Three dead Canons. What next?

RWL

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I've been refilling Canon printers since the days of black only cartridges. The Canons had been reliable but the last three I've had (bought because they print directly to CD/DVD) have each clogged fatally about a year after switching to refill ink. The most recent two were using Precision Colors inks. I think the ink on the first one was using Hobbi Colors inks, which I'd used successfully for a number of years. This is not to throw rocks at those suppliers - both were recommended here and by reputation are/were reliable suppliers. With the most recent printer I was particularly diligent to refill the cartridges when the low warning came on and before it was used up . All to no avail. I need a printer because this one is dying like the others. My dilemma is what to do next. Switch to Epson? Go to a printer with a large tank/cartridge? Go to laser?

I print erratically. I'll print multiple pages and then not use the printer for two or three weeks or at least not color. When I do print, the volume is sufficient that sticking with OEM cartridges isn't worth it. I do slightly better economically to refill and throw the printer out when it clogs - I got five refills out of the cartridges before the printer clogged. I mostly print black text, but also pages with color. A few times a year I print a label on a data DVD I'm archiving or a home video I make for someone else. Rarely my wife will want me to print a photo on 4x6 paper. I really would like to still be able to print directly to DVDs, but I'd consider sacrificing that for a printer that's otherwise reliable and inexpensive to operate. Duplex printing is a must. Months ago the Maxify series was recommended to me (by The Hat I think) because they just work and tolerate refilling - but will these clog too with the infrequency with which I print? Epson has a line that prints directly to discs, but I'm reading that they seem to have figured out how to limit refilling with region specific firmware that rejects aftermarket cartridges.

Will any current inkjet printer survive the infrequency with which I print if refilled? If so, which one? Is a color laser printer the answer and are they refillable?
 

The Hat

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but will these clog too with the infrequency with which I print?
To answer your question about the Maxify, no it’s not like other inkjet printers, it seldom if ever clogs, I’ve had mine for seems like ages and not a clog to be seen, and as for printable CD’s, use a felt maker and it won’t clog either… The carts are very big too...
 

palombian

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What series were your last Canon printers ?
The life expectancy - at least when refilling - went down already long ago (since 525/526).
Rumors are that Canon added a coolant additive not available for 3th party, but it can also be that 2 years was a built in lifetime for these consumer printers.

I lost a lot of time with these junk machines and dumped them all last year.
Also 3th party dye ink fades very fast, so why would you continue this way ?

The Maxify is an office printer with a much higher duty cycle, so even taking in account an eventual higher wear with 3th party ink, it will not fail too soon (mine has 20K pages in 2 yrs, purchase already paid back several time by refilling).
It has also an ink flow monitoring preventing the printhead running dry.
It is not overly expensive either (but big).

It prints (and the higher models even scan in one pass) duplex.

The print is a bit more grainy, but an occasional photo looks very good.
And it is all pigment ink that does not fade and is resistant to water.

Contrary to common belief, pigment ink does not clog more than dye, on the contrary I seldom have issues with my Canon pigment printers. No experience with Epson.
 
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The Hat

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Yes the Maxify is a real tear away printer, I reckon it came out of the same stables as the iP4500, the only option you might need in the future is a print head, because by the time the first print head goes west, they may not be still available.. 100% recommended…
 

Artur5

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Now that you mention a new printead for the Maxiy, does anybody know how to replace the printhead, when needed ?.
 

palombian

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Now that you mention a new printead for the Maxiy, does anybody know how to replace the printhead, when needed ?.

You have to remove the plastic plate that prevents you to change a cartridge when you want (2 clips), then with 2 screws left and right the whole unit carts included comes out.
 

The Hat

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does anybody know how to replace the printhead, when needed ?.
Hopefully nobody will need to replace the print head in the lifetime of their printer, but if you do, be aware it preforms one hell of a cleaning cycle, I mean horrendous…
So never try to externally clean it…:hide
 

stratman

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RWL

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What series were your last Canon printers ?
The life expectancy - at least when refilling - went down already long ago (since 525/526).

The most recent one was a TS9020 which lasted about a year and a half. The one before that was an MG5420 which lasted about 3.5 years but it was fussy for awhile before I replaced it. I hate to give up the CD printing because they look professional when I print directly, but the Maxify series looks like the best choice. It takes up space, but if I really miss the CD printing I could buy a used CD printing model and just dedicate it to CDs/DVDs and OEM ink cartridges. I don't know how it would do sitting a few months at a time between printings.
 

The Hat

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More than the new printer set up guzzling?
About the same...
I don't know how it would do sitting a few months at a time between printings.
Usually no problem, but it will take a few extra minutes to clean the head before printing…
 
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