Printer recommendations

[user 141939]

I would like to start printing labels but I am going to need a new printer. Mine sucks. What does everyone use? I would like a good compromise between price and quality.

Also what do people use for paper?


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[doug293cz]

I print on standard printer/copier paper with a low cost inkjet, and attach the labels with a glue stick (like school kids use.) These labels will not stand up well to water exposure, so no sticking bottles in a cooler full of ice. If you want a more robust label, you'll need to go with a laser printer on a hard finished paper, and use a water resistant adhesive.

Brew on

 

[acidrain]

Laser printers make a waterproof image.

 

[user 141939]

Yeah I am still trying to figure this out. I don't want to buy a printer just to make labels. I was planning on checking out options at printing places like staples, etc.


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[Homercidal]

Most printers will do a decent job with the right paper. I have had good luck using a matte or glossy photo paper.

I personally think the best option is to get a cheap printer for home use and then have your labels printed at a copy store on a laser printer when you want a really nice looking label. They will be waterproof (As far as the ink goes) and in general just look better.

I suck at graphic design, so I really don't do labels anymore. If I did I'd print them off at work on our color laser.

 

[TwistedLiquidBrew]

I picked up a 300 count pack of glossy laser paper ($14.99) at Staples last night. I brought in a few sheets to work this morning & printed my Irish Red label .... they came out fantastic! Clean, crisp, bright, glossy and sturdy! I'll test them tonight using milk as my glue to see if it'll work on this paper as well as it does standard printer/copier paper.

 

[Homercidal]

I've tried milk as a glue and is sucked for me. I have read MAY posts claiming it to be a great adhesive for labels, but it just didn't stick my labels. I've used glue sticks, but they are slightly difficult to use. Hard to get the right amount of glue right along the edge and completely sticking the label edges.

 

[user 141939]

Not sure if you have seen this...

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f46/use-knox-its-best-label-adhesive-354082/

As soon as I find the time I'm gonna try printing out some labels at a printing shop. I got a Barleywine destined to become "game of thrones season five premiere ale" and a peach saison that I might call "former white house press secretary Dana Perino ale" because it's blonde and smells like peaches.


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[Homercidal]

I seen that but haven't tried it.

 

[feinbera]

Depending on how often you print, a middle-of-the-line home laser printer may be as cheap/cheaper than a comparable inkjet on a per-page basis; unlike inkjet cartridges, toner never dries up, so you actually get about the number pages they say you will out of the toner cartridge. Of course, this is only over the long term; ink jet printers are like keurig coffee makers, they sell the hardware at little to no profit margin, knowing you'll be hooked on the overpriced refills.

I have one of the combo printer/fax/copier Brother machines; it's finicky about being able to use all the features over WiFi, and it's friggin' huge if you're used to cheap little inkjets, but with sufficient twiddling of the settings, it produces comparable quality to the big photocopiers at Kinko's (and being able to do a run of labels at home in my boxers is, of course, priceless).

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Not to put a damper on it, but I think it's difficult to produce enough labels at home to justify buying the printer, ink, and paper rather than just having them printed at Fed Ex or whichever store. That's not to say that's always the case though - I know a professional photographer who uses a ~$250 Canon printer to print all his 8x10 photos which he sells all over the place, and he raves about the low cost compared to having a place such as Adorama do his prints. BUT, that's for photo printing, and Fed Ex is pretty cheap for regular paper color prints. I tried to find the name of the Canon printer he uses but I can't locate it.

I use Fed Ex, I think it comes out to about $.30/page, and I usually find a 30% off coupon. I fit 5 labels to a page usually, so it's pretty economical. The biggest headache for me is just stopping at the store to pick them up.

Also, regarding adhesives, I've used a spray-on adhesive. It sticks to the bottles really well, and works great when you take brews to a party where the bottles are submerged in ice water. However, the spray on adhesive is an absolute pain to work with and apply without getting it on your fingers and getting your fingers stuck to the good side of the print. I also coat the good side of the print with a spray on protector first.

Best of luck!

 

[doug293cz]

Not sure if you have seen this...

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f46/use-knox-its-best-label-adhesive-354082/

Another, older thread on gelatin based label adhesive: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f46/esky-ice-water-proof-labels-224476/

Think I'll try both and compare next time I label.

Brew on

 

[user 141939]

I use Fed Ex, I think it comes out to about $.30/page, and I usually find a 30% off coupon. I fit 5 labels to a page usually, so it's pretty economical. The biggest headache for me is just stopping at the store to pick them up.

Best of luck!

I'm glad this thread got some new responses. Do you do color labels at Fed Ex? on what kind of paper? I'm assuming you can bring in a flash drive or something and print from that?

 

[HarborTownBrewing]

Do you do color labels at Fed Ex? on what kind of paper? I'm assuming you can bring in a flash drive or something and print from that?

I have used a few different paper weights, and I recall 30lb being my preferred weight (although I can't locate my receipts to confirm). I did a test where I used three different paper weights and dunked the bottles in buckets of ice water to see which weight held up best, and 30lb did the trick.

I just have them print on plain white paper, then I cut them there or at home and spray with a sealant type spray (Modge Podge spray, maybe?) and apply. They look great and professional. The labels stick out from the bottle a bit more though, since the paper is thicker than a pro's label is. That's the only noticeable difference.

I'm not sure about transferring it via a flash drive, but I have emailed mine in as PDFs and then they email me when it's ready so I don't have to wait.

And be sure to check for a 30% coupon code online! Easy way to save money.

 

[JINKS]

Been using this one
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BAVKJT0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I paid $109.99 with free shipping. Toner doesn't run when wet. I print on sticker paper and cut out the labels. They come off in water amazingly easy.

With this refill
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DIDP2FY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I bought this but I am still using the toner that came with the printer. I'm somewhere around 30 pages of labels with around 6 labels per page usually.

 

[grainbill]

I've tried milk as a glue and is sucked for me. I have read MAY posts claiming it to be a great adhesive for labels, but it just didn't stick my labels. I've used glue sticks, but they are slightly difficult to use. Hard to get the right amount of glue right along the edge and completely sticking the label edges.

I have used milk and it has worked very well as a temp label, nice until it gets wet....spray paint with a gloss or matte finish to keep the color from bleeding

 

[Homercidal]

When I worked at a previous job the engineers in one section always HAD to have a Canon printer because the ink was not water soluble. I don't know if they are still that way or not.

 

[doug293cz]

Been using this one
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BAVKJT0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
I paid $109.99 with free shipping. Toner doesn't run when wet. I print on sticker paper and cut out the labels. They come off in water amazingly easy.

What specific paper do you use? I have tried label paper, but was very difficult to remove from the bottles. Would love something that is easier to remove.

Brew on

 

[JINKS]

What specific paper do you use? I have tried label paper, but was very difficult to remove from the bottles. Would love something that is easier to remove.

Brew on

Standard cheap office depot sticker paper. Soak in hot water with oxiclean , labels almost fall off and bottles are squeaky clean.

 

[JINKS]

What specific paper do you use? I have tried label paper, but was very difficult to remove from the bottles. Would love something that is easier to remove.

Brew on

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006HQEJ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[doug293cz]

Thanks JINKS. I have tried generic label paper, and had more trouble removing the labels (oxy in hot water overnight) than I was willing to deal with. Maybe I'll give the Avery labels a try. If they come off easier, it might be worth the extra $$.

Brew on

 

[user 141939]

What specific paper do you use? I have tried label paper, but was very difficult to remove from the bottles. Would love something that is easier to remove.



Brew on

That looks like it gets pretty good reviews. Do you think it'd print nice photos too?

 

[JINKS]

That looks like it gets pretty good reviews. Do you think it'd print nice photos too?

Plain paper seems to have pretty good quality.
I have never run glossy through it, because the only glossy paper I have is for an old inkjet, and I worry about melting the glossy coating off during the laser process and gumming up my machine.

 

[JINKS]

What specific paper do you use? I have tried label paper, but was very difficult to remove from the bottles. Would love something that is easier to remove.

Brew on

I've used this paper with great success also.
Just a soak in hot oxi-water and I can scrape it off with my fingernails. Then a scratchy pad/sponge to remove any residuals.

http://www.staples.com/Staples-Sticker-Paper/product_490429

 

[acidrain]

Plain paper seems to have pretty good quality.
I have never run glossy through it, because the only glossy paper I have is for an old inkjet, and I worry about melting the glossy coating off during the laser process and gumming up my machine.

That's not how laser printers work... they scan the image onto a rotating drum, which creates a static charge that the powdered toner sticks to. Then it is deposited onto the paper via heat and pressure.
They are typically quieter than an ink-jet, and faster.

Laser printers are a little more money, but for about $250, you can get an office and photo quality, high capacity wifi scanner/copier/fax/printer. The cartridges are usually quite large, which can be refilled just like any other cartridge (except with the appropriate powdered toner) super cheap. It prints thousands of images before running low on toner. The one I have in my office holds about 200 pages, and is a Brother.

Oh, and the prints are completely waterproof on plain paper.

 

[JINKS]

paper via heat and pressure.

Heat is what I worry about melting the plastic shiny layer off of the paper for the inkjet. I already have a laser printer (see earlier post).
From another site:
Laser photo paper needs to withstand heat and inkjet photo paper needs to absorb relatively large quantities of liquid ink.
Generally, inkjet papers are not suitable for use on laser and could in some instances damage a laser printer. Inkjet photo papers are not designed to take a high heat and the coating used on this paper could contaminate a laser printer. Because of the simpler paper path in inkjet printers, paper for these are often much heavier than those available for laser printers and would not feed well in them.

Better safe than sorry. I got my printer cheap but not cheap enough to risk damage. So hence I will not run my old inkjet glossy paper through it. I may buy photo quality laser paper someday but mostly I just do beer labels which don't require "Photo quality". And that is why I answered the question as I did.