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CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

lumafield.com

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Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#121

I don't own a printer for this very reason. As of late though I've had to question if this is viable anymore - UPS price gouged me for 2 A4 sheets of black/white paper prints for $6.40.

The horror stories are a bit overblown. I've had good luck with a regular old inkjet printer. Been using a Brother inkjet for years. It was $50 brand new (!!!), prints beautiful photos (use glossy paper), has a built-in scanner and photocopier, and even prints double sided. The last time I bought generic ink it cost me $22 for 3 full sets of cartridges. Aside from having a wonky UI it works flawlessly.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#122

I don't own a printer for this very reason. As of late though I've had to question if this is viable anymore - UPS price gouged me for 2 A4 sheets of black/white paper prints for $6.40.

I got few prints from UPS, black & white long ago. Now I use staples, color one side letter prints are 70 cents or something, black white around 14 cents. Assuming your files are as pdf, on a fat32 usb.

appreciate the tip.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#123

Same with ink cartridges from all inkjet manufacturers. It's a massive case of fraud and environmental crime in one.

It's not different from what a well-known company does with their devices by installing low-grade batteries with leaking capacity. Intentionally, planned obsolescence.

Name names, please?

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#125
post #99

I can't stand forced product refills from the OEM. I refilled my Sodastream maybe a half dozen times before buying a 5lb tank, an adapter hose off Ebay. It paid for itself in 2 refills of the 5lb tank at a nearby homebrew store.

It's a very old business model. Often cited in introductory businesss classes as the "Kodak model" (give away the camera, sell the film) or the "Gillette model" (give away the handle, sell the blades).

Generically you use the initial equipment purchase as a loss leader and then profit by marking up the required supplies.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#126
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those filters (usually coconut shell carbon) can start having bacterial biofilm grow on them over time, and generally get saturated with gunk, that’s why you’re meant to change them frequently. I guess when they do depends on a lot of factors and the recommendation is an average length - ideally would have some better sensors on when to change them but gets more costly

And yet water filters for use when camping last WAY longer and don't cost that much more. A simple Katydid BeFree lasts 1000L. I'm betting the Brita indicator came on WAY before that.

[deleted]

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#127
post #41

If you have a Samsung laserprinter with number pad and empty toner / imaging unit try menu # 1904 menu and reset the counter, then happily print thousands of pages more

I bought a Samsung printer a few years ago. A couple of months later, I discovered that Samsung's printer arm had been acquired by Hewlett-Packard - the company I least wanted to buy a printer from. My printer has no number pad. It has a horrible menu system you navigate with arrow-keys. The cartridge it came with was tiny - it lasted for less than a ream. But the replacement I bought is still going strong (I don't p…

My laser Samsung from 2013 has a just small display and simple function buttons. But I never got an original cartridge - the replacement I can get online are far cheaper and cost me about 8.50 EUR without the delivery cost.

The printer works but paper feeder rollers seem to struggle now. I'm afraid that once it gets broken beyond any repair I'll have to get new which will chain me to official supplies.

ghacks.net [1] has published a news about Epson ending the laser printers production while focusing more on inkjet segment from now on, which as they claim are more eco than laser ones. One of the users in the comments says HP already region-locks their cartridges

[1] - https://www.ghacks.net/2022/11/29/epson-announces-end-of-las...

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#128
post #79
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In any situation where you can see toner you want to be wearing an N95 mask. Inhale any of it and it is in your lungs forever. The best thing for cleanup is a 3M electronics vacuum which has a filter that will trap that stuff securely.

This makes these refill kits sound really dangerous.

There isn't yet enough research on health hazards of toner to really give a good answer here... Black toner for example is mostly polyester plastic and carbon dust. Neither of those are particularly toxic, although they are in a much finer powder than you'd normally encounter them.

Basically I'd still steer clear of them, but exposing yourself to them isn't a certain death sentence like say organic mercury.

Re: CT scan shows there's still lots of toner left in an “empty” cartridge

#129

Somewhat related, I recently bought a Brita water filter jug which has a little led on the lid which glows red when the disposable filter cartridge has “expired” and needs replacing. Before I even started to use the thing I knew what to expect. Sure enough it starts to glow red after a ridiculously short period of time of using a brand new filter cartridge. I’ve been ignoring it for a few weeks now and checking for a…

So Brita filters are just activated Carbon that improve the taste and filter some of the worst pollutants but nothing else.

One way to test is using a TDS meter to see if over time the amount of dissolved solids increase. This is not a bulletproof test but it may give some indication of when the filter is saturated. Again, the Brite/PUR filters do not do much to begin with.

This video shows how the Brita filters perform compared to others. THey use a TDS meter. I do want to also point out that TDS is not the only metric for how good water is filtered but thats another conversation.

[1]:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0ioX6GSz0

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