Laser Printer Toner...

[Aragorn]

Have noticed for a while that some things I print and send in the mail don't look too good when I get them back. The toner seems to fade or wear off. I use a Laser Printer (Brother) and factory toner. I have noticed cheap copy paper retains the toner better than heavy custom letterhead but I can't use cheap paper for some things.

Any fixes out there?

Would like to keep my printer because it has been reliable but would like better toner adhesion. TIA.

[chuckr]

I service printers and it sounds like you have a fusing issue. Fuser not getting to the proper temp. Not familiar with Brother printers so not sure whats involved to fix.Most HP's are pretty easy to repair the fuser. Depending on the age... I'd suggest new printer

[Aragorn]

Thanks for the info. The printer is about four years old and has been dead stock reliable. It just seems that the toner just isn't making good permanent contact with the paper. It seems the heavier the paper stock, the more the ink doesn't stick to the paper that well.

Is there another brand of office printer out there that does a better job of attaching the toner to the paper permanently? I like to have correspondence that appears professional quality and smeared ink just doesn't look professional in my opinion.

[chuckr]

HP is by far the most popular office printer. The problem your are having is strictly related to the fuser...the heater that melts the toner to the paper. it's a lamp,it wears out. I'm quessing you 'd be looking at about $150.00 to fix. I work on much bigger printers and I'm 285 an hour + parts
so the 150 for your printer is just a guess. Checking amazon, seems you can get a really good HP printer for 200-250, some less, some more depends on your specific needs.
Good luck with this !

[Aragorn]

I think I paid around $50 to $75 for the printer on sale new at Staples. A two pack of Brother toner is around $125.

Seems like the fuser is around $140 new. That just doesn't add up. How can they sell the printer new with a fuser installed for $75 and then sell just the fuser for $140?:

Probably will look into a new HP. I usually run a 200 to 350 page a month duty cycle through the current printer. May keep the Brother around for personal use or sell it cheap on craigslist.

Thanks for the help chuckr.

[dennis in se pa]

They might as well give the printers away for what they charge for toners. I have a Brother that works well. I think it is a 2140. I never buy factory toners. Way overpriced.

[Aragorn]

Don't consider this to be a PEBKAC or RTFM error but I seem to have fixed my toner problem. Thanks to chuckr for suggesting fuser problems. I checked on-line and found a good article on different grades of paper: copier, bond, transparencies, etc. Xerox had a good article on setting their copier up for different types of paper. Bond paper is slightly thicker with some surface imperfections and requires a different setting to adhere the toner to the paper and fill the voids. Checked the settings on my printer and this is what I saw:



Why the printer settings are in Swedish I have no idea. That is probably a PEBKAC error.

Translated the settings into English and set it for thicker paper (Tjockare papper) and now the toner doesn't rub off...