The question I am always being asked is, "What is the best printer to buy for using cheap printer cartridges?". The answer to this important question can be complex and can depend on the users requirements. For instance if a customer wanted to use the printer in a small office then I would recommend a Brother all-in-one machine. The replacement Brother cartridges are cheap and do not contain microchips, so no nasty error messages. Buying a Brother printer is usually slightly more expensive than say a similar specification Epson, however the build quality seems to be better and they seem less prone to blocked print heads; at least in the first year of operation. On the negative side, if a user was looking to print photographs, particularly on slightly thicker paper, then I would sway towards a Canon printer instead. Brother printers feed the paper from a bottom tray which means the media has to bend around so that it comes back out of the front. The resistance of the paper or card can slow down the movement causing either a jam or a vertical misalignment.
Canon printers often have a rear paper feed and a bottom paper feed meaning that you can use thicker photo paper within too many problems. The rear paper feed sends the paper in more of a straight direction which means less resistance. Canon printers also tend to have print heads with a higher dpi (dots per inch). For example the Canon Pixma ip4950 photo printer has a maximum print resolution of 9600 x 2400dpi, making it possible to achieve impressive photographic results. However the dots per inch is not the only factor in a printers ability to produce fine prints. The type of ink (dye or pigment) that it uses and the included driver and utility software can make a significant difference. Canon include an Easy Print Utility with this model that improves colour rendition as opposed to printing directly from Windows. The Pixma ip 4950 uses five ink cartridges, a Large Black PG-525BK (Pigment) which is used for text printing, and four other Dye based inks that produce images. While a set of original OEM cartridges costs around £50, compatible PG-525BK/526 BK/C/M/Y cartridges cost around £15 per set. The ink capacity compared to the equivalent Brother ones is less and they are £5 more expensive.
So in this brief conclusion if you are looking for an economical small office printer then I would recommend a Brother ink jet. If you require a cheap to run photo printer, then certain Canon models are more appropriate. But be careful which model you choose! We will talk more about this in future blogs.
23 October 2012
HP Officejet Pro 8600 950/951 Cartridge Protection Option for Compatibles
Update:
We now have a limited stock of New HP950 / HP951 refillable cartridges with ARC available from our website!
When using a compatible Hewlett Packard 950 or HP 951 remanufactured cartridge you may get an error that will prevent you from using it in your machine. You may need to cancel the cartridge protection feature.
To cancel the cartridge protection feature go to the toolbox where there is a tab named HP Cartridge Protection. Click on this and then select disable. The default setting is enable.
You will need to switch off the ink level monitor to allow you to use the refilled cartridge. In the HP Officejet Pro 8600 go to the printer control panel, click on the right arrow followed by setup. Select preferences and the cartridge chip information. For the Officejet Pro 8100 on the control panel press and hold the Wireless and Resume buttons. The ink supply indicators will blink 4 times. Then press and hold the Wireless and Resume buttons again which will turn the usage monitor back on.
To reset the ink level (another problem), you will need two extra cartridges plus the one that has been refilled. Install each cartridge in turn and print an alignment page. Finally put the new refilled cartridge into the printer and hopefully the ink level will be restored to full. Another method is to remove the battery from within the side panel of the printer, then replace it a minute or so later.
We now have a limited stock of New HP950 / HP951 refillable cartridges with ARC available from our website!
When using a compatible Hewlett Packard 950 or HP 951 remanufactured cartridge you may get an error that will prevent you from using it in your machine. You may need to cancel the cartridge protection feature.
To cancel the cartridge protection feature go to the toolbox where there is a tab named HP Cartridge Protection. Click on this and then select disable. The default setting is enable.
You will need to switch off the ink level monitor to allow you to use the refilled cartridge. In the HP Officejet Pro 8600 go to the printer control panel, click on the right arrow followed by setup. Select preferences and the cartridge chip information. For the Officejet Pro 8100 on the control panel press and hold the Wireless and Resume buttons. The ink supply indicators will blink 4 times. Then press and hold the Wireless and Resume buttons again which will turn the usage monitor back on.
To reset the ink level (another problem), you will need two extra cartridges plus the one that has been refilled. Install each cartridge in turn and print an alignment page. Finally put the new refilled cartridge into the printer and hopefully the ink level will be restored to full. Another method is to remove the battery from within the side panel of the printer, then replace it a minute or so later.
04 October 2012
New Printer Ink with Lubricant aims to stop blocked printer head nozzle
Lubrink is a new type of printer ink that helps prevent inkjet printer head nozzles from getting blocked (non clogging). Containing a secret and special formula, the new variation of ink combats this well known problem that effects many printer makes and models from Brother, Canon, and Epson amongst others; particularly those models that contain a fixed or semi permanent print head.
Just like petrol that contains a special lubricant to enhance the performance of cars, this new ink is designed to pass through the inkjet nozzles more easily, lowering the chances of a particle blockage. In terms of printer nozzles, the gaps where the different colour inks pass are measured in microns, so keeping a clean system is critical to the long term health of a printer. The secret ingredients in Lubrink not only lubricate, but also clean as they travel through the channels of the printer and onto the paper!
The manufacturers of Lubrink are keen to stress that this new product will not guarantee against printer ink blockages and using the special ink should be seen as a precautionary measure. Using this formulation of ink should reduce the likely hood of a blockage in the future and save many printers from early landfill.
A common question when switching to a different type of ink is whether it will cause a change in colour rendition? In almost all cases colours will appear slightly different from the OEM ink and very slight adjustments may be made if necessary. However most printer users will not bother changing the printer driver settings to adjust the R/G/B and C/M/Y mix. The professionals will no doubt create profiles for each model of printer and paper media.
Priced at only a few Pounds more than ordinary compatible cheap Dye refill bulk ink, Lubrink should be a worthwhile investment. Currently only available in 100ml bottles for Brother, Canon, and Epson printers, but will soon also be sold in 1 Litre bottles (early 2013). Demand is expected to be high from users who are keen to save their printers from early obsolescence. Supplies may be limited in the early stages of production.
We stock a wide range of compatible empty refillable printer cartridges that can be used in conjunction with this type of ink. Our cheap prices include free UK delivery and VAT.
Just like petrol that contains a special lubricant to enhance the performance of cars, this new ink is designed to pass through the inkjet nozzles more easily, lowering the chances of a particle blockage. In terms of printer nozzles, the gaps where the different colour inks pass are measured in microns, so keeping a clean system is critical to the long term health of a printer. The secret ingredients in Lubrink not only lubricate, but also clean as they travel through the channels of the printer and onto the paper!
The manufacturers of Lubrink are keen to stress that this new product will not guarantee against printer ink blockages and using the special ink should be seen as a precautionary measure. Using this formulation of ink should reduce the likely hood of a blockage in the future and save many printers from early landfill.
A common question when switching to a different type of ink is whether it will cause a change in colour rendition? In almost all cases colours will appear slightly different from the OEM ink and very slight adjustments may be made if necessary. However most printer users will not bother changing the printer driver settings to adjust the R/G/B and C/M/Y mix. The professionals will no doubt create profiles for each model of printer and paper media.
Priced at only a few Pounds more than ordinary compatible cheap Dye refill bulk ink, Lubrink should be a worthwhile investment. Currently only available in 100ml bottles for Brother, Canon, and Epson printers, but will soon also be sold in 1 Litre bottles (early 2013). Demand is expected to be high from users who are keen to save their printers from early obsolescence. Supplies may be limited in the early stages of production.
We stock a wide range of compatible empty refillable printer cartridges that can be used in conjunction with this type of ink. Our cheap prices include free UK delivery and VAT.
Update: Lubrink Lubricated Printer Ink Now available in our online store.
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