First cartridges replacement on Epson R3000

[luiman]

Hi All,

For about a year I use an Epson R3000 with great satisfaction. I print most of the time in black and white on Semigloss paper (Ilford Fibre Silk). Now I have the problem of replacing the cartridges. The genuine Epson cartridges are expensive.
I read something about InkSupply K4 refill kit and I wondered if it worth to jump to the third-part cartridges at my first replacement. Of course, the savings would be substantial (about a quarter of the cost of the originals).
I would like to know from those who have had experience with this kit if it's a right choice in terms of quality (pro/cons).

Thanks

 

[konicaman]

I have no direct experience with that exact model or that specific replacement kit. I do have an extensive experience with Epsons, both Claria and K3. I have 2 words for you: Clogged nozzles!

3rd party ink is very tempting, but so far I have never seen anything that really worked. If you have to run a cleaning cycle every 2-5 prints there is no real savings. I do not know what you are using the prints for but there is also the question of how good the prints react to light. I have seen prints fade behind glass in 2-3 months with 3rd party ink.

Just my 5 cents...

 

[dasuess]

See my thread about the InkSupply refillable cart kit for the R3000. It is working just great for me, no muss, no fuss, and no clogs.

 

[luiman]

Thank you konicaman and dasuess. I read your interesting review of InkSupply kit. I'm tempted to buy it and, in the same time, I think to replace first with original cartridges and after to switch to InkSupply. Hope there are others advices.
One question: is it possible to replace only one cartridge per time? Printer works well with original and non-original carts at same together?
Thanks

 

[lynnb]

Hi Luigi, if you have an extended warranty it might be voided by using non-Epson inks. I once bought non-Epson inks for an older model A4 Epson and the result was a ruined printer, with repair cost close to replacement cost. I think my mistake was to use inks labeled as Epson-compatible without doing any research to see if there had been problems with that brand of ink (can't remember what it was - it was made in USA).

This is not to say that all non-Epson inks may cause problems. Just be sure to research first, and cross check any claims of compatibility.

Cheers,

 

[luiman]

Thanks Lynn. Yes, the warranty is another point (there is another year).
I understand your problem with a generic non-Epson cartridges. InkSupply quality Seems ok. Maybe I should wait until the end of the warranty...

 

[dasuess]

You cannot mix and match the Epson carts and Inksupply carts as they are not exactly thecsame.

 

[dasuess]

Looking back at your original post, I see it has taken a year for you to use up the first carts, so it may not make economical semse to go with the refill kit. I print on an almost daily basis, so it works for me.

 

[luiman]

Looking back at your original post, I see it has taken a year for you to use up the first carts, so it may not make economical semse to go with the refill kit. I print on an almost daily basis, so it works for me.

Thanks! Other interesting things... From now I will print more often (I think a dozen prints per month), especially in bw.
I think I'll stay another year on the original cartridges without invalidate the warranty, then I will try the InkSupply kit.
What I mind a bit is that I have to remove some original cartridge perhaps half full from the printer at the time of the switch. But you can not have everything ...🙂

 

[Bob Michaels]

....................... I think I'll stay another year on the original cartridges without invalidate the warranty, ....................

Using 3rd party inks absolutely will not void any Epson warranty in the US. I suspect the EU rules are the same. That would be considered "bundling" such as Ford Motor Company requiring you to use only their motor oil.

 

[luiman]

Thanks Bob. Your comparison is right, but I don't understand when Epson EU wrote (it's my rough translation from Italian): "Epson recommends the use of original cartridges. Epson can not guarantee the quality or reliability of non-genuine ink. The use of non-genuine ink may cause damage that is not covered by Epson's warranty (...)".

 

[gb hill]

Thanks Bob. Your comparison is right, but I don't understand when Epson EU wrote (it's my rough translation from Italian): "Epson recommends the use of original cartridges. Epson can not guarantee the quality or reliability of non-genuine ink. The use of non-genuine ink may cause damage that is not covered by Epson's warranty (...)".

Epson want's to sell you their inks & 3rd party inks are risky in that some will clog the jets. You should have considered the cost of replacement before you bought the printer. If you are printing quality photographs then why sacrifice your prints in the long run by saving a few dollars. This is just my 2 cents worth of advice. Sorry if this sounds mean spirited I intended it not to. Best of luck with your printer.🙂

 

[luiman]

Epson want's to sell you their inks & 3rd party inks are risky in that some will clog the jets. You should have considered the cost of replacement before you bought the printer. If you are printing quality photographs then why sacrifice your prints in the long run by saving a few dollars. This is just my 2 cents worth of advice. Sorry if this sounds mean spirited I intended it not to. Best of luck with your printer.🙂

Thanks Greg.🙂 No it does not sound like that. The problem is simple: I love the print quality of the Epson R3000. Until now I have not done a lot of prints and I begin to plan to do more. Of course, I know that to get quality prints must pay the right. Having read some positive feedbacks on this kit, I'm trying to figure out if it is really "full" reliable or not. Longevity is another important point (without claiming archival-quality)...

 

[gb hill]

Thanks Greg.🙂 No it does not sound like that. The problem is simple: I love the print quality of the Epson R3000. Until now I have not done a lot of prints and I begin to plan to do more. Of course, I know that to get quality prints must pay the right. Having read some positive feedbacks on this kit, I'm trying to figure out if it is really "full" reliable or not. Longevity is another important point (without claiming archival-quality)...

If you do decide to go with 3rd party inks I'd like to know how it work's out for you. I'm sure there are some really good inks out there. I hope Chris Crawford chimes in. He does a bit of printing with ink jet printers. I'd love to hear his take on the subject.

 

[luiman]

If you do decide to go with 3rd party inks I'd like to know how it work's out for you. I'm sure there are some really good inks out there. I hope Chris Crawford chimes in. He does a bit of printing with ink jet printers. I'd love to hear his take on the subject.

I too would like to hear other voices on the subject. I do not know when I will try InkSupply kit, but I'm willing to do it. I'd like to do some comparison on the prints, but I know that it is not easy. For now, I keep a little more with the original cartridges.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

If you do decide to go with 3rd party inks I'd like to know how it work's out for you. I'm sure there are some really good inks out there. I hope Chris Crawford chimes in. He does a bit of printing with ink jet printers. I'd love to hear his take on the subject.

I've never tried any third party color inks. The problem is that, even if they are safe in your printer, they will not be the exact same color as the manufacturer's ink. That means the ICC profiles Epson provides and any profiles you get from paper manufacturers are worthless. You will have a color management nightmare, only solvable by paying someone to make custom profiles for you for every paper you like to use. This is actually a good idea even if you use the manufacturer's inks, since there is some variability between individual printers that the profiles you get with the printer and with papers will not account for, but in general those profiles are pretty close for most people. With third-party inks, you're on your own!

I have used Jone Cone's Piezography BW system, which replaces Epson's ink with 7 or 8 gray tones. It makes magnificent BW prints. I'd love to convert my old Epson 4000 to Piezography, but cannot afford the $700 the starter kit costs (the 4000 uses the huge cartridges that are the size of VHS video tapes, so the ink is expensive for it...Cone's kit costs less than a full set of Epson cartridges!).

Piezography is made to use with the Quadtone RIP software and they provide profiles for their inks with most papers made today.

 

[froyd]

I too would like to hear other voices on the subject. I do not know when I will try InkSupply kit, but I'm willing to do it. I'd like to do some comparison on the prints, but I know that it is not easy. For now, I keep a little more with the original cartridges.

I used MIS inks (same as Inksupply) on my 2200 several years back. No issues witht eh quality of the colors and their ability to work well with Epson profiles. However, I was running cleaning cycles all the time, aside from the wasted ink, they were a big source of frustration.

When I moved to the 3000 and it's larger cartridges it took me a year to wear to the fist colors (VLM and LLK), and in that year I did not experience a single clogged nozzle. I am not sure if the clog-free performance was due to improvements in the R3000 design vs the 2200, or if the genuine Epson inks made the difference, but for my low volume printing I ultimately decided not to take a chance and eliminate a major source of frustration from my photography.

 

[luiman]

Thanks Chriscrawfordphoto and Froyd. Reading your posts, I'm pretty sure to keep the original inks for now. I was just wondering if a volume of about 200 prints per year (the limit that I could achieve in the future), makes it convenient to remain on the original inks.
The problem with frequent cleaning cycles (due to the third-party inks) is not so much the cost of ink, but the paper that one uses when you need to redo a print.

 

[dasuess]

I have not run a single cleaning cycle since switching to InkSupply K4 carts six months ago. And I can tell no print differences using the same profiles I used with Epson K3 carts.

 

[astro8]

As someone who prints professionally with Epson printers, please don't use anything other than OEM inks or you'll eventually regret it.