Edible Image Printers - Which One Do You Have?
Decorating By ValMommytoDanny Updated 15 Feb 2007 , 10:05pm by cryssi
This is a repeat of a previous post I put in the general forum...sorry about the repeat.
I am scouring ebay and the internet trying to find a new printer at a reasonable cost (this is actually a big investment for me) and there are variations of some of the canon printer numbers and I am not sure which ones will work (I checked the icing images, kopykake, and icing magic sites) and am sure I missing something.
Would you kind folks reply with the model printer you have? I just wanted to make sure I check them all out on ebay/internet for the best deal and just wanted to make sure I could get the edible ink for them.
I really appreciate any responses. Thanks 
I have an Epson cx7800. So far so good for me! It's an all in one, and really easy to use. Not sure how it does on ink yet, I've only done a few images.
I, too, am looking into purchasing one and am getting so confused about everything that is out there. Right now, I am looking into the Canon Pixma ip6000D. But want to make sure that Kopycake won't discontinue the ink cartridges.
All of the info (inc. Cake Central) that I am findng is a couple of years old with outdated models listed. And can I switch between the wafer paper and the frosted paper on the same printer?
Please, add me to your list if you find out anything more and I will do the same.
I also have the Epson CX7800 and I love it! I've printed images for 7 cakes so far and I messed up and printed at least 2-3 images for each of those cakes, so the ink goes REALLY far! I love the printer because not only can you hook it up to your computer and print off just about anything. It also is a flatbed scanner, so it's been easy just to photocopy images from invitations and album covers and printed out photos.
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you get your frosted sheets and wafer paper through KopyKake? And does anyone know anything about the 'print credit' for the software that they have?
Thanks for the info about the Epson. I think I am going to get that one since it is still carried by Epson.com
Thank you!!!!!
Has anybody used it with wafer paper? I can only find one other site that sells the frosting sheets anyway. Do I really need to get the different sizes (for circles and so forth)? Or can I just get the big one and cut it?
As you can see, this is still extremely new to me. My husband is here with me and is amazed that I have received so much info and so quickly. THANK YOU!!!
saberger,
I went to BJ's this weekend and wrote down the Epson's they had and the CX4800 was 59.90. That is in my budget for sure...
I had heard a mixed review for Epson printers vs. Canon's - something about a chip resetter that needs to be purchased. I am going to check that out tonight.
Great info guys, thanks!
Does anyone have another model printer?
oops... I thought Derby said CX4800...it was a CX7800... darn... 
... I guess I got excited.
Back to the drawing board.......
I found the Epson CX7800at the Epson site for $129.99 with free S & H, then if I get the large frosting sheets it's $28 for 24 sheets, and the chip restter for $15; and the ink set for $72.....the grand total is $244.99 (not including s & h from Kopykake.com). Kopykake.com sells the whole system (plus some promotional stuff) for $599.
I will get the wafer sheets from countrykitchen.com - much cheaper so far.
Hope this helps.
You can get the chip resetter for about 5 bucks from ebay, so you could save 10 bucks there. Also, you can get the ink and frosting sheets from sugarcraft and they will probably get to you faster. It took mine over a week to arrive from california to ohio. Sugarcraft is actually in Cinncinati, so I would assume it would arrive to NJ fater than Kopykake as well. Just to save you some time, you'd have to check on the shipping costs to see if it's worth it to you.
I have the Canon ip1500. In fact, I have two of them. I liked it so much I bought a spare! 
I chose this printer because it uses the dual cartridge system, which is the least expensive available. I use a lot of color in my images. Usually, the entire page is totally covered in ink. A set of cartridges typically lasts through something like 30 sheets of icing.
Hope this helps.
DannysmommyVal - Did you decide what to get? I ordered the Epson CX7800 last night, and then hubby said he wanted to get it for me for Valentin's Day (how sweet!).
DianaMarieMTV - Thanks for the info about ebay and delivery times. I will definitely do ebay for the resetter!
Anybody have any tips about using the frosting sheets or major faux pas to share?
Again, much appreciated!
I just looked at the Epson site and noticed they sell the refurbished CX7800 printer for only $77.00 including shipping. Not a bad deal at all.
I have an Espson CX4800. I paid more for mine that someone had posted, but I've had it for about a year. I LOVE IT!!!! I buy my frosting sheets from www.icingmagic.com because they don't charge S/H. Best deal around. And believe me, I shop for the deals! I highly recommend the CX4800.
Be sure and buy a chip resetter. I bought mine from Amazon. You'll need it when it's time to refill.
I have the Epson c88+ and love it! I get my inks from Kopykake. I also just purchased the chip resetter, but haven't used it yet.
I think I like the icing sheets from Icing Magic better than Kopykake. They end up being cheaper for me (free shipping, no tax), and I think the surface is smoother.
I couldn't load the Kopykake desktop decorator, so I made templates in Adobe Illustrator...
I downloaded free software from Deco edible artist. The website is
http://deco.uk.com I love it. You should check it out
saberger, you have an excellent point! Never thought about that.
I just checked out the Magic Icing website and all their printer packages include refurbished Cannon printers. I guess if you use a cleaning cartridge, it should take care of it, otherwise, how are they using refurbished printers if there's a risk of non-food-safe ink contamination?
Does anyone know how that works?
"I have an Espson CX4800. I paid more for mine that someone had posted, but I've had it for about a year. "
Sally,
the CX4800 is ok for the edible ink? I looked in your gallery and they are really nice. I couldn't find this model number as an "ok" one on any of the sites...
Wow, I can get one at my BJ wholesale club for 60 smackers.... Can you tell me which package the ink was that you bought so I know I am getting the right one?
I am happy dancing now... fits into my budget
Thanks!!
Valere-
I bought my first cartridges from kopykake and then I bought the refills from them and have been using that ink to refill the original cartridges ever since. The folks at Kopykake acted like I couldn't refill them, because I hadn't bought their "refillable" ones, but it has worked just fine for me. It's the 4 cartridge Epson set that they have on their site. Feel free to pm me if I can help in any other way.
Also wanted to add that when i spoke w/the folks at Epson they told me you could interchange the edible and non-edible cartridges. They said that the way they are made there is no chance of mixing the ink. So I think a refurbished Epson would be ok. Not sure about the Canon. You'd have to check with them. I use mine for edible images only. I don't like to mess w/changing the ink cartridges, so I just use my other printer.
I just ordered an Epson CX7800. I noticed that the edible ink cartridges from KopyKake are $78!!! This is alot higher than the cartidges for the Cannon printers.
I was thinking about this and wondered why I couldn't buy empty cartridges and refill them myself if I purchased the larger edible ink bottles. I did some research and found a company that sells empty print cartridges for a large variety of printers, including the newer Epson models that are still readily available in retail stores (like the C8
.
A set of four empty cartridges that work with the C88, CX3800, CS3810, CX4200, CX4800, CX7800 and C5800F, cost $22.00 ($5.50 each) plus approximately $6 for shipping. Since these are empty, they must be filled with ink. Kopykake sells a refill kit (4 bottles , 2.3 oz each), that will refill your cartridges 4 times. This kit includes the needle and everything you need. With shipping, the total for the ink comes to $47.
So, the empty cartridges and the refillable ink bottle kit comes to a total of approximately $75, including all shipping costs.
That's alot more ink for the money than spending $78.00 for the Epson cartridge kit that KopyKake sells. The cartdiges have ink in them, but once they run out, you'd have to buy the refill kit anyhow. That comes to a total of $125 if you buy both. Thats a $50 savings if you buy the empty cartridges and fill them yourself. I can buy lots of cake stuff with that money!!!
Empty cartridges: www.inksupply.com
Refill kit: www.kopykake.com
There is great debate over whether printers used for edible image printing can also be used with interchangeable non-edible cartridges.
Here's what I know about Epson printers.
Epson cartdiges have a rubber valvue similar to that on a vial of injectible fluid. When the cartridge is inserted into the printer, there is a plastic tube that enters into that rubber valve that suctions the ink out of the cartridge and onto the paper to form the image. When you pull the cartdige out of the printer, the idea is that the rubber valve comes together and closes up into itself, forming a seal that covers the hole where the plastic tube had been. Imagine turning a vial of injectible fluid upside down and inserting a needle to draw out the liquid. When you pull the needle out, the rubber comes together and nothing spills out. The self sealing valve on the printer cartridge works the same way.
While it is designed not to leave any ink on the printer when removed, this is not always the case. Should there be any residue ink on there, it will definitely remain in the carrier area (where the ink cartridge fits into), therefore contamining your images if you switch from edible to non-edible ink.
I know Epson tells people this is not the case, but the reality is that it does sometimes happen - be it a defective cartridge, poorly refilled or worn out cartridge.
Just thought I'd share. Hope this helps.
Ginger
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