Which printer manufacturers are the best when it comes to compatibles/refilling?

thor

The time has come for me the get a printer and like most people I am looking for the best value.
I am wary of getting an epson since I have read that they now use chipped cartridges and waste a lot of ink during it's cleaning stages. All this will mean it is more complicated/impossible to use compatibles and ink consumption will be quick. So I will probably not be able to afford to use it even though I will only be printing around 5 or 10 medium size photos per week. Also I believe that epsons are the worst when it comes to clogging.
Of the other printer brands I would class HP and canon as the biggies so I would consider them but do they use chipped cartridges as well? I want to be able to use cheap compatibles or even refill empty carts myself so can anyone offer some suggestions.

johnmc

What would I recommend? EPSON.

Cheap to buy, cheap to run, easy to refill (pull the label off the top, shove a syringe into the hole and squeeze, then rest the chip) reasonable quality prints.

Cartridges from North Devon Ink .

Bulk ink (matched to the manufacturer) from Aktiv Direct. Together with a chip resetter from Ebay.

The print head is in the printer itself so you need to be careful to shutdown the printer each time such that it seats properly.

Yes, it purges a little ink each time into a felt pad under the unit. The printer counts these and at a predetermined figure it stops the unit. At that point dissasemble, wash the pads, reset the counter with some free software and you're back in business. Or you can mod the unit from new. Put a small hole in the back and pull through the purge tube then feed it into a plastic box to catch the purged ink. Only need the software now!

I've seen the aftermath of HP printers exploding, so I wouldn't touch them. Lexmark are cheap but the cartridges are expensive.

I'd stick with Epson.

Marty999

I prefer Canon printers. I have had my i950 for almost 4 years now and am very happy with it, mainly because it is quick and quiet. I also rate the 6 individual ink tank system so you only replace the colour that has run out. The ink tanks (cartridges) are not chipped. I use compatibles as they cost about £2.50 and the genuine Canon version are about £7 each, and I can't see much difference in the quality for every day type prints.

Inactive

Brother do not use chipped cartridges, even on their latest printers.

Cheap compatibles are available.;)

mazz1953

Hello,

My experience is that Hewlett-Packard is the best printer for refills. I have about three HP all-in-ones that I use at home and at work and I find the original cartridges can be refilled about 3-4 times before being replaced. Canon printers are also very good for refills.

Mizz_Pink

We own a Inkjet shop selling refilled and compats only. Epson are cheaper to buy and cheaper to run but as the printhead is on the printer the printer itself wotn last as long as HP or Lexmark. Lexmarks carts are extortionate refilled black are £15 and £18 for colour. Canon probably is 2nd best as the inks are seperate colours although we have tried to use carts with new chips in and they dont work, I have to use original carts in the office printer.
Hp inks are also expensive.

I think people prefer diff things. But we sell more Epson inks than any other brand. Dell and Brother inks are sometimes hard to get hold of.

Inactive

Mizz_Pink wrote: »

Brother inks are sometimes hard to get hold of.

Never had a problem getting Brother Compat's, individual tanks and last for ages, very cheap, I get mine from Choice Stationery, excellent company.;)

reheat

We used to have an HP 950, and although a good printer we got really peeved 'cos compatible cartridges were difficult to get hold of; refilling gave poor results; and the originals cost an arm and a leg. So this time around decided to go for a Canon. Trouble is I didn't do enough homework! Got an IP4200 which uses Canon's CLI-8 cartridges, and guess what? The d*mned things are chipped and no-one seems able to crack their coding. So I'm still stuck with expensive own-brand cartridges. So I would steer well away from an IP4200 if I were you - not sure about other Canons.

thor

I see that choosing a printer is not going to be straight forward :undecided