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By Peter Wilson
A discount laminator allows you to perform lamination in your
home or office. There are several choices in machines,
depending on the volume and size of the projects you need to
cover. Read about the equipment that is available to help you
find the perfect machine to fit your needs.
Types of Laminator Equipment
Pouch Laminators
Pouch machines are the most common types of equipment found in
the office or the home. Depending on the machine, they can
laminate projects from a small identification card up to an
11X
17 sheet. They use V shaped pouches. The document is placed in
the center of the V and is fed into the machine. The rollers
are used for heating the laminate and adhering the film to the
document.
There are a few benefits to pouch machines. they are the
easiest of all machines to use and are a great first
laminating
machine for most people. They are also the least expensive of
all equipment. Pouches are inexpensive and the easiest way to
make your documents water proof.
Roll Laminators
These machines use rolls of laminate. They are able to
accommodate larger documents than pouch machines. Depending on
the machine, they will work for documents from twelve to
eighty
inches wide. The laminate is pressed between the two rollers
to
adhere the glue to the document. Roll machines are often used
in digital printing and wide format work.
Most roll machines can work with either hot or cold film. If
it
is a cold laminator, it will only work with cold film. A hot
laminator will work with either hot or cold film. For hot, the
rollers are heated to a temperature of about 240 degrees
Fahrenheit. The heat activates the glue and the pressure seals
the document inside. These can be used with cold film by not
heating the rollers.
Liquid Laminators
Liquid laminating machines are newer, less common machines.
These are generally used on digital, wide format machines.
Most
work for projects up to sixteen feet long. The laminate can be
applied in a variety of thicknesses, depending on the project.
These machines use either gravity or a pump driven system to
apply the liquid laminate. Both types have a drying system
built into the machine to dry the liquid on the paper. When it
comes out of the machine, it will be surface dry and will need
extra time to completely dry before being used. These
laminating machines take some time to get used to and aren’t
the best choice if you are new to laminating.
Choosing a Discount Laminator
Laminators come in a variety of sizes for different uses. The
sizes range from a small identification card all the way to
the
large, wide format machines and everything in between. The
size
you choose will depend on the size of the projects you
typically need to laminate. If you generally need to laminate
smaller documents, you may opt for a pouch machine. You can
always send the occasional wide format job to the local print
shop.
The volume of the lamination you need done will also determine
the size of the machine you need. If you only need a few
things
each week or even each day, a pouch machine will probably be
sufficient. If you do many pages per day, you may want to
invest in a more expensive roll machine.
Where to Buy a Discount Laminator
The internet is the best place to find a great deal on
laminator equipment. Sites offering office equipment often
carry laminators. Sometimes you can find a good deal offering
free shipping on more expensive machines. If you want to see
the equipment up close, visit an office supply store and then
shop for the machine you have chosen online for a better
price.
Learn about the different machines available before making a
purchase. This equipment is very expensive and you want a
machine that has all the features you want. This will ensure
years of use. When comparing laminate equipment, compare not
only the price, but the warranties and shipping costs.
Sometimes a slightly more expensive machine will end up being
a
better deal, if it includes a better warranty and free
shipping.
About The Author: Peter Wilson is a freelance writer for
www.laminating-guide.com an online guide. The author is
focusing on tips about discount laminator (
www.laminating-guide.com/discount-laminator.html ) .
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