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cassandrascakes
Frequent Member
Joined: Mar 19, 2006
Posts: 334
Location: Madison, Florida
Gallery Supporter Member
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 Posted:
Thu May 31, 2007 10:38 pm |
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Now somebody stop me if this doesn't make sense--
There are plenty of el cheapo printers out there that we could utilize just for edible images, but no one makes ink cartridges for them. I have a lexmark that I paid $20 for at wal-mart, but there's no edible cartridges for it, so I couldn't purchase another one for cake use.
Now, this printer prints pictures pretty good, definitely good enough for cakes.
I found a website that sells empty cartridges. I have emailed them to make sure that these are NOT recycled cartridges, and are truly cartridges that have never been filled with any inedible ink. I explained what I would be using them for. These cartridges are transparent and you can tell that they have never been filled.
Couldn't I purchase some empties for an el cheapo printer and turn any printer into an edible printer with just an edible ink refill kit????
I broke it down:
Cheap printer $20.00
Refill Cartridges: $15.00
Edible Ink Refill Kit: $40.00
Package of Frosting Sheets $24.00
Grand Total....$99
Of course, it would all depend on how cheap the printer was. Even a $50 printer could get you started for around $130.
I think I'm going to try it since my Canon MP130 isn't feeding well and is tearing up all of my expensive frosting sheets. I would love to know what everyone thinks about this. I don't see why it wouldn't work, but maybe some of you have a different opinion. |
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Housemouse
Frequent Member
Joined: Dec 15, 2006
Posts: 335
Location: UK
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:36 am |
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I for one would be v interested in knowing how you get on with this one - I can't see any reason why this wouldn't work. |
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alibugs
Frequent Member
Joined: Mar 14, 2007
Posts: 288
Location: id
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:51 am |
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Have you tried taking your printer head out and cleaning it with vodka and a stiff paint brush? |
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OhMyGoodies
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 02, 2006
Posts: 2167
Location: Easton, MD
Birthday: Jan 22
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 4:54 am |
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I think it would work greatly!! I'd be very interested to know if this works properly for you because I've been interested in starting doing edible images and just haven't began yet because I was affraid of how much it would cost lol... $100.~ ain't that bad lol
Also.... the refill ink kit... is it easy to do? I bought the refill kit for my regular printer and ended up ruining my printer and my desk... the ink leaked back out of the hole I had to make to refill the cartridge and ran onto everything and ran all over the inside of the printer... even though the package said it was made for that type of cartridge and wouldn't leak and the hole would vacumm plug it's self... it didn't work lmao |
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mullett
Regular Member
Joined: Oct 09, 2006
Posts: 145
Location: OUTER BANKS OF N.C.
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:05 am |
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IT SOUNDS REASONABLE.....KEEP US POSTED ON HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR YOU. IT MIGHT SAVE ALL OF US A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY. |
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lsawyer
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 01, 2006
Posts: 1161
Location: San Diego, CA
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:48 am |
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What are the cartridges made of? The only problem might be that they may not be food safe? Can it contiminate the food colors, or would it even be significant? |
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GamerGirl
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 12, 2006
Posts: 63
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:21 am |
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Deco Pac sells edible ink cartridges that are compatible with Canon printers. I have them and they work well. A lot cheaper than buying the system. I just change out the cartriges as I need to use them. |
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OhMyGoodies
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 02, 2006
Posts: 2167
Location: Easton, MD
Birthday: Jan 22
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:18 pm |
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That sounds perfect, swapping cartridges, but I was told that the non-edible ink could still be on the printer heads and could contaminate the edible ink or image as it's printing... so I was informed if I was going to do this I'd have to "clean" the heads EVERYTIME I got ready to print. And it would have to be cleaned with the edible ink inplace so it would inturn waste the ink because the cleaning process just bleeds a mess of ink out into pretty lines lol....
I think it'd be better to have seperate printers for this and other office needs because I just wouldn't want the risk.  |
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peacockplace
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 25, 2004
Posts: 2751
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:04 pm |
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For food safety reasons I think you must have seperate printers.
cassandrascakes, Sounds interesting. |
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stephanie214
Moderator
Joined: Oct 06, 2004
Posts: 3777
Location: Virginia;
Birthday: May 15
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:30 pm |
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If you don't have an edible printer and want to do them any way, just use the regular ink and place the sheet on a gum paste or mmf plaque. Also, you can laminate the picture.  |
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Eggshells
Frequent Member
Joined: Mar 16, 2007
Posts: 207
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Sat Jun 02, 2007 9:15 am |
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you can get your cannon or epson printer and get the inks for about 50 bucks..still making your 99 dollar pricing and no trouble to be refilling.
I did find a place in Florida that sells Edible ink refil kit!! |
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Suebee
Frequent Member
Joined: Jan 30, 2006
Posts: 405
Location: PA
Birthday: Mar 06
Gallery Supporter Member
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Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:38 pm |
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I would be careful switching from edible to non-edible ink. There are traces of ink when it sprays onto the paper and goes into all kind of cracks. |
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kbselig
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 16, 2006
Posts: 39
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Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:21 pm |
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What is the name of the website that sells empty cartridges? |
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Lisa
Moderator
Joined: Aug 21, 2004
Posts: 5288
Location: Quiet Corner, CT
Birthday: Aug 01
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Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:44 pm |
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As already mentioned, for food safety reasons, you shouldn't be swapping back and forth between standard inks which are toxic and edible inks. You should be using a printer dedicated only to printing edible images.
The idea of purchasing empty cartridges yourself is interesting. This is what companies like Kopykake and others do. You'll want to be careful about compatibility though. It's not just the cartridges that you have to consider, it's also the print head. Some print heads won't function properly with edible inks which is why only certain printers are chosen (ie older Canon models and some Epsons). |
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debster
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Nov 28, 2005
Posts: 1363
Gallery Supporter Member
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Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:00 pm |
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Ok if you use a regular printer and attach to a plaque what do you attach it with? Thanks |
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