Inkjet Printer for Infrequent Use?

r2020

I hardly use my inkjet printer/scanner, mostly for scanning as I also have a laser printer.


Today I had something to scan and of course my printer complains that the cartridges need to be renewed as the ink has dried out.


So I run the cleaning cycle then it complains that the cartridges are empty.


I managed to scan my document though.


It is a Kodak ESP 5250.


Do any inket printers exist that can be left for months without the cartridges drying out?

DoaM

r2020 wrote: »

Do any inket printers exist that can be left for months without the cartridges drying out?

Probably not.

ballyblack

I too face the same problem..............I just print a test page every few weeks to keep the inks from drying out

dan958

If you do not use printers often, you should get a laser printer.

Undervalued

ballyblack wrote: »

I too face the same problem..............I just print a test page every few weeks to keep the inks from drying out

Indeed.

Although another problem is that most / all inkjets use (ie waste) some ink every time they are powered up. So if there is anything you can usefully print once ever couple of weeks then fine, otherwise they are really not ideal for very spasmodic use.

alan_d

The answer is a laser printer. All inkjets (in my experience at least) dry out with infrequent use.

r2020

I have a black and white laser printer.


Can you get a colour laser printer that will print photos?

Cornucopia

You could get an HP printer with the Free Instant Ink subscription (15 pages per month). This would allow you to print a test page every month, say, to keep the cartridges going.

https://instantink.hpconnected.com/uk/en/l/

dogmaryxx

Take the cartridges out and wrap in clingfilm until needed again.

psychic_teabag

Yes, you can get colour lasers, but they're a bit more expensive. Not sure they're as good for photos as inkjets.
https://www.printerbase.co.uk/news/better-printing-photos-inkjet-laser/

Have you considered using the library, if you have one, or even a high-street photo-printing shop ?

datostar

r2020 wrote: »

I have a black and white laser printer.


Can you get a colour laser printer that will print photos?

They'll all print photos but you can't use dedicated glossy photo paper with them. Some give better quality than others but all tend to cost more than inkjets.