COPYING an 8 1/2 x 11 inch to a page of the same size

[rocksolid68]

I am copying notes that were written on only one side of the paper to the back side of the next page in the document. I can save a lot of paper (120 sheets) if I copy, for example, page 2 onto the back of page 1. The paper is 8 1/2 x 11 yellow legal pad paper. I don't feel comfortable using the simplex to duplex function on the copier. Doing it this way will cut the thickness of the document in half and allow me to use the back of page 2, which is still blank, for discardable printing.

I have copied over 40 pages this way so far. There were a couple of hiccups early on, but I have my routine figured out and was doing quite well. Until suddenly the printer consistently and inexplicably determines the target of the copy is a size match. I have tried multiple times with the same result. (I know, definition of insanity.) The top edge of the target paper has a small triangular piece of the page missing. This is something that might happen when the page is torn imperfectly along the perforated page. That is the only difference I can see. I have attached a copy of the edge of the page. As you can see by the page number, I have successfully done this over 40 times.

It occurred to me before I posted this question that if the tear IS the reason for the problem, turning the page around might circumvent the issue. I tried that and the copy was successful. I will post this anyway in case someone else runs into the problem. And I would be interested to hear from HP engineers what the tolerance is for torn paper when copying to it.