Greetings & Questions on FR and GR Drums

[BluePlanet]

I have a little business in Key West, FL and have wanted to get a Risograph for a long time and have watched eBay a lot. Either too far away or too expensive.

Anyway, I just purchased and picked up two Risograph FR2950ui units. They look good and only have 3700 masters and 111000 copies. They were used by a printer and have been in a storage unit for 6 months.
The ink on the masters in the disposal boxes was still wet, so I hope the drums are not dried out. There were no masters so I have those ordered, but can't do anything until I get those.

Which machines were made first, the GR or the FR? I see no drums ever for sale for the FR but I see an occasional drum that are FR/GR. These drums are all 8.5 inches wide. I gather if they have the (W) they are 11 inches for the machines that use those. I assume that the 8.5 will work in machines that also do 11x17. It seems there are different size masters too.

The 8.5 GR drums look the same. I purchased a green one. I figured if they don't work I will get a GR machine too in the not too distant future.

Want to buy some more GR drums as the price is really good. Will they work, and if not, why not? Then, where are all the FR drums? It makes no sense to me to make changes to drums for machines that must be about the same age and have the same specs.

In fact, can anyone explain why Riso has so many different machines that seem to have the same or very similar specs?

[Kopyrtek]

The GR series came out first followed shortly by the FR.The 8.5 drums allow the user to print 8.5 paper without using a full master.Saves a little money when you only need 8.5 master.
The FR 2950 is a 400x400 dpi while the GR(3770) is a 600x600 dpi.Its all about selling supplies!

[20gaugeO/U]

The FR 2950 is a short (master width) machine where the 3950 is a wide (w). A GR/FR drum is what you need for this machine, but the wide (w) format will NOT fit.

Riso officially announced its Final obsolete notice on May 8th, 2008.

[ddude]

GR color drums should work fine in your FR- Black may not work, but colors can interchange, they do not need to read GR/FR. Just make sure that you get the right size-avoid any (W) drums, those are 11x17, made for the 39xx.

[BluePlanet]

Have been buying some.

Yes, I got it figured out. Have bought several GR and GR/FR drums for my FR2950's at real good prices on eBay. Also have purchased a half dozen (W) drums as I plan on getting either an FR or GR that will do 11x17.

Also picked up a C1 300 interface but have not hooked it up yet.

[zx81]

personally i would forget about the CI300 if i were you.. painfully painfully slow and not even sure it will work with FR (could be wrong though - RA definately cos i used to have one!)
only ever had success sending text files through it!
look into getting sc7700 very good level3 RIP

[BluePlanet]

It is worth a try.

I only paid $5.00 for it plus shipping. It was for a GR. Have no idea if it will work, but going to give it a try. Perhaps the interface board will work with a better RIP if I can get one cheap that doesn't have the board with it.

Yes, would love to get a 7700. The 7900 won't work with the FR or GR series I have been told.

[ddude]

The CI300 may work for you, but it is old technology, to be sure, and veeeerrrryyyy slow. email me at ddigitaldude@hotmail.com if you would be interested in a working SC5500(with cables), and/or if you would like to purchase RISO's color separation software.

ddigitaldude@hotmail.com

[Joe Foe from Buffalo]

I have...TWO = 2 SC3000's with cables for both. Call me @ 716-832-4950 ...best to ask for Ward.