Inkjet printers

Started by Papyrus, October 31, 2020, 06:26:02 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

TrevL

#15
I'm using an HP Envy5530 printer/copier/scanner, (after being a commited Epson fan, due to being able to use cheap ink cartridges) was pleasently suprised at how much better it is than the epsons I've had.
Ink is not an issue, I've subscibed to their instant ink system. I pay £1.99 a month for 50 pages, and if I don't use them all, they roll over.  The printer communes with HP when it needs more ink, and the new cartridge(s) just drops though the letterbox with no intervention from me. Like it a lot.
https://instantink.hpconnected.com/uk/en/l/?gclid=CjwKCAiAnIT9BRAmEiwANaoE1SJben2tYeX61aZUqTXbByuvAeCsyvpyAq2JgbB1R7bkTAslzsSRkBoCbRwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Cheers, Trev.


Time flys like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana!

lil chris

Yes my recent HP Printer is a Envy5540, I have not bothered enabling auto ink order though but I buy genuine online cheap enough.
Lil Chris
My new layout  East Lancashire Railway
My old layout was Irwell Valley Railway.
Layout previous was East Lancashire Lines, changed this new one. My new layout here.
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=57193.0

Papyrus

Update

Thanks once again for the very interesting discussion. I'm here to tell you that I have joined the ranks of the laser converts! It occurred to me that the one part of the old Canon that was still working properly was the scanner, so I could save a considerable amount of money by going for a simple printer. As @lil chris says, the prices seem to have come down a lot, so I bought a Brother colour laser for what I consider to be a very reasonable price. Setting it up was relatively easy and I test printed a photo on to ordinary paper and I was very pleasantly surprised by how good the quality was. A good investment, I hope.

Cheers,

Chris

lil chris

A tip for you with the Laser printer, we used to use the Brother Laser  printers where I worked. When it tells you it is running out, remove the cartridge and give it a shake, it is surprising how long it will last for doing that, mind the ones we used were not colour.
Lil Chris
My new layout  East Lancashire Railway
My old layout was Irwell Valley Railway.
Layout previous was East Lancashire Lines, changed this new one. My new layout here.
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=57193.0

Miek

I had a canon mg5750 that broke itself a couple of weeks ago after a paper jam. It pulled the paper in so far and started to print before realising it was stuck (I had to switch it off). To get the paper out I had to take the sides off the printer in the end to be able to retrieve the ripped and stuck paper. I need a new one but cannot decide which way to go.

I found that the printer cartridges did not get blocked, but I suspect it emptied a bit of ink every time I switched it on and a cartridge would never last anything like 80 pages or whatever it stated. It also took a long time from power on to actually print. During the startup you heard motors whirring, clicking noises and other things. Then it would print fine.

I used it mainly for printing textures of buildings and building outlines.

If I was to choose a colour laser, I like the ideas of the printer printing to card, transparencies, not needing to be varnished etc but I am not so keen on the large size and weight of them.

I wanted to know if anyone on the forum who prints textures for buildings / scalescenes etc has used a colour laser?
And are the colours all the same no matter which make you choose or which toner you use?

Dorsetmike

Quote
I wanted to know if anyone on the forum who prints textures for buildings / scalescenes etc has used a colour laser?
And are the colours all the same no matter which make you choose or which toner you use?
I've been using OKI colour laser printers for over 15 years, they are larger and dearer to buy than dot matrix but way cheaper to run when you compare cost per page; over the life of the printer the total cost is probably about the same, toner cartridges typically print between 3,000 and 5,000 pages, no more clogged print heads.
Laser prints do not need varnishing, I've not noticed any fading of colours, I can print to card up to 220gsm, I can also print back scenes up to 4' long
Cheers MIKE
[smg id=6583]


How many roads must a man walk down ... ... ... ... ... before he knows he's lost!

njee20

I use a colour laser, albeit mainly for decals, I used to use inkjet. You get variation depending on the specific settings of an individual printer, depending on saturation etc, but in general it's not like something which looked right on an inkjet would suddenly look wrong on laser.

I prefer the laser on balance.

ntpntpntp

I must admit we moved our two household printers from inkjet to networked laser printers many years ago. Started off with the most basic little Samsung mono printer and that was great but I think we wore it out :) , now we have one Samsung mono multifunction printer for general use (it stays on 24/7) and a HP colour laser multifunction when we need it.  Much more economical, no clogging if not used for a while. 

We've had Epson and Canon inkjets over the years. The Canon did produce nice photos on glossy paper but we never used it that much.  We did try a Brother A3 format multifunction inkjet for a while (son had it for 6th form and Uni work) but it wasn't brilliant, forever paper jamming and yes eventually the head clogged up through lack of continuous use. My best efforts with cleaning kits wouldn't shift it so we junked it.

I've yet to try our colour laser on anything other than standard paper so far. I wouldn't say it's a massive weighty thing at all.  HP MFP277DW - it's a superseded model now.



The only other printer we still have is my ancient Alps technology printer for decals.
Nick.   2021 celebrating the 25th anniversary of "Königshafen" exhibition layout!
https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=50050.0

Miek

Thanks for the replies ... I am half way between colour laser and a good inkjet, but what is difficult for me is seeing the price of replacement toner - a set of 4 genuine low yield cartridges seems to cost as much or slightly more than most entry level laser printers. (I don't want fax or scan so I am thinking of a smaller sizes.)

njee20

The question I'd ask myself is how often you're going to use it. Inkjets are prone to clogging with intermittent use, which can ultimately destroy the printer (or at least make repair uneconomical). A laser will be far more stable. If you're not using it frequently then the cost of toner is insignificant (IMO outstripped by the cost of replacement cartridges which have dried up).

Yes it is marginally bulkier, but not in a way which really matters. The footprint is virtually identical, and it's not like the extra height really matters. Neither is a thing of beauty!

jpendle

For typical intermittent home use a Laserjet is the way to go, or drop in excess £600 on a seriously good, large format inkjet printer.

We have had our HP Laserjet for 4 years now and I'm just getting round to replacing some of the colour toner cartridges. We've gone through a couple of black one's but my wife likes to file things on paper rather than on a computer. None of the toner cartridges have ever clogged up.

I've also got an HP T120 large format printer, it's an inkjet but the cartridges and print head are better quality than a typical desktop Inkjet printer. I've had that 4 years as well and only use it intermittently, for printing out full size layout plans! I've replaced the black cartridge but none of them have ever clogged up.

Regards,

John P
Check out my layout thread.

Contemporary NW (Wigan Wallgate and North Western)

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=39501.msg476247#msg476247

And my Automation Thread

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=52597.msg687934#msg687934

Railwaygun

#26
Inkjets have a built in suicide switch - a reservoir for excess ink during printing, when it is full, it may be impossible to remove it without dismantling the whole printer!!

https://refreshcartridges.co.uk/igloo/clearing-canon-waste-ink-tank-full-message/

http://www.kadansky.com/files/newsletters/2011/2011_01_26.html

Lasers are an investment in long term peace of mind! ( I have a Brother L8410) - clone carts are available, but they killed my Kyocera, so I'm sticking to the Real Thing.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
Ecclesiastes 2:11

This has been a public service announcement
It may contain alternative facts

Caveat lector

The largest Railwaygun, Armoured Train & Military Rail group in the world!

https://groups.io/g/railwaygun/topics

NGF Military threads

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?board=146.0

My Military Rail Pinterest area
https://uk.pinterest.com/NDRobotnik/

10mm / N armour Threads
https://www.10mm-wargaming.com/

Motto: Semper ubi, sub ubi

jthjth

I have a Brother HL L 8260 CDW laser printer. Currently £235. Crucially mine came with full toner cartridges, none of these quarter filled starter cartridges. About two years later they are still a third full. It sits under my desk and has never given me a moment of trouble. It even accepts AirPrint from my iThings.

Miek

That's one of the ones I was thinking of, do you use it to print out scalescenes or textures?

jthjth

Yes, i do use it for printing out card kits. It works very well for that purpose. I did do a test between laser and inkjet, as at work we have both HP lasers and high end inkjets. For card kits/brick papers it was hard to say one was better than the other.

Please Support Us!
March Goal: £100.00
Due Date: Mar 31
Total Receipts: £77.34
Below Goal: £22.66
Site Currency: GBP
77% 
March Donations