Posts by rustysurfer79

rowdyotter10 said:Hey there,

I've been doing graphic design for a while now, but I always end up sending my clients' stuff off to a local print shop.

I don't want to drop a ton of cash right out of the gate—though I'm not even sure what "a ton" looks like yet, since it all depends on the gear.

So, I'm looking for some advice on what equipment I should grab.

Here's what I think I might need:

- a laser printer (which one, what size, any other specs?)
- a laminator ??
- a cutter (manual or electric... which one?)
30>>A folding machine?
- binding tools? (spiral or something else?)
- ???
- ???

Any advice would be huge.

Thanks,

p.s. if it helps... my typical monthly volume is pretty low. Maybe 200 business cards, about 10 A5 brochures, and maybe 1,000 A5 flyers... nothing massive. So, I'm looking for decent quality without breaking the bank at first. Later on, if things pick up, I could probably invest maybe $10k-$20k.

It’s pretty tough to pull all that off with just one printer. Every tool is basically built for one specific job.

Honestly, you’d be smarter to figure out exactly what kind of paper/stock you're planning to print on first, then go hunting for the right gear based on that.

Working with a color laser is usually the easiest route, but man, those things are expensive to maintain. A cheap laser printer usually means pricey toner.

Your second option is a cheap inkjet paired with some budget Chinese ink. Everything stays cheap, but the prints aren't waterproof.

Then there's thermal inkjet. It's a promising tech, but the ink is still significantly pricier than standard stuff, and the prints won't be waterproof until you run them through a laser printer or a laminator to let the ink polymerize. There's also an A3 option out there, but honestly, finding a good color A3 laser in a low price range is basically a pipe dream.

Bottom line: it's not as simple as it looks. But you're probably looking at an initial investment starting around $1,000 $667 regardless of what you choose.

Samuel Sanchez2 said:My bad, you're totally right.
The HP isn't even a color printer...
Lexmark seems way cheaper than everything else, but what do you guys think about those Minoltas I mentioned?

I haven't really messed around with those Minoltas before.

You gotta watch out with them. It's super easy to run into issues where all the vital parts are worn out because those toners were huge for refilling. Plus, they use a carousel system, which honestly feels like pretty outdated tech.

Basically, you can't expect decent color prints from them compared to actual color lasers.

They're strictly for B&W.

Samuel Sanchez2 said:Hey guys, I really need some help. I’m looking to pick up a color laser printer, but my budget is tight so I can't swing anything new. I'm hunting for a solid used machine—something capable of printing images with decent resolution. My old Konica Xerox broke down on me; it prints the first page just fine, but then it jams on the second and won't go. Even the repair shop is stumped—they're guessing it might be a paper feed motor issue. Man, I loved that thing though; the print quality was basically like a photo printer.
I've put together a little shortlist, so let me know which one you think I should grab. If you know of something better out there, please shout. I've got about $220 to work with.

-Lexmark C532dn
-Xerox older model, slightly worse than my old one and hasn't been printed on much
-Xerox needs a new black toner cartridge
-Lexmark C 762, newer model but a bit pricier
-Lexmark C920, I'd grab this instantly but it's expensive and pretty huge since it does A3
-HP with free toners, but the price is a little high

Which way should I go?
I haven't really looked into Samsung or Apple or any other brands.
If anyone knows their stuff, please give me some advice. I want to save as much as possible on toner while still getting the best print quality.
Mostly printing colored text and the occasional photo.
😕🤷🙄

Personally, I'd go for the Lexmark C532 if the machine itself is in good shape. Just keep in mind that a single replacement toner will run you about $153 plus tax. It feels steep, but compared to buying a new HP or whatever, the cost is similar—except you're getting 160g of toner instead of the tiny 35-55g you get with the new ones.

Otherwise, check out the Lexmark C920.

Maybe this helps someone else out too.
The HP is a monochrome printer, not color. Don't compare apples to oranges.

stormygardener34 said:Honestly, I wouldn't go with the original stuff; I'd probably just stick to using third-party ink...

do you think these will fit?

Jeremy Reyes4 said:As long as it has color printing and a scanner.

Honestly, if those features are there, it doesn't even matter which one you pick. They both handle those tasks just fine. Just grab whichever one looks cooler to you.

Jeremy Reyes4 said:Which one of these two is actually better? Which one is the smarter buy?
HP Envy series vs. Brother MFC series

What kind of stuff are you looking for?

redeagle75 said:Quick question
roughly how many pages can I get out of a single toner cartridge?
Just looking for a ballpark figure.
I'm talking about an HP LaserJet 1320.

Officially, you're looking at 4,000 (standard) or maybe up to 6,000 (extended) pages.

But realistically, a standard tray holds about 5 ounces of powder. HP fills theirs with just over 4 ounces, and since 1 ounce gets you roughly 1,000 pages, you do the math.

If you compare that to newer HP printers with similar specs, they only pack in about 2 ounces of powder. Yet, the replacement cartridges cost basically the same.

Honestly, this isn't even news. Just look at today's The New York Times and you'll see stories about how plenty of other big brands are running this exact same playbook.

stormygardener34 said:Do you think that's a smart move or what?

Honestly, I'm not sure.
There aren't many of these units floating around right now, so even the local repair shops don't have enough experience with them to give us a solid opinion based on what we actually need.

The one thing I know for sure is that if you go with refillable cartridges and decent ink, the cost per page is way lower than using an HP. Plus, the tank capacity is noticeably bigger than what you'd find on an Epson or a Canon in this category, and you don't have to deal with any annoying resets.

But, if you're planning on sticking strictly to original manufacturer inks, then the price is pretty much the same no matter which brand you pick.

graniteheron323 said:rustysurfer79, looks like you know your stuff—mind giving me a recommendation?
I don't really care about print speed, color accuracy, or network features; I just need something with a fax function where the toner isn't going to break the bank.

Speaking from experience, the most cost-effective fax machine you can find is a Canon PowerShot ELPH 100.

We had this one client back before the Great Recession—a debt settlement firm—who burned through something like 30 toners on a single PowerShot ELPH 100. Modern fax machines can only dream of that kind of durability. Plus, one toner for the PowerShot ELPH 100 actually holds three times as much powder as that new HP you're looking at.

So, hunt around for that Canon, and if you can't track one down, check the hot spot.

graniteheron323 said:It’s not even a full-blown office setup—just something small for printing a few invoices and handling my fax needs—so does this look okay to you?

Are you actually curious about what kind of laser mechanism they used to build this MFP?

stormygardener34 said:Oof, and what about the cost of compatible toner cartridges?

Buying a full set of refillable cartridges costs you

$50 plus tax
+
4 * 100 ml = $40 + tax

whereas just getting your originals refilled
is $10 = 10 ml

So, if you go the 400 ml route
you're basically paying an extra 40 * $10
just to keep your hands clean.

Look, you've got two choices here: $90 either pay the extra tax and spend a couple minutes messing with each cartridge,
or
pay the same amount
$400 and keep your hands perfectly clean and manicured.

Makes sense, right?

graniteheron323 said:Could someone recommend a solid monochrome laser MF printer for an office setting? It would be great if it could handle being networked for about $500

Look, if you're looking at MF laser printers, anything under $400 isn't going to cut it for a real office setup. Most of those are just cheap toys for people who don't know any better.

stormygardener34 said:We’ve pretty much decided on the HP OfficeJet Pro All-in-One printer with wireless and fax capabilities.
Since we aren't exactly tech experts, I’d love some advice so we don't end up making a mistake!
Does this specific model support third-party ink cartridges, and if so, what kind of pricing are we looking at?
I tried doing some digging online myself, but I'm still feeling a bit lost.
When I asked about it over at Eco, the guy there just brushed me off, saying all printers have compatible inks available—and if they don't carry them, you can just grab them at Microchip!
Ultimately, what do you guys think of this printer?
It's just for light home use...
Thanks!

To be specific, we have an HP LaserJet in stock right now. About five or six months ago, we loaded it up with a set of permanent cartridges using Honeywell ink for the Brother. We’re planning to fire it up in a month or two once we have more downtime to test things out.

That said, if you're in a huge rush, we could get it running this week. We'll see if it even survived sitting idle for months like this with those permanent third-party cartridges and that specific ink formula. On paper, though, it's listed as 100% functional.

Basically, yes—third-party cartridges for Brother are easy to find here, and the cost per page ends up being about the same as using an Epson with permanent cartridges and Honeywell ink for refills.

The big difference between Brother and Epson is really just driver quality. Basically, Epson has way more experience writing and fine-tuning their software. Because of that, whatever an Epson pulls off with 28 nozzles, a Brother, HP Canon, or HP would need about three times as many nozzles to match.

Or, looking at it from the other side: if you have the exact same number of nozzles, an Epson is going to give you a much higher quality print for the same price per page.

Daniel Morgan2 said:I could use some help here... I've got an Epson printer and sometimes it prints certain letters really faded, or they don't show up at all... thanks

Send over a scan so I can take a look.

Kate Morales76 said:Wanna have me scan my ass for five minutes? ☕ Of course it works!

Look, thanks for trying, but I honestly don't care about your opinion. It feels like you're just pushing your own agenda and your website, which—by the way—looks terrible and is full of typos (I checked out your other posts too).
I just want to buy a decent laser printer. If you don't have anything useful to say that isn't a sales pitch, then back off. You're exhausting, you talk way too much just to sound convincing, and frankly, you're not helping at all. What did you even say about my question regarding the Home Depot site? Nothing!!! It seems like everyone is just supposed to run to you to find the "cheapest" deal.

The whole reason I came to this forum is because people here actually know their stuff and give advice based on experience, without trying to pull a fast one on you. Then you show up and ruin it. 🙂

I'm sure you know a ton about printers, way more than I do, but I can't trust what you say. Your main goal here isn't helping people; it's selling your own gear. If you were actually that good, people would be talking about you, rather than you having to sell yourself so hard. Get it?

Man is trying to help you and you're shutting him down. Whatever. It's your head and your money. You can always make more cash, but you only get one brain.

Later.

Kate Morales76 said:I'm sticking with the Epson because of the scanner. Got it?

Not quite.

The scanner won't even work once you run out of ink. Don't go thinking Epson didn't plan for that.

Kate Morales76 said:I'm not talking a thousand pages a month :O I just need a home printer, but I want a laser one. I'm tired of swapping out ink cartridges all the time; I'd rather just pay upfront and be done with it. Honestly, it feels easier to shell out for a legit laser printer than an inkjet. 😁, I've currently got an Epson HP LaserJet Pro and now it’s making this huge racket, printing poorly, and smudging everything—even cleaning cycles don't help. I probably print maybe 100 to 150 pages a month, sometimes even less, but I figured a laser would be way more cost-effective than inkjet anyway. I'd probably end up printing more if I had a laser; I've been being too stingy with my current one.

For Epson, you have the option of "Faulty for Working + Surcharge"

Basically, you turn in a broken Epson and get back a working HP LaserJet + 4,000 + 4,000 page yields from replacement toners + a warranty for those 8,000 pages.

Just for comparison: if you buy any other laser and hit 8,000 pages over 12 months, it ends up costing you the same: 800 + 3* $150. It's basically just a standard tax on people who think they're being clever. After 12 months, the warranty is gone and your wallet is twice as thin.

So, taking in abandoned "strays" seems to work for you guys and is totally worth it. Though that HP LaserJet Pro will definitely find a new home with someone else who gets this whole "rescue" philosophy + saving money + getting what they need.

Kate Morales76 said:That is such a rude and totally out-of-line comparison! 😳 I messed up my printer. Honestly, I’m such an idiot sometimes. It just stopped working out of nowhere, and now I’m staring at it like it's some alien technology. Anyone have any tips before I toss it out the window? 😠
I honestly don't mind shelling out the cash for toner once a year if that's what it takes to keep my printer running. If I'm actually hitting that 3,000-page mark, then it'll probably end up lasting me way longer than that anyway. So, you don't need to try and sell me on it.And seriously, don't go playing the sympathy card with those poor abandoned dogs. Unlike some stupid printers, they actually have feelings.

Look, any responsible dog owner is going to do the math before they bring a pup home. You’ve gotta figure out what that monthly food bill is actually going to look like for that specific breed. And obviously, you're budgeting for the good stuff—like Royal Canin or Eukanuba Hairball-Indoor—not some cheap Pedigree or, heaven forbid, some mystery brand from the grocery store bargain bin.🙂

God help us from this mindset. At this rate, we’ll have automated kitten feeders coming out any day now. You just shove ten cans of food into the machine, and all the kitten has to do is tap a button to get a fresh serving of Royal Canin dumped onto their plate. Meanwhile, the owner sits there scrolling through some fancy new widget app on their phone, watching the whole thing live like it's the greatest thing ever. It’s a endless cycle of nonsense. The kitten gets lazy hitting buttons, and the owner is just living in pure bliss.

With that kind of attitude, a poor cat might as well just go join the Becky Boy choir instead of hanging around an automatic feeder.

How?

Nice.
>>>>

Royal Canin actually makes this specific formula for neutered males and spayed females. It’s designed to help them stay at a healthy weight and keeps their urinary tract in good shape so you don't have to deal with bladder stones later on. If you're looking at other options, Hill's has their Indoor Cat Adult, and Eukanuba has the Hairball-Indoor Adult. Honestly, though, when you're picking up food at places like Walmart, you should definitely chat with the vets on staff. They can give you the full rundown to make sure your cat stays happy, healthy, and chill.

Kate Morales76 said:IKEA is doing 10% off printers this weekend, so I was thinking about grabbing one while they're on sale. My sister and I are both college students, and we really want a laser printer since we print so much stuff. Any recommendations, pleeease?

We're based out of St. Louis, so if the deal at IKEA isn't actually worth it even with the discount, feel free to suggest somewhere else nearby.
Budget: $333, but staying cost-effective is my top priority!

Buying a printer is basically like getting a pet. You get it for $33 plus a bag of Pedigree or Whiskas. Pretty soon you realize the little guy won't eat anything except those specific kibbles. Once you crunch the numbers on what that costs, that puppy or kitten ends up in the trash. Or by a dumpster.

And you see, sometimes a stray ends up in a shelter for spoiled pets, where they teach him to wag his tail at something that's way cheaper than Pedigree or Whiskas.

So the real question is: do you want to adopt the pet that only eats Pedigree, or the one that'll be happy with anything?

In other words, the upfront price is the same. But with the Pedigree stuff, you're feeding him for maybe 45 days, whereas with a cheaper brand, you can stretch that out for 8 months longer.

Obviously, I'm exaggerating here, but it's a pretty accurate look at how things work in the real world these days.

placidotter133 said:thanks for getting back to me.

Also, can I use generic ink?
Is there anything better out there for this kind of money? Any recommendations?👋

You can get those refillable cartridges that don't use standard ink. The quality is actually pretty great.

For that budget, you might want to check out a Brother instead.