retired Epson 4000 for b&w?

[John Hennessy]

I have just now retired my Epson 4000. It has an over heating problem which is not worth fixing. (I replaced it with a 4900 the price for which just dropped about
one-third.)

I have many years' worth of 4x5 b&w film, some of it already scanned. The 4000/Epson ink combination was not good for b&w and since I occasionally
like do to b&w, I'm thinking about dedicating the 4000 to it. What would be good
ink to use? I looked at UT 3D inks for the 4000. It doesn't say they are carbon
inks, are they? Or Jon Cone?

I'm open to suggestions. Thanks.

John Hennessy

[onnect17]

If you feel OK filling cartridges, I would convert it to a custom set with the BW inks available for the 48/78/9800 series, using QTR to print.

[Kirk Gittings]

The 4000 was fine for B&W with the Imageprint rip.

For third party b&W inks IME the Cone inks win hands down.

[John Hennessy]

Kirk,

In reading over the Cone site, it looks like you have to decide before hand which b&w tone and surface you want. Ain't cheap either. Don't know how much longer my aged 4000 will last. It often has to rest all Summer unless I print in the middle of the night when its cool.

Have you ever seen Eboni6 prints?

Since posting this question, I tried my 4900 with the Epson B&W mode on Moab Colorado Satine and a b&w image. It looks pretty damn good---but I'll have to look closer in the AM.

Thanks.