Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, 
"esharamaki" <esharamaki@...> wrote:
>
> I was looking for a few opinions.  I have an opportunity to buy an
> epson 4000 that is in good shape for $500.  
If it is really in good shape that is a great price - be careful 
about transporting it though.

>  I am also a little frustrated with the
> head cleaning and pizza wheel tracks on anything remotely glossy. 
I made the same transition, and the 4000 is more reliable during long 
printing sessions and the air suction avoids marks.

If something goes wrong the cost of fixing it could be high.  

The only problem I've had is with MIS refillable carts, where the 
(old) design I got was very poor - 5 out of 8 have failed with small 
or large leaks.  MIS were very good at replacing 4 that failed almost 
immediately with a new design even though I'm on a different 
continent.  I replaced the 5th myself as the failure was catestrophic 
and I did not want to wait to convince them.  This is yet another 
design, which looks better.
I probably wasted a pint or two of ink during all of this 
(powercleaning to fix air in the lines resulting from leaks).  This 
is just an  indication of the scale of problems that can arise; I am 
very happy with the printer.
 
> I am wondering about switching out the inkset (once I've finished 
them
> off) and making into b&w printer with MIS UT-3D set.  Any comments 
on
> the print quality of the 4000 vs. the 1280 for comparisons would be 
nice.
I'm going to leave that comparison to those more expert.  I was 
always pleasantly surprised how good the 1280 could be, and although 
different in several subtle ways I am also happy with the 4000. In 
both cases I think I am limited by my own skill, not the printer.  

Ken