[Leaplist] Printer Toner

[patrick]

fmeco wrote:
> patrick wrote:
>> I have two laser printers, that work well and are nice to use with my
>> Linux, BSD, Apple/Macs.
>>
>> The Apple LazerSelect 360 was free, but, the original toner cartridge
>> dated 1993 finally emptied after printout #5377, and a replacement brand
>> new one on ebay was $17 delivered.
>>
>> I picked up a Brother 5 in 1 Fax, copier, scanner, printer, pc fax
>> MFC-8500 for $25 at Thriftko.  It worked, but, it is now at the end of
>> it's original 2004 TN-460 cartridge.
>>
>> Refilling is a viable option for me, though I see some refurb cartridges
>> for $19 and up, and factory new ones for about $29 and up.
>>
>> Refill quantities of Toner are as pricey as the new cartridge.
>>
>> But, there are cartridges for HP Laserjet II/IIP/III for $4.95 each on
>> close-out, as that model is a bit dated to most vendors.
>>
>> I figure I could buy a couple of those, and refill my empty cartridges,
>>  the replaced Apple unit and this Brother TN-460.
>>
>> Anyone want to advise me of their experiences or opinions?
>>
>> Anyone have some bulk toner, or know where it is sold at a reasonable
>> price?
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>>   
> All is not well in toner land and never has been.  Toner is simply a
> ground up thermal plastic with lamp black in it.  The quality of the
> toner, blackness which controls how black the print is on the paper,
> melting point are relatively standard between different suppliers.  The
> impurities in the toner is not standard.   Impure (cheep) toner will
> scum up the drum very quickly.  You can see the contamination on the
> drum by printing a total black page (assuming you have enough toner left
> to do that.  Take the cart out and shake it up, this will usually give
> you about another 50-100 prints.
> To fill or not to fill:   When you run a totally black page if you see
> bands of streaks the drum is scummed.  This is not fixable without
> replacing the drum so don't bother refilling.  In the old days when the
> drums were selinum based you could brasso the drum, as they were very
> hard.  The new ones (20 years) are based on a very soft material and
> can't be polished.
> 
> Buy refurbished or not.  The most expensive part of the whole cartrage
> is the drum.  Most commercial re-fillers never replace the drum, they
> just refill.. I have purchased many refilled carts and about 70% are
> unusable by my standards.. I always buy new when the drum is streaked. 
> And then refill myself, refilling is a simple process..
> 
> Another caution.  The heat roller heats the toner and fuses the plastic
> to the paper.  Guess what Florida heat does to toner if its kept in a
> truck or car for some time in the summertime.   Just another caution.
> 
> What is the number of your cartridges.. I have a couple laying
> around..   Fred

It is a TN-460, or just the toner cartridge is a TN-400, for the 4,000
copy version.

There is a TN300 on the market, for less, and fewer copies.

At a cost of $4.95 each, I have ordered three warranteed HP II/IIP/III
cartridges, and will empty their contents into my spare Apple cartridge,
and into my Brother cartridge.  But, I am happy and willing to swap one
to a HP owner, for any toner in a cartridge or bottle, of equivalent size.

The 'Bulk Toner' resolves in all the ads I've seen, down to a small
bottle of toner that equates to one refill, for a pricey $30 or more!

Yes, I shake a cartridge gently, and the half inch of toner in the
bottom levels out so that it will do hundreds more copies!

My Apple has a one piece unit with new drum (I got a new cartridge/drum
for $19 delivered, as the laser printer is circa 1993)  The old one
simply ran out but did not streak, even after 14 years of storage/use!

The Brother is a two piece unit, and it is a beautiful thing.  I
understand that usually one can do three refills before a new drum is
necessary.

The Brother machine is noted for giving false warnings to replace the
drum, and mine did for a week or so after I got it from the thrift store
for $25.  I think it settled down like a new puppy, here, stacked above
the Apple printer, on the Mac PowerPC... The Mac units were made to stack!


Yes, the new drums have a thin gelatenous coat, and can not be touched
in any manner beyond the softest light brushing, or it ruins them.  The
Apple LaserSelect360 is a Selenium Drum of finely frosted metal.