How to save on printer inks

ICIT2LOL · Aug 30, 2022

I have an HP Officejet Pro 9010e (new) and it automatically switches on when I turn on my UPS for the computer. What I cannot find out is whether this makes the printer clean the printhead as there is no off switch for the mains supply having to shut down the printer to keep it off. I find it is going through the coloured inks even though I print nearly everything in black. Is there anyway the printer can be set to not clean the printhead when turned on.
I ask because to renew the ink cartridges is almost the same as the cost of the printer itself.

Berton · Aug 30, 2022

I have a 9015 and it does do some performance maintenance after a full power off but doesn't print a page, most cleaning and alignment checks do. I don't have my OfficeJet and LaserJet plugged into either a surge protector or UPS, many I've dealt with didn't recommend it starting with my first Lexmark Optra R in '95, cited higher current draw. Both machines go into a sleep or low-power state after a short period of inactivity.

Bree · Aug 30, 2022

ICIT2LOL said:
to renew the ink cartridges is almost the same as the cost of the printer itself.

For ink economy I prefer to go for a Tank inkjet printer these days Even HP has some now. Yours and their nearest equivalent Tank model compared here..

https://www.hp.com/gb-en/shop/compare.aspx?sel=PRN&merchCmp=22A59B%23687%7CY0F74A%23BHC

...though I prefer the Epson Ecotank range, I have an ET4750 that does all i need, current model is the ET4850.

EcoTank ET-4850 Wireless Color All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scanner, Copier, Fax, ADF and Ethernet | Products | Epson US

Discover a New Type of Printing Experience.

epson.com

And here's a business-class one.

EcoTank Pro ET-5150 Wireless All-in-One Supertank Printer | Products | Epson US

Ideal for high-volume business printing, the wireless EcoTank Pro ET-5150 all-in-one delivers professional-quality prints. And, you save up to 80 percent on ink with replacement bottles.

epson.com

glasskuter · Aug 31, 2022

I've had good luck using re-manufactured cartridges from this company for my HP OJ Pro 8600. They have really good customer service if anything is wrong with their products. They seem to work as good and last as long as HP cartridges. HP Ink.

jimbo45 · Aug 31, 2022

The cheapest and best option is to get a cheap laser printer - especially if you don't need to print photo quality -- even a monochrome one can scan colour so you can still scan and send colour prints.

I'm still using the same cartridge that came with the printer I bought 2 years ago -- no problems with clogged heads etc etc. It's a small HP laser and cost me around 75 EUR, and saved much more than that by not having to buy expensive ink jet cartridges. !!!

Prints faster too. !!!!

Of course don't print anything you don't really have to. These days also it can be cheaper taking photos for high quality printing to a professional place or even some place which you can print from a usb drive yourself rather than buying an expensive high quality photo printer which you use for ordinary printing as well.

I really enjoyed printing my own photos from a high end DSLR and using a big A3+ photo printer but I don't do much photo printing any more and taking them to a studio / self service facility is far cheaper these days.

Cheers
jimbo

glasskuter · Aug 31, 2022

jimbo45 said:
The cheapest and best option is to get a cheap laser printer

I second that. I print 90% in black only. My main printer is an old made in 2005 Laserjet 1020 that a dentist office used for years. When he retired they threw it in the trash. I rescued it. For 43 bucks I get 5 huge cartridges and can print 10,000 pages. It's not the prettiest thing in the world but she hasn't missed a lick.

Porthos · Aug 31, 2022

ICIT2LOL said:
I ask because to renew the ink cartridges is almost the same as the cost of the printer itself.

That printer here is a $250us printer and toner is less than $50 for the standard cartridge here in the US.
2 of my clients just bought one.
Could you just leave it plugged in all of the time?

jimbo45 · Aug 31, 2022

Porthos said:
That printer here is a $250us printer and toner is less than $50 for the standard cartridge here in the US.
2 of my clients just bought one.
Could you just leave it plugged in all of the time?
View attachment 37877

Hi there

If you don't need colour printing (and photo quality print on a laser is hideously expensive to achieve) then an HP MFP 28a can be had for around 70 EUR and cartridge / toner for around 25 EUR (both prices include EU VAT so should be cheaper in USA). Wireless as well optionally extra cost model as USB, and with capable colour scanner. Also occupies a tiny footprint for people using spare spaces at home as an office when working remotely.

Not sure for those in the UK - friends there tell me the price of everything has gone up so much in the last few months that I've no idea, but in 'OZ should be easily available at sensible prices.

After Googling seen on offer in UK for 85 GBP

Cheers
jimbo

barman58 · Aug 31, 2022

Some years ago I switched from HP to Brother for my Printer needs I currently use a Brother DCP-9020CDW A4 Colour Laser fitted with compatible cartridges, I purchased new for around half the cost of the equivalent HP device the cartridges are a lot cheaper than the Brother originals, which are already cheaper than a HP cartridge so am saving a lot of cost overall. Colour prints on standard office paper from Photos are acceptable, but on the rare occasion that I need to print a photo at high quality I use an online print solution - I usually avoid this by simply sending digital images via email [And leaving the printing to the recipient :smirk:

]

SIW2 · Aug 31, 2022

I think my epson might have finally bitten the dust. Shame because the ink is cheap as chips £8.99

https://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/products/high-capacity-compatible-multipack-of-epson-18xl-ink-cartridges-vt1816

Berton · Aug 31, 2022

I recently was given an HP LaserJet p1022, included a NIB $80 toner cartridge [lady had died, also got her 2010 iMac with El Capitan].

@Porthos Most do leave them plugged in and let the printers sleep mode work.

Reeeploi0 · Dec 7, 2022

I just bought the HP Envy 6455e. I came with ink. However, using it for the first time today I printed a photo today and the picture was green. I ran diagnostics and magenta (same cartridge as cyan and yellow and they are fine) not printing. I thought I'd get a few prints from the free ink but unfortunately not! Now I have to wait for new ink to test and see if it works. I may reseal it and use up what I got for free first.

Berton · Dec 7, 2022

It may seem as a dumb question but when you set up the new printer and inserted the cartridges and paper did it do the alignment then print a test or diagnostic page? I've had clients that skipped some of that. Also in Devices and Printers there is a right-click of the printer icon and 2 Properties items, choose the upper one and Print a test page from there.

bobkn · Dec 8, 2022

CharmaineK said:
I just bought the HP Envy 6455e. I came with ink. However, using it for the first time today I printed a photo today and the picture was green. I ran diagnostics and magenta (same cartridge as cyan and yellow and they are fine) not printing. I thought I'd get a few prints from the free ink but unfortunately not! Now I have to wait for new ink to test and see if it works. I may reseal it and use up what I got for free first.

The Envy 6455e is stated to come with "setup" ink cartridges. I presume that those are low-capacity ones adequate to get started with the printer, but not for much printing.

If you intend to do much printing, maybe the XL cartridges would be the most cost-effective.

(For my own use, I gave up on ink jets except for a dedicated photo printer. I prefer Brother printers because they seem to offer good long-term driver support.)

Bree · Dec 8, 2022

CharmaineK said:
I just bought the HP Envy 6455e....

bobkn said:
For my own use, I gave up on ink jets except for a dedicated photo printer....

For my own use I don't print enough to justify two different printers, and as I print as many photos as I do anything else it has to be an inkjet.

For economy it has to be a tank printer, as I said in post #3. Even HP now make some with tanks.

bobkn · Dec 8, 2022

Bree said:
For my own use I don't print enough to justify two different printers, and as I print as many photos as I do anything else it has to be an inkjet.

For economy it has to be a tank printer, as I said in post #3. Even HP now make some with tanks.

I don't do much printing.

One feature of laser printers is that they can sit unused for long periods without any worry of clogging. I have a B&W laser and a cheapish color laser, and expect to keep them for years.

Laser printers are mostly useless for photo work, unfortunately.

Ink jet printers with tanks are, to some degree, a compromise. If you want pigment inks (rather than dye), or as many individual inks as the highest end photo printers, you won't get those. I haven't owned one, but I expect that some produce very good photo prints on papers that are suitable for dye inks.

ICIT2LOL · Dec 8, 2022

Yes well I have a newish HP Officejet 9012 E printer and the annoying thing is the inks are expensive but for me the most annoying feature is that it powers on whenever I fire up my UPS as there is no switch on the printer to stop this happening and I am guessing every time the printer turns on it will go through a cleaning process and therefore use ink that is left in the device plus it requires a proper shut down action to turn it off. So my only solution is to either wire in a switch - (I guess would void the warranty) or unplug the power supply from the machine.
So beware buyers of HP printers as I am thinking this will apply to every machine they produce now and it becomes objectionable to have to keep buying their inks if you are like me a not often user of the printer.

TM21 · Dec 8, 2022

As someone who is Factory Trained on five different brands of Ink Jet and Laser printers, I do sympathize with those who have ink jet printers that do a head cleaning every time they are turned on. I have two of those. You can just leave it plugged into line power all the time, or only turn it ON when you need to print something. With my Epson, I can do either. Since I print something every day, pretty much, I just let it come on with my PC, from a surge suppressed power strip, plugged into a UPS.
This is a High Quality printer so the inks from Epson are not cheap. That's why I buy all mine from "LD Products". Shipping is free, to my USPS mail box. I've been doing business with them now for many years, when another company I used went out of business.
Previously, I refilled my own cartridges and reset the little page counters. That was really a PITA!!!
Laser printers are nice, but too expensive for most home users. I gave up my big HP Series II Laser Printer when I retired. (I'm fully trained on that printer too)
Cheers Mates,
Happy Holidays!

strollin · Dec 8, 2022

It's a myth that laser printers are more expensive. Initially, yes (although they have come way down in price), but the cost per printed page is significantly lower than inkjet so the overall cost is less expensive. I switched to laser about 10 tears ago and would never consider going back. Lasers are also hassle free, something I could never say about any inkjet I ever used. Mine is a monochrome Brother laser and I thought I would miss the ability to print in color but found I don't miss it in the least. If I ever needed to print a photo (haven't had the need in 10 years so far) there are plenty of places that I could have it done.

ICIT2LOL · Dec 8, 2022

TechnoMage2021 said:
You can just leave it plugged into line power all the time, or only turn it ON when you need to print something.

Yes well I would mate but I like to shut down when I am finished for the day as I don't want the machine and printer drawing power unnecessarily and the fire risk of course. It just peeves me that there is no off button on the printer as my old one used to have.

How to save on printer inks

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