[sdiy] PNP Blue questions

[David G Dixon]

> So, I shouldn't just set up several patterns to fill the 
> sheet of PNP and run it through the printer? 

That's never worked for me.  I'd set up the patterns anyway, as this will
show you how to use the sheet most efficiently.  But every time I've tried
to put whole sheets of PNP through, I've had nothing but trouble.  The paper
backing acts as a bit of a heat sink, I think, and also stiffens the PnP.

> I have a nice HP 
> color laser printer that really lays on the toner.  It has a 
> pretty straight print path.

If it's like my Brother colour laserjet, it won't even work, as it will get
the PnP too hot.  I use an old HP 2100M Laserjet (the big beige cube from
the 90s) and it doesn't get too hot.  At this point I only use if for
transfers.  I only have one old laptop that supports the dataport for it.

> I've seen the examples of using a 
> small section of PNP stuck to paper and I thought that seemed 
> like a chance for a jam.

Quite the contrary, at least in my old Laserjet.

> I can set my printer to run the 
> stock slow for card stock or transparencies, but I will 
> concede to the wisdom of experience. Especially since my $450 
> printer is not cheap to fix!

If you can run transparencies through it, it might be OK.  All I know is
that the toner never transferred from my Brother printer, no matter how hot
I got the iron, and that was only when the PnP didn't buckle going through
the printer.

> Has anyone had experience just running straight PNP through a printer?
> 
> The Smallbear how-to is really informative. I think I'll 
> stick to that.
> 
> Thanks for all the tips!

Do whatever you think is best.  I'm just telling you what works for me.  In
fact, I'm just minutes away from printing one for a customer.