Aftermarket Inks

[BoomerD]

I've done a search of the forum, and see a a LOT of different opinions on aftermarket ink companies. I've only tried aftermarket ink ONCE, and it wasn't a pleasant experience...the cartridges leaked badly, and basically ruined the Epson printer...that was maybe 10 years ago, and have forked over the high price for OEM branded cartridges ever since.
I have 2 Epson AIO's, (CX 3200 and CX 5400) as well as a Canon iP 4200. I know the Canon has the chip on the cartridges, and going aftermarket will eliminate the ink level monitoring, which I can live with as long as the ink is good, and there are no other problems.
I know Anandtech seems to like Swift Ink, but even they seem to have more than their share of customer complaints. Any recommendations?

 

[gamefreakgcb]

My CX3200 chugged along on the aftermarket inks for a little over 2 years, now my Canon IP6000D is doing the same. Maybe you got unlucky or you picked a bad supplier.

Edit: the cx3200 stopped because my ingenious brother dropped it. My IP6000D is excellent.

 

[Lemon law]

If you go to photoprinting forums----the so called big three---formula labs, MIS, and hobbicolors for Cannon only are all known good inks with no printhead clogging problems
and excellent OEM color balance. In other word they are every bit as safe to use as OEM ink. And quite a few other inks are equally safe---but not that many are as good on the color balance criteria. While at the same time, sadly, there are some third party inks sold that are far less than totally safe---especially generic inks advertised to work in any brand printer that may be decent or could clog up your printer at the speed of light.

Unless you can find trusted rating---you are buying a pig in the poke and playing you bet your printer.

So for advice you can trust----google the nifty stuff forums or steves digicams.

Also a good places to go to learn about refilling and third party pre-filled cartridges that can truly save you a bundle---and how to get around the chips in modern printers that keep you married to being ripped off.

 

[Zepper]

I've had good luck with Swiftink through three printers now: i450, iP3000 and iP4300. But Epson is another story - not nearly as easy-going with clone ink due to its being a clog-O-matic print system.

.bh.

 

[Phynaz]

Independant research says no.

Link

 

[BladeVenom]

Who pays for their research? Let me guess, the big name companies?

 

[Rottie]

what about Universal Colorfast refill kits?

 

[xgsound]

I've used swiftink's cartridges in Canon 750, 850, and 2 IP5000s for a few (my printer and several relatives) years now. I had one cartridge that was bad (dried up in short order) , but didn't hurt the printer. For the $4.00 I didn't send a complaint or anything, I just replaced it. I never tried the newer series 5/8 chipped cartridges ... Maybe someone who has could comment ... You move the chip to the new cartridge, so it ?should? still work to sense ink.

For your 4200 it would be $20 for all 5 colors and $5 for shipping. Try a set for yourself. They get my order to me in 2 or 3 business days.

I've never used thier Epson products, but they do have them.

The Nifty stuff forum has a lot of comments on this subject that would lead you to much more info.


Jim

 

[Lemon law]

Originally posted by: Rottie
what about Universal Colorfast refill kits?

---------------------------------------------------------
I would avoid any refill kit advertised to work with any printer.---as this is.

Different printer companies use different inks with totally different viscosities, are designed to use different color concentrations and ink drop sizes, and are just totally different. So if you have a Canon printer you need a ink specifically blended for a Canon printer, if you have a HP you need a HP blended ink, and with an Epson---you better be really careful cause even Epson ink can clog them up.

So a generic ink may half way work in your printer or clog it up at the speed of light---do you want to play you bet your printer---or do you want to hedge your bet and do your research on a printer forum---and find an ink that many heavy users of refill ink who also use your brand printer are very happy with?

And oddly enough---Price is absolutely no predictor---in consumer sized lots, most of the cost of the refill ink is in packaging and shipping. So why not buy the best---it costs no more than junk ink.

 

[Zepper]

Originally posted by: Phynaz
Independant research says no.

Link

Look at the clone tanks they list - nothing anyone here would buy. Just stuff designed to maximize profits for the big box stores. No wonder their results are poor.

.bh.

 

[Phynaz]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Who pays for their research? Let me guess, the big name companies?

Possibly, but if you are implying that would taint the results, I suggest you do a little research on Henry Wilhelm.

 

[Zepper]

If they only tested clone tanks that only boobs would buy, then their results ARE slanted.

.bh.