Would an inkjet printer be suitable for use once every few months?

[Cenarius]

I?ve only ever had access to a laser printer, and now need my own printer for use only a few times a year. Apart from the higher running costs of inkjets, are the cartridges and heads also susceptible to drying out if not used regularly? (Checked out pcguide.com, wouldn?t you know it, nothing on printers.)

 

[Workin']

That's a tough call. I had a Lexmark inkjet that I used every so often, and the cartridges would always dry out before I used them up. I figured out that in the 3 years I used the printer I printed a total of about 150 pages, and used 2 pairs of ink cartridges plus the ones that came with the printer when it was new.

Then I did some math:

Printer including original cartridges = $130
First replacement cartridges = $82 (how rude!)
Second replacement cartridges = $82 (thinks to self, boy, this is getting expensive!)
Total = $294 for 150 pages at most = AT LEAST $1.96/page (holy crap!!!!)

New Samsung ML-1210 laser printer = $199
bonus toner cartridge included in box = $0

Each cartridge good for 3000 pages and they never dry out or get old = $199/6000 pages = $0.03/page

Of course it's not color but it'll probably last for the rest of my life. I eventually did need to get another color printer since I got some contract work that required it - so I got a HP that was on clearance at Office Max for $59. I figure when the ink runs/drys out I will just throw it away and get a new one.

 

[Cenarius]

Nice info. Maybe I should?ve asked how long ink cartridges are good for before drying up. For comparison, my LaserJet 5L?s original toner cartridge took 3 years to deplete.

 

[Workin']

Mine lasted 9-12 months before they dried out.

 

[exp]

<< are the cartridges and heads also susceptible to drying out if not used regularly. >>

It depends on the brand. I've heard HP is fairly good in this department...Epson, OTOH is notoriously bad when it comes to prematurely drying ink cartridges. I can tell you from firsthand experience that for that brand you will need to print at least a page or two per week to avoid clogging.

 

[Cenarius]

Oh yeah, now I remember hearing about print heads clogging. Thanks for the replies; I think a second-hand laser unit would suit my needs better than a cheaper new inkjet.

 

[ojai00]

The question about ink cartridges drying out depends on the printer. I have an HP 694C at home and I printed about 20 or 30 pages and the print cartridge dried out after about a month (probably because the printer was on all the time). My older Epson Stylus Color II has a color ink cartridge that dries out after 1 or 2 months. I don't really use color that much, so that's it doesn't really bother me. However, new inkjet cartidges cost about $25-30, and that's where you lose all your money. Just get a laser...or use your office to print out documents

 

[Gooberslot]

I have a Lexmark Z32 and the cartridges seemed to dry up about every 4-6 months and the black always went first. Probably something to do with that big hole on the top of the cart. After the second set dried up I decided to get a HP932c. I haven't had it long enough to tell if it's going to do the same thing.

 

[Peter]

Toner does degrade over time ... it picks up moisture, and loses its fine powderiness, forming larger,
hard grains. Subsequently, parts of the cartridge or even the printer may take damage. Besides, the
photoelectric drum loses its electrostatic chargeability over time (not in those new technology printers
that have a permanent lasts-a-lifetime drum). As a rule of thumb, you should use up one cartridge
every three months or so to avoid either problem.

What you want is a low end inkjet with disposable print heads - so if the jets dry up, you can take
the head out and let it soak for some time on a wet paper towel, and if that doesn't help use a
new one.

Low-end Canon and most HP printers have that, Epson and most Canons use permanent heads.
Lexmark rule themselves out by the ridiculous cost of cartridges, IMO.

regards, Peter

 

[DaveSimmons]

<< As a rule of thumb, you should use up one cartridge every three months or so to avoid either problem >>

this might be a little over-cautious -- I only replace cartridges on my old HP 4ML about every 1.5 years and it's still humming along after a decade.

 

[Bluzjamer]

Hi,
I had good luck with a Panasonic Laser 4400, toner lasts a long time but print drums are expensive $80+, toner is only $14. I had to retire it..but when I tried my epson photo ex the ink had dried out....had to clean the heads at east 20x to get the carts working again. Ink jets need to be used. Find something to print once a week.

Bluz

 

[fargus]

<< now need my own printer for use only a few times a year. >>



One word.... Kinko's.

Why go through all that crap if you're only printing stuff a few times a year. Let somebody else maintain the printers, just bring them the files you need printed.

 

[wefixitalways]

You are exactly right I just got a HP LaserJet III working and I am thinking about tossing my Epson ink jet out the window, HA HA. A friend of mine at work looks around business for computer parts they throw out that only have minor things wrong. He gave me a HP Laserjet III that worked but needed some new fuser rollers the gears were wore out. He had another LaserJet II which was interchangeable with the III. I took it apart and it works perfect with the replacement parts. Total it cost me 52 dollars at office depot for the the toner cartdrige and he did not charge me for the two printers. According to my LaserJet III I should get anywhere from 2500 to 3500 prints.

 

[fastz28]

<<

<< As a rule of thumb, you should use up one cartridge every three months or so to avoid either problem >>

this might be a little over-cautious -- I only replace cartridges on my old HP 4ML about every 1.5 years and it's still humming along after a decade. >>



Hmmm...my HP LJ IIIP is still on its first toner cartridge, it's about 8 years old. :Q No, I don't print much at home.

 

[Muse]

<<

<< As a rule of thumb, you should use up one cartridge every three months or so to avoid either problem >>

this might be a little over-cautious -- I only replace cartridges on my old HP 4ML about every 1.5 years and it's still humming along after a decade. >>

I've had an HP4M since 1994 or so and am probably on my 4th cartridge. I've never given any thought to the time aspects, but this thread sure has me thinking. An inkjet would never do for me because I don't print regularly. I print sporadically. Lately more than sometimes, maybe an average of every other day. The Energy Star printers came in just after I bought mine, so I keep mine off rather than draw 100 watts continuously. Just turn it on, wait for it to warm up, print and turn it off if I'm done. Never noticed any problem with toner getting old or any hint of it. I did find a good deal (in these forums) on cartridges and have a couple all boxed up on the shelf. Hopefully, they have indefinite shelf life because it could be a number of years before I go through 2 cartridges.