From what I understand, thermal paper is one of the worst sources of BPA. It isn’t regulated because it’s not consumed or touching anything you consume usually, but it would be better to consume it than absorb it through the skin because at least the liver processes shit we consume, while shit we absorb can go straight to the bloodstream.
This is on top of being generally the shittiest form of printing by most measures, as the other comments go into. I’d prefer dot matrix or inkjet over thermal paper.
I’ve had important documents printed on thermal paper and after a few years they turn black. It’s fine for short lived stuff but it’s terrible for long-term documents.
Most thermal paper isn’t recyclable though, the chemicals that allow the heat to print onto them can’t be easily recycled. A simple Brother laser printer would be a better option for most people if they’re just printing black text
It doesn’t fall off, but it does start to break down pretty quickly. And ambient UV light makes it fade even faster. But if the print is dark and bold, and you store it someplace cool and dark, it should last a year or 2. Having said that, I have noticed that somehow, for some unknown reason, the registers in departments where you make big purchases, like say the electronics department, always seem to print much much lighter than the rest of the registers. It’s some kind of unsolvable mystery that can never be understood.
Would they be down with a second hand printer? I found a $650 Brother multifunction at Goodwill for $10 that looked brand new, just needed a new toner cartridge.
It was to replace a nearly 20 year old Brother that still works via USB, but the NIC died.
If you know what to look for, it’s not hard to find good ones.
A lot of goodwills wont take printers, because the local salvage/dump reasonably charges disposal fees that make them uneconomical if they dont sell.
Same thing happens with compressors. Its why you dont see as many ACs/dehumidifers/fridges anymore. Costs too much to dispose of them when they dont sell.
They’ll take them if you don’t trip the bell and leave before they notice you. With that trick they’ll even take your old CRTs. (way safer than throwing them down an embankment into the woods)
Edit: i searched online and apparently they are talking of the “letter size” just another USA standard, the size is in inches;
Please, write the unit next time
Oh yeah it does. Rolls a really cheap, I use that most of the time. Regular flat paper is a bit more expensive, I use it only for important stuff. The printer is really small too, easy to put in your bag. I’m sure there’s a lot of brands but the one I got is Phonemo M32 I think.
Get yourself a thermal printer for 100$. Suits 95% of my needs. No more, “fuck you I won’t print in black, you’re low on red”.
I just don’t print.
From what I understand, thermal paper is one of the worst sources of BPA. It isn’t regulated because it’s not consumed or touching anything you consume usually, but it would be better to consume it than absorb it through the skin because at least the liver processes shit we consume, while shit we absorb can go straight to the bloodstream.
This is on top of being generally the shittiest form of printing by most measures, as the other comments go into. I’d prefer dot matrix or inkjet over thermal paper.
I’ve had important documents printed on thermal paper and after a few years they turn black. It’s fine for short lived stuff but it’s terrible for long-term documents.
They mean a toner laser printer. Not a thermal label printer.
Most thermal paper isn’t recyclable though, the chemicals that allow the heat to print onto them can’t be easily recycled. A simple Brother laser printer would be a better option for most people if they’re just printing black text
Yeah but they mean a toner laser printer. Not a thermal receipt printer. I’m assuming they say thermal because it melts the toner to the paper.
I actually did not know that. Apparently there’s some eco-friendly thermal paper, I’m gonna look into this. Thanks for pointing it out.
Glad I could help 🤝
Brother laser printers were the thing, but I have heard this has changed in the last two or three years.
Doesn’t thermal ink basically fall off the paper in a few weeks? At least receipts and such fade pretty quickly.
It doesn’t fall off, but it does start to break down pretty quickly. And ambient UV light makes it fade even faster. But if the print is dark and bold, and you store it someplace cool and dark, it should last a year or 2. Having said that, I have noticed that somehow, for some unknown reason, the registers in departments where you make big purchases, like say the electronics department, always seem to print much much lighter than the rest of the registers. It’s some kind of unsolvable mystery that can never be understood.
Nah, definitely not weeks. They say it could deteriorates after a few years, but I have some printed scores from 2024 that still looks good.
So yeah, in my experience it’s good enough for a couple of years, but it’s not for permanent things you want to keep forever.
Can you please explain this to my frugal Asian parents who only care about the price of the printer?
Nah nvm, your words are just gonna come out the other side of the ears lmfao
Would they be down with a second hand printer? I found a $650 Brother multifunction at Goodwill for $10 that looked brand new, just needed a new toner cartridge.
It was to replace a nearly 20 year old Brother that still works via USB, but the NIC died.
If you know what to look for, it’s not hard to find good ones.
A lot of goodwills wont take printers, because the local salvage/dump reasonably charges disposal fees that make them uneconomical if they dont sell.
Same thing happens with compressors. Its why you dont see as many ACs/dehumidifers/fridges anymore. Costs too much to dispose of them when they dont sell.
They’ll take them if you don’t trip the bell and leave before they notice you. With that trick they’ll even take your old CRTs. (way safer than throwing them down an embankment into the woods)
Do they actually make these for full 8.5 x 11 pages?
I’ve only seen them for receipts and labels
What’s the use case of such tiny papers?
Edit: i searched online and apparently they are talking of the “letter size” just another USA standard, the size is in inches; Please, write the unit next time
Oh yeah it does. Rolls a really cheap, I use that most of the time. Regular flat paper is a bit more expensive, I use it only for important stuff. The printer is really small too, easy to put in your bag. I’m sure there’s a lot of brands but the one I got is Phonemo M32 I think.
Thermal? You mean laser? With a fuser?