Inkjet Printer Cartridges Buying Tips

Inkjet Printer Cartridge Recommendations
There are number of different types of inkjet printers, each with their own characteristics and printing capabilities. No doubt you have selected a printer to suit your needs, whether it is printing photographs, school projects, business proposals or documents that are used internally within your company, or maybe you inherited a printer and are just using it to get by. This article focuses on inkjet (aka bubble jet printers) and the provides recommendations on printer selection and cartridge selection.

Inkjet Printers - Some background information.
Inkjet printers generally come in two types, mono ( black) and colour, although nowadays most inkjet printers have colour printing as a standard feature. They are capable of printing high quality but are generally not a high performance printer and are often used in homes or small business. Inkjet printers use ink cartridges that contain ink and work by spraying tiny drops of ink on to the page. The ink used in inkjet printers is "ionized" meaning that the ink has an electronic charge, so that when the ink is spayed at the paper, it is directed to the correct spot by magnetic plates behind the paper. Inkjet printer cartridges normally contain a small chip that communicates with the printer and PC for a variety of functions, including:

• cartridge levels (how much ink is left) and
• cartridge compatibility ie is the cartridge suited to the printer.

The cartridges for inkjet printers come in a variety of types.

Thermal Inkjet Cartridges
Thermal ink cartridges are used by the majority of major brand printers. Each reservoir or ink tank contains a tiny resistor, and when an electricity charge is sent through the resister a bubble is created in the ink that expands and forces ink out through the printer nozzle.

Piezoelectric
Piezoelectric printers use a slightly different technique that is patented by Epson and works by electric current flowing through a small crystal, causing the crystal to expand/vibrate and push ink out of the nozzle. One advantage of this technique is that the size of the nozzle is smaller, which means that the printer is capable of a higher quality printout.

Further to this, inkjet printers have a number of styles of printer cartridges.

• Individual Cartridges
• All in one cartridges

Individual Cartridges
Individual cartridges have a different cartridge for Cyan Magenta and Yellow. The obvious advantage being that if one colour runs out you only replace one cartridge.

All in one cartridges
An all in one cartridge contains compartments of Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. The obvious disadvantage being that if one compartment runs out then the whole cartridge needs to be replaced.

Inkjet Printer Cartridges Recommendations
Our recommendation for all inkjet printer ink is to:

• Only buy genuine cartridges.
• Do not buy compatible cartridges
• Do not buy refilled or re-manufactured cartridges

Our reasons for this recommendation is that compatible and refilled ink cartridges

• have a higher failure rate
• may not work at all if new printer drivers are installed
• The logic embedded in the chip may get confused and give the printer incorrect information.

In both cases, the savings made when buying cheaper cartridges is nowhere near enough compensation for

• The risk of failure
• The inconvenience of returning faulty or non working cartridges
• The poorer quality of printer output
• The time that you will waste trying to get something printed properly

Only buy genuine cartridges for inkjet cartridges.
If you have a laser printer, it is a different story, so please read our recommendation on laser printer cartridge purchasing

Read an interesting post about Office Supplies

coat stands

Standing coat stands and hall trees are very common in modern households. Closets have always been the primary domain of coats, jackets, and hats but the hall tree coat stand has always offered a lot of extra functionality that makes them a great addition to your entryway, even if you do have a big closet.

The hall tree coat stand is designed to be functional first and then aesthetically pleasing second. It is built tall and narrow so that it doesn't take up a lot of floor space. It is also built to be bottom heavy so that garments hung on the rack are less likely to topple the stand over. Of course consistently overloading one side of the stand will still make this more likely to happen but the better the hall is the less likely this will happen.

Manufacturers can make standing coat stands quite easily and very cheaply and for that reason it's almost always possible to find cheap hall trees in local discount superstores and discount furniture stores for less than fifty dollars. Some of the cheapest standing hall trees can even be purchased for less than thirty dollars however the quality is likely going to be fairly low.

Coat trees usually come in either wood or a metal. Wood racks are usually a little cheaper however this is not an across the board characterization. Some metal coat stands are also quite affordable and on the flip side some wooden stands are quite expensive. It really has everything to do with the quality of construction.

If you need a quality hat rack stand for your home then make sure to do some shopping around online because that's where the best prices are. Online merchants also make comparison shopping far easier than going to every store. Even though hall trees are generally affordable doesn't mean you still shouldn't find the best price possible.

Read an interesting post about self-adhesive labels

A4 paper And A3 Printer

The A3 printer is a special kind of printer that allow users to print their content on the larger A3 papers. They have been in use for some time now, but it is only recently that their price points have dipped and they have become affordable. Given the lower prices, it is interesting to note how good and useful can these printers be for domestic and commercial use.

The first thing to understand about these printers is the paper onto which they print. This is called the A3 paper and it is a much larger paper than the standard A4 paper that we generally use in our standard printers. The A4 paper is 8.3 inches X 11.7 inches while the A3 paper in is 11.7 inches X 16.5 inches.

In effect the A3 paper is double the size of A4 paper. While discussing this in an article, a double size of A4 does not seem like much. However, when it comes to utility, the extra printing area can do wonders to the final product.

The larger area means more content can be printed or larger content can be printed on these papers. Generally, the latter is more common and that is the reason why these printers have a special place in the modern usage. The larger area means that one can print larger pictures, graphs, posters and other common information printed on larger canvas.

While the information that needs to be communicated personally can be printed on A4 paper, the information that needs to be conveyed to a bunch of people cannot be posted on such a small area. It is generally best when posted on a larger area. A good example of this is the banners for events, company or product. These are generally posted in public areas and people from varying distance are expected to view them: A4 paper is not a good choice for this.

The modern A3 papers can also rasterbate images too. What this means is that one can print larger images using standard paper size. So for example one needs a large display poster and even A3 paper is small for this, then they can split that image into four parts and print each quarter in individual A3 paper. The 4 papers can then be pasted together for a larger continuous image.

Besides these interesting printing options, the newer A3 printers also come with faxing and scanning options too. The users can now scan larger pictures and diagrams with ease and store them as a single file rather than having to use complex software to merge the parts. Similarly, the printers can now fax large diagrams, photos and banners too. It is just the larger sized printer with the features of the standard printer.

In conclusion, the A3 printers are truly a great way to print, scan and fax larger pictures, images and general information on a larger scale. While the typical print and scan needs can be satisfied by the latest all in one A4 printers, sometimes size does matter and these printers are designed to meet those specific needs.

Read an interesting post about laminators

Benefits of Whiteboards

In recent times the whiteboard has become a permanent fixture in schools, colleges, Universities, offices, hospitals - everywhere basically! It may have crept in almost unnoticed, but the humble whiteboard has revolutionized the way we present information to large audiences - making it much easier to edit what is being written and presented in real time and helping to create a much more interactive atmosphere where creativity can come to the fore - be it in the classroom or a high powered business meeting.

One of the major advantages a whiteboard has over its predecessor, the blackboard, is that it is completely reusable and easy to clean. The old blackboards would quickly get clogged up with chalk and look tired and hard to read pretty quickly. The act of cleaning them would also be very demanding - we all remember teachers hitting chalk rubbers together and the subsequent cloud of dust, right!?

The markers used on whiteboards are designed to be easy to clean and to always stand out - meaning everyone in the room should be able to see clearly. The only problem here is if you use the wrong kind of markers (the permanent kind!) you may find it a tad difficult to get it off and it may even require screen wash.

The lack of chalk and dust also removes the chances of any allergic reactions during use, and likewise, dust sensitive technology (like computers and projectors) can be used nearby with no risk of being affected.

Whiteboards have also helped a great deal in reducing the carbon footprint of many schools and workplaces as they enable them to use less paper - making them a great environmentally friendly tool.

Another advantage, which may seem trivial but is actually keenly felt by those who use them most, is that it is much easier to write on whiteboards than chalk boards and paper flip charts. Writing with chalk on a blackboard for a prolonged period would cause cramps and muscle strains and could cause teachers in particular a lot of discomfort. Whiteboard markers, by contrast, are much easier to grip and do not require anywhere near the same amount of pressure as chalk. The surface is also very smooth, making them much easier to write on than rough flipchart paper.

A lot of modern whiteboards are also magnetic, which is another great advantage. Magnetic notice boards can be great for use as bulletin boards for meetings when you can use magnets to attach notices and important documents etc...

While it may be quite underrated, the humble whiteboard has a lot of advantages and, without being noticed, has become an integral part of many of our everyday lives. Rather than diminish the presence of whiteboards, new technologies are helping to develop it even further, with interactive whiteboards now starting to become commonplace in schools around the world.

Read an interesting post about cheap notice boards

Post-it notes

Let's talk about post-it notes. We'll do it real quick and do some basics in marketing. We previously talked about this, but it's basic and it's important.

Direct Response Marketing

We're doing what's called direct response marketing. That means we are putting some sort of marketing out there and we're looking for a direct response.

We're not doing what's called grandiose or image marketing. We are not going to put out an ad and hoping 10 years from now the image, design, music or whatever becomes synonymous with our company. We can't afford that. We need what's called direct response.

We put an ad out, and a phone call or email comes back to us. Hopefully those phone calls or emails ultimately lead to some business. That's why we do direct response marketing. It's far more cost effective.

There is one-step marketing and we've talked about that. You get your entire message out in one step. It's great if you can do it, but for the most part it's not very cost effective. It can be very costly to get your entire message out.

Two-Step Marketing

Two-step marketing is when you get out a piece of information or a couple of pieces of information, just enough to whet their appetite that they will call you, email you, or go to your website and essentially raise their hand and say, "I would like to hear some more about what you're doing or what you have to offer. Tell me some more." Then you go through into your sales process.

The post-it notes do exactly that. It will give them a couple of pieces of information, and we'll go through that tonight. It will in many cases elicit a response. "I'm kind of interested. I've been thinking about selling my house. I've tried to sell it with the realtor but the six-month contract is just about up and nothing's happening. I would like to consider something else." You're at the right place at the right time. It elicits a response.

Our marketing pieces are going to have a benefits-laden headline. That never changes. It's on everything single thing we do. These are the same things we have gone over before.

It's going to give a marketing message. It's going to have an offer or offers, potentially. It's going to have a reason to respond immediately. It's going to have response instructions: Please call, please email, please go to my website. It's going to have very specific instructions. It's not left up to a guess. We don't allow our readers to have to do the work and try to figure out what the next step response is. We tell them very clearly.

Post-it notes meet all of the criteria. If it's done well you'll get extraordinary response rates

Read an interesting post about Printer Cartridges

How To Damp proof course?

Have you noticed that paint is blistering off the walls? A damp patch has appeared under the window sill? You have tried to paint it over and over again but it just keeps flaking off the walls? Maybe you have decided to bite the bullet and call in a damp proof expert to give you advice? That's a great idea but best to know if the damp proof expert is giving you the right advice. It could be a time consuming and expensive mistake if you do not know how to damp proof in theory.

We are now going to have a quick look at how to damp proof, what to look for, the damp proof products available and how these damp proof products and systems can solve your damp problems.

So we first need to identify the damp areas of your job and what is causing them. Now this can be tricky but we can eliminate some obvious damp proofing elements before we pay for someone to come and and consult us.

Damp walls at high level or in an isolated area? Is the damp area manifesting internally at a high level? Check outside for condensation overflow or toilet overflow pipes dripping down the brickwork. The constant source of water against your brick work can be drawn into your internal finishes and manifest like a damp patch or salts coming through. This should be obvious so stop it immediately and then once this has been achieved then it will just be a matter of re-decorating your damp wall. Another culprit here is the leaking gutter or down pipe, same again stop the external source of damp and your problem will be rectified. Damp walls can also be a problem and water ingress into your property can also be through structural defects. This is more difficult to ascertain so here is are a few things to look at: Chimney flashing or other lead flashings under windows, cracks in the walls - may need structural repair - consult engineer, defective pointing- could be a major problem - need professional advice, loose tiles - obviously a instant source of dampness in structure needs, bridging of a cavity wall with rubble

All the above except the cavity wall bridging may be able to be visually checked as a source of damp problems. However it may be worth to make sure getting a chartered surveyor to provide you with a full report.

Another problem which you may encounter is condensation mould cause by lack of ventilation in the property. Usually found behind cupboards or in the corners, condensation problems look like black spots and can easily be confused with rising damp. Once again ventilation is a job for an expert and modern properties which are governed to be more air tight do suffer as a result. A qualified surveyor should be able to point you in the right direct here as with the structural defects.

The biggest problem in the damp proof diagnosis is high ground levels over the top of your existing damp proof course or lack of a damp proof course in the first instance. If you do have high external ground levels then you must lower them otherwise you could be dealing with more than damp walls, you could in a worst case scenario have water entering your property. If you cannot remove the ground then you will need to use a waterproofing technique like you would in a basement.

Now we are getting an idea of where the damp may be coming from lets look at "how to damp proof" with the knowledge we have just attained.

What is the damp proof course? How do I deal with my property if it isn't working or doesn't have one?

In the "how to damp proof" guide this is the first point which should be established. Do you have a damp proof course and what to do if you don't. The damp proof course or dpc is a physical barrier either slate in old properties or in newer properties it is a hdpp or hdpe membrane about 150mm thick and situated above internal floor levels inserted into the mortar course 150mm above external ground level. This dpc is essential part of construction and stops rising damp (dampness tracking up from the ground) and manifesting itself as dampness internally in your structure.

If your dpc isn't working or is not existent you will need to re-instate it or install a cavity drain membrane to deal with the dampness internally. To reinstate the dpc you can either physically cut it into the mortar course and replace with slate packing (an experts job their a few with the skills to perform this task) or most commonly insert a chemical dpc. The insertion of a dpc is the job of a damp proof specialist. The insertion is achieved by drilling holes externally usually about 20cm apart to the depth adequate for your wall and inject either a damp proof liquid or cream to form a barrier preventing the movement of dampness. Technology has moved forward with the advent of dpc creams which tend to be a better bet than other liquids but beware they are not fool proof and still should be installed by someone with the adequate training. The insertion of creams or liquids can be messy and time consuming as it involves "hacking off" damp plaster to a height usually 1.2 m prior to injection then re-plastering with a salt retardant additive in the mix to prevent the salts coming through afterwards. The real problem is here the wet trades and drying out times involved before you can go and redecorate. Ask the contractor doing the damp proof work what form of guarantee they are going to give you as well as different schemes do vary.

Next option on how to damp proof is to use a cavity drain membrane. These membranes are dimpled sheets which can receive a direct plaster finish or plasterboard finish. This type of damp proofing is a physical barrier mechanically fixed internally and the air gap allows the wall to "breathe" thus all the dampness can come out without staining or guess work that the cream alternative offers. So it acts as a barrier for the surface area covered not just a line across the mortar joints. This damp proofing material can also be used externally to prevent driving or penetrating rain/moisture coming through porous brickwork, defective mortar courses. The cavity drain membranes on the market vary in thickness of dimples from 3mm to 8mm. These products will cover all bases in terms of not allowing the dampness to effect internal finishes and can be applied with minimal surface prep and little to none drying out times. You will however need to identify the source of damp walls (like defective gutters) for the sake of the property in general.

Read an interesting article about Damp here

How To Find Best Damp Proofing Contractor?

If you are planning to build a structure (home) then a damp proofing contractor (DPC) is necessary for the project to be successful. Even though they do not perform the most exciting part of the project, their work is very important. Normally damp proofing contractors repair brickwork, woodwork, prevent the fungal reaction in both the floors and roofs, and even more.

Contractors such as this are related with "healing" works to a property that is suffering from moist due to some failed moist proof system or any other problem. There are many uses of damp proofing and you should be aware of them while building a structure. You have to find out a good DPC contractor at the time of building your house (or any other kind of building for that matter). It is recommended that the treatment be applied to the exterior walls during the construction. DPC treatment helps to shut the moisture out when the construction is over. Damp proofing helps to prevent the dampness from affecting the house but it will not work for water leakage. As you know this is a very essential part of any construction. It is a must to find a skilled damp professional. A skilled and experienced DPC contractor can provide you useful solutions to keep the damps away. Those contractors will know the proper uses of the damp proofing tools, chemicals and products. However finding the best DPC contractor is a very challenging task for anyone.

When selecting the contractor, get some recommendations from your friends, your neighbours and relatives. If you find a company not known in the area then it can either be a new one...or a bad one! Find some reputed companies and get some quotations related to the prices and services they are offering. Find a contractor who can provide you many related services (along with damp proofing) like preventing insect problems, or doing woodwork or brickwork. An experienced contractor always tries to provide the most suitable solutions for your property. You may get a better service by hiring a well experienced damp proofing contractor than by using some big companies. A smaller team of DPC contractors, or any individual, can focus on your requirements more specifically and they can finish your work with some extra care.

You have to get a contractor using modern tools and equipments to deal with your damp proofing. There are many effective and new products on the market. A good contractor will always use the latest products and equipments for this specific work. Thus, learn more about the equipments and products they are going to use before hiring any contractor.

You can judge a contractor according to his (her) rates. Using the Internet, you can easily find out some good deals. Do a small research and find out the contractor who can offer you the best deal with a good quality work. Well experienced and good damp proofing contractors will provide you with the most efficient services at a reasonable cost. In order to find the best damp proofing services, always search for a balanced offer: not too much cheap and not too costly, just within your budget.

Read an interesting article about Damp proof course here

Liquid DPM - Preparing to Lay Your New Wooden Floor

Due to the nature of real wood such as oak it is a living and breathing product. It will expand and contract depending on its environment. A new wood floor looks fantastic but it is always best to ensure it stays looking pristine for years to come. The way to do this is to make sure the preparation for laying the flooring is done correctly, along with a common knowledge of the small issues that can happen with real wood floors.

Solid flooring has a tendency to expand and contract. In summer, when the air is more humid due to the house being aired more often - the boards soak up the extra moisture and tend to expand slightly. In winter, when central heating / underfloor heating are used regularly, the air in the house is very dry therefore resulting in the boards drying and contracting - this often creates gaps appearing between boards - often large enough to put a coin between. These are harmless and disappear in the warmer months when heating is not used in the house as often.

When hardwood flooring gets wet or damp it absorbs the moisture and expands to accommodate this extra moisture. This can often happen even if the room does not feel damp or wet - the humidity in the air can also affect the floor. Before laying a wooden floor in is essential to check that the room is dry and the sub floor contains no extra moisture. It is also best to check the moisture content of the flooring before installing. However the sub floor is the most important thing to check before installing as this will affect the floor if it is not the correct moisture levels.

Where an existing timber subfloor is present, this needs to be checked for wet rot, dry rot and for woodworm. Although these are not commonplace it is always best to check existing floors before laying down your new wood floors which can get ruined by rot or woodworm. It is always best to ensure that the existing boards are also securely fastened to the joists as they will cause creaking if not fitted well. Loose timber boards can be screwed down onto the joists - or additional noggins can be placed between the joists if an old board has been cut in the wrong place and is loose.

When nailing down onto the existing flooring, the boards should be laid at 90 degrees to the sub floor. This ensures maximum stability and strength in the floor. (As an example consider a jenga game where all the blocks are placed on top of each other in the same direction - it is extremely unstable). If you are wanting the boards to be laid in the same direction as the sub floor a layer of plywood can be placed and nailed or screwed down to ensure a stable fit of the new wood flooring.

There are additional precautions to take where a screed or concrete sub floor is present. New concrete dries at a rate of 1 inch per month or 1mm per day. Although the concrete can look and feel dry to the touch, it can often still contain more moisture than the recommended amounts for hardwood flooring. The best way to check is to use a moisture meter - this will give you an instant reading and tell you whether you need to leave it to dry for longer.

If the new wood floor is an engineered floor that is being laid as a floating floor then it is possible to lay an extra layer of damp proof membrane (DPM) over the concrete / screed to ensure no moisture reaches the wood floor however if the floor is being glued down to the subfloor or battened out it would not be possible to lay the DPM, however a liquid DPM or epoxy resin can be used to create a liquid barrier instead. As solid wood floors are recommended to be stuck down to the sub floor it is best to glue solid wood floors down to the concrete directly therefore it is essential that the moisture is checked before laying.

With all wood flooring, an expansion gap must be left around the edge to ensure there is room for expansion in case of problems with moisture. This can be covered with skirting, beading or an edge profile. When preparation for the sub floor has been completed correctly, the laying of the wood floor is more likely to fit properly and without problems for the future.

Read an interesting article about Damp Proofing Slurry here

Facts of whiteboards

A whiteboard is also known as a dry wipe board, a marker board or a dry erase have grown in popularity over the years and today it has replaced the traditional chalkboards in schools, colleges, offices and meeting rooms. In fact in most of the offices these days, the whiteboards have become a useful permanent fixture that people cannot do without. So where did the journey of this permanent fixture in most of the offices and schools start? Let's find out!

This ingenious product was invented by Martin Heit, a Korean War veteran and a photographer and this idea was originally developed by Martin to help him take down notes while he was on the phone. The early whiteboards had a glassy finish on them that could be found on the film negatives. Martin Heit prepared his prototype and sold his idea to Dry Mark who in turn began introducing the whiteboard into the educational sector.

Whiteboards became very popular all across in various sectors especially the educational sector, in 1990s, that too when the likely health risks that chalk dust posed was a major cause for concern. Once it was introduced in the market, there was no turning back and the rest as they say is history as the whiteboards have come a long way from being an expensive product with melamine surface to porcelain steel dry erase surface that is magnetic which is the best quality board available in the market. The white boards, over a period of time have also become affordable and are common even in hospitals apart from schools, offices and universities

The whiteboards available in the market can be differentiated based on the different surfaces used on these boards and there are four popular options available in the market, namely melamine, painted aluminum or steel, hardcoat laminate and porcelain enamel on steel.

Melamine

In this type of whiteboard, a paper that is resin infused is used over the surface which could either be a medium density fiber board or a particle board. These boards are available in different qualities, with some of them retaining the residue of the erased marking leading to a phenomenon that is called as ghosting and some others that do not exhibit the ghosting phenomenon for a longer duration. The melamine board is one of the cheapest types of whiteboards available in the market and is usually used in a number of non commercial applications.

Painted aluminum or steel

The next type of whiteboard that is available in the market is the painted aluminum or steel board. Since the surface is painted, the surface is smoother and is also easy to erase. The surface on the painted aluminum or steel whiteboard has different layers of coatings. The base coat is usually white in color and the other coating which is the dry erase component, is known as the clear performance coating. Some of the high quality painted aluminum or steel whiteboards have excellent dry erase properties with some of the best quality boards permitting the user to even clear content that has been written using permanent markers. However since the surface is coated, extreme caution and care has to be taken while using the board and maintaining it, as it is likely to get scratches easily. While the painted steel surface is magnetic in nature, the painted aluminum surface is very expensive as well as these surfaces are non magnetic in nature and hence are very rarely used. Usually the painted aluminum or steel whiteboards are used as patient information boards, training boards, or even tracking boards.

Hard coat laminate

The hard coat laminate whiteboard is another type of board that offers varied performance, which is dependent on the quantity of resin on the board. Based on the quality of the material uses, some of these boards are extremely resistant to stains and they are less porous too.

Porcelain enamel on steel

The porcelain enamel on steel surface whiteboard is very durable and the best quality whiteboard that is available in the market. These boards are very much in demand these days as they are highly durable and are not susceptible to scratches easily. The porcelain enamel on steel surface is magnetic and it does not absorb ink from a permanent marker or the whiteboard marker ink. Cleaning this surface is also very easy and all you need to use is a nonabrasive cleaner. Most of the porcelain enamel on steel surface whiteboards have a lifetime warranty on them which makes them the most sensible option for schools, colleges and offices.

Now that we know all about the different types of surfaces used on whiteboards, let's look at some of the uses of these whiteboards. Whiteboards are being predominantly used in schools and colleges. Not only do these whiteboards make excellent learning medium but they can also be used to play a number of interesting games in the class. The whiteboards allows children to write or draw without you having to worry about wasting too much of paper. So the games that you can play with your children can range from a wide variety of word games such as Hangman where the children need to guess the letters to form the right word, that requires the children to write on the whiteboard to barrios drawing games, such as Picture What, where the child has to guess the picture that has been drawn on the whiteboard.

So apart from the fact that these boards are easy to use and easy to maintain, another fact that has made these boards very popular is that the whiteboards requires minimal hardware for it to be operational. In case you need the whiteboard to be fastened onto the wall all you need are some screws, and in case you need the board to be mobile then all you need to purchase is a white board easel that is also easily available online and that too at affordable rates. However when you place your board in front of the audience make sure that the board is kept at the right height so that your audience is able to read what is written on the board easily.

Read about A4 paper

Printer cartridges

There are so many different printer cartridges available. It is up to you to decide which one is most suitable for your printer. When you buy a printer cartridge, make sure you take into account the cost involved in replacing the cartridge.

Printer cartridges come in two types: the combination print head and the ink reservoir cartridge. The combination print head is not economical because the print process is controlled by set circuits and these have to be replaced with every ink replacement. Moreover, they can be refilled only once.

The ink reservoir cartridge is considered economical as the print head is not within the cartridge thereby saving a basic expense. The design is such that compatible units can be produced. Inkjet printers use thermal technology and go by the name of bubble jet printers. Laser jet printers are based on static electricity and the quality is superior to inkjet printers.

While using printers, keep in mind that they should be serviced regularly, that the paper used should be of good quality and that correct installation techniques and aligning instructions are followed.

If you are buying refilled cartridges, look for OEM or original equipment manufacturers like Canon, Epson, Brother, to name a few. The company's name on the product is a sign of its authenticity. Generic cartridges give high quality results and are reliable and they are a cheaper option to their branded counterparts. Some names in this field are Hewlett Packard, Compaq, and Lexmark. Remanufactured cartridges are basically recycled cartridges which pass the required test for proper use.

It is necessary to have some knowledge about printers and their use regarding printing output and cartridges otherwise one may end up buying the wrong cartridge. Since cartridges come in different varieties for different jobs, one must have a clear idea of one's requirements. Accessories can be quite expensive so good research before buying a printer would go a long way in keeping within your budget.

Read about Post-it Notes

Post-it Notes

Post-It Notes are one of the greatest office product inventions of our time. Let's face it, how many products that are truly office supplies, not office technology or office equipment, have really revolutionized the way we do our work? Pens, pencils, paper clips, staplers, folders, binders, etc. have all been basically the same for decades, but Post-It Notes have changed the way we work.

The ubiquitous Post-It Notes was somewhat accidentally invented by 3M chemist Art Fry, using an adhesive developed by Spencer Silver in the mid 1970's. The Post-It note was originally called "Press 'n Peel", but poor sales in test markets caused marketing changes, a new name, and some massive sampling campaigns by 3M to get the product into the hands of workers. That sampling program was the critical marketing element that created an office supplies superstar, because people who tried them loved them.

By the early 1980's, Post-It Notes were stocked at most office products dealers, and a star was born. 3M dominates the self stick note category, even though their patent for the adhesive expired in the 1990's. That dominance is driven by three major advantages that 3M enjoys.

First, the product simply works better. Many office products companies have tried and failed to copy the Post-It adhesive, from Avery and Ampad, to Rediform and Zip Notes. The truth is no one has perfectly mastered the "repositionability" of the Post-It, while still keeping the paper notes from curling. Next, 3M was the innovator and the first to market, and did a great marketing job. Usually the one who brings innovation to the market first is the one who wins out in the end, (see Apple).

Third, 3M does an incredible job extending the product line, and adding freshness and relevance to the Post-It note brand. Often times companies attempt to extend brands with mixed results and a loss of focus, but 3M has invented multiple other new products and categories under the Post-It Note flagship that help workers be more productive, add value, and sell like hotcakes. This is by no means an all inclusive list, but here are several 3M Post-It's line extensions that you should try.

Pop-Up notes are accordion style notes that let you pop your next note out of a dispenser much like Kleenex. It's a more convenient way to pull the notes from the pad. Post-It flags are addictive little colored flags that can be popped from a dispenser and used to flag pages, mark signature areas and get attention for important content. This product line did not exist a few years ago, and today four full pages are devoted to Post-It Flags in office products catalogs.

Post-It Note easel pads, while not actually invented by 3M, are also a very popular product line. Adhesive applied to the top of each easel pad page allows the user to tear pages off the easel pad, and easily stick the sheet to a wall or window surface for viewing. Most people say that once you use a Post-It easel pad, others don't compare.

Post-It Durable Tabs are a very new product line that uses 3M's removable adhesive technology with file folder and hanging file folder index tabs. They are color coordinated and allow you to use repositionable tabs for folders to stay organized, and then simply pull off to relabel the folder. They are much easier to use than plastic inserts, look better, and are reusable.

So where is the best place to find a full line of Post-It products and other great office supplies? You know by now my favorite office products company. I buy all my office supplies online from an independent office products dealer that gives back to the community by donating profits to great charities. They practice conscious capitalism as a business model, have great service, and I feel good knowing we do good work together. My advice is to never shop at the corporate Big Box stores. Service, pricing and selection just aren't as good, and all they care about is the bottom line. Do good work with 3M Post-It's!

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Problems Caused by the A4 Card To A4 Paper

Since different countries use different card sizes, such variety of sizes could hamper a very important meeting or conference between international entities. Many countries use the A4 card in many correspondences. To avoid such problems, you should be familiar with what could cause the incorrect printing of documents.

Most printers have the default setting of adjusting between the different ISO A sizes. In many cases, printers in other countries cannot be reprogrammed to print American paper sizes. Many documents come out cut in the middle, missing some content from the original copy. Offices have remedied this situation by just purchasing devices that have been imported from the U.S. However, smaller companies who do not have the resources to buy devices for U.S. documents, they remedied the situation by choosing a bigger A sized paper, printing the content and then cutting the missing part, pasting it to another page and then scanning them to consolidate the pages into one single document. All in all, this process has been very time consuming. In other cases, the U.S. companies are just asked to convert the documents into a pdf file and the international companies just cross their fingers, hoping that their printout will contain the entire content. You may also try reducing the pages to 94% to fit into the shorter paper. This will be a trial and error process and you need to know some details about your photocopier before being sure how the adjustments need to be made.

What is the difference between "Letter" size paper and A4 paper? Both have similar uses. An A4 card has the dimensions 210mm x 297mm. The letter size is a bit wider and shorter than the A4. Therefore, a document that has been formatted for A4 paper needs to be reformatted to be able to make a printout using letter-sized paper. Otherwise, as mentioned above, the bottom part of the A4 paper will be missing.

The U.S. is known for unique systems and practices that are not very common in other countries. Although the use of American paper sizes is something that causes problems particularly in transactions with international clients, there is no indication that the U.S. would give in to accepting standardization. One important system that seems to be accepted worldwide is the ISO paper sizing system. However, it is very unlikely that the Americans will welcome this system with arms wide open. The A4 card will probably not be able to make its way to the U.S. anytime soon.

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Market is Full With Self-Adhesive Labels

Self-adhesive labels are found everywhere in our life. They come in different shapes and sizes. These are used by wide range of customers, industries, government, manufacturers, schools and universities. They have become very vital in business as a resource to promote and advertise their business image. Brand owners use self adhesive type labels to protect their products from tampering and use it as a security measure.

Self-adhesive labels are used by an end user and trade sectors. They are most suitable for almost all the applications. These are used for identifying barcodes, assets, identifying serial nos., and also used as a security measure. Barcode labels are now a worldwide product for tracking systems. They are used on almost all goods which are retailed. Asset labels help you to track expensive equipment easily and affordably.

Self-adhesive labels such as digital labels allow you to have multi and full color digital labels and this can be printed with vibrant colours. Manufacturer could print the barcodes, serial numbers and laminate them for total protection. Water proof type which are used for outdoor weather conditions can withstand the challenging conditions. These labels can be used in washroom, swimming pool areas, kitchen, and also used where liquid is present. The print stays intact with no smearing or smudging.

Self-adhesive labels such as warning labels are normally used to warn people of dangerous chemicals, machinery and heavy equipment. Window stickers are also used to display information of the car make, model and year on the sticker. These statistics on the sticker identify the car or truck.

Self-adhesive labels such as product labels meet the customers' precise requirements. Products like bottles, cartons or jars need product labels. Product labels are plastic coated and polished for extra print protection and durability. Custom labels can be designed and custom made according to the customer's requirements. They can be oval, triangle or circle shaped. Most of these labels have permanent adhesive but, some of them are removable. Tamper evidence labels are designed to show evidence of tampering if the label is removed. Electrical safety labels are used on appliances and warn the user about any potential hazards.

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What is a damp proof course and why do I need one?

A damp proof course or dpc is an essential part of the construction process in that its function is to prevent rising dampness.

Rising dampness is a result of dampness in the ground being drawn up through the capillary channels in any given building fabric.

Generally a dpc will be installed when the building is constructed. In new buildings the damp proof course is physical membrane. This will be laid into a mortar course at the base of the walls. In older buildings it is common for slate or bitumen to be used as the damp proof course and some older buildings will not have a damp proof course at all.

As said, all of the above provide a physical barrier against rising dampness but why is this necessary? In short it prevents spoiling of the internal wall finishes. When a wall suffers from rising dampness the associated affects to the internal finishes is staining, salting and peeling paint or paper, blown plaster, rotten skirting boards etc.

A damp proof course is designed to stop the dampness at low level before it has a chance to do any damage higher up the wall.

Sometimes an older dpc will fail. If it does or if there isn't one can be installed as a remedial or retrofit measure. Typically one of the following methods would be used:

• Chemical damp proof course

This involves drilling a series of holes 150mm above the external ground level along the base of the walls and injecting a silicone fluid or cream. The idea is that the silicone content in these products is designed to repel moisture rising up the wall.

My opinion is that this method is a little hit and miss in that the density and quality of the wall will have a big baring on whether it will be affective as will the application method in terms of drilling hole to the correct diameter and depth and volume of chemical installed which is often very hard to gauge. This is why you will often fins a chemical damp proof course is recommended along with the removal of internal plaster and re-plastering with a waterproofing additive. The idea is if one doesn't work hopefully the other will.

• Physical Damp proof course installation

Believe it or not is possible to retro fit a physical damp proof course. Mortar joints along the walls are cut out with an electric joint saw and a new physical damp proof course is inserted in sections. The wall is then made good around it.

My opinion is that long term effectiveness should be very good however it is likely to be expensive and externally disruptive because someone is literally cutting through the walls of your house. Imagine the dust!!

• Electro osmosis damp proof course

A titanium wire is passed around the walls to be treated and at regular intervals this wire is pushed into holes made in the brickwork, then it is earthed and a safe voltage is applied, this stops the dampness from rising up the masonry.

A pretty unusual method which has opinions divided as to its effectiveness. In my opinion has never really been proved to be an effective damp proof course and as such is very rarely seen or used these days.

• Cavity membranes

Not a damp proof course as such but more an alternative to one. These systems are becoming ever more popular as an effective solution to rising dampness in buildings.

Cavity membranes are high density polypropylene and polyethylene plastic membranes. The rolls of plastic are moulded into a stud formation to give and "egg box" type appearance and for damp proofing purposes they usually have a mesh welded to the surface to provide a base to plaster or dab fix plasterboard onto.

They are described as cavity membranes because the stud profile creates an air gap between the membrane and the wall to which it is applied. Once applied to the wall (usually up to at least 1m) The membrane allows any moisture in the wall to evaporate into the air gap but because it is free to move unhindered it is not pushed to adjacent areas or higher up the wall and the membrane unlike any damp proof course will provide an impermeable separation barrier between the damp wall and the new wall finished which is permanently affective against damp, salts, staining etc. The membranes are attached using special sealed mushroom fixings and despite some concerns the membranes can be easily fixed through retrospectively if required. Plastered finish and dab fixed plasterboard and skim provide the rooms usual aesthetic appearance with the peace of mind that the membrane will prolong their longevity. In my opinion this is a good and cost effective method of treatment which can be used in conjunction with or instead of any of the above.

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Damp Proofing

Damp proofing is a term used in construction and refers to a process designed to make foundation walls waterproof and prevent damp and moisture passing through walls, to indoor spaces. Symptoms of damp vary, but will generally be visible by a cold, darkened area on a wall, which may be slightly wet to the touch. There may also be a musty smell and nearby carpets or furnishings may begin to stain as a result.

Without treatment, damp can spread and eventually lead to foundation walls and surrounding decor decaying. It can be started with something as simple as a nail destroying the integrity of an exterior brick and allowing moisture to slowly pass through from outdoors. It can also be caused by poorly installed former damp proof courses (or their entire absence, in older buildings) and damage done through bridging - where floor or ground levels are changed. Damp can build up over periods of years, which is why some causes may not become visible for some time. It can also be more of a problem with stone, brick and mortar - which are porous materials and will allow damp to rise upwards, carrying ground salts which can add to the dampness problem and break down plaster and decor over time.

Caught early however, damp proofing can be applied with excellent results. A damp proofing course will involve a barrier being installed into a wall that resists the rising moisture using a capillary action - preventing what's known as rising damp. It will also have a damp-proof membrane to prevent similar passing damp on solid floors- known as DPM or DPC.

Damp-proofing is best done by an expert, as it isn't an absolute and clear cut diagnosis - a trained technician will carry out tolerance tests, diagnoses and methods tests before diagnosing and recommending a course of treatment. This may involved flexible materials such as plastic sheets or lead and copper to prevent damp, mortar being applied with waterproof properties and compounds, thick continuous spread plastic sheets being laid under floors and rigid materials such as slates or cement being painted with a special bitumen.

A very effective (and cost effective) approach to permanently avoid the problem of damp is to apply an exterior wall system, which is a special, durable exterior paint coating. Companies such as Never Paint Again offer an exterior wall system which is suitable for any type of wall surface, including

•          Stucco
•          Stone
•          Brick
•          Plaster
•          Metal and more

Master builders will treat all surfaces and repair defects before the coating is applied. Different textures are available, from smooth, fine and coarse and the benefits are significant, including:

A stop to condensation build-up in the home Reduced wind chill, leading to lower energy bills Instant prevention of inner and exterior damp on walls Removes the need to repaint walls on an annual basis Installed and applied fully by expert teams, with prior wall fixing for a prepared surface Offers flexibility and an attractive finish, with different finishes and colors on offer

Most importantly, the system works on any type of exterior wall, making it suitable for any home keen to avoid problems with damp.

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How To Recycle Xerox Printer Cartridges?

With the millions of users of Xerox printers, we can also expect millions of empty Xerox printer cartridges that are disposed worldwide. How and where will these tons of cartridges will disposed is up to the consumers. It is not uncommon to see people and business establishments throwing away empty Xerox cartridges in trash cans. It is also not uncommon to meet people who are ignorant on the proper way of disposing spent cartridges. Throwing away empty cartridges is an irresponsible act against the environment which is already damaged due to our irresponsible activities.

When thrown to the outside environment, say landfills, printer cartridges release toxic compounds that can pollute soil, water, and air. Imagine the amount of toxic substances released in the environment if million tons of Xerox print cartridges are dumped in landfills. You need to know that cartridges are not like plants and animals that can be decomposed by natural means. Majority of the parts of a cartridge are non-biodegradable or cannot be decomposed by microorganisms. In fact, there are materials in the cartridge that are made up of sturdy polymers that take hundreds or even thousands of years to disintegrate.

With the growing public demand for corporate social responsibility, many printer cartridge manufacturers like Xerox are developing recycling programs to reduce the volume of cartridges dumped in landfills or elsewhere. They also continuously improve their manufacturing process to reduce waste up to zero. Moreover, environmentally friendly materials are being used to minimize the amount of toxic substances released in the environment.

Xerox, one of the leaders and movers of the printer supply industry, has been collecting empty toner cartridges for years now. It has a worldwide program called Xerox Green World Alliance which is boasting 145 million pounds of waste out of landfills since its launch several years ago. A great bulk of these million pounds of waste is empty cartridges. Xerox collects these cartridges from customers and recycles them. They use the various parts of the recycled cartridges to make brand new ones for sale. Some of these parts can actually be recycled more than twice depending on their conditions.

Returning genuine Xerox print cartridges for recycling is easy and free. Whatever the number of cartridges you are willing to return, Xerox will gladly accept them. All you need to do is visit the official site of Xerox and look for the page about Green World Alliance Program. In this page, you can request an eco box with ready to use shipping label. Put your empty cartridges in the box, seal it properly, and hand it over to UPS which will handle the shipping of your eco box. That's it my friend, you are done.

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Card laminators and Card Printers

For most business owners and managers there is no mystery at all in relation to which office gadget to buy: a card printer or a card laminators. They are totally sure of their requirements and expectations; know how much money they can invest in this new technology advancement and are determined to buy what they consider will help them solve their card printing needs. In many other cases, business owners and managers are still doubtful about which device to buy and would really appreciate if somebody provided them with some kind of comparative analysis between the two of them. This article is just written for them. Go on reading and understand what the difference is between a card laminators and a card printer and what their advantages if any are.

As regards the quality of the finished ID card is concerned, there is no doubt at all that if you are really looking for highly professional and neat ID badges you should consider buying a card printer. It works with plastic or PVC cards that do not need to be laminated. On the other hand, a card laminators may leave bubbles if it is not well used and all cards will have a plastic border around them.

If you need to produce a lot of ID cards over a limited period of time, your best alternative is buying a card printer. Some of these devices can be really powerful and they can deliver over 200 identifications in only one printing session. On the other hand, if your printing needs are not so demanding you can consider purchasing a card laminators. If you opt for a cold one, you will be able to produce lots of ID badges in a quite fast manner as you will not have to leave the device to cool down.

Card printers have an additional advantage. Once the information is introduced into the card software system and all the blank cards are loaded, the printer can do everything by itself with little or no supervision at all. Card laminators require more manual effort as cards have to be introduced individually in the laminating pouch.

But if you are interested in versatility, you should definitely consider buying a card laminators. It will allow you to laminate not only identification badges but also any other document or paper you may need or want to have protected from the daily tear and wear such as a memo, a fire exit plan, a price list and so on.

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Customized self-adhesive labels

Custom self-adhesive labels can be found everywhere in our lives; they are found as price stickers, product labels, food labels, you name it. With a custom self-adhesive label, you find an indispensable commercial resource to promote and advertise your business image.

There are different types of self-adhesive labels. The difference lies in the adhesives and different backing liners that range from permanent to low tack. You choose the best type of self-adhesive label to customize it. You can raise brand awareness of your business with a customized self-adhesive label that has your logo or name on it.

The permanent sticker is the most difficult to remove; there will be some adhesive residue remaining when you try to remove this label. The removable labels are only for temporary use and can be removed easily without tearing or leaving glue or any material behind. Low-tack self-adhesive labels adhere to a flat surface with static cling.

When choosing the custom self-adhesive label for your business, you have to take the environment into consideration. The paper labels are not advised for outdoor use as they deteriorate with moisture and UV light exposure. The custom self-adhesive label comes in an infinite choice of colors and materials in either matt or gloss paper finish.

Labels are usually ordered from a color printing shop; however, the custom self-adhesive label has to be ordered from screen printers or from specialist digital label printers. This is because you can supply your own artwork or your brand image here to make your custom self-adhesive label. When creating your custom self-adhesive label, it is important that you mention to the printer where you intend to use the label. Mention whether it is to be used in interior or exterior conditions, permanent or temporary or inside or outside of glass.

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