What printers use the cheapest cartridges ?

[RichardM]

I bought a second hand Kyocera laser years ago as my Epson took lots of ink cleaning the heads when I didn't use it often. Still on the same toner cartridge, haven't bought anything for it in 7 years, just turn it on, print what I want - only black and white - turn it off until next time

 

[cumbriasteve]

Thanks for the replies , i think part of the problem maybe the jets clogging up, i did refill the cartridges a while ago and when i attempted to print something it appeared the cartridges were empty. How are they unclogged ?

Are you sure the cartridges are not chipped, some of them need reset or the printer will only see them as empty and not function.

Other than that once a cartridge becomes clogged or air trapped they are not worth bothering with any further, you can buy flushing liquid but it all gets a bit messy if not careful and does not always work.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

I have an epson R285 6 colour not the cheapest but good quality and a ser of catrages costs £6.59 from dvdrw

 

[Angusdog]

I always use Epsom printers and then get refillable cartridges or a CISS (Continous Ink Supply System) Saves tons of cash :-)

^^^ This. Printing is so cheap it's effectively free. Here's a link to the company I get mine from in NZ so you know what to look for in the UK. Had it for years now and it does exactly what it says on the box. You can buy ink in bottles and refill to suit.

You will eventually also fill up the waste ink container. Basically, every time your printer cleans the heads, it just pumps fresh ink in as the solvent in the ink cleans out the heads. So then you need a Printer potty - sounds daft but replaces the small tank in your printer (which when full generates an error telling you to get it 'serviced') with an external tank you can empty as needed.

Together, they enable your inkjet to last considerably longer and for next to no money. I don't think the colours are 100% accurate (possibly 97% accurate), so for high-end photo printing, it might not be the go, but I'm in graphic design and a semi-pro photographer so it's much more than good enough for home printing. For high end prints, you should get a good photo printing place to do your prints anyway.

 

[captain-destructo]

hi there
you could try 3000rpm
i got my last printer from them and use the cheap inks never let me down

 

[bigbadbugga]

I always find Canon are best value, my current all in one (mp 560) costs just a tenner for all six inks on eBay.

 

[Psymon]

You are all wrong...

Go on Ebay and buy a HP deskjet 710c or something like that. Then buy ink cartridges from about £1 - £3. They last for about 1000 pages in total. I have fallen for the new printer trap a few times. Buy something for £20 and then every 100 pages spend £20 for ink.
I print paper almost every day as I am self employed. I change ink every 3 months. See inkjet printer technology hasn't really changed in 15 or so years. So you can buy a printer that was made 15 years ago and the only difference you will find is that they print slightly slower than everything else on the market.

The ink costs me next to nothing in comparison to people with new printers and the results look just as good. Black ink cartridges come with 45ml of ink for £1-£3. Compare that with a new printer and 5ml of ink for £20.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Very few comments on the obvious answer. A colour laser is the cheapest of all per page. It is also quick, good quality and no blocking of print head nozzles or cartridges to worry about. Much as I despise Dell, I am using 1320CN printers. A full set of compatible cartridges are around £25 and will give thousands of prints. Another benefit if printing plans etc for the workshop, is that the prints are waterproof.

 

[woolyhead]

cheapest inks

I have fallen into the printer trap and bought the cheapest one in the shop (hp1360) , trouble is it uses the most expensive cartridges, the sisters kids go on the computer and print everything they see on cbbc or whatever. What printer uses the cheapest cartridges ? I have tried the refill kits but they are messy fiddly and aren't worth the hastle imho.

I use an Epson SX115 and the cartridges come from Internet-Ink.co.uk and cost about £2.52 each colour inc VAT plus pp, unless you buy a double pack (8 cartridges) of mixed colours for £17.10 inc VAT and pp. You probably know already but just in case, most printer manufacturers are thinking of no longer supporting Windows XP, ie their new printers will not work with it, so beware. If you've got Windows 7, no problem.

 

[Eastblock]

Some Epson printers will give error messages even if you put in new, original cartridges. Unfortunately ours is one of them. I have given up on inkjets for good. I've had 4 different ones and they've all been crap regardless of price. I now have a Brother HL-2130 mono laser. Great little printer and fast too.

 

[bump]

I picked up a Samsung network colour laser from Morgan Computers a couple of years ago after getting annoyed with inkjet carts. It was £120 with 3 full sets of toner, still got 2 sets to go and it's printed 4067 pages so far.

Replacement sets are £30.

 

[rtbcomp]

I have a Samsung laser, excellent value for money.

Did anyone see Watchdog the other night? Inkjet ink costs about £2000 per litre and cartridge volumes are going down whilst prices are going up.

 

[PTvor]

I bought a mono Samsung laser printer for £50. The cartridge that came with it is good for 1500 pages and then you can get toner off ebay to refill it, £20 for several thousand more pages.

No problem with the cartridge drying out if it's not used, unlike inkjets. I never found that refilled or off-brand inkjet cartridges were much good.

There's a little snag in that the printer knows the cartidge has done 2000 pages and refuses to play with it. It's sorted by shorting out two pins on a chip, details on the WWW.

 

[PTvor]

Did anyone see Watchdog the other night? Inkjet ink costs about £2000 per litre and cartridge volumes are going down whilst prices are going up.

Inkjet cartridges with chips to stop them being refilled - to assure continued satisfaction in your printing experience - are a carefully worked out scheme to gouge the customer.

 

[rtbcomp]

I bought a mono Samsung laser printer for £50. The cartridge that came with it is good for 1500 pages and then you can get toner off ebay to refill it, £20 for several thousand more pages.

No problem with the cartridge drying out if it's not used, unlike inkjets. I never found that refilled or off-brand inkjet cartridges were much good.

There's a little snag in that the printer knows the cartidge has done 2000 pages and refuses to play with it. It's sorted by shorting out two pins on a chip, details on the WWW.

Is it an ML-1520? Never had that problem with the cartridge on mine, although I replaced the starter cartridge with a cheapy off Ebay and that's still going fine, although I don't know how many pages I've printed from it.

 

[PTvor]

Is it an ML-1520? Never had that problem with the cartridge on mine, although I replaced the starter cartridge with a cheapy off Ebay and that's still going fine, although I don't know how many pages I've printed from it.

ML2240, which I bought just after the previous very popular model (1620?) had been replaced.

The 2000 page limit came as a surprise, so I guess that Samsung had thought twice about their reputation for easy refills and closed the net.

I gather that there are printers with later firmware which stops the pin shorting dodge.

There are two ways to work the pin shorting dodge, power up the printer with the pins shorted with a paper clip, which resets the counter to zero, or solder a permanent link in which resets the counter to zero every time the printer is powered on. As it's a surface mount chip, soldering in the permanent link is a little hairy, but once it's done you can forget the problem.

I must remember ebay when I eventually have to buy another cartridge.

With the 2240, if you print a test page, it gives the number of pages the cartridge has printed, but presumably, that's a benefit of the cartridge keeping a count. Yours may not do it.

 

[rtbcomp]

Cheers, mine's an earlier printer then. It gives a total print count, but not a copies remaining count. I'm up to 2350 at the moment, not sure if that's from new or just for this cartridge though.

 

[captain-destructo]

just had an email from 3000rpm.com
Use code 'MAYBANK' this bank holiday weekend for 10% off your full order!

 

[hareng]

I do wish i went for a Sammy laser three years ago, boy do i regret it.
Chose an HP 8500 with £50 cash back still not received.
Paper feed a night mare spend more time getting paper to feed than actually printing.
Not exactly compatible with Win7 32 and 64 bit, scanner poses issues.
Ink cartridges 4 of them all chipped, even says its out of date. I do buy the exchange chipped in date refilled cartridges, cheapest full set of four £17 from Switzerland delivered with in date chips.

Worst printer an Epson same as Wallace. Got 9 A4 colour prints from a cartridges and less than 30 pages of A4 text. Sent it back to Epson and stated thats all they do. Cheapest sell off cartridges had £5 each, in fashion circa £18 each.
Persistent clogging up.

Had a good Cannon in the 90's

 

[ajlelectronics]

The Samsung laser is a badge engineered Dell. There was some reason why I bought the Dell in preference, but can't recall it. There were subtle differences. It is the 1320 model and a full set of cartridges is under £30