DSF

I'm definitely not saying get Sawgrass ink ... get a licensed wide format brand like InkTec

Do you have a link to inktec

They're at www.InkTec.com - but that's their website, and they make lots of different printing inks, papers, their own Jetrix solvent printers. So, it's not just sublimation ink info there. But gives you the whole story about who they are as a company and what they do.

could anyone possibly recommend some 4 colour large format epson printers as opposed to 8 wondering if i could save a bit of money if i can find a decent priced and sized 4 cartridge printer?

Check out xpres they had wide format 4 ink printers when I bought mine.

Janners

ive found someone selling an espon 3000 on ebay they say the colour print head requires replacing and the black is printing fuzzy, i'm tempted to buy it as the seller has agreed to £50 including postage and try to clean the print heads to see if i can get them working. I'm thinking it may be a a gamble and one that i'll most likely lose out on and im also struggling to find cartridges or refillables for it. The reason why i'm looking at this specifically is that it has only 4 inks what are everybodys thoughts?

NO! Don't do it!
Painfully and ridiculously slow to print, and grainy resolution.
VERY faffy to change any print options- involving printing off sheets of hieroglyphics to them press random keys to make the correct LEDs light up
They don't pull large sheets of paper straight/consistently enough to be useful.
They aren't strong enough to hold or pull roll papers

you know what pisquee you have saved me £50 lol than you. now to see if i can find any other 4 colour large format printers.

This is also something I've recently been looking into! Some good prices on ebay for epson 4800/4880 etc. Also extremely interested in trying the Inktec inks, but am I right that the 4800/4880 aren't big enough for these?

Technically the InkTec inks will run through any Epson inkjet printer, it's the Sawgrass patent claim that muddys the waters.
There is currently a Stylus Pro 4400 on Ebay, but may not be working - so is a risk!