Question Should I get a new printer, and if yes, what one?

[Darkmatterx76]

Hi, my regular black on my Epson XP-830 was totally blocked and after clearing out a lot of ink from the printer head by forcing rubbing alcohol through where the cartridge usually injects the ink and through the print head to the other side. My problem is that after that my printer decided I needed new Magenta and Yellow cartridges just to do a simple print. No option to print only in black, so I don't know for sure that what I did worked.

So, do I spend $40 cnd to find out if my printer works, or do I just get another one? And if so, which would people recommend? I will say that I do not need a scanner, or a fax, although I do need one that does CD/DVD's and can do a decent 8x10 print occasionally, and then just be good at printing text, which some printers actually have a bad rep for, which boggles my mind.

Thanks. 🙂

 

[UsandThem]

Holy lurker Batman! 😉

I have an Epson ET-2750 which I would recommend if you do a LOT of printing, as the cartridges last a lot longer than typical printers (around 2 years per ink set). However, it is pricey at $250.

https://epson.com/For-Home/Printers...ank-All-in-One-Supertank-Printer/p/C11CG22201

Before that, I had a Canon PIXMA MG4220 which is a more entry-level unit which we had for quite a while, and it worked really well for scanning documents and print quality. However, once my kids got into high school, they were printing a lot of stuff all the time, and I was having to buy a ton of ink. So we retired it, and replaced it with the Epson to save money on the ink.

You didn't say how long you owned your printer, but usually most basic printers are cheaper to replace than to pay someone to diagnose and repair it.

 

[Darkmatterx76]

Thanks for the response.

I don't do a lot of printing, but I do some. Sometimes in black and white text and once and a while a picture print. This XP-830 is pretty heavy on the ink but I THINK I've cleared the clog by flushing 99% rubbing alcohol through the print head with the cartridge removed.
Edit: I had paper towel under the print head.

I'll have to buy those 2 ink cartridges to find out but I haven't seen a good printer that is easy on the ink price, or efficiency, which also does DVD/CD's, for sale right now, but there are so many different printers now...

 

[UsandThem]

Yeah, the ink is where the money is made on all the lower priced ones. Your choices really are to pay less up front, and more in ink over ownership. Or to pay more up front, with less for ink for the one I currently own.

Prior to my Canon and current Epson printer, I tried using generic inks without much success. They all seemed to eventually clog the print heads over time. I've heard that people have had good luck getting their cartridges refilled at Costco (quality and price wise), if that's an option for you to try out?

 

[fire400]

Skip the ink cartridge test, why waste time and money on a failing product?

Upgrade to the next available Epson printer office-level class that offers printing of CD/DVD options.
Epson is really one of the few companies that still offer the option on their printers.
The Eco-tank option is better than wasting money on tiny stupid cartridges. You can get refillable ink squirt bottles for a few dollars (never refill the wrong color into the wrong reservoir, ever!!!).

Recommend always getting insurance on inkjet printers, either from Best Buy or Office Depot/Office Max. Inkjets have such high volatility in the first two years, not telling what can happen to them at anytime.
With Best Buy, you can just walk in with the defective product and swap for a gift card.
With Office Depot/Office Max, SquareTrade will refund the money within five days (unless it's a higher end laser printer where it can be fixed by an onsite technician).

 

[Oyeve]

I print at work. All of my printers at home just cost too much to maintain. I was thinking of a cheap color laser but work is soo much cheaper.

 

[killster1]

Skip the ink cartridge test, why waste time and money on a failing product?

Upgrade to the next available Epson printer office-level class that offers printing of CD/DVD options.
Epson is really one of the few companies that still offer the option on their printers.
The Eco-tank option is better than wasting money on tiny stupid cartridges. You can get refillable ink squirt bottles for a few dollars (never refill the wrong color into the wrong reservoir, ever!!!).

Recommend always getting insurance on inkjet printers, either from Best Buy or Office Depot/Office Max. Inkjets have such high volatility in the first two years, not telling what can happen to them at anytime.
With Best Buy, you can just walk in with the defective product and swap for a gift card.
With Office Depot/Office Max, SquareTrade will refund the money within five days (unless it's a higher end laser printer where it can be fixed by an onsite technician).

i picked up a laser color printer for 100$ shipped, has toner cart refills (that i guess you drill out or something) for 38$ for the set. I dont know what i will use it for but wanted to try some transfer papers and quick photo prints. It seems to do the job well and has replaced a pantom 25$ shipped laser printer that is now low on toner after 3 years? i guess this one does not print on dvd's like my old epson inkjet with CIS but i always had issues with ink waste containers and silly tubes everywhere. Sorry i guess my option isnt goign to fit your dvd printing needs maybe you can just iron them on hehe

 

[FeuerFrei]

Hi, my regular black on my Epson XP-830 was totally blocked and after clearing out a lot of ink from the printer head by forcing rubbing alcohol through where the cartridge usually injects the ink and through the print head to the other side. My problem is that after that my printer decided I needed new Magenta and Yellow cartridges just to do a simple print. No option to print only in black, so I don't know for sure that what I did worked.

So, do I spend $40 cnd to find out if my printer works, or do I just get another one? And if so, which would people recommend? I will say that I do not need a scanner, or a fax, although I do need one that does CD/DVD's and can do a decent 8x10 print occasionally, and then just be good at printing text, which some printers actually have a bad rep for, which boggles my mind.

Thanks. 🙂

To print only in black, you typically have to set your printer's driver to "grayscale" mode. The machine itself isn't smart enough. 🙄

 

[Muse]

Never had anything but B&W laser printers. They are so much less hassle than inkjet, if I can believe everything I see and hear. So much cheaper to run. I just replaced the toner in my Brother printer's starter cartridge at a cost of about $15, and it should give me 8000 prints before I have to replace it again. Printing on DVDs/CDs? Huh? That's round labels for the top? Why bother? I just write on them with a thin sharpie whatever I need to know.

I would like to be able to make nice color prints of my JPGs, that's the reason I'd consider another printer.

 

[13Gigatons]

Prior to my Canon and current Epson printer, I tried using generic inks without much success. They all seemed to eventually clog the print heads over time. I've heard that people have had good luck getting their cartridges refilled at Costco (quality and price wise), if that's an option for you to try out?

Always baffled by this, I've had two Canon printers that have been fed Hobbicolors ink from eBay. They have lasted 15+ years. No Clogs. No Problems. Just great CD/DVD and Photos. One large photo has hung on a wall year after year and still looks great.

The first large batch of ink lasted 7 years. Never dried out.

I will confess I did buy a new Canon inkjet, just to get WiFi and a Touch Screen.

 

[jsalpha2]

I don't do ink printers anymore. A black only laser printer at home. Color stuff I put on a flash drive and take to Walmart or Staples.