Digital BW, The Print

I have been experimenting with an R1800 and MIS inks for the last few 
weeks looking for a set-up that would suit my needs for smooth carbon 
only printing on PK (mainly) and MK papers in neutral to warm tones. 

Well, after some fustration I can report that I am starting to get 
somewhere. As I have had so much help from Paul and others on this 
board I thought it only fair to report back here and share what I 
have learnt.

I am using these spongeless carts which seem to work pretty well so 
far (although I have only been using them for a few days):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Refillable-Ink-Cartridges-R1800-R800-code-
T054X8_W0QQitemZ290220359994QQihZ019QQcategoryZ101325QQcmdZViewItemQQ_
trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I have also ordered these ones from Hong Knog to try  as they are a 
lot cheaper and look very similar. They have not arrived yet:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?
ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=370072534668#ebayphotohosting

I currently have installed 3mk and 3pk-k4 and 2GO. For PK papers I 
use two curves, one is a 3mk,1pk, 2GO curve and the other is a 3pk 
and 2GO one. The first curve gives me neutral and the second gives me 
warm. Blending the curves gives me all points in between. For mk 
papers I use a straight 3mk curve for neutral prints but have not yet 
converged upon a warm option. Neutral pk prints get a second pass of 
GO as do some warmer prints on papers that show bronzing, GD etc.

I am getting very nice prints with this set-up. No banding and great 
dmax (3.0+) on pk papers. I really like the way multiple blacks allow 
the ink load to be ramped up on papers that will take it. My 
favourite Hahn Photo Rag Pearl can take a high load in this regard. 
With the GO 2nd pass there is no GD or bronzing at all. While the 
prints are generally smooth, there is some grain in the 3/4 tones 
(20%-45%) and I would like to try and improve this aspect. To that 
end I am going to try some dilutions on one or two of the blacks to 
see if that helps and at what compromises elsewhere. 

Paul, if you are reading this, I recall in one of your earlier posts 
that you felt that the surfectant (Photoflo) used in the Carbon 6 
base was not up to the job in 1.5pl printers. What is the problem 
with it? Does it print too rough or does it clog or is something else 
going wrong? Have you found any other surfectants or bases that would 
work? I would like to stay with the two MIS blacks and try and find 
something suitable to dilute them with. 

Any thoughts folk may have regarding dilutions to address grain in 
the 3/4 tones would also be appreciated.

Thanks and regards

Alistair