Teach Soap

So I'm getting a new printer for Christmas and I'm trying to decide what to get. My current printer is an Epson Artisan 50 Inkjet and my biggest problem is when printing out my labels I get lines through them cause my printer is lame. Any suggestions on what to get? I'm trying to keep under $200 but I am a big ebay shopper and don't mind buying used or refurbished. Thanks!

If you like Epson, they have an online store with refurbished products. Those still carry the normal warranty. I've bought a couple of printers and a scanner that way.

I don't care what brand it is. I'm just looking for one that no one has really had problems with. My biggest thing like I said is that I always get lines going through my labels.

I have had good luck with HP Deskjet1050. I also have a Konica Minolta laser printer.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Irena - I was actually looking at a few Konica Minolta's on eBay today. My husband is a total computer nerd and suggested I try a laser printer. Do you mind me asking what model yours is?

I'm in the market for a nice colour laser printer for the "business". Less runny and/or smudgy ink for us!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Laser printers are fairly inexpensive, even color ones. HOWEVER... the toner cartridges are NOT. So if you are looking at a laser printer, be sure to find out about toner cost before making your decision.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

That's what my husband said. Even though the toner is more expensive than inkjet the toner lasts a lot longer!

After several years I decided to make the jump from laser to solid ink. The price has come down on Xerox solid ink printers lately and the wax cubes last a very long time. Over all, most cost efective and the labels don't smear or run when wet hands handle (I sell in hair salons also). Mine has been in use for about three months now and my cube indicator still says 100%. If it was my laserjet I would have already replaced cartridges, and solid ink doesn't use a cartrigde so no recycling to deal with.

I bought a HP LaserJet CP1525nw color printer. I've had it about 9 months now and zero problems. It prints on clear self-adhesive vinyl of all types (I can set the fuser temperature) and I've also printed on really thick rough 'handmade' craft papers. The labels are very durable, waterproof, and exactly the same as labels from a commercial printer. The speed (12ppm) makes printing reports, spreadsheets, etc. a snap. At $250 it's one of the best buys I made last year. The thing is even wireless so anyone in the house can send it a print job, or even by email (it has an email address too).

By the way, if you are looking at much more than 100 labels, take a look at both local and Chinese printers. A local printer runs off labels for me in 100-off batches, for the same price I can print them myself. The quality is identical. I prefer to do that because it's less wear & tear on my printer.
At around 500 - 1000 up, roll labels become the best option. You get the labels on a convenient roll, even die-cut if it's an unusual shape. Even after paying carriage, Chinese printing companies offer terrific pricing on this. I'm not at this stage myself yet, but I hope to be, one day.

I'm fortunate in that a personal friend bought into (is a business partner) of an excellent commercial printer nearby. They have design staff; and after looking at one of our designs (it was not very good), over a drink one night, he said, "Look, I have designers just sitting around doing nothing, why not let me fix this up?" - if you need design work and can find a sympathetic printer, you might get the design for free if you print with them. Another good option is your local universities, get in touch with the Profs in charge of design, see if you might get yours done as a project. (My daughter did the company design portfolio as a project, she is just finishing her degree in digital design. The students had to make a portfolio for an imaginary company; except hers was real.)

One of my friends on Etsy uses a Dell color laser. I love the way her lip balm labels look using the color laser printer.

I'm investigating printers myself. Not sure if I want to go with a pigment based inkjet system or the color laser. Decision decisions.