refill ink?

[Radiance]

I have always been told not to refill ink because the printing quality would suffeer or, worse yet, the printer can get damaged. I have a pricey hp multi use printer.

Is this true? Or I am just wasting money on ink?

[ktmarvels]

My roommate gets her ink refilled and hasn't had any problems that I know of. It can usually be done a couple of times before they are unusable. She gets it done at Walgreens and they occasionally have coupons in their sales flyer.

[disneysteve]

I've always been afraid to try it. I think it depends partly on what type of printing you do. If you mostly print documents in black and white, it probably doesn't much matter. I do a lot of graphic work in color and print photos and stuff. I don't believe that the quality of the refill ink will match that of my printer's manufacturer.

[GREENBACK]

I print practically everything I need in B&W and have always refilled the cartridges myself and have never had any problems at all, including the quality. I do so little color printing that I'm not sure how that might work.

[Radiance]

Yeah, for what I am reading it makes sense mainly for b&w but in that case it might make more sense to get a laser printer for black and white.

Color laser printer are about $400 so still too expensive.

With the cost of ink I might get me a laser printer. Just not this year. (about $120)

[creditcardfree]

We have a lexmark printer. I have refilled our cartridges twice at Walgreen's and it works great for our uses. We use color and b&w. If you are doing printing for personal use, I would don't think a laser printer is necessary. If it is for business...another matter.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by creditcardfree

If you are doing printing for personal use, I would don't think a laser printer is necessary. If it is for business...another matter.

Black laser printers are cheap and they are way more cost efficient than ink jet printers. If you print a fair amount, it is worth looking into.

[Broken Arrow]

Ink refilling is actually a good idea.

Some manufacturers... I won't mention any names *cough*HP*cough* have gone out of their way to make it hard for people to refill ink. So, half the battle is to buy printers with ink that is refill-friendly. Personally, I like Canon. Theirs are simple, straight-forward, and yet still prints beautifully. Plus, Canon uses separate ink cartridges throughout their product line, so you only refill or swap the ones that are empty, so no waste that way.

In the end though, you may want a 3rd party to do it for you, even if it ends up costing a bit more than some DIY kit. That is, unless you like the technical challenge.

But it's been a while since I've looked into this, so things may have changed. I actually don't even have a printer anymore. With an iPod Touch, I can pretty much carry any image on it that I want, so.... I no longer need printing? At least, the need hasn't arisen yet.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Black laser printers are cheap and they are way more cost efficient than ink jet printers. If you print a fair amount, it is worth looking into.

This is true.

The thing about ink jet is that ink itself has been around for centuries. So, despite the technology, the cost of the ink itself is really negligible.

So, the problem isn't technical... because technically, ink jets should be extremely cheap. The problem is the razor/razor blade business model. They artificially reduce the cost of printers while upping the cost of ink to not only off-set the cost of the printer, but to lock you in as their customer with their proprietary ink cartridge technology. That's why the cartridges for each manufacturers are so different, even though they don't have to be.

But if you use large tank kits, then you break that model by using your own cheap ink. And the manufacturers don't like that.

Fortunately for them, this isn't possible (that I know of) with laser jet technology, so....

I'm just rambling. Anyways, most office documents and settings, a black and white laser printer is good. For pictures, a good ink jet is still the way to go I think, especially if you stick with 3rd party refills, and even your own ink tanks.

[Radiance]

Interesting Broken Arrow...

What do I "need" to print?...

Lately it has been maps to get places, and printable coupons. Maps, only if the place is complicated to get to.

Then, no, I really don't print much, maybe 3-4 pages a month? The printer was used by my ex for his side business and then it was used a lot, but I kept it when we separated.

So now I realize I have the opposite problem; I think I read somewhere that printers get damaged when you don't use them enough? Whatever enough is, it must be more than 3 pages a month.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

The problem is the razor/razor blade business model. They offset the cost of the printer (to ease the cost of entry) while upping the cost of ink to not only off-set the cost of the printer, but to lock you in as their customer with proprietary ink cartridge technology.

Very true. Epson and HP and others actually sell the printers at a loss. Free after rebate offers are plentiful. In fact, I don't think I've ever paid for a printer and I've had several over the years. They kill you with the ink, though.

The one company that is an exception to this rule, and is one I'm probably going to seriously consider next time around, is Kodak. They don't deeply discount their printers but they charge far less for ink cartridges which can save you a lot of money in the long run.

[Broken Arrow]

So now I realize I have the opposite problem; I think I read somewhere that printers get damaged when you don't use them enough? Whatever enough is, it must be more than 3 pages a month.

Well, I haven't been keeping up, but I've never heard of that problem before. So, I don't know.

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

They offset the cost of the printer (to ease the cost of entry) while upping the cost of ink to not only off-set the cost of the printer, but to lock you in as their customer with proprietary ink cartridge technology.

See, this is what happens when I post late at night and don't proofread.

[terces]

I haven't had much success when buying refilled cartridges. Seems like they don't last as long as a brand new one. I'm gonna have to start thinking of upgrading to a laser printer... have to be color cause we do utilize for school stuff. Any recommendations on brands?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Radiance

So now I realize I have the opposite problem; I think I read somewhere that printers get damaged when you don't use them enough? Whatever enough is, it must be more than 3 pages a month.

I've never heard of the printers getting damaged, but inkjet cartridges can and do dry out. It would add insult to injury to spend $30 on a cartridge only to use it a couple of times and have to throw it out because it dried out. That would make a laser printer an even better deal because toner doesn't dry out.

[Radiance]

google "color laser printer reviews."
At a glance I saw good comments on canon, prices are closer to $450 though...

You are right that school creates a need for printing...hmm
Does it HAVE to be in color?

[terces]

It doesn't have to be color but when the kids do reports and such with graphics color looks so much better. Most the time I try to print the color stuff at my work.

[wincrasher]

I saw a piece on the news the other night of these monks that are selling recycled cartridges for cheap. They give all the money to charity.

think it's monksonline.com or something like that. might be worth a look.