[Nhcoll-l] Desktop thermal printers?

[Bentley, Andrew Charles]

Hi Katrina

I do not have any experience using desktop thermal printers but do have a lot of experience using commercial ones and can highly recommend spending the extra cash to get one of these that will serve you well.  I am not sure if some of the brands that make these commercial printers make desktop versions, but you may want to try CAB SQUIX (https://codesource.com/collections/cab-squix-thermal-transfer-printers) as they make a very good commercial version.  One issue that you will find is that these smaller printers will not accept the rolls of media we are traditionally purchasing for museum use as they are too large.  I suspect that they are also not designed for the heavier polyester media hence why you were having issues with rollers in your previous version.

There do appear to be second-hand commercial thermal printers available that you may consider given your budget.

I would stay away from laser printed labels if possible.  I have never had much luck with longevity of laser printed labels.

Hope that helps

Andy


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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager
University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute

Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
USA

Tel: (785) 864-3863<tel:%28785%29%20864-3863>
Fax: (785) 864-5335<tel:%28785%29%20864-5335>
Email: abentley at ku.edu<mailto:abentley at ku.edu>

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3093-1258

http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu<http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/>

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________________________________
From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Derieg, Katrina <katrina.derieg at mso.umt.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 11:08 AM
To: Natural History Collections Listserv <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Desktop thermal printers?

Hi NHC community,
I am hoping to step up my game with fluid labeling. We have a very small fluid collection in just a few flammable cabinets, so we have a low volume of fluid specimens being prepared, but I'm hoping to slowly expand. For reference, we are using only ethanol and not formalin going forward.

A few years ago, I bought and used a GoDEX ZX430i thermal printer when I was at UMNH and that thing was the bane of my existence. I found it difficult to dial in the settings, and the media (Tyvek) was too slick for the rollers to grab consistently. I'm sure the Tyvek was mostly the problem there, but in any case I would prefer to avoid an industrial thermal printer, mostly because of cost.

Has anyone used desktop thermal printers? Example: Brother TD-4520TN<https://brothermobilesolutions.com/products/printers/td/td-4/td4520tn/> If so, can you use them with continuous rolls of printing media? Most of the desktop ones seem to be direct thermal for sticker labels. I mainly want to print small tags (1" x 0.25") for individual specimens, as well as internal jar labels (~ 3" x 4" or 4" x 6"). Has anyone achieved this with desktop thermal printers? With what kind of media?

I'd like to spend less than $1000 USD on a printer.

Alternatively, does anyone have any thoughts on laser jet printing with special media for fluid tags/labels? This would honestly be my preference, as I already have a laser jet printer. Currently I am just printing fluid tags on acid-free card stock with the laser jet, but I know that is far from ideal.

I know there is a TON of info out there on labeling for fluid collections, but I find it hard to sift through for my needs and would just like to hear from the community on what works for you folks.

Thanks in advance!!
-Katrina


KATRINA DERIEG (she/her)

Curator | Museum Collections and Outreach Coordinator

Phillip L. Wright Zoological Museum (UMZM)

https://www.umt.edu/zoological-museum/

Shipping: Health Science 104 | 32 Campus Drive | 406-243-4743

Office: Health Science 211

katrina.derieg at umontana.edu | umzm at mso.umt.edu

University of Montana


Search the UMZM collections on Arctos: Birds<https://arctos.database.museum/search.cfm?guid_prefix=UMZM:Bird> | Mammals<https://arctos.database.museum/search.cfm?guid_prefix=UMZM:Mamm> | Eggs & Nests<https://arctos.database.museum/search.cfm?guid_prefix=UMZM:Egg> | Parasites<https://arctos.database.museum/search.cfm?guid_prefix=UMZM:Para>

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