Refill ink for Epson 3800?

[cmo]

Ink is too expensive, but it seems that users of other printers are more lucky buying refill ink. Refill seems to be a normal thing for users of 4800 printers and many others...

Is there a reasonable solution for the 3800?

 

[Kees]

Is there a reasonable solution for the 3800?

Inkrepublic has refillable cartridges. I have bought a set whithout the inks. This option is not visible in their webshop but you can ask for it. I am planning to try these with Image Specialist inks from MIS when my current epson cartidges are empty.

You have to do some hand work prepare for a start - like taking 7 chips from your existing epson cartridges and put them on the empty ones. Also you have to tape off one of the chipconnectors on each of these 7 chips and the waste ink cartridge chip. That one is reusable too! Only two cartridges have special resettable chips. The resetting procedure is somewhat strange but works whithout a chip resetter. You have to fiddle around with the cartidges and the on/off switch to reset. Not really difficult and everything is rather well explained in a faq. Their e-mail support is also very responsive.

 

[Herb Cunningham]

3800 Inks

I got a price of $49.99 for Epson Cartridges from one of the paper companies.

Seems like the best out there.

 

[cmo]

I got a price of $49.99 for Epson Cartridges from one of the paper companies.

Seems like the best out there.

Best price I found here in Europe is $62... ouch!

 

[hansborgo]

Ink is too expensive, but it seems that users of other printers are more lucky buying refill ink. Refill seems to be a normal thing for users of 4800 printers and many others...

Is there a reasonable solution for the 3800?

as kees said, inkrepublic does have 3800 refillable cartridges.
As far as I know their IRK2 inks (from Image Specialists) works well with their 3800 i-Refill cart. Joost has a great review on their site
http://www.inkrepublic.com/members/JoostHorsten/review.asp

I have contacted InkRepublic the other day, and they said their new IRK4-nano inkset will be releasing it in a week or two.

Bottom line is, I believe both IRK2 or IRK4-nano works very well with 3800 and inkrepublic's refill system. You will need to ask them send you either IRK2 or IRK4 inks. We will buy two 3800 systems from them soon. One with IRK2 and One with IRK4.

 

[donbga]

as kees said, inkrepublic does have 3800 refillable cartridges.
As far as I know their IRK2 inks (from Image Specialists) works well with their 3800 i-Refill cart. Joost has a great review on their site
http://www.inkrepublic.com/members/JoostHorsten/review.asp

I have contacted InkRepublic the other day, and they said their new IRK4-nano inkset will be releasing it in a week or two.

Bottom line is, I believe both IRK2 or IRK4-nano works very well with 3800 and inkrepublic's refill system. You will need to ask them send you either IRK2 or IRK4 inks. We will buy two 3800 systems from them soon. One with IRK2 and One with IRK4.

What is the difference in the 2 inksets and how do they compare to the Epson OEM inks. I realize profiles will need to be created but how do they compare in gamut to the OEM inks.

Also are you using them for ink jet negatives? If I understand correctly you've not actually used these inks.

Thanks,

Don Bryant

 

[cmo]

In the meanwhile I found two vendors in Europe for similar systems and hope I can save some shipping and customs duty:

Winkler, offering empty cartridges and private brand ink:
http://www.fotodesign-winkler.de/xt...00/FDW-Refill-Kartuschen-fuer-Epson-3800.html

Farbenwerk, offering empty cartridges (I think it's identical with the Winkler model) and ink made by Lyson and Mediastreet:
http://www.farbenwerk.com/shop_content.php?coID=24

The text on Farbenwerk's site is interesting as they compare three different models - a simple resetter, a cartridge type (looks like the Inkrepublic cartridges) they did not like for leaks and other problems, and the version that they sell.

Well, sometimes it's good to hear both sides. I sent this to Inkrepublic, and they excoriated their competitors' products... in general I excoriate such behaviour, but it was interesting to hear what they say:

"1. Chipset is not stable and cannot reset more than 2 times or so.
2. Cartridge is not sealing well and may cause air leak
3. If you refill inks from the same ink outlet, you will let dirt get into the print head."

Well, that's a substantial mutual bashing... I perfectly understand that they don't like each other, but I still do not have neutral information based on experience by several users which cartridges work smoothly.

I asked in some other forums, and in fact I did not get many replies that go beyond a prejudiced statement that non-original inks kill printers etc.

 

[cmo]

Also are you using them for ink jet negatives? If I understand correctly you've not actually used these inks.

The two european vendors claim that their inks do not require new profiles for their inks - I cannot judge whether this is true. The user report on Inkrepublic's site says a new profile was needed for some smaller adjustments.

Some things I must not forget: Inkrepublic's offer costs a lot less, even if shipping and customs toll are added. They say their maintenance cartridge (Waste ink cartridge) is resettable, the others can't do that.

 

[Kees]

The user report on Inkrepublic's site says a new profile was needed for some smaller adjustments.

Some things I must not forget: Inkrepublic's offer costs a lot less, even if shipping and customs toll are added. They say their maintenance cartridge (Waste ink cartridge) is resettable, the others can't do that.

Joost Horsten, who wrote the user report, used his own third party inks, not inkrepublic's ink. That's why he had to reprofile. Inkrepublic says that with their inks you can use your current profiles. If that's true I don't know.

The cartridges from the vendors you found look different in this way that they seem to need a chipresetter and the refilling is done by a syringe and and vacuum system (as some CIS systems use) if I understand it correctly. They also are smaller. I am not shure how the aluminium bag will hold the repeated filling. Inkrepublics carts are very easy to refill and reset (if you know the trick).

It can also be interesting to buy the cartridges from a different seller as the inks. You could buy empty carts from Inkrepublic and inks from a local reseller.

 

[Kees]

Image Specialist Inks European prizes

To add to my earlier post: the European Image-Specialists reseller Gemini-Colours sells 3800 compatible Image Specialists inks for €42,15 (VAT included) a 500ml bottle! MIS sells them at $50, which is a little bit cheaper but you loose the prize difference in shipping and taxes . The compatible IS numbers are:

BLACK (MATTE) WJ1082
BLACK (PHOTO) WJ1122
BLACK (LIGHT) WJ1114
LIGHT, LIGHT BLACK WJ1124
CYAN WJ2070
LIGHT CYAN WJ2082
MAGENTA WJ6147
LIGHT MAGENTA WJ6152
YELLOW WJ7031

These are the new updated inks as far as I know. You can check compatibility on the Image Specialists site.

 

[donbga]

Joost Horsten, who wrote the user report, used his own third party inks, not inkrepublic's ink. That's why he had to reprofile. Inkrepublic says that with their inks you can use your current profiles. If that's true I don't know.

The cartridges from the vendors you found look different in this way that they seem to need a chipresetter and the refilling is done by a syringe and and vacuum system (as some CIS systems use) if I understand it correctly. They also are smaller. I am not shure how the aluminium bag will hold the repeated filling. Inkrepublics carts are very easy to refill and reset (if you know the trick).

It can also be interesting to buy the cartridges from a different seller as the inks. You could buy empty carts from Inkrepublic and inks from a local reseller.

Kees,

All other issues aside, aren't you concerned about ink clogs with non OEM inks? Thats always been one of the downsides to non Epson inks, IMO and others as well.

I wish you luck and hopefully you can report back with your results.

As far as profiles go, I think any ink change from Epson would require re-profiling. I don't buy their answer of no new profiles required.

Don Bryant

 

[donbga]

To add to my earlier post: the European Image-Specialists reseller Gemini-Colours sells 3800 compatible Image Specialists inks for 42,15 (VAT included) a 500ml bottle! MIS sells them at $50, which is a little bit cheaper but you loose the prize difference in shipping and taxes . The compatible IS numbers are:

BLACK (MATTE) WJ1082
BLACK (PHOTO) WJ1122
BLACK (LIGHT) WJ1114
LIGHT, LIGHT BLACK WJ1124
CYAN WJ2070
LIGHT CYAN WJ2082
MAGENTA WJ6147
LIGHT MAGENTA WJ6152
YELLOW WJ7031

These are the new updated inks as far as I know. You can check compatibility on the Image Specialists site.

Thanks Kees!

Don

 

[cmo]

It all depends on the cartridges... ink seems to be the smaller problem, tricking the printer electronics is the difficult part.