Throw unused toner away?

[katz]

I have read that when refilling toner/laser printer you are supposed to dump the old stuff because it will not mix well with the new. When my printer feels it is time to change, it will stop printing & will not budge until I refill it.

Seems like this happens more frequently that with my inkjets.

Problem is, I end up dumping 2 oz. or more (it seems) of good toner in the garbage because you are not supposed to mix the refill toner in with it.

What say you guys? Have you mixed toner with good/bad results?

 

[14049752]

I've never dumped toner and it's never seemed to be a problem at all.

 

[katz]

I've never dumped toner and it's never seemed to be a problem at all.

So you just mix the new toner in with the old? I see so much on the 'net warning against doing that.

Do your printers have chips on the toner carts? Mine has a chip that I must replace when I refill the toner.

 

[stro]

If it is a brother machine/toner, recent models have 2 different ways they determine if a toner needs to be replaced.

1. Two sight windows on each end of the toner that a laser shines through once the toner is low.

2. A cog on under a cover on one end of the toner that flips after a set amount of pages is printed.

To use as much of your toner as possible:

In the case of number one, put a small piece of electrical tape over the sight window and it will print until it is empty.

In the case of number two, and this only works on replacement toners, not the one shipped in the box, get a philips screw driver and pull the end cover off. There is a cog that will slide off, slide it off, turn it 90 to 180 degrees backwards, slide it back on, put the cover back on, should print until it is empty.

Ricohs should be the same as the brothers.

 

[katz]

Good info., stro - thanks for that. I did read on another site about the window on the carts.

I have a Konica/Minolta Magicolor 1600w. I did look over the cart & I didn't see any sight windows. Not sure if maybe on this model the chip reads info. as to how many pages are printed, how much of each color used, etc.

 

[stro]

Looks like it, the refill kits include a reset chip.

 

[14049752]

So you just mix the new toner in with the old? I see so much on the 'net warning against doing that.

Do your printers have chips on the toner carts? Mine has a chip that I must replace when I refill the toner.

Yeah, just put the new toner right in there...it has never, ever been a problem. To be honest, I've never heard that they shouldn't be mixed until now.

My printers don't have chips that need to be reset. I have a slightly older Canon and a few HPs that I've filled several times without issue.

 

[AlaDes]

I have a Brother MFC that I can go to the menu and reset all of my toner cartridges manually. I'm not sure if you have this option but it's definitely worth researching. Once mine are reset, they will operate until they are completely empty .

 

[katz]

I have a Brother MFC that I can go to the menu and reset all of my toner cartridges manually. I'm not sure if you have this option but it's definitely worth researching. Once mine are reset, they will operate until they are completely empty .

I'll check on that reset manually option. I'm not at the printer right now, but I remember the control panel is somewhat vague to comprehend with some strange commands that don't make any sense to me.

I'll check on it later & post back.

 

[AlaDes]

I'll check on that reset manually option. I'm not at the printer right now, but I remember the control panel is somewhat vague to comprehend with some strange commands that don't make any sense to me.

I'll check on it later & post back.

Finding mine was a PIA, to say the least. As a matter of fact, I had to search days on end to even find out how to do mine because it wasn't in the manual anywhere lol.