I have an HP LaserJet 6p (a little over 7 years old) and ink (shadowy print)
is finally beginning to streak when I print. (I print about 10 pages a
week.) I suspect the cartridge may finally need replacing. A replacement
cartridge costs about $75 (which I get for free because I have a gift card
from Office Depot).. Would I be better off buying a new printer in the
$150-$200 range?

I was given advice to buy a Samsung ML 1710 (?) for $80, other people say
just change to toner as the HP 6P is a sturdy model.

In article <GQQOd.574$rB3.740176@twister.nyc.rr.com>, bullseye35
@deletetheextrastuff says...
Have you ever removed the toner cartridge? I have one at work, and you
can extend it a long time by simply removing it, tilting (not shaking)
it around different axis, and then reinstalling it.

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"Andrew Rossmann" <andysnewsreply@no_junk.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1c759a7466288a28989798@news.comcast.gigan ews.com...
<big snip>

I have done that several times over the years.

I have both an HP4 and a HP6p here in the office and wouldn't trade them for
anything. Two real workhorses. As I recall the HP4 was around $1k and the
HP6 cost about $700 (USD) when they were new. And if you got 7 years worth
of use out of a toner cartridge, that amounts to about $11 per year in toner
cost. Hard to beat - keep it and buy a cartridge. I'm sure if you look
around on the net you can find them cheaper than $75.

Bob S..


"bullseye" <bullseye35@deletetheextrastuff@excite.com> wrote in message
news:GQQOd.574$rB3.740176@twister.nyc.rr.com...

The LaserJet 6P is a great printer. You won't find anything to match it for
$200.00 today. They don't build them like they used to! I own a LaserJet
Series II, it has to be over 12 years old, and it is awesome! It always
works. It's built like a battleship, weighs a ton and prints like the
devil.

"bullseye" <bullseye35@deletetheextrastuff@excite.com> wrote in message
news:GQQOd.574$rB3.740176@twister.nyc.rr.com...

Thanking all for your replies (and confirming the way I was leaning).

What is the best way to perform routine maintenance then? I believe there
are a few parts that I ought to clean to assure the printer continues to
function properly. Is there a type of paper I can feed the printer for
this? Do I need to do anything beyond what the manual recommends? (Also, I
keep the back flap open to get my prints to come out straight instead of
curling out to the top. Am I exposing the printer's innards to unnecessary
dust?)

bullseye wrote:
First, kudos for continuing to use that nice old printer. I recently
acquired a LJ III and hope to fix its infeed jams so that I can junk a
3-year-old Epson inkjet.

I clean my lasers, PC keyboard and case with an hose adapter kit for
house vacuum. Small hose, wands, and brush. Regarding lasers, lots of
paper dust in a ream of paper, some of which stays in the printer. Also
some toner, perhaps, and the occasional bit of paper. Vacuum it all
out. My old IBM 4029 laser recommended cleaning the corona wire; I do
that, but you must be *very* careful not to snag and break it. Other
than vacuuming and final wiping, I do no other cleaning inside the
printer.

One important thing you can do for a printer - laser or otherwise - is
to keep a dust cover over it when it's not in use. I use fitted vinyl
covers made specifically for particular electronic test equipment (in a
pinch I once used the vinyl cover for the exterior spare tire of a late
model SUV), but even a low tech solution, a cardboard box, is much
better than nothing.

You can get a new HP brand cartridge on Ebay for $45
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...2892 991&rd=1

Refills for $20 less

bullseye wrote:

Having 14 years of great service from a very slow IBM 4019 dinosaur, I urge
you to buy a new HP toner cartridge. I had to buy a cartridge every 2 or 3
years. The two refurbished cartridges I bought were problems - I ended up
throwing the first one away and buying a Lexmark, and the 2nd one concided
with a terminal mechanical problem which was the demise of my 4019.

I think it would have lasted forever with 1st quality toner cartridges given
my limited printing needs.

There is some benefit to my new Dell B/W laser with an ethernet connection.
It is very much faster and supports Postscript, but I had no real complaints
with the 4019. The print quality was subjectively better with the 4019.


"Bennett Price" <bjpriceNOSPAM@itsa.ucsf.edu> wrote in message
news:z97Pd.3970$aW6.103@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net ...

Thanking all for your input. I purchased an HP replacement toner for my 6p.