Author Topic: Inkjet vs laser.  (Read 2609 times)

  • Offline Serious

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Inkjet vs laser.
on: November 27, 2019, 09:10:41 AM
I needed to print something out. Many years ago I had multiple problems with inkjet heads blocking up so I eventually bought a Brother monochrome Laser.

Haven't used it in over a year but big enough to find, I can't move it anyway now. Plugged in power, connected USB, switched on...

and it worked - perfectly!

Anyone had that sort of success with inkjet?

Re: Inkjet vs laser.
Reply #1 on: November 27, 2019, 21:58:41 PM
nope had the same with laser printers left for months or years even, inkjets are blocked after a week unused, this is why I have a colour laser at home now.

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  • Offline Clock'd 0Ne

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Re: Inkjet vs laser.
Reply #2 on: November 28, 2019, 06:22:12 AM
Colour laser printers are so cheap now, especially multifunctional ones, I don't know why anyone would ever bother with inkjet anymore.

Personally I recommend Brother printers as compatible toners are cheap and the printers/software seem relatively reliable.

Re: Inkjet vs laser.
Reply #3 on: November 28, 2019, 14:04:05 PM
I print loads of labels at work... I can't find a laser that will print on them properly... the heat always makes them curl up and jam

I've got an epson with built in ink tanks... like those ones you used to get where you plumbed in your own little refill tanks... but it comes like that from the factory.... works great, and ink is cheap and chips

probably do 500xA4 pages a week through it, always been great so far.... but maybe I used it enough it doesen't have time to block up

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Re: Inkjet vs laser.
Reply #4 on: November 29, 2019, 13:14:51 PM
I was using out work printer to print some labels - check when you print that you have chosen the special label paper type as sometimes this massively effects the output.

On the one at work, it uses a different try as soon as you choose label paper as the source, and then I found once I printed it that the ink wasn't rubbing off the label like the first time I tried, it must use special settings for heat transfer or something.

Re: Inkjet vs laser.
Reply #5 on: November 30, 2019, 02:45:46 AM
I would... but this one works great and ink is pennies

I know laser is cheap too... but I'm happy setting it away printing out a few hundred A4 full colour posters/price lists etc. right now.... I'd probably be stingy if I was buying laser toners all the time :-o

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Re: Inkjet vs laser.
Reply #6 on: December 01, 2019, 05:35:37 AM
Lasers do tend to heat the paper a lot to fix the toner, and that can affect the glue on labels. One effect is the label can act the same as a bimetal strip, the glue and paper expanding at different rates resulting in peeling. Many glues also become soft if you heat them, meaning they move easily.

It is one of the few things that I would suggest not using a laser for unless you have specific sheets of labels.

One thing that I ran into about 30 years ago was a device that meant you didn't need sticky labels, you just printed a sheet of labels then separated them. The device simply allowed you to pull the labels over a roller which at the bottom was in glue, then apply them to the envelope. At the time it was cheaper than using commercial options.

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