges are >$20, while generics appears to be <$10, and refills don't appears to be recommended unless additional maintenance is done. Can anyone recommend the use of generics on Epson printers? Will I see much different between Epson's ink and that sold by generics? Any difference between or recommendations on generic ink vendors (e.g., 4inkjets, MPI)?

[Jeff]

I've heard people recommend http://www.inksupply.com/ but have not used them myself yet - was going to fit a CIS to my old 1270, but I'm afraid it has too much dust and enough dog and cat hair in it to make a new pet and I haven't had the time to give it the cleaning it needs to bring it back up to spec yet :(

I tried some generic $3 Chinese no-name cartridges - they smell like a mix of alcohol and Windex while printing and work great for small areas of color but seem to band easier than the Epson cartridges so will also be looking for recommendations before buying on price alone next time... on the other hand, only $6 spent :P

[sheila]

FWIW, a few years back we tried to go cheap with generic inks for our Epson printer (I think we had a Stylus Color 660?). We were not pleased with the performance. More clogging and so forth. Since that time, have only bought name brand inks for the printer. :\

YMMV.

[Mandi]

We've had good luck with those refill-it-yourself kits. I tried it years ago with disasterous results, but the one I picked up for $11 or so at Sprawl Mart this year has been top notch. I've refilled three times from the single kit, too.

I also stumbled rather late in the game (ie, just the past 2 years) into that handy Print Preferences setting in the software that lets one print everything in "fast draft" mode (for an HP printer; other brands have a similar setting, though) and save a ton of ink. I bet I only refill/replace the black cartridge once every 4 months or so now - and even longer on the color. I cannot believe how much more frugal that setting is, and I almost never notice the "lower quality" - I turn it up to regular or fine settings for the handful of "important" things I run, like photos . . . but nearly everything we print is way out of that category: Mapquest directions, recipes, etc. - just mundane stuff.

[hobbes]

The Epson 1280 cartridges have the computer chip on them, so a refill kit would also require that I purchase one of the chip reset thingamabobs.

I just ordered up a color and b&w cartridge for the 1280 from 123inkjets. After coupons/discounts/etc, the price will be ~$9 for both cartridges (vs. $55 for Epson brand). Will hope for the best.

[Mandi]

Be sure you follow up with a review of your goodies, I'm always interested to know how alternative sources like that stack up. I wonder what the chip thingy is for - is it how the cartridges tell the desktop software that they are low? It would make sense such a thing would indeed need to be reset - sort of like a trip odometer or something.

I guess in my HP, that must be a function built into the printer (because I do get Ink Low messages) . . . or else, I'm ignoring a "critical" function with my refills that turns out to be pretty darned non critical, LOL!

[hobbes]

The chip is to try and force you to use Epson's inks and prevent you from refilling the cartridge. Search for epson ink chip (http://www.google.com/search?q=epson+ink+chip) and you'll likely find more info.

[Mandi]

That's ALL it's there for - to force you to use their branded stuff? Sheesh. Losers.

I'll do as I please with my toys, thank you very much. Hope this stuff works out for you!

[Jeff]

At one point I remember them saying that it was also to give you a more accurate read on ink levels, but I do think its primary purpose was just to make you buy genuine epson ink. Can't blame them really as they're practically giving many of the lower end printers away in order to sell you the incredibly expensive ink carts, but then again, it's not a selling feature.

[Wassercrats]

I don't think I would have bought the Epson C84 if I knew:Q: Can the printer still print if an ink cartridge is empty or not installed?
A: No. The printer will not operate if any cartridge is empty or removed. It’s best to always have extra cartridges on hand.I wish they made cheap stand-in cartridges that would make my printer work with just black ink. I wonder if there's some fluid I can inject into the empty color cartridges so I'd be able to print in just black. I'd probably need a chip resetter or something if I did that.

[Jeff]

I just finished two sets of generic cartridges:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6825489254&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1
5 color and 5 black for $18.90 worked great! Very good prints, no clogging problems. Prints smell a bit like alcohol when wet, but are fine after a couple of minutes and look great on both gloss and matte papers. Will definitely buy these again having used all but one of the color cartridges with 650 prints.

These however
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6828530189&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1
3 black + 2 color for $9.99
clogged so badly that I ended up discarding them instead of using them - 15 cleaning cycles and countless nozzle checks and still the light cyan or light magenta just drop out after a few inches of a gloss print which costs more in paper than the ink cost.

The seller gaurantees them (not including shipping), but for $9.99 it wasn't worth the hassle of sending them back.

[Jeff]

I don't think I would have bought the Epson C84 if I knew:I wish they made cheap stand-in cartridges that would make my printer work with just black ink. I wonder if there's some fluid I can inject into the empty color cartridges so I'd be able to print in just black. I'd probably need a chip resetter or something if I did that.
I was going to say you could get cleaning cartridge(s) or empty spongless cartridges and fill them with cleaning fluid, but it appears American cleaning cartridges are more expensive than the generic Chinese cartridges with the inexpensive color ink :dunno:

Speaking of which, we've been using an older color laser for black and white printing for the last year... was a bit surprised when it ran through a $150 color toner (all three required to print anything, even if it's only b/w) just doing auto-calibrations when you turn it on and after each 100 prints!

[hobbes]

My experience with the 123inkjets prints were similar to Jeff's first set above -- decent prints, bit of a smell for a while. Color doesn't appear quite as vivid, but that's likely a calibration issue.