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Post by streetscrapper on Jan 9, 2016 13:41:18 GMT
I have been debating for the past couple of months about whether or not to buy a laser printer. I've got two inkjet printers now - a wide format Epson and an HP that I have kept simply because for some reason my Epson won't print on vellum, and believe it or not I actually print on vellum more often that you would think! My reason for wanting a laser printer - foiling! I am so in love with this technique I'm almost embarrassed! I foil everything! BUT... without a laser printer at home I have been printing things at work and this means that I have to "wait" and "be patient"... and from what I can tell, most crafters aren't patient and definitely cannot wait - and that describes me to a tee. Laser printers aren't expensive and for that reason I have come so close to buying one that it's impossible to imagine that I don't have one right now! So what's stopping me? Two things ... space. Where would I put a 3rd printer?? But the main factor: the cost of replacement toner cartridges! In some cases the toner costs more than the printer!!! So for now I continue to plan what needs to be foiled, print at work and dream of one day owning a laser printer... So if you have a laser printer, do you think it is a "must have" and where do you find your toner cartridges for a reasonable price (and keep in mind that I live in Canada and the cost of everything here is almost double what it is in the US... not to mention our continuously falling loonie!). If I really will only be using it for foiling, is it an investment that I should be considering?
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ibetsey1
Shy Member
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Post by ibetsey1 on Jan 9, 2016 14:01:14 GMT
FWIW, I have had a laser printer for a long time because I used it for a business I used to run. It was relatively inexpensive. It's a brother scanner, fax, refrigerator lol, everything- you get the idea. I shopped around a lot for toner and found some really affordable non-OEM options. Plus, I used ebates to buy the replacement toner (check that out if you haven't and you buy online!). I think it's a worthwhile investment, I'm glad I kept mine. While it only prints black and white, it's cheap to print so I use it to print out weekly grocery lists, tax documents, "official" correspondence, anything that is just plain B&W. The toner cartridges will last you forever! Also, it doesn't swing side to side like an inkjet so you can put it on a cheapo printer stand, ikea has one for like $20 and get some storage with it. Plus, it scans pretty fast for other stuff that needs to be done. Do it, I say!
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Post by paperpilekitten on Jan 9, 2016 19:28:52 GMT
While it only prints black and white, it's cheap to print so I use it to print out weekly grocery lists, tax documents, "official" correspondence, anything that is just plain B&W. And now all I want to do is to gold foil my income tax forms!!!  I wonder what the tax authorities would say when they saw it. I used to have a laser printer but I no longer have one. Been thinking about getting one just because of the foiling possibilities. |
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Post by streetscrapper on Jan 9, 2016 22:31:57 GMT
Thanks ibetsey1! Black and white is all I want - my other two printers do the rest. And I was thinking about using it for everyday printing. I generally print black and white for the same stuff you do now anyway so that does make sense. And I was thinking about a cheap rolling stand that I can store under my desk - the only place with a little bit of space - so I can pull it out as needed! So I think you've convinced me that I should stop debating and go buy one! (Not that I needed a whole lot of convincing!! LOL)
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Post by LisaDV on Jan 10, 2016 0:23:30 GMT
While it only prints black and white, it's cheap to print so I use it to print out weekly grocery lists, tax documents, "official" correspondence, anything that is just plain B&W. And now all I want to do is to gold foil my income tax forms!!! I wonder what the tax authorities would say when they saw it. I used to have a laser printer but I no longer have one. Been thinking about getting one just because of the foiling possibilities. We'll start a campaign to get everyone to foil their tax forms! |
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Post by paperpilekitten on Jan 10, 2016 10:52:00 GMT
And now all I want to do is to gold foil my income tax forms!!! I wonder what the tax authorities would say when they saw it. I used to have a laser printer but I no longer have one. Been thinking about getting one just because of the foiling possibilities. We'll start a campaign to get everyone to foil their tax forms! I have to do it! Yes, I am gold foiling my grocery list today! I will feel so special looking at the list at the grocery store. Wonder if I can discreetly wave it so my fellow shoppers can notice?  |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jan 10, 2016 15:01:43 GMT
Heidi Swapp is coming out with paint, mist, and marker (YAY!) that put down toner that you can foil. Saw a demo on periscope from CHA.
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Post by gale w on Jan 10, 2016 20:03:50 GMT
I bought a laser printer for foiling (Canon $50 model at Staples-it works great so far). But I found that I also like it for address labels. The labels are waterproof when I use the laser printer.
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Post by janet100 on Jan 11, 2016 1:17:39 GMT
I bought a cheap Canon laser/scanner/fax/copy just for foiling. The toner lasts so long that it's still cheaper to use the laser printer with the $90 toner than to buy inks for my inkjets.
I wanted one that scanned in - although I can scan with the inkjet so it's not critical. I wanted the copy function because I can copy an image or die on to heavy card stock - or even copy a 3x3 or 4x4 black square and then run to the laminator with it. Copying a Spellbinder die, foiling the outlines of the die, then cutting it with that die creates a pretty foiled edge on the die cut.
And I bought the $30 laminator at the same time. Works great. Love foiling.
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Post by caspad on Jan 12, 2016 16:31:57 GMT
My DH bought a cheap Brother laser printer from Staples last year. It was about $50-ish on sale.
It's our main printer for printing regular stuff so it lives in the living room in the entertainment center. My Selphy is there too. I love that it is wireless.
We had a different laser printer before that and never had to change the toner cartridge in ten years.
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Post by acd on Jan 12, 2016 16:46:15 GMT
While it only prints black and white, it's cheap to print so I use it to print out weekly grocery lists, tax documents, "official" correspondence, anything that is just plain B&W. And now all I want to do is to gold foil my income tax forms!!! I wonder what the tax authorities would say when they saw it. I used to have a laser printer but I no longer have one. Been thinking about getting one just because of the foiling possibilities. Bwahahahahaha!!!  I get it! Last night I foiled a Good Morning note for my daughter!  I'm one of those crazy people who bought the laser printer just for the minc.  |
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pancakes
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,993
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Post by pancakes on Jan 12, 2016 22:12:37 GMT
Regarding the toner: I have a b&w laser printer for personal purposes (I used it a lot in college) that has lasted forever. My toner cartridge lasted for years...I swear. You don't have to change it as frequently as inkjet printer ink, so the cost isn't comparable.
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 6,969
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Jan 13, 2016 1:22:28 GMT
I bought a cheap Canon laser/scanner/fax/copy just for foiling. The toner lasts so long that it's still cheaper to use the laser printer with the $90 toner than to buy inks for my inkjets. I wanted one that scanned in - although I can scan with the inkjet so it's not critical. I wanted the copy function because I can copy an image or die on to heavy card stock - or even copy a 3x3 or 4x4 black square and then run to the laminator with it. Copying a Spellbinder die, foiling the outlines of the die, then cutting it with that die creates a pretty foiled edge on the die cut. And I bought the $30 laminator at the same time. Works great. Love foiling. Shhhhh.....someone is going to see this, color the scanner pink and start selling it as a scrapbooking tool at an increased price of $100 more! |
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Post by janet100 on Jan 13, 2016 5:03:22 GMT
Shhhhh.....someone is going to see this, color the scanner pink and start selling it as a scrapbooking tool at an increased price of $100 more! OMG, if that isn't the truth. It blows my mind what people are paying for the Minc machine when a cheap laminator will do the same thing. |
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Post by streetscrapper on Jan 13, 2016 12:43:38 GMT
So now that I have decided to take the plunge and buy a "cheap" laser printer, I can't decide on which one to buy! From what I can see, the cheap ones don't have wifi connection and this is an absolute MUST. What laser printer do you use that has wifi?
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Post by gale w on Jan 13, 2016 14:48:47 GMT
My canon is wireless. I think it's a 6030.. or a 3060. I got it from Staples and at the time it was $50 on sale.
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Post by fuji on Jan 13, 2016 15:06:05 GMT
Those of you who have laser printers and are foiling:
Are you running card stock through the printer and then foiling? I have done some lighter card stock but feel limited to white paper, which doesn't always match my layouts. I want to try a heavier card stock but don't want to damage DH's work printer.
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Post by gale w on Jan 13, 2016 15:15:12 GMT
I've put neenah 80lb through mine with no problem. I might try some SU cardstock (a light color).
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Post by caspad on Jan 13, 2016 15:57:52 GMT
I'm pretty sure we have the Brother L2360DW bit.ly/1JKBughI do run cardstock through it - PaperTrey Stampers White and Neenhah 80 lb. |
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Post by janet100 on Jan 14, 2016 4:07:25 GMT
I would go to your local electronic store and take a piece of heavy card stock with you. Ask them to run the heavy card stock through the printer so you can see if the printer will process your CS. Mine will do around 65lbs, and some times I can get 80 lb through, but it curves it really bad. Most of the time it jams.
Jennifer McG did a video about this very thing, and she had a laser printer that ran the card stock from front to back. My printer pulls it from the front then curves it around a roller and pushes it back out the front. Getting a printer that can print on card stock without having to roll it will enable you to use heavier paper. If I got a 'do over' on this issue, I would have shopped my local stores and seen what printer Jennifer McG used.
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