Frederick Jace
A laminator is a valuable addition to any workplace and to many homes. There are two main types, the heated laminator and the cold laminator.
A heated laminator uses heat to seal two sheets of plastic together. You simply place your document between two sheets of plastic and slide them through the machine. The plastic has a layer of glue on it which is invisible when cold. As the heat is applied the glue melts and bonds the two plastic sheets together, trapping the paper inside.
In contrast, the cold laminator doesn’t use heat, it simply presses the two sheets together, allowing the glue on the plastic sheet to stick to the other plastic sheet. It can be useful if you are worried about the heat making ink on your document run.
If you’re deciding on a laminator for the office then you should take a look at all the different laminating equipment available.
Operating Temperature
Most laminate machines give you several temperature options. These can range from 275° to 340°. In general, you’ll want to choose the heat setting according to the thickness of your laminating sheet. The thicker the sheet is the higher the temperature needs to be to melt the glue.
For example, three-millimetre laminate pouches can generally be done at 275°, while ten-millimetre pouches will require 340°.
Your laminator should tell you which heat setting to use for each thickness of plastic. However? If it doesn’t and you are not sure then it’s a good idea to do a test on the lowest setting and work upward. This is better than using a higher setting and damaging the document you are trying to laminate.
The Cold Setting
As mentioned, you can purchase cold laminators. But, some laminators actually come with a cold setting as well as the hot ones. In this case, you can use the cold laminator whenever you are worried about the ink running.
This offers more pressure and an even distribution of that pressure, making it a better option than trying to cold press two pieces of laminate together by hand.
Remember, if in doubt put your document through a cold setting as this will protect the ink. This is especially good advice if you are dealing with sentimental documents or anything that cannot easily be replaced.
Help With Choosing The Laminator
You’ll want to consider what laminators are available and what papers you are most likely to be laminating. This will help you to decide whether you need a hot laminator or a cold one. Of course, the best option is to purchase one that can do both. In addition, you should look at the manufacturer and supplier to ensure they have a good reputation. The fastest way to check this is online through social media and online forums.
This will help you to identify which suppliers provide high-quality equipment and look after their customers. Ensuring you make a good investment choice for your laminator.
