Posts by hollowmarlin27

Mark Hill90 said:If you're just doing occasional black printing, a monochrome laser printer would probably be the smarter move here.

You should also check out the Ricoh SG 2100

It's an incredibly cheap, workhorse printer— $133 Honestly, it's right up there with some Epsons when it comes to $667 nozzle count.
Refilling the ink is easy, and there's even a way to bypass those annoying chip restrictions via service modes.

hollowmarlin27 said:Does anyone know where I can pick up some of that special absorbent paper used for making scent pendants?

Thanks

Sorted

Donna Sullivan80 said:Hey there.
Can I get some advice? (I’m a total newbie here.) Is it worth grabbing an Epson XP 225? It’s sitting at about $200 right now, and from what I can see, the refill cartridges are dirt cheap. My main thing is printing in Black—mostly just during finals week for papers, study guides, stuff like that. Otherwise, I barely touch it. Will this printer actually last me a few years?

With the XP 225, you can't just run on one color unless you use permanent tanks. Or use a resetter.
Check if those are even available in the States. No clue myself.

If you go that route, you’re either buying new ones or just refilling the Black cartridge and resetting the others.

Replacing just the Black cartridge won't work because every time the printer runs a head cleaning cycle, it flushes all the channels and uses up all the ink equally.

Obviously, that means your CYM channels are going to dry up. But hey, that’s what you asked for, right?

So, honestly, the smartest move for you is picking up something from the HP DeskJet 900 series. You could probably find one on eBay for maybe 50 bucks $33. Grab a replacement for $33 and for $33 you get 40 ml. Plus, you basically get a fresh print head every single time. You also need to have an HP 78 in the machine, but it can be empty.

Basically, for roughly $50, you get about 1,000 prints, which is pretty much the same as if you spent $200 on a new Brother HL 1110 or some other laser printer.

But, if you grab an HP laser that takes a 135g toner, you could shell out 500 - $267 upfront and get 3,000 to 4,000 prints right out of the gate.

Bottom line: the HP DeskJet 900 is the winner here. That’s exactly why I shared that story earlier.

Now, ask yourself this:

Who benefits from you solving your problem for just $50 when you're actually willing to drop $200 right at the start? And for that money, you get 100 - 200 B&W prints.

Of course everyone is going to suggest and push that first option on you.

Laura Stewart said:I actually spotted that second one on the Staples website yesterday. Seemed decent enough!

Any idea roughly how much a replacement toner runs you?

Take a look at the Brother HL 1110 instead.
You can grab replacement toners for it for about 50 bucks—$33 which gets you maybe 1,000 to 1,500 pages.

Or, for that exact same amount of cash, you could snag an HP LaserJet 1200 with a toner that hits 4,000 pages.

The only real catch is that the Brother barely makes it to 10k, while the HP is proven to handle 200k.

Keep in mind, both end up costing you the same per page. It’s just a matter of whether you want a toner that lasts 1,000 pages or one that does 4,000. Basically, one cartridge has 35–45 grams of toner, while the other packs 135–150 grams.

It's the same deal with most other similar lasers.

Anyone know where I can pick up some of that specialized paper used for making scented charms?

Thanks

Laura Stewart said:Hey everyone!

I used to have an Epson printer (with a scanner and copier), but I didn't use it much, so naturally, the ink dried up and clogged everything. Honestly, I wasn't a fan anyway because of how they work—if you run out of one color, nothing prints at all.

Now I need to use a printer almost every single day, so I'm hunting for a new one. I don't know the first thing about this stuff, so I could use some help. I mostly just need to print in Black constantly, so I was thinking about getting a laser printer, but the cost of replacement toner gives me pause. If I don't go the laser route, my main requirement is that the colors shouldn't depend on each other.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

If you go with refillable cartridges, you can print as much as you want. When one runs dry, it’s fine because those cartridges have an Automatic Resetting Chip built right in.

The catch is that manufacturers are always changing their printer models just so they can force new cartridges onto the newer versions. There's zero incentive for them to make the latest ARC cartridges if they're sitting on a mountain of unsold stock from the previous series.

Basically, if you want that specific functionality, you have to look for printers that aren't the "latest and greatest" anymore.

That’s actually why you often see those types of printers sold in bundles that include the ARC cartridges plus the ink needed to refill them.

Otherwise, if you don't care about that, you can just pick whatever model you like and pay full price for the ink or toner.

Mark Hill90 said:But regular users just print on regular paper, not on printed tiles, fabric, wood, or ceramics.

Fine.
In that case, I've got nothing left to say.

Mark Hill90 said:Let's keep going, but which specific HP model actually has enough juice to go toe-to-toe with an Epson and its piezo tech?

Take a look at this lineup of compatible HP TIJ heads for the HP 45. They basically have a specialized head for every single application imaginable—from standard paper and glossy stock to plastic, aluminum, or even printing on eggs. You can do black ink or full color. Just one thing to keep in mind: this range doesn't include the HP 78 tri-color cartridge. It’s strictly monochrome HP 45. It’s pretty obvious HP moved away from that setup. So, if you have some niche requirement or you're trying to compete with Epson's massive application list, you could always jump up to the HP DeskJet 900 professional series. Printing on offset plates shouldn't be an issue there either.

But what if we take this ink from those HP color cartridges and pop it into an HP 78? What would our little "Company A" think about that? All we'd need is to source some HP TIJ ink in cyan, magenta, and yellow. Of course, HP isn't actually manufacturing this stuff themselves; they're sourcing it from specialists who actually know what they're doing. We once tried putting Epson DTG pigmented ink into an HP 78. Total disaster. The thermal HP tech kept running for over an hour without any luck. See, if you want a print that actually sticks to different materials, the ink needs some kind of polymer that will cure—either in the air (not an option, unless you want the nozzles to clog instantly), after the solvents evaporate, or via a heat press or oven. HP won't touch that kind of ink because their printhead is a thermal device, making it the perfect tool for polymerization. Basically, this HP TIJ ink is some exotic, high-end stuff specifically engineered for HP hardware.

So, our "Company A" finally discovers that this specific ink for HP is actually produced by a massive US conglomerate called "4B." Now, what do you honestly think a giant like 4B is going to do? Give our tiny "Company A" the exact same ink that HP sells? These things move in barrels of at least 200 liters. Unless you're ordering 800 liters, 4B won't even pick up the phone. Somehow, though, our friends at Company A managed to snag some 5-liter samples. For context, a standard Epson cartridge holds maybe 3.5 to 5 ml, while an HP 45 holds 40 ml. Imagine how much you can get out of 20 liters of this premium HP TIJ ink.

HP Special printing systems

HP Labels VIDEO

HP TIJ 2.5 technology

HP 45SI Solvent VIDEO

HP 45 POLYMER VIDEO

Food-grade 45 ink

Shall we continue?

wiredotter14 said:yeah

Look, here’s the deal. We have three proven, reliable CISS platforms that actually work. One is Epson. The second is an HP OI or BI based on the HP 11 or HP 88 because they come with built-in CISS. The IP 1 xxx also works just fine. So the question becomes: which CISS is king? The answer is Epson. Why? Because unlike HP or Canon, you can't just swap heads—if the head dies, the whole system is basically trash. This is because Epson uses piezo inkjet technology, whereas HP and Canon rely on Bubble jet or thermal printing. What's the difference? Well, Epson shoots ink using tiny piezo crystal pulses while it stays cold. HP and Canon use heat to essentially boil the ink. And here's the kicker: because of those crystals, Epson can fire all sorts of stuff—standard dye, pigment, sublimation, DTG, or even eco Solvent ink. Canon and HP are pretty much stuck with dye and pigment. So, if you need water-resistant or UV-resistant prints, or if you want to print on weird stuff like textiles, ceramics, wood, or plastic, Epson with a CISS gives you a massive variety of inks. With HP or Canon, especially on desktop units, you're pretty much out of luck. If you wanted to build a DTS printer for tiles, with Epson, it's a piece of cake. Just look at how many DIY projects like that are on YouTube. You won't find a single one using HP or Canon. That's a huge point.

But now comes the plot twist. Since HP is a company driven by nothing but profit, they’re pulling a classic move. Remember when HP overnight rebranded the professional DeskJet 800 series from $667 down to the consumer-grade 500 series—$267? Now, overnight, HP is recycling that exact same "obsolete" tech. It's the kind of gear you could pick up on Craigslist for maybe $50—$33. It's the same software. Identical communication between the print head and the logic board. Identical communication between the logic board and some Mini PC controller using the well-known, reliable, and documented PCL 3 language. Mind you, almost all inkjet printers today are GDI devices. The reason the HP DeskJet 800 and 900 were considered professional was specifically because they communicated via PCL 3, which is similar to the PCL 5 or 6 used in laser printers. It's a very compact code sent via the Mini PC controller.

And with one signature, HP turned the old HP DeskJet 900 technology into a product marking system. Same protocol, same battle-tested, professional HP 45 heads. Only the ink inside them is different. Essentially, there's an entire palette of HP TIJ heads that are physically and digitally identical to the HP 45 but tuned for different media. Suddenly, that HP DeskJet 900 doesn't cost you around $33 anymore; it's sitting at $600–$1000. And those new HP 45 heads with the new HP TIJ aren't $100—$67 anymore; they're closer to $400. Plus, you can easily grab them from specialized dealers who sell HP TIJ marking equipment. Basically, HP now has the same "ace up the sleeve" for printing on various materials that Epson has.

Want to keep going?

Mark Hill90 said:Oh, please, keep going. This is gold. My life is finally making sense; I hadn't even considered looking at it this way.

For this whole story to actually make sense, we need to branch out into a couple of other scenarios. Basically, how the project using CISS systems on the HP DeskJet platform was a total bust. But at the same time, it works perfectly on HP Business and OfficeJet 3a models, which makes you wonder: what other Low cost printer could possibly match my performance and CISS setup compared to this HP DeskJet professional series? Sure, a CISS system works fine on an Epson. But the moment the print head dies on an Epson, the whole CISS setup goes straight into the trash. So that whole idea—cheap ink plus a cheap print head—just doesn't hold water here. New models come out constantly, and they’re all getting mechanically worse. None of them even come close to that indestructible HP DeskJet mechanics. The only ones on that level, or maybe even more rugged, are the HP OfficeJet or Business jet lines. But that’s not what $17 was talking about. Instead, the choice landed on the Canon iP 1200 - 2500 printers. Why? Because just like the HP DeskJet 900, these Canons use a concept where the cartridges and the print head are one disposable unit. Meaning, when the head dies, you just buy a new one for maybe $150 - $160, plug it into the CISS, and keep rolling. It’s the exact same concept as that CISS for the HP DeskJet 900 that failed miserably. Which turned out to be a stroke of genius, because now, five years later, Canon has released its own CISS G series using that exact same mechanism on the iP 1xxx line.
And it turns out this CISS concept actually works flawlessly. Essentially, after you've used up about 50 ml per channel, you just swap the head. Or sooner if one channel gets overworked. You aren't tossing the printer, and you aren't tossing the CISS. You just swap heads and refill the ink. It's exactly how the concept for the HP DeskJet 900 was originally intended to work. The only catch is that the mechanics on these Canon iP 1xxx units are designed to last for maybe 10,000 prints max. See, the HP DeskJet 900 series we wrote off back then had graphite bronze guides. That’s what made it a professional, high-end build. Meanwhile, all these newer, cheap Canons and Epsons (including the Epson L series) just have plastic scraping against some sheet metal. After about 10,000 prints, that metal cuts into the plastic, the whole print head carriage drops, and it starts slamming into the paper until something snaps. So, yeah, it all works beautifully, but it’s not meant for an $80,000 professional setup.

As far as CISS installations go, current HP DeskJet models are absolute garbage compared to this Canon.

Want me to keep going?

Mark Hill90 said:Oh sure, but can we actually try living in the 21st century for once?

Honestly, none of this should be news to anyone who actually works in this field. Not even to the Chinese manufacturers. As part of their long-term strategy, those guys in China started emulating HP inkjet heads. They basically built entirely new, HP-compatible inkjet heads from the ground up. We aren't talking about recycled parts here; they’re completely new units that are virtually indistinguishable from the actual HP 45 or HP 78 inkjet heads or cartridges. You can pick these up on the market for maybe 120 $47 bucks. But there's always a catch—you never truly know what you're getting because your favorite distributor might have one batch in stock today and a completely different set tomorrow. In theory, as a user, you shouldn't care as long as the cartridge performs consistently.

Well, shortly after those replacement cartridges hit the scene, the Chinese companies also rolled out CISS systems for the HP DeskJet 900 series of professional printers. Just imagine: you have a professional-grade inkjet rated for 80,000 prints that only costs you a couple hundred bucks, and on top of that, you can install a CISS system. If the head dies, you just grab a cheap replacement HP 78 or HP 45 head from a Chinese supplier and keep on printing. Compare that to an Epson or a Canon; if the head fails on a CISS setup, a new head costs almost as much as a whole new printer. In that scenario, the printer, the head, and the now-useless CISS all end up in the trash. The only exception is with the HP OfficeJet or Business jet lines, but that's a whole different story.
http://en.ofweek.com/Product/Refilla...65-959092.html
So, here's the deal: let's call this company "3A." They ordered about ten CISS systems from China along with a specific amount of spare heads. To avoid any confusion, they ordered everything from the same supplier—ink, the HP 45 and HP 78 heads, and the CISS systems all together. The supplier sent over test prints and a decent manual. Everything looked perfect on paper. It all arrived via Hong Kong at the 3A offices. They installed everything into an HP DeskJet 970 without a hitch, but as soon as they ran a few prints, things went south. One minute the print is fine, the next it's gone. It was a complete mess; the more they tried to fix it, the worse it got. They even tried using brand new, unopened heads and set up a CISS using verified Premium German-made ink for the HP 45 and HP 78. Zero difference. Same result. Before long, the cartridges started acting up too. Some components just burned out, and that was it. That was the entire shipment of CISS kits for the HP DeskJet 900 series. A total disaster. You could practically spit in the face of the supplier in China. Long story short: total failure. There's no hope for that "brilliant" idea: Pro mechanics + cheap ink + CISS + cheap replacement heads. The HP DeskJet 900 series is definitely destined for the recycling bin.

Should I keep going?

Mark Hill90 said:From what I can tell, we're still stuck in the nineties. You guys keep posting, everything seems to be standing still, but it's actually 2016.

Look, sure, maybe HP was the No ONE among printers back in the day, but that doesn't mean everyone else stayed sane. Chinese people have gotten really good at this; they use all sorts of local suppliers to mass-collect things like HP 45 and HP78 inkjet cartridges. Once they've gathered enough, they ship them in bulk to China for processing, only for those exact same cartridges to come right back to us looking "NEW." So, the customer thinks they're buying fresh stock, when really they're just getting cartridges where the heating elements have already done a full cycle. Since original new ones cost about $100, these refurbished ones easily hit the $120 – $50 mark, which isn't bad for 40ml. There's also a local option to refurbish those same HP 45 and HP78 cartridges for around $100 – $37. Just for comparison, standard replacement cartridges for Epson usually hold 3.5 to 5.5ml, making them a much smarter choice. But since it’s in the suppliers' best interest to sell those Epson replacements—which carry about 5ml for $6.75—they end up charging $160 – $67 for the same amount of ink. That makes finding quality HP 45 or HP 78 replacements pretty difficult. Basically, because originals are priced at $100, even the Chinese market is running low on that supply of "fresh" used cartridges. Or rather, you can't successfully refill old HP 78 cartridges locally anymore, even if new ones can handle 3-4 refills before the structure starts falling apart. See, the glue HP uses to hold the head and nozzles together just disintegrates at the slightly higher temperatures needed during nozzle cleaning. And that's it. End of story. These printers are great machines. It's a shame to toss them. We've documented that with a refill, they can last up to 80,000 prints. Meanwhile, today's heads die after 10,000. So, what now?

Should I keep going?

darkowl72 said:Give me some drama, some action...

So now, after a few years, HP finally realized they couldn't just sell their souls for pennies. They’re pivoting the budget line again with these mediocre devices—part of the Deskjet 5000 series—but honestly, the build quality is nowhere near the old professional models. Of course, the cartridges aren't the same either. Instead of 40ml, we're looking at tiny 5ml or maybe 15–20ml packs. And get this: the price per cartridge stayed the same. Since the cost matches what the 40ml ones used to be, you're effectively paying 50–80% more just for the privilege. Why? To force people into buying the newest generation. Customers see that the new printers use "cheaper" cartridges, not realizing they actually contain 50% less ink for the same buck. Basically, they want you to toss your reliable pro gear and grab the latest model that offers half the capacity for the same price.

And things move fast. Today's current crop of HP Deskjet printers uses those same Deskjet 5000 cartridges, but with another 50% drop in capacity. So, the current HP models you see sitting on shelves for $300 – $133 have barely a quarter of the ink capacity compared to those old-school 40ml professional units. Sure, they might be a little faster, but mechanically, they're built to last about an eighth of the lifespan of the old Deskjet 800 generation.

Now here’s where the plot thickens. Since HP doesn't care about the users of the HP Deskjet 900 era anymore, they’ve conveniently jacked up the price of the HP 78 color cartridges for those older machines. It’s absolute madness. You’re looking at maybe $100 for a single color cartridge. Naturally, any sane person thinks, "Why would I pay $100 when I can just buy a brand-new HP Deskjet printer?" And then the old one goes straight into the trash. That's why you see them being dumped on Craigslist or eBay for like $17. We're talking about professional-grade machines with tanks for chassis and an 80,000-page lifespan, being tossed in the bin after only 2,000 or 3,000 prints. Just think about that level of waste and planned obsolescence. Someone rigged the game for profit, and everyone's just chasing the shiny new bait.

Should I keep going?

Mark Hill90 said:Yeah, sure. Go ahead.

Btw, have you thought about changing your name from hollowmarlin27 to something like Don Quixote? Seems like fighting windmills is basically your full-time job.

Fine.

If this actually interests you, there'll be more follow-ups. There's also a connection to back in 2016.

So, let's hop in a time machine and head back 10 or 15 years. Back when HP was either leading the pack or practically the only serious player in the inkjet game. Back then, just like now, every manufacturer had both consumer inkjets and professional ones in their lineup. Basically, the consumer stuff was the Deskjet 500 and the professional side was the Deskjet 800 series. And honestly, the gap between the Deskjet 500 and the 800 was exactly what it is today. Night and day. Or rather $167 vs $667. You were getting a much more robust machine for $167 than what you get for the same money today. On the flip side, you couldn't really compare those old machines to today's $167 in terms of actual performance. But then again, you can't compare today's $167 to the old models regarding ink tank capacity and cost per page. These days, everyone's asking which device offers the cheapest printing. We're talking a difference of 5–10 ml vs 40 ml. And as for the cartridge price... those 40 ml ones were maybe 20% more expensive than the 10 ml ones we see now. It was the same deal with the $667 series regarding capacity. Back then, 40 ml cost about the same as 40 ml in the budget class.

Then fast forward five years. Technology basically steamrolled the old Deskjet 500 build quality, and HP decided to move its professional Deskjet 800 series into the same category as the $167. So, what used to cost $667 now costs somewhere between 500 and $267. The kicker is, there isn't much real difference between the old professional line and today's consumer grade. They're more or less the same—and I won't get too nitpicky or veer off track here—they both use 40 ml. Same number of prints. Same cartridge price. Same cartridge shape. Same contacts. same performance. Plus, you get a brand new print head every single time, following the HP concept.

Should I keep going?

darkowl72 said:God, I’m losing my mind here. 😱

Don't go killing yourself just yet.

Just look at how much sympathy people were throwing around because they lost their jobs. The whole game is rigged to phase out all those third-party service niches and outsource everything to China through new product lines.

Basically, we don't "need" printer repair services anymore. Seriously, check any major importer—how many actually keep more than one technician on the payroll? Compare that to ten years ago. It’s a different world.

The game is set up this way. Everyone has to dance to the exact same beat. If you don't follow the rhythm, you get slapped.

So now you want me to suggest something that isn't just following that same sheet music?

Your best bet is to read between the lines, wrap your head around it, and figure out what works best for your specific situation.

As for anyone who finds this too complicated—well, they're probably already a pro dancer who can find a cheap workaround at the local mall. Besides, after a month, who’s even going to care about the saga of buying a printer when they're busy dancing to a new tune just to afford the latest smartphone?

But hey, if you don't want the grim reality, do you want me to tell you some fairy tale about HP ink cartridges and printheads instead?

darkowl72 said:For crying out loud, Rembrandt, you're doing it again...

You’re basically that old, cranky mechanic... The kind who just sits there in silence when someone walks into his shop, refusing to say a word until they speak first—just because he's got plenty of reasons to complain about everything else...

Good 4U that you’re an expert on printers; nobody’s disputing that. But can you please, just once... plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ... give a simple answer to what printer this girl should buy based on what she actually needs??????

Plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, just one time....

Without the whole elaborate breakdown calculating how many miles a Michelin will get versus a Pirelli, how much fuel they'll burn, and how noisy they'll be...

or:

Dammit, which printer should she buy? Give me an unambiguous answer, ideally with a link to a store.

Tell me, what's actually in this young lady's best interest?

And tell me, what's in the interest of the printer manufacturers?

And tell me, what's in the interest of the government?

Basically, does the manufacturer and the government share the same goal here?

Try looking at it from that angle for a second.

Otherwise, the CONCLUSION is that both the state and the manufacturers are in cahoots to fleece a > girl< like her as much as possible, doing everything they can to pretend they're these big-hearted humanists or socially conscious types acting purely in her interest.

So how is anyone supposed to suggest or provide a decent alternative that doesn't line those specific pockets without getting chewed out for it?

Think about it from that perspective.
OK?

wiredotter14 said:But hollowmarlin27, you mentioned that anything other than an HP can only handle a few hundred pages before dying, so buying a used printer for $0.00 isn't really much of a deal

It all comes down to how many miles someone put on those used tires.

One person drives 3,000 miles and swaps in the latest model, while the old ones easily last another 30,000.

The thing is, buying a Canon is basically playing the lottery. And the biggest gamble is when someone tries to score a print head on eBay. They get excited about the low price, completely missing the fine print stating the head is refurbished.

That’s why, honestly, a refurbished Epson is usually the smarter move. You see these refurbished Epsons being used for pro-level work all the time without any issues.

With HP, it used to be that you could grab a new print head relatively cheap and swap out the old one yourself. Not so much anymore. I don't recall ever meeting an HP user whose dead print head didn't take the whole motherboard down with it. With Canon, that kind of failure happens about 50% of the time once the head gives out.

But that math from earlier still holds up. If someone actually went out and grabbed a high-end Canon MF, this is an opportunity you don't pass up. It’s basically a machine where someone tried using third-party cartridges instead of the originals, realized they hated it, and just gave the thing away because they wanted something else. Plus, it sat idle for 12 months, so the ink probably dried up a bit.

Basically, there are no rules when it comes to these Canon builds. And of course, Canon constantly tweaks their hardware and cartridges just to keep a stranglehold on the third-party market. They want customers to feel satisfied at first glance so they'll just buy a whole new printer instead of dealing with a new print head.

What you should actually do? Buy the newest Canon model today. Use it for two years, then flip it for 50% more when those specific models aren't available anymore. And you can find compatible cartridges for peanuts.

It's the exact same situation with this MG 5150 I found on Craigslist.

darkowl72 said:If nobody has a better idea, I think this one is fine. Just check if the third-party ink is actually in stock and what it costs:

http://www.amazon.com/ink-cartridges-printer-model-wifi-dplx
http://staples.com/printer-ink-refills-mg5751-white

Not sure how things stand with third-party ink for HP. For Canon (and Epson), my experience has been pretty good with Epson super.

So, these replacement cartridges are $25 for 10 ml

Right?

5 cartridges would be 5 * 75 = $125 for 60 ml of ink
Right?

And before, for that same amount of ink, she was paying 5 * $6.75 == $33

And if she was refilling the cartridges, that would have been 60 ml == $10

So we're looking at $125 for a new printer on one hand, and $10 on the other

Right?

And just because you can't find an old printer on eBay doesn't mean there isn't one on Craigslist bundled with 4 * 100 ml bottles of ink + a RESETTER + permanent cartridges. Basically, 4 * 100 ml is the same as 40 replacement cartridges or $267. A resetter is usually $67 anyway. Therefore, a refurbished printer ends up being $0.00

Anyway, draw your own conclusions.

Bradley Kelly12 said:Hey everyone..

Which popular 3-in-1 printer has the cheapest replacement ink?

An older model is fine too... I don't care about color. It's strictly for documents.

Thanks!

Right now, the HP OfficeJet series is probably your cheapest bet...

If you assume you'll burn through, say, 100 third-party cartridges—which, honestly, I doubt you'll even manage—then those 100 cheap replacements will run you about $667. But if you go with one of those printers and grab the refillable tanks instead, those same 100 cartridges' worth of prints will cost you roughly $67 just for the amount of ink you'd normally get from those 100 individual cartridges anyway. And don't even get me started on the difference in ink quality and how long the machine actually lasts. It's pretty simple: you're using the exact same ink all the time, so there's no weird fluctuation in viscosity while you're printing. Plus, the ink oxidizes way less because you aren't constantly exposing it to air like you do with disposable cartridges.

Now, if you just need a black-and-white 3-in-1, just hunt down a Canon imageRUNNER series in B&W. Specifically, one with just the black print head and a refillable black tank. Total cost would be maybe 1/3 or 1/4 of what those HP models above would run you.

Samuel Anderson34 said:Can anyone recommend somewhere in Washington, D.C. to get cheap ink refills?

Which printer are we talking about?
And what's the actual use case?

For instance, if you have an HP OfficeJet Pro, you've got options like

1. Colibri Dye standard > made in China
2. Premium Dye KMP refill ink > made in Germany
3. Brilliant Dye Food grade ink > made in USA
4. Eco Acryl pigment ink > made in USA
5. Kodak ink > made in USA

But for an Epson L 220, it gets more complicated:
1. Colibri Dye Standard > made in China
2. Sublimation ink > made in China
3. Pigment standard ink > made in China
4. Pigment Polymer standard DTG ink > made in USA
5. Eco Solvent Dye DTG ink > made in China
6. Solvent pigment > made in Hong Kong
7. Photo Dye KMP standard ink > made in Germany
8. Eco sublimation DTS ink > made in USA
9. Pigment KMP Standard ink >> made in Germany
10. UV LED Curable DTS ink > made in China
11. Kodak ink >> made in Germany

Basically, you need to know exactly what you're looking for, then just search Google + HP or Canon + Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, or maybe Oskek + 1 or 2 or 3... whatever works.

That's really all there is to it.