Refilling laser toner cartridge

There are warning labels on many common household products, which can cause serious injury or even death if not properly used. Doesn't stop people from using it, if they even read the labels in the first place?

Toner by nature is very messy. Even more of a reason to use up as much of it as you can. Most examples of refilling show dumping old toner on a newspaper? I tend to dump old remaining toner directly into a plastic kitchen bag, sealing around the cartridge, outdoors before refilling. Not much different than dumping out the vacuum cleaner canister.


Anyway, this thread has run its purpose. Time to move on.

dryfly wrote:

I appreciate your advice and concern but if there was an abnormal danger here, wouldn't we see our "overly protective government" step in with their scary warnings??

A filter mask MIGHT give you some degree of protection.....IF nothing goes wrong.....like spilling the stuff all over the place for example. I don't know for sure. I'm not an expert in the field. I am just encouraging everyone to find the best information about it that they can. That does NOT include forum posts telling you that it will "melt" on your skin.

As far as warnings, have you read the information that came with your printer, ALL of it ?? Seems to me that I remember warnings in there and on the cartridge boxes too. But my memory isn't what it used to be.

The government typically won't get involved unless something produces damage that is wide spread. Even if there is "abnormal" danger here it certainly wouldn't be wide spread 'cause I doubt that a LOT of people are doing it.....and even fewer are doing it in a hap-hazard manner.

Vulcan Rider wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:


As I stated previously, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T INHALE (I will add DIRECTLY INHALE) the toner ( I will add, by sticking your head into the toner container) you will be fine..

This could have been an almost verbatim quote from the deniers of asbestos and coal related lung disease from 30 years ago.
And slightly modified, cigarettes too back a little farther.

It takes DECADES for some of this to show up.

Every person can and should make up his/her own mind about things like this but they need ALL of the available information before doing so.

Having some unknown person on the Internet tell you "you WILL be fine" should have no bearing on your ultimate decision.

And your entire post smacks of "If I haven't seen it, then it obviously does not exist." which is the attitude of WAY too many people these days.

Since we are talking about highly infrequent toner changes, wouldn't just wearing a good mask while doing the project eliminate the hazards? I mean....we are not talking about refilling on a commercial basis.

I appreciate your advice and concern but if there was an abnormal danger here, wouldn't we see our "overly protective government" step in with their scary warnings??

Gdetrailer wrote:


As I stated previously, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T INHALE (I will add DIRECTLY INHALE) the toner ( I will add, by sticking your head into the toner container) you will be fine..

This could have been an almost verbatim quote from the deniers of asbestos and coal related lung disease from 30 years ago.
And slightly modified, cigarettes too back a little farther.

It takes DECADES for some of this to show up.

Every person can and should make up his/her own mind about things like this but they need ALL of the available information before doing so.

Having some unknown person on the Internet tell you "you WILL be fine" should have no bearing on your ultimate decision.

And your entire post smacks of "If I haven't seen it, then it obviously does not exist." which is the attitude of WAY too many people these days.

I get our toner cartridges refurbished at a local shelter workshop for the handicapped. They replace the fuser and refill to XL (full) capacity. If there is a defective part they replace those, too. $40.00 vs. $149 for store priced cartridge.

Vulcan Rider wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
Umm.. toner is nothing more than extremely fine powered plastic.

Messing with toner does require a few precautions.

Have YOU read the published information and cautions about the possible harmful affects of the stuff ??

It would appear not as your post strongly implies that there is no REAL risk.

Black Lung disease is just caused by finely powdered coal too.....JUST.

I have a good friend who has been sick with pneumonia for the past week or so. It wasn't getting better so they did a CAT scan. She has hundreds of tiny nodules in the upper lobes of both lungs. At this point they think it might be caused by living in a dusty desert environment in her younger days; she has had URI problems for a LONG time.

Saving a few bucks by refilling your own laser cartridges might COST you dearly later on.

Do you realize that just the act of eating and breathing CAN be hazardous to your life?

Have YOU personally read all the hazardous warnings posted a gas stations when you fill up?

Have YOU personally read all the hazardous warnings listed on oil bottles when doing your own oil changes?

Do you realize that Eating TOO much or TOO little food can be hazardous?

Do you realize drinking too much or too little water is hazardous?

According to YOU there SHOULD be MILLIONS OF DEAD OR DYING OFFICE WORKERS that have been exposed to toner from the use or operation of office copiers..

Have YOU ever PERSONALLY looked into a copier used in a shared office environment?

I have, spilled toner in a copier is pretty much NORMAL but yet I have NEVER heard of any DEATHS due to toner inhalation..

I have also spent many years of my life REPAIRING LASER PRINTERS, it is not "rocket science" to dealing with toner spills.

Heck, my Dad used to deal with asbestos (industrial pipe insulation), retired after 38 yrs of exposure, HE IS STILL ALIVE AND VERY ACTIVE at 88 yrs young.. Doctors can not find ANY evidence of asbestos damage in his lungs..

As I stated previously, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T INHALE (I will add DIRECTLY INHALE) the toner ( I will add, by sticking your head into the toner container) you will be fine..

Bulk toners typically have a nice small pour spout, generally pretty easy to work with.

Gdetrailer wrote:
Umm.. toner is nothing more than extremely fine powered plastic.

Messing with toner does require a few precautions.

Have YOU read the published information and cautions about the possible harmful affects of the stuff ??

It would appear not as your post strongly implies that there is no REAL risk.

Black Lung disease is just caused by finely powdered coal too.....JUST.

I have a good friend who has been sick with pneumonia for the past week or so. It wasn't getting better so they did a CAT scan. She has hundreds of tiny nodules in the upper lobes of both lungs. At this point they think it might be caused by living in a dusty desert environment in her younger days; she has had URI problems for a LONG time.

Saving a few bucks by refilling your own laser cartridges might COST you dearly later on.

Hint, if you get toner on your hands, immediately wash in COLD water. Hot water will 'set' the toner, as will normal body temps.

Vulcan Rider wrote:

dryfly wrote:

I will try a toner refill when the end comes.

Do those containers of new toner powder have any warnings on the label ? If please read them. IIRC the boxes of the new cartridges even have a warning about inhaling the powder.

AND anyone who handles loose toner powder should do a Google (or similar) search for "dangers of toner powder" and READ some of the articles.

If you make a mistake handling this stuff it is something that can't be "undone".

Umm.. toner is nothing more than extremely fine powered plastic.

Pretty much an inert and harmless material when handled properly (IE you don't inhale, ingest or get in your eyes), much like many other common office, household or even garage non food items.

Those labels most likely were the result of some person miss using then attempting to sue the manufacturer.

Messing with toner does require a few precautions.

#1, toner WILL go everywhere you DON'T want it if spilled, blown, vacuumed. So don't handle it over carpets furniture or any other object you care about.

With that said, use some news paper or decent sized plastic bag (garbage bag) to cover your work surface.

#2 Don't wear GOOD clothing, it WILL be very difficult to get out.

#3, were protective vinyl, plastic, or rubber gloves (you DON'T want to get toner on your hands, it will leave black marks that take time to wear off.

#4, Don't handle in front of a fan or outdoors in a breeze..

#5, cleaning up, do not use a standard sweeper if spilled on the floor, it will simply go right though the sweeper and be blown out..

#6, DON'T DRY RUB to clean up spilled toner, rubbing creates heat and toner MELTS with heat.. Makes for some ugly stains..

dryfly wrote:

I will try a toner refill when the end comes.

Do those containers of new toner powder have any warnings on the label ? If please read them. IIRC the boxes of the new cartridges even have a warning about inhaling the powder.

AND anyone who handles loose toner powder should do a Google (or similar) search for "dangers of toner powder" and READ some of the articles.

If you make a mistake handling this stuff it is something that can't be "undone".