Posts by rustysurfer79

Dennis Young57 said:Why is it always the same thing? Seriously, why can't anyone just get it together for once?
So, why wouldn't something like the HP OfficeJet Pro be a solid choice for scanning A3+ or doing some wide-format color printing? I'm thinking about using it as a reliable backup for my standard A4 setup.
Why doesn't every single shop carry those bigger tanks?
I'm looking for a solid upgrade over the HP OfficeJet Pro. I need something that handles A3 scanning like a pro, but since I don't really need much A3 color printing, I can skip the A4 duplex feature. Any suggestions?
I guess there's also... Continuous Ink Supply System,
Does anyone know if there's anything available for the HP OfficeJet Pro too? Continuous Ink Supply System

Are you actually being serious about this? Because...

So, turns out that 300 isn't even a factor anymore.
Because those heads usually only last about 10,000 to 15,000 prints on average.

Look, if you go through the trouble of installing a Continuous Ink Supply System, you aren't exactly going to be sticking with original HP ink anymore. You’re just going to hunt down whatever cheap ink looks decent enough to work with your setup. At that point, you’re basically looking at a lifespan of maybe 5,000 to 6,000 pages before the whole thing gives out. You should ask someone else in this thread who thought the same way—how many prints they actually managed to squeeze out of a similar DIY setup. To get a CISS to actually function, someone has to play guinea pig with specific ink brands over a huge volume of prints. And by the time you figure out what works, that printer model isn't even being sold anymore. The manufacturer designs things this way on purpose. They have zero interest in having some random guy out there picking the "best" third-party ink and trying to service their machines for them. That kind of independence doesn't put money in their pockets, so they don't build for it.

And that’s exactly why your whole approach is just a joke.

Dennis Young57 said:Wrong!
The ink tank set for the HP OfficeJet Pro is either 56.2ml or 32.2ml
But whatever!
At first, I was just looking to swap out my current A4 printers for something more versatile that could handle about 300 prints a week. Now I'm realizing this thing is actually a killer alternative to what I have, plus I get some A3 printing and A3 scanning in the mix!
You guys actually talked me into changing my mind about what kind of printer I need!
I am dead serious about picking up a machine like this. 😉

Stop joking around

Why?

Because that's the total capacity for all 4 tanks combined.

3* 7 + 11.2

Sure, XL tanks exist, but manufacturers aren't ever going to roll those out. It doesn't make sense for them to stock stuff nobody wants to buy because most customers are just as clueless as everyone else and go for the cheapest option. Plus, it’s just better for the retailer's bottom line.

Dennis Young57 said:I think an HP OfficeJet Pro (maybe even the cheaper HP OfficeJet Pro if I skip the dual tray and A4 duplex) would be plenty for my workflow.
I'm finding myself needing an A3 scanner more often lately, plus some A3 printing too.
I basically need a printer that acts as a solid backup if my current A4 setup (lasers and inkjets) ever craps out, so this feels like my best bet.
If there’s anything else out there, please let me know!
Initially, I thought about replacing my current printers with this, but based on the replies, it might not be heavy-duty enough. Still, as a backup + some A3 printing + most importantly that A3 scanner = it's actually a pretty great option for me. 🙂

Just so we're clear here,

we're talking about a workload of 300 full-color prints a week, which is roughly 4 * 20 ml of ink.

The capacity for one set of tanks on the HP OfficeJet Pro is 7.5 + 3*5.5 ml.

Get real for a second.

Dennis Young57 said:I'm the kind of person who's always waiting for something to break.
That's why having a backup printer isn't a bad idea.
Since this one handles A3, does duplex A4, and even scans A3, I figured it'd be a solid recommendation for engineering work. I don't need it for high-end graphic design.
Still, you guys got me thinking about A3 scanners (that was the missing piece for me), specifically for engineering stuff.
Any suggestions? I see there's a budget-friendly HP DesignJet scanner available.

Alright, now we're actually getting somewhere. So, the move is to get a dedicated scanner.

If you're looking at printing 300 pages a week, you either need a tank system or a printer with an ink capacity of at least 40ml.

Look, I don't want to lead you down a rabbit hole here. Go hunt for an A3 printer that fits those specs, then come back and let me know what you find.

Dennis Young57 said:So, what's the move?
I haven't seen this printer go for less than $943, and even then, who knows??
Basically: if I grab something like this, am I stuck using my old printers for A4 stuff and just using this beast for A3 scanning and color printing?
Or is there a better way:
Like having separate gear: an A3 scanner like the Epson SureColor series plus an Epson SureColor series printer. I'll probably pull the trigger on that once I finally make it as a graphic designer, but for now, while I'm still just an engineer, whatever works will do.😉

Look, if you try to find one single machine that does everything, you're basically walking into a store as easy prey for a salesperson. Neither you nor they actually know how long that "all-in-one" headache is going to last.

Why?

Because it's a new piece of kit, and nobody really knows how it's going to hold up under your specific workload. That said, if you overspec everything by 100%, you’re at least more likely to hit your targets. Honestly, anything less than 7-$2667 isn't going to cut it for what you want, and in this category, you won't find any decent all-in-one MFPs.

Dennis Young57 said:I need some advice on a printer/scanner combo. I need to print A3 blueprints, scan A3 drawings, and handle double-sided color printing for A4 docs. The prints gotta be waterproof. We’re looking at about 300 pages a week.
The only thing I could find was an HP OfficeJet Pro, but it's out of stock right now.

Honestly, an HP OfficeJet Pro wouldn't even last a month with those specs.
why?

4 * 300 == 1200 * 12 = 14400 == 48 * $33 (roughly B&W prints, way more if you're doing color)

Because a printer from $533 just isn't built to burn through four times that much cash in ink before the year's up.

slyridge73 said:Can anyone suggest a laser printer for about $233, including toner that’s easy to swap out or refill at a decent price?

Thanks

HP LaserJet 6L == 4000 pages
An HP LaserJet 1015 or something similar with 3 third-party HP 12 toners === 6000 pages
An HP LaserJet 1300 + 3 * HP 15 toners == 14000 pages

Make sure you run a comparison against some other option based on the cost per page.

For instance, look at the ratio here: 350/4000 vs 800/6000 vs 1000/$4667 + sales tax
compared to some brand new laser model

== 600- 800/ $333

Paul Cox52 said:Thanks.
Where can I find it?

adriatix.com

Paul Cox52 said:Look, I’m not out here trying to buy gear every three days, nor am I looking to print a mountain of paper or deal with some gadget that causes more headaches than it solves.
I just need a cheap little printer for occasional use at the office or maybe at home. I’ve already got a setup at work, so this is really just a backup for when things pop up.
Years ago, I picked up a basic unit for about $50. Once the toner dried up or gave out, I just tossed the whole thing. That's basically what I'm looking for now.
Any suggestions?

HP LaserJet 6 l == 4000 pages == $117
Use it until it dies, then toss it.

Paul Cox52 said:I'm looking for a cheap printer I can really put through the wringer. Black and white is fine; I don't really care about color right now. If I can get a scanner thrown in for just a little extra, even better.
The cheapest stuff I've come across is an IBM System/370 or a DEC PDP-11, but those are color models.
Anyone got a better suggestion?

We had a Canon Pixma for a month to test it out.

Bottom line: The printer is super fast and the print quality is solid. But after running out of ink in three days, we tried refilling the original cartridges without any issues. Then, three days later, the ink was gone again. After that, refilling became a total nightmare. It’s constant hassle—either ink is leaking everywhere, one of the four colors disappears, or the prints come out looking all streaky.

Now it's just sitting in a corner because we don't have time to waste playing games with HP's tricks.
Basically, if you're okay with buying OEM cartridges every three days, go for it.

Richard Myers32 said:I really need some help here!!
I've got a Canon PIXMA MX300 (print/copy/scan/fax), and I have some stuff I need to scan, but whenever I hit the "scan" button, all I get is a beep and then nothing happens. (Running Windows 7, 64-bit). I don't have the original driver CD, so I just grabbed the drivers from the Canon website, but now that the printer is plugged in, it’s a total wash—nothing works, not even the printer or the scanner.

It sounds like one of those inkjet cartridges probably died on you.

Nathan Castillo86 said:Can anyone suggest a good all-in-one printer for under 1000 bucks?$367.

http://www.amazon.com/printers...with+these+specs

== 1000 - 1500 B&W prints

or a better alternative

EPSON DX 7450 + Colibri refillable cartridges + 4 * 100 ml Colibri ink == about 4 - 5000 color prints

Dennis Scott4 said:I had my doubts about the ink too, but the exact same stuff works fine in the C43ux and the DX4400. I even tried buying a fresh batch of third-party ink, and it’s the same story. Plus, you can barely find them in local shops anymore—most of what's left is way past its expiration date anyway.
I know that sponge thing eventually gives up after being refilled too many times, so I was wondering: does the printer still run okay if you just take it out and reseal the cartridge?
Oh, and how much are you charging for a black ink refill?

You can grab an original Epson black for $20, but you'll need to bring your own in so we can swap it and reset CHIP A. For the color ones, the replacements are $13. It's the same deal with the CHIP.

The reason is that the EPSON SC 680 C 60 C61 C62 and the CX 3200 use the same cartridges; the only difference is the CHIPs.

Honestly, a machine like this with a built-in CISS is $400. In your case, if all the nozzles aren't firing, you really should get the printhead serviced. If we do that, it'll run like new again. This specific model is actually one of the rare ones where cleaning the head has a super high success rate.
As for the ink, our premium pigment ink (200 ml) is $33 and lasts for about 4,000 prints. It's incomparably better than the stuff mentioned earlier. So, think about why this setup is such a win. You already know how much tougher this machine is compared to anything new on the market today—just look at how old it is and how well it's still holding up. Modern models barely make it to 18 months before they feel like they've reached retirement age.

Dennis Scott4 said:Hey guys
I've got an Epson CX3200 that's seen better days. Over the last six months or so, the black ink has just started acting up, click for photo. Colors seem fine, and I've already tried head alignment and cleaning the nozzle. I'm guessing it's just worn out, but if anyone has any bright ideas on how to save it, let me know. This thing has printed a ton of pages—mostly using Orink replacements, though lately I've been refilling it with Orink ink, just like my other printer (c43ux) which is working perfectly fine.
I hate the thought of tossing it since it's got a scanner/copier built-in and it's super cheap to run.

Honestly, this printer/scanner combo is way better than most of the new stuff hitting the market. It’s a lifesaver for people with vision issues.
Why?

Because you can program specific settings to trigger with just one button press. For someone with low vision, digging through menus to find those settings is a total nightmare. If you pair it with a CISS setup, someone with bad eyesight can actually see what they're doing because they can blow up text for next to nothing. I'm speaking from experience here—I know someone who uses this exact method to read books and the daily news every single day.

So yeah, guard this machine with your life, especially if you rely on those custom shortcuts.

As for what you're dealing with, sounds like you've got some crappy ink where the droplets just break apart mid-air before they even hit the paper. It's basically a perfect example of why you shouldn't assume all ink is created equal.

Bradley Lopez69 said:Looks like a pretty old printer. It doesn't even have Wi-Fi, which is a dealbreaker for me.

What do you guys think about these two? https://www.epson.com/viewcon/c...on/11504,11101

With the newer models, we just don't see those continuous ink tank systems around here. Or if we do, nobody really knows how they hold up. There's zero track record, and we have no clue what kind of headaches or clogged nozzles Epson might throw at us.

Actually, we’re currently going head-to-head with a manufacturer of some Chinese ink over one of these brand-new continuous tank setups. One of the colors is just uncontrollably leaking from these unverified, latest-gen refill cartridges. The Chinese company is totally lost because the other three colors are working perfectly. No issues there at all.

So, it really comes down to what you want: do you want something reliable and proven, or are you just looking for the cheapest print job possible?

Bradley Lopez69 said:Anyone got a solid recommendation for an all-in-one printer/scan/copy machine? Looking to spend around $400.$167As long as it's got Wi-Fi and cheap replacement ink, I'm happy.

EPSON Dx 4450

Why though?

It’s because those old ones take 5.5 and 7.5 ml cartridges, whereas the newer Epsons only use 3.5 and 5.5 ml. And honestly? They cost just about the same.

So, with the DX 4450, you’ve got these cartridges that don't even need resetting. You either toss the newest ones or just hack them back to life with a paperclip. The aftermarket ones actually come with their own built-in battery, so if some importer tries to sell them to you with a measly 12-month warranty, you might as well just throw them straight in the trash.

Canon or HP? Honestly, neither of them can touch this. $167.

I saw this deal on Hot Spot for the DX 4450 + Colibri ink—you get four 100 ml bottles, which works out to about 88 cartridges for that price. $167It’s basically the same deal—take the Sx 130 + Colibri, for example, plus that Colibri ink.

Roughly 400 + 150 +... $50Plus sales tax.

It’s basically the same printer since they use the exact same print head. The only real difference is that the scanner is built right into the unit. You won't even see the print job until it actually spits out of the machine. And you mentioned you can't swap them out any other way than one at a time? Yeah, that sounds about right.

Honestly, if you can't get your hands on a Dx 4450 or something similar, this isn't a bad backup plan. Just a heads-up though—stay far away from the Sx115. Seriously, avoid it at all costs.

It's true, Canon also has those MP 210 -240 models out there, but honestly, the scanner acts up just as much as it does on the SX 115.

Gerald Smith7 said:Hey everyone, I messed with the black ink on my sx43 and now the printer is acting crazy. It's leaving these empty gaps—like five millimeter streaks every couple of centimeters—and it keeps telling me the cyan is out. I'm pretty sure there's still plenty of blue left in there. Any idea how to fix this?

Just switch over to refillable cartridges.

shadowpanther0 said:I need some buying advice

Which color laser printer should I grab?

I want something budget-friendly where the toner can be refilled, and ideally, it handles heavy paper—like 280g if possible. Even more would be awesome.

I don't really know much about this tech, so any help picking a model would be great.

Thanks

Honestly, that kind of thing just doesn't exist anymore. They don't make them like that now. The closest you'll get is an HP LaserJet 4 l (around $167), but finding one in good shape is tough. You might find a couple on our local Craigslist. It can probably handle 250 - 300 gsm paper, but you can't just run it through heavy stock day in and day out.
After that, maybe some old OKI 3000 or 5000 models with a straight-through path could work. But man, finding one that actually works is basically mission impossible.

Anything else falls into the "industrial laser printer" category, which is gonna run you at least $1,500+. Take a look at these two links; maybe they'll help. Also, check out the latest professional A3+ inkjets. That's more of an investment, maybe $500 - $750. With Epson, you've got the CISS solution. For Canon, though, CISS = zero points in my book. And with HP, you're back to needing those older models that aren't being made anymore.

Good luck in hunting.

Mark Hill90 said:The single most important rule for new writers is this: CHEAP PRINTERS ARE THE MOST EXPENSIVE ONES YOU'LL EVER BUY.

To put that in perspective, an HP inkjet using 951XL ink—where one color cartridge can pump out 1,400 pages—will cost you $53 per tank. Meanwhile, that color laser printer mentioned above uses a single toner for $150 that hits 1,500 pages.

Since when did inkjets suddenly become better than lasers? Maybe since some marketing director decided we all needed to push specific hardware. As far as I recall, rustysurfer79 has been pushing that angle for 15 years now. It feels like we're just following a script from some HP training seminar.

Benjamin King2 said:Paper weight is 60-220g/m2. Someone else will probably chime in about the toner.

Look, when it comes to toner, there’s one golden rule. Walk into a store like Best Buy and ask them to hold the toner cartridge meant for your specific printer. Then, ask for the cartridge used in a much more expensive model from the same brand. Honestly, you might just fall out of your chair when you see the price gap between the two.

Or just look at

For > printers today, they only pack in about 35g of toner. Not long ago, a similar home user model would have had 80g, and the next tier up would have carried 160g of color toner. Now, thanks to some magic marketing trick, that old 80g tier is labeled an > and the 160g one is branded as "Space Shuttle" grade. Of course, the actual price difference between those tiers hasn't really changed much.