So I've started making my own juice and I want to make some labels to put on the for funzies. I don't have a printer and been needing to get one for a while so I'm using this as an excuse. Anyone have a good suggestion?
Looking for a printer
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It depends on what your other uses for it are going to be.
Inkjet printers tend to be fairly inexpensive, however the price starts to go up when you start adding extras like wireless printing, scanning, etc. e-liquid will also do a number on the printed label as well.
Laser printers are also nice, but replacing the toner cartridges can be pricey.
I have a Canon printer, and it's fairly decent. But it's also a royal pain in the behind to get working properly under Linux due to the lack of native print drivers. Wireless printing is nice, though, and one of these days, I need to see if I can get my phone to talk to it as well.
Inkjet printers tend to be fairly inexpensive, however the price starts to go up when you start adding extras like wireless printing, scanning, etc. e-liquid will also do a number on the printed label as well.
Laser printers are also nice, but replacing the toner cartridges can be pricey.
I have a Canon printer, and it's fairly decent. But it's also a royal pain in the behind to get working properly under Linux due to the lack of native print drivers. Wireless printing is nice, though, and one of these days, I need to see if I can get my phone to talk to it as well.
Over the years I've been through several Laser printers and inkjets. I've owned Canon, HP, and Brother mostly. I'm most impressed by the Brother J835DW I've had for a couple of years. Quality is great and I have found superb ink cartridges at Amazon. I get 3 of each color and 5 black carts for around $20 something. They are trouble free and produce great quality. It has platen scanning and a duplex document feeder, works wirelessly or plugged into my router, does fax and comes with a great software suite.
But, most of us think the one we have is the best one.
Some printers work better than others with labels. There are good labels and cheap labels. Sharp radius turns in the paper path tend to make some labels peel. Google for best labels and label printers before buying. While you can use most multipurpose printers for labels, Dymo makes label printers that are designed for doing just that. The up side of a dedicated label printer is that you can buy labels in roll feed format and print one at a time or as many as you want.
But, most of us think the one we have is the best one.
Some printers work better than others with labels. There are good labels and cheap labels. Sharp radius turns in the paper path tend to make some labels peel. Google for best labels and label printers before buying. While you can use most multipurpose printers for labels, Dymo makes label printers that are designed for doing just that. The up side of a dedicated label printer is that you can buy labels in roll feed format and print one at a time or as many as you want.
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For labels, I have a Brother label printer that is awesome. It's black and white thermal. You can get cheaper rolls on ebay. I love it, it's awesome.
If you have other printing needs, I'm a fan of laserjets. Yeah the toner is more expensive in theory but the reality is the cost per page is super cheap compared to inkjets.
If you have other printing needs, I'm a fan of laserjets. Yeah the toner is more expensive in theory but the reality is the cost per page is super cheap compared to inkjets.
I wouldn't touch an ink jet printer again if my life depended on it. Those ink cartridges (which do dry out some, so you never even get to use the full capacity) and iggggg overalll. Putting them in, taking them out, tres expensive. Seems like antiquated technology.
I have several Samsung laserjets and I replace the toner cartridge ONCE A YEAR. Love love love them. I have the monochrome one and you can find for way less than $100.
( have never paid full price for OEM samsung toner cartridge either, always finds new ones on ebay, still sealed, at the thrift store ads on ebay, companies upgrade and give them away to charity, etc. )
But if you only want to make labels I agree w/haunted myst & dave, just get a label maker.
I have several Samsung laserjets and I replace the toner cartridge ONCE A YEAR. Love love love them. I have the monochrome one and you can find for way less than $100.
( have never paid full price for OEM samsung toner cartridge either, always finds new ones on ebay, still sealed, at the thrift store ads on ebay, companies upgrade and give them away to charity, etc. )
But if you only want to make labels I agree w/haunted myst & dave, just get a label maker.
I owned an HP Laserjet III back in the day, and later bought a Brother Laser printer. For home use, laser is expensive unless you fill your own carts. I bought the toner and drums and the drum cleaning blades and rebuilt my own carts. It's not a hard job, but you need dropcloths and a good vacuum cleaner with fine particulate bags or a HEPA filter to clean them up. Periodically, you have to clean the optics and the multifaceted scanner mirror. Accessing those can be a pain the first time. That kind of stuff was not hard for me since I was trained to do that on various types of laser devices in my job.
These days, inket is cheap and easy and can produce good quality. Finding one that works well with thick stocks and specialty papers can be challenging. I've had good luck with Amazon suppliers for reasonably priced inkjet cartridges. Just read the reviews carefully. A straight through paper path is good for thick stock, so a printer that doesn't have a narrow U-turn in the paper path is a plus.
These days, inket is cheap and easy and can produce good quality. Finding one that works well with thick stocks and specialty papers can be challenging. I've had good luck with Amazon suppliers for reasonably priced inkjet cartridges. Just read the reviews carefully. A straight through paper path is good for thick stock, so a printer that doesn't have a narrow U-turn in the paper path is a plus.
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