They don't built printer like it (HP LJ5p) anymore - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 05:58:56 pm
content: Out of curiosity, anyone still using HP Laserjet 5P?Introduced 1995, mine was purchased around 1998 and is still humming. I had to replace my leaking HP manufactured ink cartridge every 2-3 year, but it still works like a charm.I think the ink cartridge rubber/plastic ink-door is not holding well, so the cartridge starts leaking in 2-3 years at about 1000-1500 pages. In the last decade or so, non-HP "compatible" ink cartridges became near non-existing. I can still find old stock of new HP branded ones (at around $60-$70 which is comparable to when they were still being made), but is getting rarer. I think the printer would likely still be working when ink cartridges became extinct. Heck, this printer may even outlast me!If only some manufacturer would build good quality printer like that. But, even with ink-cartridges at a healthy profit, the market for old-enough-to-vote printers would be small.

author: Alti
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 06:25:38 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on April 11, 2023, 05:58:56 pmNah, 5P/6P are too big, intended for offices.I use HP LaserJet 6L, designed for home use.Same engine, just single paper tray and smaller footprint.This is my only printer. Windows 10, via LPT to USB cable of course.Bulletproof machine, 1998 made and still going strong.Have you seen HP service manuals for these printers?Amazing how well designed it is - designed to last.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 06:31:40 pm
content: Toner, it's toner.And spatula of a drum, that some refillers shortcut and save.I have 2x 1320.For color I had to decide.So Lexmark out and Xerox/Fuji in.

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 07:27:43 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on April 11, 2023, 05:58:56 pmpurchased mine around 2008, second hand.too big, but it's great

author: abeyer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 08:12:23 pm
content: How do people keep these old ones going on modern files with such tiny memory?I love the quality/reliability of the old HPs, and my secondhand 1200 is still going strong on a page count over 100k... but it absolutely struggles with large PDF files and the like, and it has 72mb compared to the 2mb in a 5P.

author: srb1954
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 08:12:35 pm
content: Quote from: Alti on April 11, 2023, 06:25:38 pmAnd earthquake proof as well.My Lj5 fell on the floor in an earthquake and, apart from the door latch on the envelop feeder getting broken, continues to work fine.

author: aeberbach
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 10:37:56 pm
content: I always feel like HP would be less hated today if their old self had not been so good.

author: Tony_G
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 11:13:27 pm
content: I had a HP LaserJet 4L for something like 20 years - Went strong the entire time - Eventually gave it away when my wife wanted to print too much color for the ink jet printer she had so I bought a Brother MFC one (Very happy with it, don't really understand why you'd go down the ink jet path unless you were doing photo printing etc).I wouldn't buy anything from HP, Canon or Lenovo these days, laser or not - If/When the brother craps out I'll see which one doesn't have the stupid DRM in it and go there.TonyG

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 11, 2023, 11:53:01 pm
content: Brother is as close as it gets now to printers that just work and keep working. No need for silly account sign-ups or internet connection. The toner cartridges aren't cheap, but that's life.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2023, 12:44:29 am
content: Quote from: m k on April 11, 2023, 06:31:40 pmTrouble is not running out of toner -- it is the toner leaking. Pure guess work here: I figure there is a breakage in the flap/door that opens to dispenses the toner from the reservoir.I kept my last two failed toner both failed due to leak. Next time when my operating cartridge really is empty, may be I can find ways to get the toner from those two failed one into my empty one.

author: Alti
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2023, 12:40:17 pm
content: Quote from: abeyer on April 11, 2023, 08:12:23 pmI think with local printing this is based on the size of a page, not file. Printing software does the job of converting pdf into PCL language, page by page, and that somehow gets transferred via parallel port.I think this converter is aware of the capabilities of the printer so it won't send data that would not fit into memory. Then, if that is black/white then 600dpix600dpi of A4 paper is maybe 8"x11" which is 4MB in binary format. My printer is 5MB - no problems with pdfs. I do not print pictures.

author: GuntherM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 12, 2023, 01:11:46 pm
content: Sounds like the problem I have with my HP 3055 all in one laser printer, but something is broken off inside, it even gets worse when I tried printing again, toner would hit the rubber rolls inside to transport paper.With serious jamming inside the thing. I decided to look out for a replacement, a Brother color laser printer is in my sight. I had the chance to try one of those printers and they are solid, in my opinion.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2023, 03:25:39 pm
content: I had a Laserjet 4P. It started life as a company printer in the early 1990s. In 2002 it was going to be trashed and replaced with something faster, so I took it home. It lasted another few years before prints started developing streaks. All it needed was a new drum, but it was pretty slow so I just bought a much better and faster printer to replace it, a Brother HL5250DN. Still, having used the Laserjet for nearly 20 years it was difficult to throw away. It sat by the door for several more years before I finally hauled it to the dumpster.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2023, 03:43:33 pm
content: Quote from: Rick Law on April 12, 2023, 12:44:29 amThe toner unit is more than that.It also includes a drum and waste toner tank.Waste toner is the one that trips first, or is filled.Next is spatula, then corona wires and finally OPC belt drum, it used to be around 20k pages.So if the unit is ok you can add toner but you must also empty the waste toner or it will finally explode and that will be a mess.If that happens keep it dry and use vacuum cleaner and pressured air.Keep in mind that toner can short circuit the Hoover.One other thing, a developer.On top of permanent magnet transport roller are small ferro magnetic balls, or used to be.Those balls move toner from tank to drum and eventually they will also lose their grip, or size.So if toner start leaking all around check if those balls are still around and add some from other units.How, can't say, we used to vacuum the unit and then pick those balls with magnet, but that was a separated unit and toner was visible.If toner is missing all around it can also mean that those ferro magnetic balls are so small that the toner turf can't reach the drum any more.When spatula is leaving something behind it's usually vertical stripes.Spatula used to be equally sharp all around so flipping was possible.No idea how it is today.Corona wires are usually not bad, just dirty.But dirt, or burned toner, can also be pretty permanent.Generally that toner adding project is not for bubbly ones.It's also good to think a bit first how to breath, and how to sneeze or cough.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2023, 03:47:39 pm
content: Quote from: abeyer on April 11, 2023, 08:12:23 pmPostscript can be what ever.For example a big sheet, where it is shrunk.So as long as exported stuff is for that printer everything is fine.Usually PostScript quality is a bit better but it doesn't matter much if output is none.PS files are many times small so transfer is fast but sometimes rendering is better to do with the computer, printer driver should have a setting for that.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2023, 04:47:21 pm
content: Quote from: m k on April 12, 2023, 03:43:33 pmThanks for the heads up there. The ink cartridge is a much more complex device than I had imagined. I also didn't think sucking up toner may blow the vacuum! I automatically assumed that the toner is not electrically conductive. So luck has been on my side all these years of sucking up small piles (1/2 sugar cube size) of spilled ink dust.

author: GuntherM
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 12, 2023, 05:32:19 pm
content: In our shop we have a Dell printer, the drum and toner has to be bought separately, now I know why, thx for the clarification.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2023, 09:21:29 am
content: One more thing, toner and toner are not the same.So don't add what ever toner.Since toner is later melting plastic it's electrical properties can vary.There are at least positive and negative toner, possibly different levels also.Nowadays probably lower temperature stuff as well.An anecdote,back in the day a copier drum was an actual coated metal cylinder and coating was so thick that you could hone the surface few times and revive its function.Many times every corner of a machine also had lifting aids, maybe pull out metal bars.