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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Tim Wescott on June 16, 2011, 01:59:19 PM

Title: Printer Recommendations
Post by: Tim Wescott on June 16, 2011, 01:59:19 PM
I need to get a new ink jet printer.  This is primarily for business, but as my office is right next to my model airplane shop, there's considerable cross-pollination.

Ideally I'd like to get a printer that's good for printing on tissue and on decal paper.  Something that just works, something that will print on flat objects, something that always manages to print well -- that's what I'm looking for.

Suggestions?
Title: Re: Printer Recommendations
Post by: Randy Powell on June 16, 2011, 07:20:58 PM
I'm using an HP 5550 and I'd like to replace it. Prints great but it goes through ink like a bandit and with even black ink going for $50 a cartridge, well, like I said, I need a new printer.
Title: Re: Printer Recommendations
Post by: Steve Helmick on June 16, 2011, 08:06:34 PM
Canon Pixma MP-480 is a pretty nice scan/copy/print combo. A little noisy when the door drops open, but you can do that manually and avoid the clank. It doesn't do fax, tho.   #^ Steve
Title: Re: Printer Recommendations
Post by: Tim Wescott on June 16, 2011, 10:34:55 PM
I'm on a free flight forum that's recommending Epson printers, because you can get waterproof inks (which is nice when you're tissue covering some delicate little rubber powered thing -- you can pre-print the whole color scheme, then cover).

I'm hoping to dodge the whole 3-in-1 bullet, although that seems to be the way the world has gone.
Title: Re: Printer Recommendations
Post by: Andrew Tinsley on June 19, 2011, 11:51:22 AM
Hello,
  I have tried most big name printers and there doesn't seem a lot of difference between them. HP seem to have the most outrageously priced ink cartridges, but I now have inky fingers and refill all my cartridges!
  One thing I would like to do, is to copy plan sections and be able to print them out 1:1 and use the printouts to stick on my balsa sheet, so that I can cut a kit of parts.  Just about everything I have ever tried, prints the copies appreciably smaller than the original. If any knows of a printer that you can "scale the copy" in small increments, I would be grateful to know of it!
  Having said that, there is probably an enlargement system built into the printer software, if only I could find it?

Regards,

Andrew.
Title: Re: Printer Recommendations
Post by: Alan Resinger on June 23, 2011, 07:41:16 AM
My last printer was a Canon ink jet that was cheap but went through ink cartridges like water through a hose.  The pinter died after about 3 years so I went looking for a replacement.  The cost of ink replacement meant the the initial low cost of the printer wasn't such a good deal so I startede looking for a laser printer.  While cartridges are exepensive they last about 5 times longer.  I ended up getting a Samsung CLP 315 with an initial cost of about $175.  This is a color laser printer that works great.  The printer comes with cartridges that are about at 25-35% filled with toner.  To replace all 4 would be about $200.  I've been uising it for about a year now and still have lots of copies left in it before toner will be needed.  I also like the fact that I can print decals that don't fade after being out in the sun the way ink jet decals did.  Thanks to Phil Granderson for that tip.
Title: Re: Printer Recommendations
Post by: Gene O'Keefe on June 23, 2011, 07:53:24 AM
I have a Canon Pixma and would strongly recommend it  -- 6 yrs old and never had a problem & real easy on ink.