Lazer printer and toner transfer questions

[John Lyons]

As much as I don't want to post another Toner transfer thread....

I have been using a photocopies onto Staples brand  "photo basic gloss" with good resuslts. The copier I have been using is getting a little sketchy, despite the fact that it's at my wives workplace...

I have an HP lazerjet 5L that needs a new toner cartridge and if this works I'll be happy as a clam.
Anyone out there use this machine with good results? (toner is expensive so that's whey im hesatant)

My question is what model Lazer printer does everyone use? If I have to go buy something new I'd like one that works for this method.
I know older machines use more toner( a thicker layer)  which is a good thing.
The reason I have been having problems lately is because the toner has been too thin and I get pin holes and the Etch has been getting through the toner and even lifting it off.

Thanks folks!

[thumposaurus]

I have an HP-6L that I've been using for awhile with good results.  I bought it off of eBay for cheap, it is just now starting to get lighter on the prints so a toner replacement will be necessary soon.
Hope it helps

[Morocotopo]

 Basicaudio, that´s exactly the printer I have (HP LaserJet 5L). It works perfectly for PnP transfer. Yes, the toner is expensive!! Lasts a long time, though. Mine is pretty old, about 10 years. Parallell (I think, definitely NOT USB, has the big rectangular connector with many pins) connection, not many computers still have those ports! A bit short on memory, sometimes I have trouble printing complex things (for example the Tonepad PCB´s). But I manage to print fiddling with the settings. There was a memory expansion chip/thingy years ago, but It´s unobtainable now. Technicians tell me the transport/mechanism of this one is great, they don´t make ´em like that anymore (metal/plastic?).

Morocotopo

[Pushtone]

We have the HP 6L at work with 4megs installed and they are old fer sure.
We get our toner cartriges from a supplier that re-fills them because you can't but new cartriges for the 6L.

When I print high resolution pictures to the 6L (300dpi) the images look low res with many dots and holes making a morie pattern.
Like a newspaper halftone image. Perhaps it dithered, I don't know.
I would think this would make it less suitable than a printer capable of 600x600dpi resolution or better.

I purchased an HP 1000 from staples four or five years ago and I'm still on the original cartrige.
It does 600x600dpi resolution and has been good for PnP work. Paid $250 for it. Now I see similar ones for $100.00 at Staples.

You might also try maximizing the black levels and/or contrast in PS if your layout is a bitmap.

Like color ink jet printers, isn't silly when the ink/toner cartiges cost more than the printer itself? 
It's like they make more profit on the consumables than the hardware.

[John Lyons]

Ok, thanks for the feedback folks. I don't think the resolution is too critical here.
Were just printing black solid images after all...
The resolution of Press and peel and Photo paper is pretty low at any rate. 
As long as the ink it heavy enough on the paper the transfer will be solid.
I'll bite the bullet and get a new cartridge for my HP 5L.

John

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

For starters, it's "laser" not "lazer"... stands for "Light Amplification by Sequential Emission of Radiation". I've never heard of "Zequential"! 

On topic though... I use a Brother... the cheapest one I could find... only cost me 99 butts! It does the trick nicely. To replace the toner is going to cost about the same as a whole new printer, so I might just do that everytime I need new toner

[dream_noir]

For starters, it's "laser" not "lazer"... stands for "Light Amplification by Sequential Emission of Radiation". I've never heard of "Zequential"! 

On topic though... I use a Brother... the cheapest one I could find... only cost me 99 butts! It does the trick nicely. To replace the toner is going to cost about the same as a whole new printer, so I might just do that everytime I need new toner

Just a tip, if the Brother one you have is anything like the HP printers I've seen (and have), they come with a "demo" cartridge which will do about 1000 pages. Yes, a replacement does cost as much as the original printer, but it'll do over 3000 pages, making it seriously worth it.

[Cardboard Tube Samurai]

Yeah, I got told it will do about 1000 pages, but he didn't mention what the refills will do... Your advice is duely noted!

[Hiwatt25]

I thought it was Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.  But I could be wrong.  But I digress. 

I recently bought a samsung Laser printer that I use for all my PCBs.  It was only 99 bucks after a rebate.  It works really well and I too use the staples photo basic paper.  Seems like every time I go in there, they have it on a counter up front and it's on sale.  I've got 3 packs just waiting to be used.  Here's a link to the printer in case you decide to spring for a new one.     

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16828112023

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

5L cartridges seem to be around $55, that strikes me as pretty cheap compared to the paper (once you have made a few boards, of course).
Remember you can get a few more goes out of a catrridge by shaking it usually.