Laminators FAQ
What should I ask myself before I buy a laminator?
What will you be laminating?
There are two different kinds of laminators: roll and pouch.
Roll laminators generally (but not always) handle wider formats and work best on thinner paper. If you are laminating photos, choose a roll laminator because it will produce more even results and is less likely to damage the photo during lamination.
Pouch laminators usually use a thicker laminate and work best for smaller formats like ID cards and other documents that need a sturdier laminate.
How wide are the pages you will need to laminate?
Roll laminators vary widely in the width of documents that they will handle. The length is only restricted by the length of the roll of film.
With a pouch laminator, dimensions must be considered as the document must be placed in a pouch before you can laminate it.
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How long will it take to laminate?
Heat up time is how long it takes from when you turn the laminator on until it is hot enough that you can begin laminating. This can vary from a couple of minutes up to 30 or more.
Product pages will contain a speed usually in inches or feet per minute for laminating time.
Heat up time and laminating speeds may be factors in a busy school or office where the machine needs to be ready for use in a hurry or must handle documents simultaneously at high speed.
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How easy is the laminator to use and maintain?
Many new laminators are created especially for easy use and maintenance. Older laminators were notoriously difficult to use and many avoidable problems occurred due to operator error. Although newer laminators have gotten easier to use, service plans are still available that entitle you to product training and maintenance to keep the laminator working properly.
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What do I look for in a pouch laminator?
Pouch laminators are the most common type of laminator. They work by placing the document to be laminated between two sheets of laminator film. This “pouch” is then fed into the laminating machine where it is heated. The heat activates adhesive inside the pouch that closes it over the document.
Pouch thicknesses vary from about 3 to 10 mil and each machine will handle up to a certain amount.
The only necessary pouch lamination supplies are pouches that will work with your particular machine. Check dimensions and thickness of laminating pouches against your laminator’s specifications. Typical maximum dimensions for pouch laminators is 11x17, although Ledco does offer two wide format pouch laminators that will handle documents up to 27 and 44 inches.
Pouch laminators are used for smaller format, thicker, or less frequent laminating needs. If you need to laminate larger formats or the laminator will be used constantly, a Roll laminator is preferable.
Optional pouch laminator accessories include luggage clips, ID tag clips and chains.
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What do I look for in a roll laminator?
Roll Laminators have two large rolls of laminating film that feed together over both sides of the document to be laminated. The document and the film is then fed through heated rubber or silicone rollers that warm and press all three together. The pieces adhere to one another and output a laminated document.
Roll laminators must be stocked with rolls of laminating film in the appropriate width for your machine. Some films come in degrees of sheen ranging from matte to glossy to fit your application. There are also specialty films available for different applications such as protecting documents from UV rays or for use on inkjet prints that would not do well if laminated with normal film.
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What is a single-sided laminator?
Single sided laminators are available, usually for larger formats, that laminate only one side of a document that will be mounted to a board or a wall.
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What core size do I need for my laminator?
Core Size is the diameter of the cardboard or plastic roll around which film is wrapped. When buying film, check that the core size is compatible with your laminator. This should either be in your machines manual, but you can also measure the diameter of the core by hand if needed.
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Do I need a liquid laminator?
Liquid Laminating is a form of lamination usually sprayed or rolled onto larger format digital prints from solvent, oil-based, or aqueous inks. Because spraying can be messy and provide unexpected results, a liquid laminator is recommended for faster, more consistent results. Liquid lamination works well for prints that will be outdoors, and therefore need a stronger, UV protected, coating. This include car and boat graphics, outdoor signs, and more.
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What is cold lamination?
Cold lamination is an adhesive laminating that doesn’t require heat for activation. This is sometimes preferred on documents that might be damaged by heat such as photos, faxes, and other documents printed with an inkjet printer. Some laminators will do both hot and cold laminating.
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