Brother printers for sublimation use.

[JSR]

I think I need to get myself a brother and replicate your review using the software I have Jonathan.

As mentioned in my PM, I'm using my Brother printer alongside an Epson. Being a 4-colour printer, the Brother sometimes has difficulties with light coloured gradients (because a 4-colour printer has no "light" inks). It's something that might be solved with image-specific profiles, but I won't know that until I try. In the meantime, I use an Epson (with refillables) for "difficult" images.

I wonder why Brother don't do 6-colour printers? Now that'd be something worth trying if they ever did one.

[Paul]

any news about your brother mate??? I think it would be worth to update us all how old, good bro doing after few months of testing

[GoldRapt]

No not yet paul, Once the current printer breaks and I need to replace it I will have a go.

[JSR]

Still using the same Brother DCP-195C here.

The only ongoing issue is what I believe is a pressure issue in using the giant-sized cartridges. I have some of the regular size cartridges here (which still hold more ink than a refillable in an Epson printer), which I intend to use once the giant cartridges next run out - just to see if the issue is lessened.

To clarify the issue:

While printing, there is no issue. When standing idle, there is no issue.

The issue is after printing. As the printer settles down to idle, it appears that there's a little back-pull from the ink. If you do a nozzle check it appears that there's a nozzle blockage - but it's not a blockage, it's just that the ink isn't at the printhead rightaway.

If you do a headclean before printing, then it'll print non-stop. If you do a headclean and leave the printer idle, it'll be ready to print next time. The only time you see it is when you pause between printing. If you start printing again without doing the headclean, the first print will have lines until the ink catches up with the printhead.

It's not a deal-breaker because it's not a permanent problem and it's 100% predictable. At the moment, the advantage of having large ink reservoirs without using a CISS is a bigger positive than the issue I've described.

I am also using standard cheapo dye inks in my A3 Brother printer (MFC-5890CN) and that does not exhibit the same problem - even though I'm using the giant cartridges in it. I can only imagine that the issue in the smaller printer is down to using heavier/thicker dye-sub ink. Further investigation (using the smaller cartridges) may help to prove/disprove this.

[Paul]

But how about head blockages? This is the bigest issue with epsons. I wonder if brother is this same?iam askig as i may go fo a4 prinetr. a last time i was printing biger then a4 was last year. Now my large press packed up so i cant press biger then a4 any way. So may go for this little brother...

[JSR]

But how about head blockages? This is the bigest issue with epsons. I wonder if brotjer is this same?iam askig as i may go fo a4 prinetr. a last time i was printing biger then a4 was last year. Now my laege press packed up so i cant press biger then a4 any way. So may go fr this little brother...

Absolutely zero blockages beyond the situation described above. It's been 100% reliable in that regard and I have full confidence than any future printer I use (when I next need to buy a printer in) will be a Brother. The larger printer using the regular dye ink hasn't had any trouble whatsoever. For office printing, I'm definitely sticking with Brother and the giant cartridges.

I think the primary advantage the Brother has over the Epsons is that the ink cartridges are remote from the printhead, so there is always going to be ink in the line between the cartridge and the printhead. With the Epsons, the cartridges are on top of the printhead so there's very little gap between the cartridge and the printhead - that makes it much easier to get an airblock in the printhead (it's the reason why OEM cartridges never "run dry", but a cartridge in a CISS or a refillable may run dry and introduce the airblock).

The only thing I don't know for sure about the Brother is what happens when the waste pad is full. The Epsons can normally be reset with the SSC, but not so with Brother printers. I've not been as busy as I would have liked over the past 6 months, so I don't yet know where I stand with my A4 Brother in that regard.

[danm]

Bump! (lol to previous comments)

I have joined the Brother Fellowship.

PM sent to JSR explaining in full...

In short, I have obtained a freebie Brother MFC-6490 that uses the same LC1100 hi capacity cartridges as the aforementioned MFC-5890 JSR used.

This is an A3 printer/scanner combi, and as it cost nothing, I intend to run some wild experiments in the quest for knowledge.

If the printer is useless, I will purchase the same MFC-5890 that JSR uses. I can then use the same cartridges (as they fit - phew!) and can comment on any identical issues we may both have RE: the stoppage when printing etc.

PM has been sent, and so I eagerly await a reply!

[bigj2552]

Bump! (lol to previous comments)

I have joined the Brother Fellowship.

PM sent to JSR explaining in full...

In short, I have obtained a freebie Brother MFC-6490 that uses the same LC1100 hi capacity cartridges as the aforementioned MFC-5890 JSR used.

This is an A3 printer/scanner combi, and as it cost nothing, I intend to run some wild experiments in the quest for knowledge.

If the printer is useless, I will purchase the same MFC-5890 that JSR uses. I can then use the same cartridges (as they fit - phew!) and can comment on any identical issues we may both have RE: the stoppage when printing etc.

PM has been sent, and so I eagerly await a reply!

if yer going for a new brother printer - get the 5910dw on sale @ pc world for £99 down from £199....i have snapped up 2 of the buggers over the last wk or so....great machine, fast....yet to try it with the sub ink yet tho..but dont see much probs TBH...
Got rid of my epson b1100 for these babys !..money well spent imho

[JSR]

if yer going for a new brother printer - get the 5910dw on sale @ pc world for £99 down from £199....i have snapped up 2 of the buggers over the last wk or so....great machine, fast....yet to try it with the sub ink yet tho..but dont see much probs TBH...
Got rid of my epson b1100 for these babys !..money well spent imho

I already mentioned that in my reply to Dan's PM.

[bigj2552]

I already mentioned that in my reply to Dan's PM.

mind tell him to add the £22 for the 3yr warranty....worth its weight in gold that one !