40 Best Laminators for Teachers, Office and Home Use (2021 Update)

The laminator is not a new device among stationery products, but it is a gadget which requires the user being familiar with all the features and laminating abilities which can be done with it. Thus, more than 54 hours were spent in order to find and test each laminator carefully in order to create these reviews of the top-rated portable and desktop devices which covers your documents with plastic. Stay with WoWPencils and you will definitely find the best option just for you.

Best Laminating Machine

Rank	Review	Name	Type	Max Paper Wide	Rating
1		Fellowes Jupiter 2 125 View Details	Hot / cold	12,5 inches	10.0
2		Eficentline YE381 View Details	Hot / cold	13 inches	9.9
3		AmazonBasics Thermal Laminator View Details	Hot	9 inches	9.8
4		Blusmart OL288 View Details	Hot / cold	9.45 inches	9.7
5		JIEZE View Details	Hot / cold	13 inches	9.6
6		Fellowes Saturn 3i 125 View Details	Hot / cold	12,5 inches	9.3
7		Swingline Inspire Plus View Details	Hot / cold	9 inches	9.2
8		Swingline GBC View Details	Hot / cold	12 inches	9.0
9		Apache AL9 View Details	Hot	9 inches	8.8

Fellowes Laminator Jupiter 2 125

The Fellowes brand has released one more laminator, so what’s interesting about it? First of all, it comes with pre-installed up-to-date programs that protect the device from overheating and early breaks, and customers – from injuries. Another important detail is that the user shouldn’t bother adjusting the rollers according to the thickness of the pouch every time they change since the laminator does it automatically once the project is placed in a slot. Besides, it is capable to process even 10 mil thick plastic cases that not every competitor can deal with.

There are a few more features that are worth mentioning. First of all, it’s an awesome processing speed that is equal to 10.78 inches per minute. It is also capable to seal the paper sheets up to A3 format. The sheet will be evenly sealed and will never curve thanks to a 6-roller heating system. Moreover, everything will be done perfectly in cold or hot mode. Once they are ready – the projects will be carefully placed in a retractable tray that is at the back side.

The Fellowes brand never cheats on itself and always stands for proper and fast operation. So Jupiter 2 125 warms up in 1 minute that is signified by the lighting up of an indicator that is between 2 buttons on the top side of the machine. The first button turns the device on, the second one is an ABS lever that returns the pouch back if something went wrong.

YE381 Thermal Laminating Machine for A3/A4/A6

What can be more convenient than a laminating device that has all the related instruments already built-in? For example, there is a YE381 that meets all expected requirements. In particular, there is an installed trimmer, that has 3 options of edge cutting: straight, wavy and perforated. For sure, all of them will come in handy for various cases. Besides, the cutting process requires special attention since the trimmer itself is in a plastic body that is attached to a removable metal bar. The trimmer goes along the bar and trims the project evenly. In addition, there are two guides and a grid that helps place the project right in the middle.

There is one more auxiliary tool – a corner rounder that is designed to make the corners of a project less sharp.

As for the laminator, as usual, the user should wait for 3-5 minutes till it gets hot enough to start working. There are 2 light indicators on the top: the green lights up when the machine is ready for use, the red one – when the device is plugged in and connected to electricity. On the back side, there are two switches (one for power on and off, another for cold and hot laminating), and an opening from where the ready project comes out.

As it was mentioned, this laminator is capable to work in hot and cold mode. Moreover, the maximum width of the paper you can place in it is A3 that is stunning for the device of such grade. By the way, the processing speed is quick – 9.84 inches per minute, and it is compatible with thickness up to 5 mm. Another pleasant detail is that the device is supplied with the 50 pouches of two sizes: 25 of A4, and 25 of A6 format.

AmazonBasics: Best Thermal Laminator

Once you start to think about laminating a picture made by one of your kids or some important documents, you may want to have a laminator at home. AmazonBasics appeared to be the most popular thermal laminator which will work with this purpose the best.

Let’s have a look at the technical specifications of this device carefully. As was already mentioned, AmazonBasics is available only with the hot type of laminating which is performed by a 2 roller system, thus, in order to get started it needs to be warmed up – which takes 4 minutes. It wraps up paper or images up to 9 inches wide in plastic. In fact, there are 2 levels of hotness for 3 mil and 5 mil thick plastic pouches.

It has the shape of a rectangular block with slightly rounded corners. The cover is matte and the dominant cover is white, but the bottom and the sides are black. The top side shows (from left to right): the brand logo, the warning message as the surface also warms up, then 3 indicators with the description, and 2 light indicators which shows that the device is switched on and it’s ready for use.

From the back side there is a switch for selecting the type of plastic pouch, which is also the setting for the temperature of heating. There is also a button for releasing paper from a jam inside the device, and a hole where the laminated document comes out.

On the front side there is only a hole where you should place the project to be laminated. In order to place it in correctly, there is a special frame indicator.

The warranty is standard for AmazonBasics products which covers 1 year of use, and the description can be freely downloaded from Amazon.

Blusmart OL288: Ideal for Business Cards

The Blusmart is a multipurpose device which combines a laminator and trimmer in one body. This is a cool finding for anyone who want to laminate an id card, business card, photo, or other small thing – all these features will make your project not only safe from damage but also safe from accidentally cutting someone’s fingers.

The trimmer is on the top of the device. There are rulers, angles, and clips for correct placement of the project. The trimmer itself has 3 settings of cutting the edge: perforated, waved, and straight, which can be used as an additional decoration. Additionally, there is a corner rounder which makes corners roundish; it is built in the body of laminating machine but it’s removable.

As for the device, there are 2 types of laminating: hot and cold, and both of them are performed by the 2 roller system. The second type allows self-adhesive pouches to stick to the project. It can work with up to 9.45 inch wide projects. The maximum thickness which can be processed in this device is 250 mic (2 sides of 125mic), and unfortunately, there is no switch for choosing the needed thickness. However, before starting processing the project you should wait about 3-5 minutes in order to warm up the device. By the way, the speed of processing is standard and is 250 mm per minute.

The design is quite complicated due to having a trimmer on the top of the body; in addition, there are 2 light indicators for power and readiness to work. The body itself is black. On the right side there are 2 switches for turning the device on and turning proper setting for laminating: hot or cold. On the front side there is a hole for inserting the project. On the back side, there is a hole where the ready project comes out, a removable corner rounder, and a release lever for removing the stuck-in project.

There is a bonus from a manufacturer – the device is supplied with 10 plastic pouches, thus you won’t need to buy extra cases in order to test it. If something happens within 12 months of purchase – you can contact the manufacturer since a warranty is also supplied.

JIEZE: Best Machine for Laminating Photos

For professional laminating photos of large size, the Jieze laminator would be a wonderful gadget. The main advantage is that there is enough space for an A3 paper sheet.

As most modern laminating gadget, this Jieze also has hot and cold modes of laminating. And, as it was mentioned above, it can accommodate a paper sheet up to 13 inches wide, moreover the processing speed performed by the double roller, is fast enough – 10.2 inches per 1 minute. For better sealing, you can adjust the settings by choosing the proper thickness of the laminating pouch, it supports up to 5 mil. For hot mode, it needs between 3 to 5 minutes in order for the 2-roller system, which provides laminated documents, to become warm enough to work.

For safe usage, there is a release lever button, and in case of something happens with this device, the 1.5 year warranty should cover all the issues. There is a bonus pack of 20 plastic pouches of different sizes.

The Jieze laminating machine has a sleek design and the major color of the housing is white, except some details, which are black. On the top cover are 2 light indicators for power and readiness for use. On the right side of the machine there are 2 switches which are responsible for turning it on and off, and choosing laminating mode. And finally, there is a release lever button on the back side.

Fellowes Saturn 3i 125: Popular Item for Office

The Fellowes Saturn 3i 125 is an advanced device which would be a nice alternative to commercial devices for office, especially if you have lots of paperwork.

The first thing that you should know is that the Fellowes Saturn works in 2 modes: hot and cold, and both of them are performed by 2 rollers. The maximum width of a project is 12.5 inches which is enough for quite big documents. If you need a hot laminating mode then you don’t need to wait too long for it to warm up, since it gets ready for laminating in a minute, thanks to branded InstaHeat technology. In addition, you can also choose the thickness of the plastic film, there are 3 modes: for 3, 4, and 5 mil.

The time for laminating one piece of standard A4 paper is also not very long; it takes about 35-40 seconds. Otherwise, if the time is longer you can contact the manufacturer, since the device is covered with a 2-year warranty.

The sound of readiness along with the light indicator on the body of the machine is quite useful if you don’t want to waste your time waiting. There is one more useful feature of automatic shut-off which prevents the machine from overheating. As a bonus, the device comes with 10 plastic pouches.

The Fellowes Saturn has a futuristic design. The body is silver and black. In fact, the top cover which has a roundish shape is silver with convex letters which form a brand name, while the other parts of the body are black.

On the front side, there is a hole for inserting the paper sheet with the plastic cover, as well as the indicator lines which help to identify how the particular size of document should be placed in order to avoid messing everything up. Above the hole, there are 4 buttons: 3 of them are the modes for selecting the thickness, and the fourth is for turning on cold mode. On the back side there is a button for the release lever.

Perfect for Personal Use: Swingline Inspire Plus

The Swingline Inspire Plus is a universal laminating machine which works with any type of documents, whether you have them at home, in the office, or at school. In fact, the design and simplicity in use are valuable features for personal use, too.

The Swingline Inspire also works in hot and cold modes, and both of them can deal with up to 9 inches wide paper sheet. As for the speed of processing, the Swingline Inspire, thanks to a 2-roller system, can process 9 inches per minute. According to the thickness of plastic film there are 2 modes: 3 and 5 mil. If you need to work with hot laminating, you should wait about 4 minutes until it gets warm enough. There is a light indicator which helps to identify whether this machine is ready. This manufacturer also supplies this machine with a bonus: 5 plastic pouches, which can be used for tests.

The Swingline is covered with a 90-day warranty, thus if something happens you should contact the manufacturer.

The design is quite simple; there is a white top and a gray bottom. 2 light indicators of power and high temperature along with the brand logo are on the top. On the right side of the machine there are 2 switches: one for turning it on or off, the second one is for turning on cold or hot mode. And, finally, on the back side there is a jam release lever.

Top Cold Lamination: Swingline GBC

If you are a repeat user of cold laminating, you might like this model of laminating machine called the Swingline GBC. It would be an ideal option for regular officeworks which will cover all workers’ needs.

The Swingline GBC combines 2 modes for the best results: hot and cold laminating. The width of the slot allows it to work for up to 12” wide documents and adjust the thickness by choosing 3 or 5 mil mode. The speed of processing documents is pretty fast, thanks to the 4-roller system: 19 inches per minute, so you can process multiple-page documents faster than with regular laminating machines, particularly: 17 pages in 10 minutes. Isn’t it the fastest machine?

Additional features of this gadget are the release lever and program which shuts off the device automatically if it’s not used for some time. Moreover, the gadget is supplied with a 3-year warranty, and, as a bonus, 30 standard letter size plastic pouches.

The Swingline GBC has a sleek design, as the body is covered with silver and black finish. On the top cover there are the brand logo and main operation buttons: power, thickness mode for 3 and 5 mil, and a release lever button. Furthermore, there are 3 light indicators: first for power, the red cross shows that it’s not ready for use (in hot mode) and it also serves as error indicator accompanied by beeping sound, while the green tick shows up when the gadget is hot enough for use.

On the front side, there is a slot for inserting the document, moreover, there are markings for how each type of document should be placed. In addition, there are 2 plastic fit guides which hold the document straight while it’s being pulled by the rollers. There is also a retracted tray for ready documents with a special metal stand.

Great A4 Class Laminator: Apache AL9

Apache AL9 is a good laminating machine for A4 paper, and in fact it works nice for up to 9-inch wide documents. Intuitively easy for use, this machine would be the best option even if you are not familiar with these devices.

There is a hot laminating mode, which is performed by the 2-roller system. And as usual with laminating gadgets, it also requires some time to heat the motor up, and in this device, that time doesn’t exceed 1 minute. For the user’s comfort, there is a special light indicator which lights up when the device is ready for work.

The design requires special attention because the shape of the Apache is one of the sleekest among modern laminators; in addition, it’s quite compact – its height is only 3.3 inches. Its dimensions also influence its weight, and as a result, the Apache AL9 is one of the most lightweight laminating devices.

As a bonus, the manufacturer supplies this device with 20 free plastic pouches of different thicknesses. However, unfortunately, there are no adjustments according to the thickness of the plastic pouch. But, if something happens to it, the 6-month warranty may be applied.

It has a whole-black housing with some minimum operating switches. Indeed, there are only 2 indicator lights and one switch which turns it on and off. On the back side is only one button for ABS, which releases a document when it’s jammed inside.

Best Laminating Machines in 2020 (Unavailable Now)

Review	Name	Type	Max Paper Wide
	Purple Cows	Hot / cold	9 inches
	Scotch TL901C	Hot	9 inches
	Scotch PRO TL906	Hot	9 inches

Purple Cows: High-Quality Device for Teachers

If you are looking for a high quality laminator for teachers then you should take a look at Purple Cows. In fact, this device would be a perfect fit for schools especially if you have lots of things to laminate.

Firstly, it has two modes: hot and cold. Both of them can be adjusted by choosing the proper mode depending on the thickness of plastic film, for 3 and 5 mil. And, the maximum width of a project which can be placed into the device is 9 inches which is enough for a standard A4 paper sheet.

If you choose hot mode, then you should wait between 3 to 5 minutes in order to allow the machine to heat up properly, so you won’t experience any unexpected deformation of the surface. As for additional features, Purple Cows has environmentally-friendly technology which saves up to 50% more electricity power than standard machines. In addition, there is ABS (Anti Blocking System) for releasing jammed documents from the machine. Otherwise, if something happens with the 2-roller system or device itself – then you can contact the manufacturer immediately, since its work is guaranteed and covered by a 1-year warranty.

As the title suggests, the body has purple parts, but the main color is white. On the top cover and on the right side, there are the brand logo and 2 switches (one for choosing the heating mode “Hot” or “Cold,” and one for selecting the thickness mode), and 2 light indicators (for power and ready for use).

On the back side there is a retracted tray for holding the laminated document and a release lever; on the front side there is a hole for inserting the document to be laminated.

Good for Professional Finish: Scotch TL901C

The Scotch TL901C is another device which will make your projects tear-resistant and waterproof. It is also an inexpensive version of the device which will keep your documents safe and you don’t need to worry about them anymore.

This laminator works in a setting with hot temperature only; however, there are 2 buttons which make the temperature appropriate according to the thickness of the plastic case. Warm-up time also depends on the selected setting and it varies from 1 to 6 minutes. Once it’s ready, you can insert the document which mustn’t exceed 9 inches, otherwise it will be stuck inside the device. Fortunately, if it happens, there is a release button which will help you to get the document out.

The laminating speed allows the processing of 1 letter size piece of paper in 1 minute – it is the standard time of laminating. And if something happens with the 2 built-in rollers which provides you with a smooth surface of the laminated document, then you should contact the manufacturer, since as the warranty covers parts of the device.

The design is very simple for this device, but it’s quite comprehensive for use. The body is mostly silver with black parts, and there are no acute angles except at the bottom, since it needs to be flat in order to stand on a flat surface. On the body there are the brand logo, indicators, and switches for selecting particular modes and a button for releasing the document from the device.

Cool Home Laminator: Scotch PRO TL906

There is another representative of the Scotch brand, the PRO TL906. Its performance doesn’t require many efforts to produce a laminated project at home. It would be an ideal helper for a homeschool situation or a craft made by your child, since the manufacturer claims it has “Never Jam Technology” which prevents you from an unexpected error or damage of your project.

This item works only in high temperature mode, which is supplied by a 2 roller system.

The maximum width of the plastic pouch which can be placed in the laminator for processing is 9 inches, and 15 inches per minute will be processed. However, once you plug it in you should wait for about 5 minutes before you start processing the project, otherwise you will get an unexpected result. For best results you should choose the appropriate thickness of the laminating film, and in fact there are only 2 types: 3 and 5 mil.

There are some extra features. Firstly, it has a retractable tray for the laminated project to come out, and the second one is an automatic shut off if it is not used for more than an hour.

The design is very simple and eye-friendly. The body itself is white with a small light green and grey details. It has a roundish shape of body and all the main indicators and switches/buttons on the top side. In fact, there is a line which combines all the buttons together, from left to right: power button, indicator of temperature readiness, and 2 buttons for choosing the thickness of plastic film; at the other end there is a button for releasing lever. There is a light green hole for placing the project into the laminator, and on the back side is the hole where the laminated project comes out with the retracted tray, and both of them are light green as well.

Laminators Worthy of Your Attention

Review	Name	Features
	3M Scotch	Hot lamination Max project width 9 inches Supplied with 70 pouches of various size 2 rollers Limited warranty on parts
	ABOX View Details	Max project width 13 inches 2-roller system Comes with 16 pouches Hot and cold modes Built-in trimmer and corner rounder 3-minute warm up 12-month warranty
	Xyron Creative Station View Details	Works with 9- and 5-inch projects 2-rollers Comes with Permanent Adhesive Cartridge Non-electric, hand-operated Cold laminating 12-month warranty
	Intey	Hot and cold modes It processes 250 mm of project per 1 minute 2-roller system Supports up to 5 mil thick plastic pouch 18-month warranty
	JZBRAIN 13-inch	2-roller system Hot and cold modes Supports up to 13-inch wide paper sheet Built-in trimmer and corner rounder 3-5 minute warm-up 20 frew pouches No warranty
	AmazonBasics 13-inch View Details	Supports up to 13 inch documents 4-minute warm-up Hot lamination 2 rollers 2 thickness modes (3 and 5 mil) Jam release lever Processes 270 mm per 1 minute 1-year warranty
	JZBRAIN 9-inch	2-minute warm-up Supports up to 9 inches wide project It processes 400mm for 1 minute Cold and hot modes ABS jam release system Double rollers Comes with a trimmer
	ABOX 13-inch A3	3-5 minute warm-up Hot laminating 2 rollers Processes 300 mm in 1 minute Removable trimmer and corner cutter It comes with 16 free pouches 2-year warranty
	ABOX 9-inch A4	Supports up to 9 inches wide paper Hot laminating 2 rollers 2-4 minute warm-up Processes 400 mm in 1 minute Comes with 12 pouches 12-month warranty
	TLC (Thermal Laminating Corp) View Details	Supports 3-10 mil thick pouches 5-year warranty Hot and cold modes Signal for device readiness 4 rollers Processes 33 inches in 1 minute
	Zoomyo Z9-5	Supports up to 9-inch wide paper sheets Eco-PTC technology saves energy 2 thickness modes: 3mil and 5 mil Hot and cold modes 2 rollers
	Xyron EzLaminator View Details	No-pouch laminating Supports up to 9 inches wide paper Cold laminating Hand-operating device - electricity is not needed 2 rollers
	WOTERZI	2-roller system Supports up to 9 inches wide paper 4-minute warm-up Processes 12.6 inches in 1 minute Hot and cold modes 10 pouches included 18-month warranty
	easyIDea ML450T View Details	ID card laminator Hot laminating Supports up to 32 mil thick pouches Constant 2-hours use
	BLACK & DECKER View Details	Supports up to 9.5 inches wide project Processes 12 inches in 1 minute 4 rollers 2.5 minute warm-up Hot and cold modes Automatic shut-off after 60 minutes of non-use 24-month limited warranty
	Royal Sovereign CL-923 View Details	Supports 9-inch wide projects 2 modes depending on thickness 3mil and 5 mil Double rollers Hot and cold laminating 3-5 minute warm-up 12-month warranty for parts and labour
	Business Source BSN20873	Max-width of supported project 4.4 inches Max thickness of plastic pouches is 5 mil 2-roller system Hot and cold laminating 1-year warranty
	Aurora LM1330HC	Max width of project is 13 inches Hot and cold modes 2 rollers Max supported thickness of plastic pouches 3-4 mil Processes 14.57 inches in 1 minute 5-8 minute warm-up
	GBC Pinnacle View Details	Max width of document is 27 inches Max thickness of plastic pouches are 1.2-3 mil Hot laminating 4 rollers: 2 heating, 2 pulling Processes 12 feet in 1 minute 6-minute warm-up 1-year warranty
	Marigold LM401	Max width of document is 9 inches 2 thickness modes 3mil and 5 mil Processes 1 letter size sheet in 1 minute 3-4 minute warm-up Hot and cold modes 2 rollers
	Scotch TL901C-20 View Details	2-roller system Hot laminating 2 rollers Max width of document is 9 inches 20 pouches included Supports up to 5 mil thick pouches 1-year warranty
	Apache AL13 View Details	2-roller system Max width of document is 13 inches Quality grade motor and heating element Hot laminating 3mil and 5 mil modes 20 pouches included 6-month warranty
	Scotch LS950 View Details	Max width of document is 8.5 inches No-heat, no-electricity laminating device Comes with 50ft film Can laminate only 1 side Hand-operated Cold laminating 2 rollers 30-day warranty
	Fellowes Neptune 3 125 View Details	AutoSense for automatic thickness detection 1 minute warm-up Processes 31 inches in 1 minute Hot and cold laminating 4 rollers Advanced Pouch Tracking System Supports up to 7 mil thick plastic pouches Supports A3 size 2-year warranty
	Swingline GBC 9-inch View Details	Max width of document is 9 inches 7-minute warm-up Hot laminating Processes 10 inches in 1 minute 90-day warranty 2 rollers
	Fellowes M5-95 View Details	4-minute warm-up Max width of project is 9.5 inches Supports up to 5 mil thick plastic pouches Hot laminating 2 rollers 1-year warranty
	Fellowes Callisto 95 View Details	1-minute warm-up Processes 19 inches in 1 minute Max width of document is 9.5 inches Supports up to 5 mil thick plastic pouches 2 rollers InstaHeat technology Automatic ShutOff Automatic detection and switch according to thickness Hot and cold laminating 2-year warranty

What Is a Lamination Machine?

A Lamination Machine is a device which covers and seals any document with transparent film, which protects it from damages and makes everything water- and dirt-resistant.

Types of Laminating Machines

Depending on the purpose and quantity of use, laminating machines are divided into a few types.

The Pouch type is a standard laminator which is often used in household, classroom, or small-size offices. This device is quite simple for use and it laminates documents in special plastic pouches which are sealed in the laminator. Usually, these pouches are of standard thickness of 3 mil or 5 mil, but there can be up to 10 mil, too. Thus, the laminating machines also have modes which adjust according to the thickness. In addition, there can be a pre-installed automatic detecting system which adjusts thickness and temperature automatically.

The pouches can be of different size, as well as the hole in the laminators. Each document or piece of paper should be covered by an individual plastic pouch. Once it’s placed evenly, you should insert the pouch with the document into the specially designed slot. Be attentive, since you should place the sealed side in first.

Once it’s placed inside the device, special pre-heated rollers start pulling document through them. Therefore, the plastic pouch warms up, sticks to the document and seals the edges. In fact, a standard laminating machine has a 2- or 4-roller system.

The distinguishing features of such devices are the relatively cheap price, the variety of brands to choose from, and compact size, moreover, some manufacturers produce mini-size laminators.

A film or industrial laminator is the second type, and it is usually a heavy-duty laminator which laminates documents with film supplied by special cartridges. These cartridges look like a roll of plastic which is installed into the laminator. This film can be of different thickness, even thicker which regular pouches have, for instance more than 10 mil. For sure, all of them are equipped with an adjustable slot for each type of film.

In addition, these types of laminators are used for laminating big projects, such as 11*17 inch size, moreover, this can be a full page. The principle of use is the same as with a standard laminator, but here you don’t need to cover the document with plastic film in advance. All you need to do is to place the document according to the layout and run the program.

Inside the device, rollers also start pulling the document, cover the document with plastic, and press and seal the sides. As a result, you receive a document fully covered with plastic.

Believe it or not, but these laminators can be electric or hand-operated. In the latter situation, you need to twist the handle by yourself.

The distinguishing features of the industrial type of laminator are: they can process any size of document and they are more durable. However, they may be too heavy and you can hardly ever find them on sale. Thus, before you buy a laminator, you should compare industrial and standard laminators.

Besides, the above-mentioned devices can combine or have one of the hot or cold laminating modes.

Hot mode laminator means that the device has to warm-up to a particular degree.

Thus when the document is pulled between the rollers, the rollers heat the plastic up and seal all the edges together. Usually, the warm-up time takes between 1 and 7 minutes and varies in different devices.

A cold mode laminator doesn’t require heat because their principle is to press the document. The process is also run by a roller which starts pulling the document and then presses it. However, this time, the cold laminator requires self-adhesive film, and usually it is decorating film. Thus, the document is processed by rollers, the self-adhesive part sticks to the document, and the non-adhesive part can be removed easily. In fact, cold mode also can be used in laminating with plastic film, but the film also needs to be self-adhesive.

How to Use a Laminator: Helpful Tips

No matter what type of laminator you have, useful tips will always help if you are not sure if you are doing some steps correctly.

 Switch on!  The first step is common for most standard laminators, and it’s very simple – you need to switch it on and choose appropriate program (if available): cold or hot laminating and the thickness of the plastic pouch or film. Then you should wait until it’s ready. Some models are supplied with special light indicators and/or sounds.

 Check the film.  For industrial machines, refill or check the roll of film according to the instructions, and then turn on the machine.

 Prepare the project.  The second step implies preparing the content you need to be laminated and placing it in the plastic pouch. Make sure that document is placed evenly and it won’t slide during the laminating process. Then, place the pouch with the project inside on the specially designed shelf with markings and move it across the shelf after choosing the size of document you have.

 Mind the correct placement!  Remember that the sealed end should go into the laminator first! Once you see the that the document is being pulled by rollers, you can release it. For industrial machines, you should place the document according to special markings, so it won’t get dislocated and become incorrectly laminated.

 Finishing touches.  When the laminator finishes the laminating project in the pouch, there is nothing else to do, because it’s ready for use – just remove it from the tray. Some standard laminators have a built-in trimmer and corner cutter, so you can adjust the edges as you want.

However, with industrial machines, it is not the same. When you see the document’s end in plastic you have to stop the machine by pressing the button, then trim the document, leaving some space between the content and the line where you want to cut. Some laminators provide a perforated edge, thus you need to tear the project off.

 Turn it off.  If you are going to use the machine more, then repeat the previous steps. Otherwise, you should turn the machine off if it doesn’t have automatic shut off.

How a Laminator Can Make Life Easier

Even though the laminating machine is not widely spread among average users, it has features and things which can be done with this machine that will definitely make your life much easier. Here are some ideas of how you can apply its features.

 Hand-out materials.  The most frequent usage of laminators are in schools. Teachers make lots of hand-out materials for children. For example, there may some working pads when children learn some new rules. In addition, you can laminate blank paper and children can practice their drawing again and again.

 Make funny things for kids.  It’s not a limit, thus, some table games also can be laminated, especially if they have lots of small cards and flat details. In a while, they may become decrepit but not if they are in plastic film. Moreover, you can print the names of children and their to-dos for week, and if they do something you can rate their job from 1 to 10. In a week, you can calculate their ratings and it can help you decide the winner.

 Make a plan.  The next idea is applicable for both children and adults. You can prepare a schedule pad and then laminate it. With markers you can fill in a to-do list for each day, and when the month is finished you can wipe everything off and the pad is ready for the next month. For more comfortable use, you can post this schedule with a magnet to the fridge, so all the family members can see what they should do or where to go that day. This is also good idea for children, so they know what subjects they have at school each day.

 Product list.  There is another hint: create a standard set of products which should be in the fridge all the time. Gradually, if you run out of something, you can cross this item off the list and you will know what to buyin order to refill your basic set. As you might have guessed, this list can be also placed on the fridge.

 Recipes.  If you are fan of cooking, then you probably have faced the problem of dirty pages in your favourite recipe book. You can prevent this by copying some pages and then laminating them. Remember? They are water- and dirt- proof, so you don’t need to worry about your beloved book now.

 Collection.  Some people are genuine newspaper lovers, and they tend to collect them. After a while, newspapers become decrepit and you can do nothing with them but throw them away. But when it comes to a family member or friend described in a newspapers, you don’t want to do this. Here, a laminator would be a wonderful helper. You can save all the articles you want!

 Photos.  Finally, laminating photos will save them from aging and becoming difficult to see, especially with modern photos, since not all people follow recommendations and instead print photos on regular printing paper instead of photo paper.

Some Things to Laminate

If you have never had a laminator or you use it only for laminating important documents or photos, then you should take a look at the list of things which can be laminated but you may never have thought about.

Place	Things
Everything which contains advertisements and is printed on cardstock or a piece of paper is a potential thing which can be laminated	advertisement; event advertisement; booklets; brochures; banners; posters; presentation sheets.
In public places you can also see some instructions	restrictions (no smoking, no dogs, etc); marks (drinking water, place to eat, etc); directions (arrows to follow); door and window signs; procedures; chart of data and their meanings.
When you work in a team and the result directly depends on the team’s work, there might be some things which help reach the target	list of motivation; list of customers; list of ratings; list of things to do; motivational phrases; monthly, quarterly, yearly reviews.
Things which can be easily made by children only or with the help of adults	dried plants and flowers; paintings; photos; calendars; schedules; decoration for magnet; pictures of animals, flowers, birds, etc.
Useful things	calendars; schedule; notes; paper sheet with cells for filling in notes or things to do in a day or a week, etc.
Important documents	certificates; diplomas; awards; business cards.
For restaurants and cafes	menus; price lists; food labels; procedures; recipes; shift chart.
Memorable things	photos; children art works; handicrafts; title pages.

In fact, this is not the entire list of things which can be protected with plastic film. But this is a list of ideas that are regularly used by people around the world and can be used by you, as well.

Laminating Pouches

If you are using a standard laminator which works with plastic laminating pouches, then sooner or later you will need a refill for future projects. As you know already, they can be of different thickness which should be chosen according to your needs.

We highly recommend Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches, as a pack is comprised of 200 pieces of clear plastic pouches of 8.9 by 11.4 inches which are good for laminating photos, schedules, and kids’ handicrafts.

The AmazonBasics Letter Size is comprised of 100 pieces of 9 by 11.5 inches, 3 mil thick pouches which are also a pretty nice option for any purpose and for any type of laminator which works in hot mode.

Buying Guide

Now if you are ready to have one of these devices which will make your life much easier, then you should have a look at the checklist of things that you need to pay attention to before you purchase one of them.

Top-Rated Lamination Machine Brands on the Market

If you are still in doubt as to whether you have chosen the ideal laminating device according to your needs, then, probably, this list of the best-selling brands among laminators will help you. The most popular brands are:

FAQ

Now we’ve gotten to the most interesting part of the article. Lots of people after numerous hours of investigating the best devices still have questions without answers. Check this list and you will probably find the answers to your questions.

Conclusion

Nobody said that choosing the ideal device which will work perfectly and durably is a very simple task to do. In fact, you might be confused after reading lots of things about these machines. But, following the recommendations mentioned in the Buying Guide section is the summarizing checklist of things that you should think about. Thus, be sure that following these recommendations will lead you to the most successful purchase ever.