What color laser printer is easily & cheaply refilled at home fromnon OEM toner?

[Gernot Hassenpflug]

Can you easily refill the Canon & Brother printer ink?

I was an 'expert' on refilling the HP printer ink ... but alas ... it's
STILL a hugely frustrating process, what with the drop-dead dates and all.

Do the Canon & Brother ink tanks have time stamps?

Canon inks are simple to refill, just need a jig (comes with some of
the refill sets) to punch out the plastic ball in the hole, or else
drill a new one. The refill bottles usually have a thin nib that fits
in the hole, almost no mess. Sealing is of course important
afterwares, either with a rubber piece made for the job, but I am just
as happy with scotch tape, as long as there the seal is tight it works
fine.

The chipped inks (you canot get unchipped one anymore as far as I
know) require a chip clearer (USB-attached to my PC) to reset the
counter on the cartridge, or else the printer will register it as
empty.

I don't know about the latest cartridges on the MG series PIXMA/PIXUS
models.

I haven't bought new cartridges for several years now, and have
refilled happily the following, to give an idea of the range over a
period of time: SELPHY D700, MP450, MP710 (similar to MP700), MP800,
MP810, MP960.

 

[Atila Iskander]

I was an 'expert' on refilling the HP printer ink ... but alas ... it's
STILL a hugely frustrating process, what with the drop-dead dates and all.

What is this "HP drop dead date" thing ?

 

[Percival P. Cassidy]

What is this "HP drop dead date" thing ?

It may not apply to all HP inkjet printers, but it certainly applies to
our OfficeJet 7135 multifunction machine (printer, copier, scanner, fax)
from about nine years ago. Its ink cartridges (#14) have an expiry date:
they will stop working 18 months from the date printed on the package or
from the date the cartridge is installed, whichever comes first. Of
course, this only works if one sets the date in the machine; we leave
ours unplugged until we actually want to use it, and the date remains on
Jan 1 00 (I think that's what it is). ISTR that when I have connected
the machine to a computer to scan or print something (we use it almost
exclusively as a copier now), it reads the date from the computer and
updates its internal date setting; then it is necessary to stick a
credit card or some other thin, stiff object between the battery and the
contact so that the stored information is lost.

Even if we want to print or copy only in black and white, we still have
to have non-expired color cartridges in place.

A former hotshot with HP's printer division (distantly related by
marriage) says, "It's a wonderful system: we sell them a printer and
then keep them coming back for the ink."

I don't think I have ever seen after-market #14 cartridges, and
OfficeMax says that is a cartridge they cannot refill either.

I think there my be DIY kits for refilling the #14.

Perce

 

[Bob F]

So again, when dealing with inkjets get the one with the cheapest (in
cost) ink, Kodak by a mile.

OR, better yet. just never deal with inkjets. Period. The OP has it right.

 

[J.G.]

Kodak markets as the anti-HP. Ink is ridiculously cheap

Now that's nice to know!

HP inks are crazily priced. I can't believe I fell for the cheap &
ubiquitous HPs for so many years!

I'm fine with my HP laser but my 'next' color printer will NOT be HP for
sure!

 

[J.G.]

The chipped inks (you canot get unchipped one anymore as far as I know)
require a chip clearer (USB-attached to my PC) to reset the counter on
the cartridge, or else the printer will register it as empty.

Are you saying that the Canon inks that you buy are now chipped?

If so, that's a pain.

 

[Oren]

Now that's nice to know!

HP inks are crazily priced. I can't believe I fell for the cheap &
ubiquitous HPs for so many years!

I'm fine with my HP laser but my 'next' color printer will NOT be HP for
sure!

(Kodak) -- "It's not "cheap ink" it's premium ink made affordable."

I understand their ink has more color pigments, thus a better quality
ink. I like our Kodak ESP 9 printer... it saves much more money.

I could not find a print head local or online to replace mine. Called
New Deli (India) and was told the printer was out of warranty. Then
they said I was a "loyal customer" and said they would send a printer
head for free. It shipped from Ohio in 10 days.
--

 

[J.G.]

I have a HP CP2025dn with four separate toner carts and I refill it
regularly with toner from http://www.tonerrefillkits.com/. Works
great. Cost of printer $468. Cost of spare set of carts $160 cost of
refill for a cart $35 or less. Refills last thousands of pages,
quality is good enough for photos, but not for professional
photographic work.

This is a fantastic start!

What I like about it is:
a) It's a recommendation of a color laser printer which isn't too expensive
b) Refills are proven! And each color can be separately refilled!
c) It works well enough!

Thanks ... this becomes the leading suggestion for what color
laser printer can easily & cheaply be refilled from home!

 

[J.G.]

It's not hell at all.

At first I thought you were clueless ... until I read on!

The key is to choose an inkjet carefully.

Indeed! All the ones I had were sheer hell to refill
(and, at the time, I knew what I was doing - yet they were STILL
sheer hell!)

First, avoid at all costs any inkjet printer where you the print
head and the ink cartridge are not one unit.

Mine were all separate 'tanks' and 'print heads'.

It seems counter-intuitive

It does.

but the biggest problem with ink
jet printers is when the print head goes bad.

I had two fail on me.

For all the HP bashing,
the one big advantage of HP ink jet printers is that you get a new (or
at least tested) print head with each ink cartridge.

All the HP inkjet printers I had, had separate print heads.
My fault! Now I know.

1. Stay away from newer ink jet printers that make it very difficult to
use after-market or refilled cartridges.

It's getting harder and harder to find unchipped cartridges.
See details here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/10281-2-various-printer-expiration-dates-analyzed

2. Avoid ink jet printers where the print head is separate from the ink
cartridge.

Very interesting observation!

3. Set up the printers in your house so that the default printer is the
monochrome laser.

Makes sense to use the B&W most of the time.

4. Try to explain to your family that they should only select the color
printer for things that absolutely need to be printed in color.

Good advice!

5. Show your family how to send photos to Walgreen's, CVS, or Costco for
printing.

Makes the most sense of all!
Now to convince them of that!

 

[J.G.]

It's not hell at all.
The key is to choose an inkjet carefully.

Hi SMS,

At first I thought you were "clueless in San Jose",
but then I read your wonderful post, and I realized you
were right on the money!

One thing to add to your "choose your printer carefully" advice.

This HP web site tells us that there is no way to override the
drop dead date in "some" HP printers.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c01764161

Trust me, I've tried (on the d135).
It just can not be done.
Forget CMOS resets.
Forget motherboard shorts.
Forget changing the printer time.
Forget turning off the ink-drop counting mechanisms.
Even forget the otherwise venerable trick of cycling of three cartridges.

The only solution (for those printers) is to NEVER BUY THOSE PRINTERS!
Otherwise, attempting to re-fill the chipped ink will be sheer hell.

So that others benefit, we should add that list of printers to avoid
in order to eliminate hell in your otherwise wonderful instructions!
....
HP Officejet Pro K850
HP digital Copier Printer 610
HP Business Inkjet (all HP business inkjet printers!)
HP Officejet D series (all)
HP Officejet d125xi,
HP Officejet d135,
HP Officejet d145,
HP Officejet d155xi,
HP Officejet 7110,
HP Officejet 7130,
HP Officejet 7140xi,
HP Fax 610
HP Officejet 7100 series (all)
HP Officejet 9100 series (all)
HP Professional series 2000 (all)
HP Professional series 2500 (all)
HP Color Inkjet cp1160
HP Color Inkjet cp1700
....
HP Officejet Pro 8000,
HP Officejet Pro 8500,
HP Officejet Pro K550,
HP Officejet Pro K5300,
HP Officejet Pro K5400,
HP Officejet Pro K8600,
HP Officejet Pro L7400,
HP Officejet Pro L7500,
HP Officejet Pro L7600,
HP Officejet Pro L7700 Series
HP Photosmart 3110,
HP Photosmart 3210,
HP Photosmart 3310,
HP Photosmart 8250,
HP Photosmart C5180,
HP Photosmart C6180,
HP Photosmart C6200,
HP Photosmart C7180,
HP Photosmart C7200,
HP Photosmart C8100,
HP Photosmart D6160,
HP Photosmart D7160,
HP Photosmart D7200,
HP Photosmart D7360,
HP Photosmart D7400 series,
HP Photosmart Pro B8800,
HP Photosmart Pro B9180
HP Designjet 510,
HP Designjet 4000,
HP Designjet 4500,
HP Designjet 4X20,
HP Designjet 5100,
HP Designjet 5500,
HP Designjet 8000,
HP Designjet 9000,
HP Designjet 10000,
HP Designjet L25500,
HP Designjet L26500,
HP Designjet L28500,
HP Designjet L65500,
HP Designjet LX600,
HP Designjet LX800,
HP Designjet LX820,
HP Designjet LX850,
HP Designjet T610,
HP Designjet T620,
HP Designjet T770,
HP Designjet T790,
HP Designjet T1100,
HP Designjet T1120,
HP Designjet T1200,
HP Designjet T1300,
HP Designjet T2300 eMFP,
HP Designjet T7100,
HP Designjet Z2100,
HP Designjet Z3100,
HP Designjet Z3200,
HP Designjet Z5200ps,
HP Designjet Z6100,
HP Designjet Z6200 series,
HP CM8050
HP CM8060

 

[J.G.]

I hate when that happens. I guess the windows registry reads embedded
(EPROM) info from them and stores it the registry. Hence the hack to
get around it. I'm not sure, but there is a hack for the problem.

There is a LOT of confusion out there.

Some ink chips 'can' be overridden with 'hacks'.

Some just plain can not!

The trick is to never buy the printers that can not.
And to avoid the printers which require the hacks.

I, for one, love my B&W laser printer which lasts far longer
on one fill than any ink printer ever did for me, and which
can be easily refilled with 250 grams of toner for about $5.

The quest is to find a color laser printer which is as
easy yet still somewhat cheaply refilled!

 

[Ashton Crusher]

I just realized that the color laser printer 'might' not work for pictures at home!

Here are some articles I'm reading, to determine if it can:
Laser Vs. Inkjet Printer
(http://www.buzzle.com/articles/laser-printer-vs-inkjet-printer.html)

Should Your Office Buy an Inkjet or a Laser Printer?
(http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent..._office_buy_an_inkjet_or_a_laser_printer.html)

Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?
(http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/354659/laser_vs_inkjet_printers_which_better_/)

Inkjet Versus Laser Printers
(http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/testdrive/article.php/3521141/Inkjet-Versus-Laser-Printers.htm)

Yeah, when I was working I went thru several color laser printers with
the idea they would be able to do color photos better then the
"expensive" inkjet process. After wondering why the printed photos
weren't all that good I came across similar articles to your links.
Based on my past experience, if all you want to print in the way of
color photos is stuff to place in a work file to document <whatever>
then the color lasers are fine for that. Or if you just want to be
able to quickly and easily print color flyers with action photos for
your Rock Band's upcoming concert the lasers are great for that. But
if you want to print a really nice copy of Antie Ems's 101 birthday
party and see the sparkle in her gray hair you won't be happy with
what you get from the laser color unless you buy a very expensive one
and use the proper glossy paper. At that point they have lost any
advantage over inkjet cost.

 

[J.G.]

The reason HP inks are so expensive is because you're
getting a new printhead as part of the ink cartridge
on most of their models.
Kodak's are cheap because the printhead is part of the
printer.

I think the record shows the reason HP inks are so expensive
is simply because HP prices its ink so expensive. Period.

Even for the ink tanks which have no print heads involved
(e.g., for the ubiquitous HP d135 #14 ink tank I had).

It's all part of their sales/marketing strategy.
They clearly make more money on ink than on printers.

For example, I forget the exact details, but I had asked
a printer friend of mine what it would cost him to provide
me as much ink as is in the #14 ink tank - and he even
gave me the ink, gratis - saying it was only worth pennies.

Of course he buys quality ink in bulk - but prior to that
I bought, from Costco, at retail prices, the $20 or $30
(I forget the exact price) refill kit also.

This kit refilled the HP d135 ink tanks many times over.

Point is, the ONLY reason HP ink costs as much as it does
is that it is an integral part of their sales strategy.

I, for one, will NEVER buy another HP ink-based printer
again, the rest of my life for this very reason.

But none of this helps us get to the best color laser
printer that can be easily refilled!

 

[J.G.]

The only solution (for those printers) is to NEVER BUY THOSE PRINTERS!
Otherwise, attempting to re-fill the chipped ink will be sheer hell.

Do we have a good list of other brand's models NOT to buy because
they too chip their ink tanks?

 

[Ashton Crusher]

Hi SMS,

At first I thought you were "clueless in San Jose",
but then I read your wonderful post, and I realized you
were right on the money!

One thing to add to your "choose your printer carefully" advice.

This HP web site tells us that there is no way to override the
drop dead date in "some" HP printers.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c01764161

Trust me, I've tried (on the d135).
It just can not be done.
Forget CMOS resets.
Forget motherboard shorts.
Forget changing the printer time.
Forget turning off the ink-drop counting mechanisms.
Even forget the otherwise venerable trick of cycling of three cartridges.

The only solution (for those printers) is to NEVER BUY THOSE PRINTERS!
Otherwise, attempting to re-fill the chipped ink will be sheer hell.

So that others benefit, we should add that list of printers to avoid
in order to eliminate hell in your otherwise wonderful instructions!
...
HP Officejet Pro K850
HP digital Copier Printer 610
HP Business Inkjet (all HP business inkjet printers!)
HP Officejet D series (all)
HP Officejet d125xi,
HP Officejet d135,
HP Officejet d145,
HP Officejet d155xi,
HP Officejet 7110,
HP Officejet 7130,
HP Officejet 7140xi,
HP Fax 610
HP Officejet 7100 series (all)
HP Officejet 9100 series (all)
HP Professional series 2000 (all)
HP Professional series 2500 (all)
HP Color Inkjet cp1160
HP Color Inkjet cp1700
...
HP Officejet Pro 8000,
HP Officejet Pro 8500,
HP Officejet Pro K550,
HP Officejet Pro K5300,
HP Officejet Pro K5400,
HP Officejet Pro K8600,
HP Officejet Pro L7400,
HP Officejet Pro L7500,
HP Officejet Pro L7600,
HP Officejet Pro L7700 Series
HP Photosmart 3110,
HP Photosmart 3210,
HP Photosmart 3310,
HP Photosmart 8250,
HP Photosmart C5180,
HP Photosmart C6180,
HP Photosmart C6200,
HP Photosmart C7180,
HP Photosmart C7200,
HP Photosmart C8100,
HP Photosmart D6160,
HP Photosmart D7160,
HP Photosmart D7200,
HP Photosmart D7360,
HP Photosmart D7400 series,
HP Photosmart Pro B8800,
HP Photosmart Pro B9180
HP Designjet 510,
HP Designjet 4000,
HP Designjet 4500,
HP Designjet 4X20,
HP Designjet 5100,
HP Designjet 5500,
HP Designjet 8000,
HP Designjet 9000,
HP Designjet 10000,
HP Designjet L25500,
HP Designjet L26500,
HP Designjet L28500,
HP Designjet L65500,
HP Designjet LX600,
HP Designjet LX800,
HP Designjet LX820,
HP Designjet LX850,
HP Designjet T610,
HP Designjet T620,
HP Designjet T770,
HP Designjet T790,
HP Designjet T1100,
HP Designjet T1120,
HP Designjet T1200,
HP Designjet T1300,
HP Designjet T2300 eMFP,
HP Designjet T7100,
HP Designjet Z2100,
HP Designjet Z3100,
HP Designjet Z3200,
HP Designjet Z5200ps,
HP Designjet Z6100,
HP Designjet Z6200 series,
HP CM8050
HP CM8060

I've got an HP7280 and it will accept "out of date" ink carts, you
just have to agree to the printers admonition that using them might
void the warranty. I've had one ink cart refilled at Costco and they
appeared to have replaced the chip on it. This is for the 02 series
of ink carts. Print head is separate.

 

[J.G.]

Yeah, when I was working I went thru several color laser printers with
the idea they would be able to do color photos better then the
"expensive" inkjet process.

I'm slowly coming to the following hard-won realization,
much to my chagrin, regarding printing color photos at home:

0. B&W laser writers (such as my HP 3200m) are trivial & cheap to refill
1. Most color laser writers are also trivial & cheap to refill.
2. However, color laser writers stink at printing pictures at home!

Given that, we are FORCED to look at ink-based printers:
0. IMHO, all ink-based printers from HP are to be avoided at all costs!
1. Kodak/Canon/Dell ink-based printers 'may' be a viable alternative.
2. The key is to buy the printer based on the ease of "replacing" the ink!

Drat! Color lasers, which are the subject of this task, are slowly
dropping off the radar screen ... and the dreaded ink-based printers
are rising up, again.

Why is finding a decent printer to print photos at home at a decent
price such a miserable process?

 

[J.G.]

Another thing to consider with lasers is startup time.

I print maybe one page every two or three days, on average.

I generally leave the printer on all the time.

However, I 'could' just as well turn it off, for all it has
been used.

But, when I had the HP d135 AIO printer, I remember admonishments
to keep it running all the time - otherwise it wasted ink (I was
told).

And, we all know, HP ink costs more than it's weight in gold.

So, what's the general consensus for leaving printers on
which are only used sporadically a few days of the week?

Does that play a role in our printer selection decision?

 

[Bill]

Why is finding a decent printer to print photos at home at a decent
price such a miserable process?

Gosh to you remember what it cost to bring in a roll of film for
processing? You had to drive both ways, and maybe make a phone call to
see if it was ready? And you had to wait a few weeks to see pictures of
your thumb! The good old days, huh? : )

 

[chaniarts]

I print maybe one page every two or three days, on average.

I generally leave the printer on all the time.

However, I 'could' just as well turn it off, for all it has
been used.

But, when I had the HP d135 AIO printer, I remember admonishments
to keep it running all the time - otherwise it wasted ink (I was
told).

And, we all know, HP ink costs more than it's weight in gold.

So, what's the general consensus for leaving printers on
which are only used sporadically a few days of the week?

Does that play a role in our printer selection decision?

energy hogs, i would guess. they have to be kept at a hot temp for the
toner to be fused to the paper, so you're paying to keep it hot, and
then the a/c costs to keep the room cool. i guess in winter, if you're
in a place that needs heating, it's a wash.

 

[Bob Eager]

I print maybe one page every two or three days, on average.

I generally leave the printer on all the time.

However, I 'could' just as well turn it off, for all it has been used.

But, when I had the HP d135 AIO printer, I remember admonishments to
keep it running all the time - otherwise it wasted ink (I was told).

True of inkjets (and to stop them clogging). Nonsense for lasers.

Most lasers (even old ones) go into a power saving mode after a while,
and the fuser heater is turned off. But they still use power. We use a 20
year old HP LaserJet 4M+, which does that after 15 minutes. But they use
a lot of energy, so I generally turn it off. To encourage me, I have a
wireless power control on it now, controlled from my desk (on the other
side of the room).

We use that printer for all B&W stuff, and an ancient-ish Xerox C20
(Lexmark Optra 45 clone) for the occasional colour.