spmug 581 Shaking Out a Few More Pages

Q. Does shaking a printer toner cartridge really help all that much in
getting more pages printed? A. Unlike inkjet cartridges, which are
filled with liquid, toner cartridges for laser printers are filled with
a fine powder. When you use a laser printer, this loose toner powder is
fused onto the paper with heated rollers to create the printed text or
image. After manufacturing and transport, the powder in the toner
cartridge may shift. This may be the case if you notice your printouts
aren't consistently dark in some places. Removing the toner cartridge
and giving it a couple of shakes can reallocate the remaining powder so
your pages get an even application of toner. You may even be able to
shake out a few dozen pages or more before you have to replace the
cartridge.