How to Use a Laminator: Step-by-Step Instructions [2021]

Everyone has seen a laminating machine at least once in the stores, but, for sure, not everyone knows how to use a laminator and what can be done with it at home. If you want to get this kind of device and find out how it works, then stay with WoWPencils! Here are some instructions that can be helpful in cases of a regular laminator, laminating pouches, and, moreover, professional devices.

How to Use a Laminator with Pouches?

Regular laminators are usually designed for laminating personal projects. Comparing with the professional devices, their maintenance is much easier. Thus, in order to save the user’s time, all the supplies come already prepared for usage.

Besides, here are some recommended steps that will help understand this topic. It particularly concerns laminating plastic pouches.

Step 1: Find Relevant Pouches

As is known, all the necessary supplies for a universal laminator come already prepared for use. It particularly concerns the main supply – laminating pouches. They are also known as laminating cases. Usually, their quality, thickness, and size of plastic differ depending on their purposes and manufacturers. Accordingly, there is supposed to be a respecting mode switched on in the laminator. So let’s have a look at the types of cases closer.

First of all, you should choose the size of the laminating pouch according to the width of the slot in the laminator. To be more clear, the pouch has to be smaller than the slot. Equally important is the size verification of your project: it also has to be smaller than the laminating pouch in order to fit in it.

However, don’t use too big pouches for small projects, otherwise the major part of the laminating case will be in waste.

Besides, the cases have various thicknesses of plastic. This feature should also be supported by the laminator since not all regular devices can deal with pouches that are too thick or too thin. Usually, the majority of laminators support thickness 3-5 mm.

And finally, there is another thing that you should know about a laminating film. But this feature mostly concerns your preferences since it doesn’t influence the laminator’s performance. The film surface can be glossy or matte; the first one is used for laminating photos and the last one for some documents. However, as has already been stated, this feature is up to you.

Step 2: Put Your Paper or Document Inside a Pouch

This stage also doesn’t require much effort. Once you decide which project you would like to protect safely by sealing with plastic film, and the appropriate case is ready – then you can start preparing it for a laminating process.

There is a single step here – just insert the project into a laminating film. However, if the project consists of a few small pieces, then you should trim them, first, and then place them evenly leaving some space.

Besides, there is a prompt for you: if your project is not an important document, you can trim the empty edges.

Step 3: Turn the Laminator On

This step requires even less effort than you might have thought. Before you start lamination, you need to turn the device on. Mind that the mode should be properly adjusted according to the thickness of a laminating pouch you choose, of course if this feature is available. Usually, this can be adjusted by a dial or button, if there is nothing on the body of a laminator. Otherwise, it’s most likely that the feature is not available.

In addition, some devices have another function – cold laminating. It means that the laminator won’t heat up. Thus, make sure that the pouch you chose is sealed even in a cold mode. Otherwise, you should switch it back on the hot lamination.

Step 4: Place a Pouch Into the Machine and Start Laminating

Once the device runs with proper mode, you should wait for a ready signal. Usually, it is a green light indicator on the body of a laminator. If it appears, insert the plastic pouch inside the slot according to its guides.

Mind you, the sealed end of it comes first. Then, the plastic pouch will be pulled inside automatically, and you will receive a sealed project from the other side of the laminator.

Step 5: Trim Laminated Paper

Once the project is ready, you should leave it for a few seconds. This step is required because of the high temperature of a plastic pouch. When it’s cold, just trim unnecessary edges. Voila! The project is ready so you can be sure that some drops of water or sunlight will never destroy it.

How to Use a Roll Laminating Machine?

This chapter of the article is dedicated to the roll laminators. Such devices are also known as professional machines since they are used mostly in places where there are lots of projects to be laminated per day, such as school, office, classroom, or special centers that provide service of laminating, etc.

If you have such a machine, or you are interested in how these machines are operated, then stay with us for getting this information.

Step 1: Check Heat Rollers

Unlike the regular laminators, this type of devices should be also checked inside. In fact, their construction is slightly different, and the plastic film, which is the main detail, is a cartridge that is inserted into the machine in advance.

Besides, there are two rollers that press the film providing a user with a laminating project.

Thus, before switching on the device, you should check whether the rollers are ready and if it’s safe for inserting the film cartridge. It is important to bear in mind a space between them that can be adjusted by a special lever on the body of the machine.

Step 2: Install Lamination Rolls

In fact, there are supposed to be two cartridges of the plastic film. The first one goes as a top cover, the second one is intended for the bottom cover. Both of them have to be installed one by one and in the same manner: the cartridges are put onto a metal stick that performs twisting of roll when the machine is running.

Step 3: Thread a Film and Close Gap Between Rollers

Once the cartridges are installed, you need to prepare the plastic film for lamination. The film from both rolls has to be pushed through the silicone rollers. The latter should be joined together by adjusting the lever.

Step 4: Turn the Machine On and Laminate Needed Paper

Now the machine is ready to be switched on. Depending on the model of your device, this operation can be manual or automatic. The latter implies inserting the project to be laminated, pushing the button and waiting for the completion of the process.

In the case of a manual device, it’s more likely that it has only cold mode. Thus, it doesn’t require switching on. All you need to do is to insert the project into a slot and start twisting a special handle that runs the rollers so that your project passes through silicone rolls. Once the project comes out fully, you can trim it.

Summing Up

The laminator is a very useful device. There are lots of projects can be done with this machine. At first, it may seem that this appliance is very hard to use. Fortunately, this is not as difficult as it looks.

Hopefully, the instructions given above have covered all the questions you might have concerning how to work with such a machine. Whether you are using a regular or professional laminator, there should be no difficulty. Moreover, now you can share your experience and show everyone how to use this important device.

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