Choosing the Right Laminating Pouch for your Job

Laminating documents with a pouch laminator is simple. Just put your document in the pouch, run it through the laminator and let it cool. It should be that easy. However, in order to achieve the best results you need to select the right laminating pouch for your job. This article is designed to provide you with some hints to help you choose the right laminating pouch for your job. Here are five things to consider.

1. Size: The first step in choosing the correct laminating pouch for your document is to choose the correct size of laminating pouch. When choosing the size of laminating pouch for your job it is important to remember that the pouch should be slightly larger than the document that you need to laminate. This allows the laminating pouch to seal to itself around the edges of the document providing a moisture tight seal. The size of the border around your document is really a matter of preference however a good guideline is to leave ¼” around all four sides of the document to allow a good seal. If you are choosing a pouch with a pre-punched slot it is important to remember to allot more space on the side of the slot so that your document doesn’t cover up the hole.
2. Thickness: After selecting the correct size of laminating pouch for your project the next step is to choose the correct thickness of laminating pouch. Pouches are available in four primary thicknesses: 3mil, 5mil, 7mil and 10mil. Since pouches have a front and a back flap it is important to remember that a 3mil pouch actually provides a 6mil laminate and a 10mil pouch actually provides a 20mil laminate. Since not all pouch laminators are capable of laminating with 7mil and 10mil pouches it is important to check what pouch thicknesses are compatible with your laminator. If you have a laminator capable of laminating all four common thicknesses then you need to select your thickness based upon the amount of rigidity and protection that you need. Generally speaking the more the document will be handled and the more rigid that you need it to be, the thicker the pouches need to be.
3. Finish: The majority of laminating pouches available on the market have a gloss finish on both sides. However, there are a number of other finishes available for special needs. For instance, laminating pouches are available with a writeable matte finish on one or both sides, with a peel and stick backing, or with a colored backing. Depending on your project these unique finishes may be ideal for your project.
4. Quality: Not all laminating pouches are the same quality or are composed of the same materials. Depending on the ratio of adhesive to plastic material the quality of laminating pouches can vary greatly. For this reason, cheaper laminating pouches are not always the best buy. In fact often more expensive premium laminating pouches are considerably better quality than generic pouches.
5. Other Features: Apart from size, thickness, finish and quality, there are a couple of other things to remember when choosing laminating pouches. First, remember that most laminating pouches have slightly rounded corners. These rounded corners give your documents a more finished appearance without trimming. Additionally, laminating pouches are always sealed on one side and open on three. For larger pouches it can sometimes be easier to use pouches that are sealed on the long side since it makes it easier to align your documents.

These five criteria can help you decide on the right pouches for your laminating job. Once you have selected your pouches, laminating is easy. Choose the right pouches today and get laminating.

If you have any other questions or comments about this article please feel free to
email us at sales@mybinding.com or call us at 1-800-944-4573

Written by Jeff McRitchie
©2006 www.MyBinding.com