Printer problems

victor2

Neil_Jones said:

ripplyuk said:

cymruchris said:

ripplyuk said:

Is it worth buying a laser printer instead? Will it be fine with being left for long periods? 

I don’t want this hassle every time I need to print a postage label. 

Do you only use it for printing postage labels and nothing else?

Mostly, yes. Occasionally I’ll need to print a letter but it’s mainly postage labels. 

I think a nice little black and white mono laser printer will do you good if you hardly print.

Maybe something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-LaserJet-M15w-Printer-White/dp/B079Z44VZ7

Laser printers don't dry up, they actually print via powder (its slightly more complicated but that's the basic principle).  The toners for that one at Amazon are relatively cheap and will do 1000 pages at 5% coverage.  Your mileage may vary though.

I'd second that. I used to have an older model HP "personal" laserjet. Would get 2,000+ pages out of a toner cartridge (bought genuine ones because they lasted over a year each, and had a bad experience with a compatible cartridge). When it finally died, I went for an inkjet because I fancied a bit of colour printing, mainly photographs, which my Epson does well. Should I go a few weeks without printing anything, I print off a test colour page, which uses all the colours. There are many available if you search the net for one.

cymruchris

ripplyuk said:

cymruchris said:

ripplyuk said:

Is it worth buying a laser printer instead? Will it be fine with being left for long periods? 

I don’t want this hassle every time I need to print a postage label. 

Do you only use it for printing postage labels and nothing else?

Mostly, yes. Occasionally I’ll need to print a letter but it’s mainly postage labels. 

I'd agree with others - go for the HP laser - if it's the odd printed letter and an address label - I'd go for that. If you don't print off photos - you don't need a colour printer. If you happened to print out a map - you'd still see it - just black and white - you'd still get to where you were going if you couldn't see the green bits  

ripplyuk

Thanks for the advice everyone. I’ve managed to change the settings to glossy photos but it’s still printing rubbish. I think I might just go for the laser one that Neil has linked to. It seems to be out of stock right now but there’s one from Amazon warehouse which it says has only cosmetic damage. Would that still be risky with a printer? It would save a bit of money but not much. 

cymruchris

ripplyuk said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I’ve managed to change the settings to glossy photos but it’s still printing rubbish. I think I might just go for the laser one that Neil has linked to. It seems to be out of stock right now but there’s one from Amazon warehouse which it says has only cosmetic damage. Would that still be risky with a printer? It would save a bit of money but not much. 

The warehouse section has the same guarantee - if it turned up and didn't print - it could go straight back for a refund at no cost to you. I always check the warehouse for anything I want to buy - and usually save a few pounds. I've only ever had to return one item that wasn't useable, but that got me a refund even before I'd posted it.  I'd say go for it - it's usually someone that's ordered it - opened it - taken it out of the box - put it on the table - said 'hmmm I don't like the colour' or 'that's a bit big for that shelf' and then sent it back again.

J_B

ripplyuk said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I’ve managed to change the settings to glossy photos but it’s still printing rubbish. I think I might just go for the laser one that Neil has linked to. It seems to be out of stock right now but there’s one from Amazon warehouse which it says has only cosmetic damage. Would that still be risky with a printer? It would save a bit of money but not much. 

Did you try my suggestion near the end of the first page?

Remember that this is MSE

ripplyuk

J_B said:

ripplyuk said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I’ve managed to change the settings to glossy photos but it’s still printing rubbish. I think I might just go for the laser one that Neil has linked to. It seems to be out of stock right now but there’s one from Amazon warehouse which it says has only cosmetic damage. Would that still be risky with a printer? It would save a bit of money but not much. 

Did you try my suggestion near the end of the first page?

Remember that this is MSE

I would have, but I don’t have any strong spirits 😁.  I’m not sure if it’s worth buying a bottle. 

Neil_Jones

ripplyuk said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. I’ve managed to change the settings to glossy photos but it’s still printing rubbish. I think I might just go for the laser one that Neil has linked to. It seems to be out of stock right now but there’s one from Amazon warehouse which it says has only cosmetic damage. Would that still be risky with a printer? It would save a bit of money but not much. 

I've had a number of things off the Warehouse recently, including a full Pi 4 set (pi, case and charger and some heatsinks), a USB external hard drive, some computer memory, and a couple of other things.

The only thing that was "wrong" with any of these items was the packaging for every item was "damaged", I suspect they were bought and returned because they weren't wanted or ordered in error.  I can live with damaged packaging, it's only going to go in the recycling anyway.  All the items worked beautifully.  Yes, they knock pounds off for damaged packaging.  I was amazed, especially when the items turned up and the only "damage" was from where the original packaging seals had been broken, aside from that it was pristine.  I was expecting some crumped up packaging that had been smoothed out by living under a heavy book for a while.  But no.

J_B

ripplyuk said:

J_B said:

Did you try my suggestion near the end of the first page?

Remember that this is MSE

I would have, but I don’t have any strong spirits 😁.  I’m not sure if it’s worth buying a bottle. 

OK - how about a weak spirit or even water perhaps? If the ink jets/heads have dried out/blocked up, some moisture might help???

Freddy_Freeloader

I have an XP-442 sat here with clogged heads, tried everything even taking out the head and soaking it in a saucer of warm water and then cleaning and blowing and new ink, save the headache bin it and get a laser printer.

bouicca21

I had clogged heads on my canon.  Someone told me to put a drop of isopropyl alcohol in the place where the ink fed through from the cartridge.  Did that, left it overnight, then ran the print head cleaner. Bingo all working again.