Recommend me a printer - spend my money!

[LonerMatt]

Hello printing gurus!

I am looking for a printer recommendation.

For context, I run workshops on art book making and publishing and am looking for a printer that I can use in these workshops so the participants can print basic dummies of their zines/books. I am NOT looking for the best quality, but rather would prioritise conservative ink usage, ease of maintenance and speedy printing these are, after all, things made to support learning, not final products to showcase or sell.

I've been using a Canon TS9560 to make things myself, but it has a few issues: it's incredibly slow, chews through ink, prints horribly on thicker uncoated paper and doesn't print A3 duplex natively (I have to switch the paper manually). It's fine for just me, but not adequate in a workshop context.

What I'm hoping for:

• Up to A3 duplex (necessity)
• Reasonable ink usage
• Simple and reliable (well, as much as possible)
• Prints well on a variety of papers and potentially thin card

What would be nice to have:

• Not gigantic
• Off brand ink is available and doesn't shut the printer down (though this seems tremendously unlikely given the way the industry is going)

Budget: up to $5000. I prefer to buy once, cry once.

I'm based in Australia, which may limit options. I was thinking a good laser printer might be better than an inkjet printer, but perhaps I'm totally wrong.
Very appreciative of any help

Given these wide-ranging requirements - I am looking for ease of use, generally good enough results. Happy for good but not great at most things, definitely do NOT need like photo-exhibition quality colours, etc.

 

[Smile]

Well if you looking for inkjet, then the "I prefer to buy once, cry once." tells me that you would not like cheap crappy printer. Take a look at RICOH https://www.ricoh.co.jp/printer/geljet

You can also use https://www.druckerchannel.de/drucker-finder/

 

[Redbrickman]

A laser might be a good option but many are now tied down to use the OEM toner by use of chips etc. Some of the older Brother printers are still able to use 3rd party toner and you can get good quality 3rd party toner from some sources.

 

[Smile]

Yes I got old stock new Minolta A4 magicolor 2250 from Germany, I was shocked to find them there !
Has to replace foam pad on all solenoids, as the printer would throw errors. Has to use Fuser oil for first start.

Now works wonders. I Had to also hack drivers language from Japanese to English, lucky it was just few files that needed replaced.

OP would be better with new printer else, wants to tinker with it.