Recommend a color laser printer please!

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
MesquiteMan

MesquiteMan

Retired Head Moderator
Joined
Oct 18, 2005
Messages
5,680
Location
San Marcos, TX, USA.
I just ordered a computer for the shop. I am tired of having to go back in the house to print things and to get on the computer. The iPad has been great for basic stuff by my needs have outgrown its abilities so I just purchased a HP all in one from E-bay. Now I need a shop printer. I definitely need color and am tired of the high cost of printing with inkjets and the fact that the ink will run if it gets wet at all. As a result, I am considering a color laser printer.

I need small, no multi-function thing, and pretty quick. I also am on a limited budget so cost IS a consideration. Thought I would turn to the vast knowledge of my IAP family for a recommendation!

Also, if I am off track with my reasoning for wanting a laser instead of ink-jet, please tell me why!

Thanks!
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
How many copies per month are you going to run?

To make an educated cost analysis this is the most vital piece of information.

If you buy $100 printer, you will pay through the nose for ink. But, if you are only running a dozen copies a week, it doesn't matter.
 
Gosh, that is hard to say, Ed! I am printing order invoices, many different labels, among other things. I would guess 50 sheets per week in total. I use a thermal label printer for shipping labels so I am set there. I was thinking laser especially since it should be close to waterproof with the right material where even with supposedly waterproof inkjet stock, I still get smearing. I currently have an HP 7000 Officejet wide format printer that uses 920XL cartridges. I am having to change at least one of the cartridges each month. My printer has separate cartridges for each color. I change the black every 6 weeks or so and one of the colors each month, or so it seems!

I just took a look at color lasers and I may have to change my mind! They are not cheap!
 
Curtis, when I was looking, I was advised to stay away from color lasers due to expense. Inkjets I was told are more cost effective for color (if you can believe that). Color= Inkjet, Black only= Laser
Have a look at the Kodak range of inkjets, they advertise the lowest cost per print BUT the printer's initial cost is more expensive than HP, Epson & Co.
The reason is that Kodak are not sucking you in to a 'super cheap' printer only to gouge you for its lifespan with expensive ink. You pay a more realistic price for a Kodak printer but ink is much cheaper than their competitors. (still expensive for what it is though!)
Have you also considered getting your ink cartridges refilled?
 
Don't take this personally, I say it to all my customers:
"Garbage in, Garbage out!"

To make an analysis, determine what you will print in color and how many pages. We print hundreds of sheets of instructions each month--they are in beautiful black and white because I don't want to pay for color. Of course this is part of "overhead" that no one ever recognizes, but you will find it can become substantial.

Another good reason to try to make your communications into half sheets or post cards--that cuts printing cost in half or a quarter. (Well, actually the postcard stock nearly negates the ink cost, but you probably are not interested in that level of penny pinching)

I happen to have an article from an "industry rag" on my desk. It shows the cost per copy from 2 HP models, a Lexmark, Epson, Brother and Canon----using regular ink and high-yield.

Black goes from 1.6 cents to 10.6 PER COPY
Color from 7.2 cents to 27 cents PER COPY

So, as you can quickly calculate, your cost for 100 black goes from 1.60 to 10.60
Meanwhile color (per 100) goes from 7.20 to 27.00

MANY people come to realize they are printing hundreds per month.
At 500 copies you can exceed $100 a month in INK!! An ounce of planning can help your wallet stay fatter.
 
 
I have this one and despite the negative reviews I really like it: Amazon.com: Samsung Color Laser Printer (CLP-325W): Electronics

If I was buying now however I would buy the newer version: Amazon.com: Samsung Electronics CLP-365W Wireless Color Printer: Electronics

My one complaint is the wireless. I had difficulties connecting and printing wirelessly from my computer, it worked great from my wife's. I mentioned this to my brother who owns a computer customer support company and he said that is a common problem with wireless printers. I plugged it into my network LAN cable and it has never given me a problem since. It also works perfect when I have plugged it into a USB cable and used it that way. Overall I am very happy with the printer and definitely recommend it if you are looking for an inexpensive color laser printer.
 
Be very careful refilling your own color toner cartridges! Toner if a very very fine powder and gets everywhere, much worse than anything we create from wood. And even the slightest bit of cross contamination will ruin your colors. I used to be part of a family business where we built recycled toner cartridges and repaired office machines and we had a seperate room for each color of toner. When we did our weekly top to bottom cleaning of the building, there was toner even in the window sills in the front office and customer area.
 
I have the HP 2840 multifunction and LOVE IT! We have it connected directly to our network rather than hooked to a computer. The drum and toner cartridges are a little expensive, but they last us MORE THAN A YEAR in two high volume businesses that use this machine as a scanner, copier, fax machine and printer.

Additionally, it has 3 paper bays, two to choose between and a manual feeder. It is really simple to change to a different paper from another room or another building, just by telling the computer to print from tray 1, tray 2, etc.

Another nice machine is the Konica/ Minolta Bizhub C364. BUT, the price for these start at $5k. But here, there are some great lease options on these.
 
You can still buy the HP 2840 new for around $600, or HP refurb for about $400. It is still the best and most reliable high volume business printer hubs that we have found for under $1K.

It made sense for our businesses. We do lots of copying and a good bit of color printing. We were at a point that the "disposable" printers were costing us a fortune, but not quite busy enough to go to one of the true business hubs like the Konica/Minolta, Etc.

We figure, realistically, that the color copies on bond paper cost us 10-12 cents each. That's pretty good for a small business, AND LESS THAN HALF WHAT THE INK JETS WERE COSTING US.

We got rid of all the "ink monsters" and put this machine in a central location to replace all of the ink and (believe it or not) energy hog, ink jets. It was a VERY GOOD decision for us, your circumstances may be different.
 
Last edited:
After being in the printing business for almost 40 years I would stick with HP or Brother.I would also recommend talking to ed for copies because thats his Business.
 
I have the HP Color LaserJet CP1215 and I love it. Picked it up at Staples for less than $100 and haven't looked back, I'll never buy another inkjet as long as I live. This thing can sit for months and when you fire it up it prints flawlessly, try that with an inkjet!
 
I would go with Ed's recommendation. It the printer is used in the shop and there is no telephone line, I would go with a simple black toner printer. I would recommend you go wireless though.
 
I NEED color and can not do monochrome. Too much stuff that I print needs to be in color. Even better yet, it needs to be smudge resistant color, thus the desire for a laser. Yeah, I know, you can get special paper that is supposedly smudge resistant and even waterproof but, in my experience, they just don't work as I want them to. I need to be able to print color labels for bottles as well as color stickers for some of my products. I know I could just print the bottle labels with inkjet and if they smudge a little, no one would probably complain but I am too picky to allow something to leave my shop unless it is as perfect as I possibly can make it. Smudges are NOT an option!
 
airborne_r6 said:
My one complaint is the wireless. I had difficulties connecting and printing wirelessly from my computer, it worked great from my wife's. I mentioned this to my brother who owns a computer customer support company and he said that is a common problem with wireless printers.
Click to expand...

Wayne; But did he tell you either how to fix it or what was happening?

This is the plain English version. Every device connected to a wireless network has a MAC (hardware programmed) address. To communicate on the network either wired or wireless, the device also needs an IP (internet address). Your router will assign an IP address to each device when it connects to the network. The assignment is dynamic and given only for a specific period of time. If the device is not connected / off-line and the time expires, the assigned address is reused. The next time the printer is turned on, the router may assign a DIFFERENT IP ADDRESS to the printer. Your PC machine knows the printer is at a particular IP address. If the router has assigned a different IP address to the printer, your PC machine will not be able to connect to the printer.

The solution is to program your router to give the printer a "Static Route" this fixes the IP address of the printer. Another possible solution is never turn off the printer. More recent printers have an option in the software that says "Find Printer" or "Update IP Address". This will fix the address mismatch but only temporarily.
 
Curtis,
I too was frustrated with ink jets,cost of ink, dried,clogged, etc.
I also wanted to make decals for pens so purchased a Brother HL-3070cw ,color laser with wireless.Does a great job printing,wirelessly prints from my Android based tablet or phone.
Refurbished from Staples $149 (after rebate) and then got $50 to trade in my old inkjet.
I have not bought toner yet so I cannot comment but will buy refilled /off brand for my first fill up.
 
If you decide to go with an inkjet you might consider the Canon MX series. We bought the MX870 a few years ago and have been very happy with it. We had an HP before that and got tired of paying for the expensive HP brand cartridges (the after market ones did not work consistantly), and trying to clean the heads after not using it for 2 weeks.

Before we bought, we researched the cost and reliability of the aftermarket ink cartridges and was surprised to find that folks found them to work, and that we could buy them very cheap on amazon.com. Take a look for yourself.

I decided to test for smudging since you mentioned it. I wet a plain paper printed sheet and rubbed it with my finger. It only appeared to smudge once I began to ware away the paper.
 
MesquiteMan said:
Gosh, that is hard to say, Ed! I am printing order invoices, many different labels, among other things. I would guess 50 sheets per week in total. I use a thermal label printer for shipping labels so I am set there. I was thinking laser especially since it should be close to waterproof with the right material where even with supposedly waterproof inkjet stock, I still get smearing. I currently have an HP 7000 Officejet wide format printer that uses 920XL cartridges. I am having to change at least one of the cartridges each month. My printer has separate cartridges for each color. I change the black every 6 weeks or so and one of the colors each month, or so it seems!

I just took a look at color lasers and I may have to change my mind! They are not cheap!
Click to expand...
Curtis you are not printing enough copies for it to have a big impact on your bottom line - I print about the same amount as you do and have a <$150 canon ink jet I've been using for close to 3 years now and it does fine. The ink is a bit costly but it would have taken me about 4 - 5 years worth of ink to make up the difference in cost of a laser and the ink jet.
 
Ed I would look on Cnet.com And PCMag.com to read their reviews on personal color laser printers and buy one of their editor's choice printers.
Several years ago we needed one for work and they reccomended one of the OKI printers and that thing ran for at least 5 years printing at least 150 pages per week with no issues. It is still in use by the people that bought the company.
 
MesquiteMan said:
Gosh, that is hard to say, Ed! I am printing order invoices, many different labels, among other things. I would guess 50 sheets per week in total. I use a thermal label printer for shipping labels so I am set there. I was thinking laser especially since it should be close to waterproof with the right material where even with supposedly waterproof inkjet stock, I still get smearing. I currently have an HP 7000 Officejet wide format printer that uses 920XL cartridges. I am having to change at least one of the cartridges each month. My printer has separate cartridges for each color. I change the black every 6 weeks or so and one of the colors each month, or so it seems!

I just took a look at color lasers and I may have to change my mind! They are not cheap!
Click to expand...
That is only about $15.00 or so per month - is that a budget buster?? When I had a laser printer the toner cartridges cost about as much per year as I spend on ink now and that was strictly black and white. If I let them dry a couple of minutes before I handle them I don't get any smudging.
 
Maybe I just needed to find out where Smitty buys $15 cartridges. I was having to change a color and a B/W inner cartridge once per month, too. But at a tune of $45 per month plus sales tax.

At one point, we were just buying new ink jet printers because it was less to buy a new printer (on sale) than to replace the ink. We tried the "generic" cartridges.... That was a big mistake, too!
 
I ordered a Brother color laser yesterday. As I said, I need color and need something that is smudge proof. Some have stated they don't get any smudges. However, I do, even if I let it dry overnight. Then again, I am printing bottle labels on water resistant paper made for inkjets and reducing the ink output level to as low as it will go. I still get some smudging. Sure, it may be a tiny little bit that would not bother most people but I am a little picky about how I do things and ANY amount of smudging or blurring is not acceptable for me. I am using the right material for what I am doing and using nothing but original HP inks. Thought I would try something different for a change! I already own 3 inkjet printers and the new one was cheap enough that it was worth trying!
 
Curtis, I hope you will let us know how it works out for you.

I wonder if there is a sealer you could spray over labels that would help with the smudging? Of course that would be another added step and expense. :frown:
 
PenMan1 said:
Maybe I just needed to find out where Smitty buys $15 cartridges. I was having to change a color and a B/W inner cartridge once per month, too. But at a tune of $45 per month plus sales tax.

At one point, we were just buying new ink jet printers because it was less to buy a new printer (on sale) than to replace the ink. We tried the "generic" cartridges.... That was a big mistake, too!
Click to expand...
First on line site I looked at had 920XL color (blue, Yellow or Magenta) cartridges for $14.99. - black was $31.99 but had three times as much ink.

I Pay more than that for the one I use in my Canon but it is tri-color and lasts a long time because I print mostly black and white.
 
Lenny said:
Curtis, I hope you will let us know how it works out for you.

I wonder if there is a sealer you could spray over labels that would help with the smudging? Of course that would be another added step and expense. :frown:
Click to expand...

Been there and tried that, Lenny! It actually made the lettering run. Of course I only tried lacquer. Besides it does indeed add too much time and expense. I think the laser is going to work just fine though, since it is fused on instead of sprayed on. Thanks for the suggestion nonetheless!
 
Smitty37 said:
First on line site I looked at had 920XL color (blue, Yellow or Magenta) cartridges for $14.99. - black was $31.99 but had three times as much ink.

I Pay more than that for the one I use in my Canon but it is tri-color and lasts a long time because I print mostly black and white.
Click to expand...

Yep, that is about what I pay. Actually, I get the 4 pack from Amazon for $70 shipped. The black is rated at 700 pages but I seriously doubt I get that much. I run them until they won't print rather than going by the idiot lights on the printer. Even if I did get that rate, that is still $.10 per page. I did a spreadsheet on various laser printers and my inkjet. Using the stated yield, the laser I just bought comes out at $.04 per page.

I go through about a ream of paper per month I would say. So, the difference is not much as you say and certainly will not hurt the bank. It is about a $30 per month difference. Again, my motives for going laser is not only about cost but also about having a more durable print job for wet environments. I needed to buy a printer for the shop anyway and already have 3 inkjets so why not try laser?! If I don't like it for some reason, I will give it to my wife and take hers! Besides, I only paid $161 shipped for the new printer which is not much more than I would have paid for an inkjet and the print speeds on the laser are much higher.
 
Oh yeah, based on the reviews, the one I bought is supposed to have one of the easiest toner cartridges to refill. I got the one recommended by Allinc100 above. the Brother HL-3070cw factory refurbished for $161 shipped.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom