C-Fax 1070 Listener Questions – Anounce Printer Works

C-Fax 1070 Listener questions, We will try and answer these, and any other questions please contact us at info@anounce.com or 250-474-1901.

C-Fax Listener Questions for Tim and Noreen: ANOUNCE PRINTER WORKS – 250-474-1901

You asked

Andy: My Epson MX-410 printer has started jamming if there is more than one sheet of paper in the tray.  I have used a can of compressed air to blow out the paper dust and used a flashlight to make no bits of paper are loose in there.  Any suggestions on what to do?  It’s otherwise a great printer.

Hi Andy, take a cloth with some water and just clean the pickup roller/there is also a pad under the roller that may have some paper dust on it/clean that as well. If that doesn’t work call us at Anounce Printer Works, and for a small fee we hopefully can get you up and running quickly. Our number is 250-474-1901

Jason: Is there any disadvantage to using multipurpose paper in an HP inkjet printer?  One of my friends says it sucks up more ink. Is that true?

Hi Jason, we find that most 20lb bond paper is fine in any inkjet printer

Sharon: Is there anywhere here in Victoria where I can get laser cartridges refilled?  My son thinks we should dump the overflow black toner from the overflow cartridge back into the main cartridge.  Will that work?

Hi Sharon, Short answer please don’t put the “overflow” back into your cartridge/Purchase compatibles/call us at 250-474-1901 and we will set you up with one

Toner is carcinogenic so unless you have a toner vacuum and proper masks it just isn’t worth it  

Ray: Is there any photo-paper that I can use to print and frame touched-up old photos of my parents that won’t fade over the years?    Ours have faded so I want to print new ones for us and for our daughter who is moving out on her own.

Hi Ray, It isn’t so much the paper as it is the ink/London Drugs does touch-ups to photographs as well. Call us for a suggestion of machines that have ‘long lasting’ ink

Shelley: A thick staple has become stuck inside my $400 Brother colour laser-printer, and it’s creasing the paper when it prints.  Can I turn it upside down and shake it to see if it will come out?  If not, what would it cost me to get it fixed, and who can do that without wrecking my printer?

Hi Shelley, Are you sure the staple is still in there? And no don’t turn the machine upside down or you will have a mess of toner all thru the machine (even if you take the cartridges out) The staple could have scored the pressure roller or fuser. We work on all models of laser printers so feel free to call us with more information 250-474-1901

Larry: How important is it for me to use Canon-brand photo-paper to print pictures on my Canon MG8120 printer?  I have a package of 50 sheets of HP 5×7 Glossy photo-paper.  Also, what about using Staples photo-paper?  Will I be able to tell the difference?

Hi Larry: Yes all paper will work, but we always recommend that you use the brand for your printer because the ink is formulated for the paper. Staples brand paper is ok but you will feel the difference as it is not as ‘thick’ and we have in the past done tests with various papers and Staples was one type we used. So call us at Anounce Printer Works at 250-474-1901 and we can explain in more detail

Mavis: I heard you talking some months ago about the Epson printers that come with two years of ink in the box, and that’s’ very attractive.  But I work in an office where I have to print 35 copies of 11×17 sales sheets once a month. Is there a model that can handle that size, or does any other printer brand make printers that come with that much ink?   (A: Epson WorkForce ET‑16500 prints up to 12×18: $1100 CAD)

Hello Mavis, this is the machine we would recommend, if you would like to discuss other options please call us at Anounce Printer Works 250-474-1901

Martin: Is it true that using refilled ink cartridges will slowly gum up a printer?  I have several long book manuscripts I’m going to want to print off and I would like to save some money on ink if I can. have an HP printer that I bought last year.  If it gets gummed up will my extended warranty cover fix it?

Hi Martin, I don’t have enough information (the type of machine you are using, do you require colour, etc) but it is important to have the right machine for the job. We recommend compatible cartridges to save money as refills are at the mercy of your refillers supplier if they have the ‘wrong ink’ then your cartridge gets the ‘wrong ink’. Call us as we likely have an inexpensive monochrome used laser printer for sale. Anounce Printer Works 250-474-1901

To answer your question regarding warranty I have an article on this under FAQ but the short answer is no it won’t void your warranty

Arleen: I’m not sure if you can answer this, but I’m curious about the quality of photos printed at Costco and Wal-Mart compared to ones at London Drugs.  If they get sprayed a bit with water from a plant mister, will that ruin them?  Also, is there any quality loss if I upload them from my home computer, instead of bringing them in on a USB stick?

Hi Arleen, Short answer, yes there will be a difference, because London Drugs inspects and adjusts the colour, so call them and no it doesn’t make any difference whether you upload from a computer or use a USB stick

Shaun: Years ago, I worked at a company that had a printer that could spit out banners for birthday parties and retirements.  Are there any printers that can still do that, and if so, where would I get banner paper?

Hi Shaun, well that took us back a few years, to the HP that had “Banner Paper” and “Banner Software” No what you need now is a printer that will take a roll of paper. An Epson and HP quickly come to mind. Call us at Anounce Printer Works as we do sell the small plotters and are able to do banners on the machines we have in house.

 

Thank you for listening and reading it was a pleasure to talk to you all. We learned lots today and hope you out there in listening land did too. Thank you, Alan, for inviting us to be a part of the Canada Day show and for London Drugs at Quadra Street for hosting us. HAPPY CANADA DAY EVERYONE!

 

 

we will try and answer the questions from April 23, 2016

  • Erin:  I’ve heard that using refilled ink cartridges in my Epson printer will clog the heads. Is that true, or is that an urban myth?

Yes, and No. and I know that doesn’t make any sense. All ink is proprietary to printers, so it is important to have the correct ink in the cartridges. We suggest using a reputable compatible cartridge to cut down on costs. That being said if you are a photographer and sell prints we suggest using OEM for consistent quality.

  • Randy:  after how many copies per month does it make more financial sense to get a laser printer instead of an inkjet printer?  About two-thirds of our copies are black-and-white.

To answer this question honestly, I would need more information. Like what kind of inkjet printer you have, and how many pages do you print per week/month/year. But generally speaking, a monochrome laser printer is cheaper to print. If you are looking for color laser printer they can be expensive/page to print. Always check how many pages/cartridge and then the cost of the cartridges. We have heard of people who just purchase a color laser printer for $150.00 or less and when it runs out of toner they go buy another color laser printer because a set of  4 cartridges was going to be over $400.00.

  • Grant:  How much should I be prepared to spend to get a printer that will print 11×17 event posters?  And between ink and paper, what would it cost per print?  And what about printing banners – will most printers do that if I buy some banner paper?

Great question, there is a Brother MFC-J6520dw on the market right now that prints scans/copies 11×17 for approximately  $300.00. As for banner printing, you would need a printer that has roll paper attachment, and they you are getting into a plotter. A small 24″ HP Designjet T120 will cost $1400.00. If it is for production I would suggest you call me at 250 474 1901 so we could further discuss your printer requirements.

  • Helena:  Black ink has leaked out of my old HP Printer onto our antique office desk.  Where is it coming from, and any suggestions on how to clean it off the desk without leaving a stain or discoloration?

Sorry to hear this and no I do not have any suggestions on how to clean other than water, and that is likely to just spread the ink further. HP has a waste tank that has is full so best suggestion is to keep the printer level at all times or it will leak everywhere. We had a gentleman bring an HP inkjet into our shop once and he carried it like a football, and we could follow the ink drops back to where he parked his car!  Careful of your flooring as you move the printer. Call 250 474 1901 and I will talk to you further.

  • Ron:  do you know which brand or brands of inkjet printer ink are the most resistant to fading from exposure to sunlight?

Epson has archival inks that are supposed to last for 100 years. Just to let you know, all ink will fade eventually. A lot has to do with paper and ink reaction. That being said most printer manufacturers will claim long lasting inks. If you would like to discuss this further call us at 250 474 1901.

  • Erica:  does it matter whether I use Canon or another brand of photo paper – like Staples brand – in my Canon Pixma printer?

I would suggest that you handle a Staples brand photo paper and a Canon brand photo paper and see if there is a difference in feel first.  Also, Canon brand paper is formulated to react with Canon Ink, just like HP, Epson etc. We have tested various types of paper in machines and sometimes the ink just doesn’t dry.

  • Barrie:  are any brands of ink more waterproof than others, and the same for paper?  Also, is it safe to put card stock into the main paper tray of my Epson printer, or will it jam when it bends up into the printer?

To answer your 1st question, we did a test with an HP OfficeJet x470 series printer where we used Xerox colorfast paper, printed and took the page and put it under running water and the ink did not smudge or run. To answer your 2nd question yes it will either not pick it up or it will period of time and the pickup roller will wear out, so your best idea is to find a machine with a straight thru paper path.

  • Monica:  is there anywhere here on the lower island where I can get Minolta laser toner cartridges refilled?  And can I use the thin nozzle on my vacuum cleaner to get spilled toner out of the printer?

We sell a compatible cartridge and would be happy to quote you a price. I would be careful vacuuming out the toner as the toner particles are smaller than the vacuum filter so you could have a cloud of black dust exhausting from your vacuum.  Dry rags work best.