Printers

[Reimer]

Can anyone reccommend a good printer for Chief blue prints. Also, whats the best paper size? Thanks

[DesigNet]

1. What are your drawings for? Framers, homeowners? builders?
2. What volume are you expecting?

Here in TX most house plans are Arch D drawings. Large enough for 1/4" scale which framers like, and small enough to carry around. I use that for small houses and put a couple of drawing on a layout sheet if there is room. With larger housed we use a full house drawing at 3/16" scale or whatever will fit, and then partial plans at 1/4".

I have had good luck with the older HP printers on E-Bay. HP 430, 488 ect. though cartridges are no longer available at the computer store. Newer HP 500, 100 are not any good as the ink monitoring system is a mess. My 100 ( $1000) only worked a short time and isn't worth the repair fee.

I would not go with a hp CP1700 (11x17") or other brands at a smaller size as you will soon wish for a larger paper size and a roll feed.

[slatta]

do a search on this subject, its been discussed..

my fav paper size is 11 x 17, 1/8" scale

[slatta]

i have the hp 9650, it was around $300 or so

[Reimer]

I am printing for remodeling customers and my volume will be low

[kanon]

I use the Canon I9900($500). It can print 13x19 paper and has individual color cartridges so you don't have to change all of the colors when one runs out. The 13x19 paper is expensive so I use it for final drawings. Most things I print with 11x17 at 1/8" scale.

Double as a great photo printer.

[zoome]

Ditto on the 13x19 Printer.

I use a HP 1220 - Works Great. I use Drawing paper that I can get locally Staples it is 12X18 and I tell the printer that I am using A3 size paper (11 1/2 x 17 1/2 or so) So, my output is a litte bigger than 11x17 but not quite 13x19 (the Printer Max - with I can't easily get locally without haveing paper cut to size. I can get the 12x18 size for $4.00 for 100 sheets.

I give my customes a full set of black and white on either 18x24 or 24x36 (1/4"=1'-0") that I send to a local printing company and I give the a full 12x18 set with color renderings. I offer them a full size rendering but it is expensive - $30 for a 18x24 from my local printer - but nice quality.

Hope this helps.

Zoome