Printer Recommendations

I like my Epson WP 4530. It makes very nice prints, seems to be pretty versatile, and includes a copier (with enlargement/reduction functions - wonderful things for model building) and a FAX machine (which I've never used). As I recall, it cost about $200.

I have the impression that the manufacturers are going through a transitional period when it comes to ink cartridges. The previous three printers I bought had six ink tanks apiece, and the standard advice in the photo magazines was "the more ink tanks, the better." When I started shopping for my current printer, none of the dealers in town had one with more than four cartridges. Epson claims four new ones are as good as six old ones - and I can't say I can see any difference. Mine takes Epson 676 XL Pro cartridges which hold a lot more ink than any I've used previously. As of two minutes ago, Best Buy was charging $38.99 for the black cartridge and $26.99 for each of the three colored ones - magenta, yellow, and cyan. That's considerably more than the cartridges for my last printer, but these are a LOT bigger and last a lot longer.

I've always been leery of off-brand and recycled cartridges. Here in the teeming metropolis of Greenville, North Carolina we have three stores that always seem to have the Epson cartridges I need: Best Buy, Office Depot, and Staples. Sometimes they stock a package of the three colored ones, for a slightly (not much) lower price.

My biggest complaint about this printer is that it's so big and bulky. But the wireless function is great. And it was easy to set up. I can recommend it (or the current equivalent).

I have the same one, or one just like it. I echo the positives. Mine functions as a scanner which allows me to sketch designs at home and email them into town to my office for the kids to hardline.

I bought it based on a good review on Cnet.

I forgot to mention that mine has a scanner function. It also has a USB port on the front, so you can make scans and save them on a flash drive. Very simple and intuitive, with "Epson Scan" software included.

Thanks gents, taking notes.

could also try a color laser printer. cartridges are more expensive compared to inkjets but they do approximately 1400+ pages in color & approximately 2400+ pages in black & white plus they don't dry out.

I have two printers, a cheap laser b&w, for general printing, drafts, etc.  I also have a nice Epson color photo printer.  The laser is indeed economical, and the Epson gives me real quality when I need it.

Mine is an Epson XP-400.

Thanks for the input and guidance. I was reading about the Epson 400 and a couple of other models as I like the ink dispensing system it has. I did read a mix of good and bad reviews about ink mixing issues in brand new units. One rater stated after about a couple of days of use it would only print in BW. He contacted Epson who told him they were aware of the issue and sent him a replacement copier which is great customer service. However, he was told to keep the defective unit so that in itself raised a warning flag. I hope they fixed the problem as they were recent reviews. Maybe they had a bad batch and the problem was corrected.  

I've been using an Epson XP-410 since about Christmas and it's been fine so far. There was one time when I had to initiate a cleaning cycle (which uses up ink) but I think that was because I left it in standby mode and not powered off completely.

I have seen a few neg reviews, but all's ok so far.

Previously I was using a HP multifunction unit which coincidentally used the 56 and 57 carts. Here in Australia these are getting a bit difficult to get hold of. I think the 56 (black) sells about $40.00 and the 57 (tri-color) about $55.00 This printer stopped working with a "cartridge error" msg, which might have been attributable to long out of date carts. (HP printers check the expiry date on the carts). It would have cost $95.00 to replace both carts without any guarantee that it would fix the problem.

I talked the price of the XP-410 down to $79.00 so it cost less than 2 HP carts with an uncertain future, so I think I got a good deal out of it.

Well I want to thank you guys for your input. I was going to buy the Epson 400 till I read the negative reviews but then some negative stuff is going to surface regardless.

I did notice that Target had several of the Epson 400's on sale but just one HP 5530 was left on the shelf on sale for $99 from $130 so I went with it. The reviews are very positive and decided this was the one.

My old HP 1350 is well over 10 years old and works just fine but the 56 and 57 cartridges run $82 for both, while the HP 5530's runs $32 for both. The print quality is rated as very good and it's wireless so it can go in the wife's office giving me more desk surface space.

Have you ever printed decals with it? I have used an ink-jet printer and the main problem is that the ink is translucent so when using clear decal paper the model color shows through if it constrants a lot. I was wondering if laser toner is more opaque.

I got an HP Office jet 6700 a little while back and really like it. Apart from being wireless, one reason we went for that is it has individual coloured inks. While changing all the colours at once costs more that multi colour cartridges, it does save wasting ink and the colours last ages the way we use it. Not used it for decals yet though.

Thinking about doing some decals with this new printer. I have read that Testor's paper has some issues with HP inks?

plasticjunkie

Thinking about doing some decals with this new printer. I have read that Testor's paper has some issues with HP inks?

My guess is that it's some HP inks. I've used a number of HP printers for decal printing through the last 15 years or so, all pretty cheap models that came with whatever computer I had at the time, and all worked well for printing decals except one. I never could get a "scientific" answer, but no combination of settings and different paper brands yielded anything but ink that would bead up, smear, or crack under the clear-coat. I finally just accepted that whatever ink that printer used was just not compatible.

I currently use an HP Deskjet F4280 (with Inkfarm remanufactured cartridges, no less), and the results have been consistently great with Testors and Baremetal Experts Choice papers..

Inkjet printers for decals is tricky.  Even within brands, different models use different inks. Only way to know for sure is to try them- make sure place you buy them from has a liberal return policy.

Problem is not so much the paper, but the susceptibility to clear coats. Some inks dissolve in most of the types of clear overcoat.