DryLam School-Lam 27" Complete School Laminator System

Staff Review

DryLam School-Lam 27 Inch Complete School Laminator System Review

Schools today are under extreme pressure to keep their budget down while still getting everything they need. For this purpose, DryLam offers the School-Lam Complete Laminator System. It includes not only a laminator but everything you need to get started. And it has the same quality you'd expect from any other DryLam product. Here is a closer look at the details.

Strengths:

• The kit comes with a high quality laminator, also available for individual purchase. It also includes a laminator cleaning kit, two rolls of DryLam film, an instructional DVD and a metal, mobile cabinet. The cabinet has a black powder coat finish, two locking doors with durable piano style hinges, and recessed chrome handles. The cabinet is wired with a three outlet electrical port for extra convenience. There are casters on the bottom, so it could easily be rolled into a classroom or around a library if needed.

• This laminator is designed to be very easy to operate, even for the most inexperienced user. It uses a basic on/off flip switch for the motor and heater. A second flip switch changes between forward and reverse. Reverse is helpful in clearing a misfeed or jam.

• Since it's designed for use around children, the manufacturer added safety features. A locking key switch prevents unauthorized use of this machine. And an integrated safety shield keeps small fingers out of the machine while in use.

• Film rolls up to 27 inches wide can be used with this device. It is specifically designed to be compatible with School Grade Laminating Films that come in 1.5mil and 3mil sizes.

• An adjustable feed guide ensures the straight and aligned feeding of all materials. The temperature is adjustable for the optimal laminating environment. All items are processed at a fixed rate of five feet per minute.

• Stored on the machine is a convenient hand held slitter. It's handy to have right at your fingertips for immediate release of the finished product.

• The laminator as well as the kit is covered by a one year warranty.

Weaknesses:

• The laminator weighs about 70 pounds. However, when stored on the included cabinet, you can easily roll it around, thanks to the casters on the bottom. We don't think this will be a problem for most users.

• There isn't any speed control. Five feet per minute is a decent rate for most school materials. However, various materials process better at different speeds. If you'd prefer to have more control over how fast items are laminated, we recommend the Royal Sovereign RSL-2701, which also runs slightly faster.

• This device isn't rated for cold lamination. For most items, this isn't a problem. Machines that offer both processes tend to be more expensive. As long as you don't laminate any heat sensitive materials, such as photographs, this won't be a problem.

As seen in the many strengths, the School Lam Complete System is extremely well suited for the needs of any school. With safety features and easy operation, this is a convenient functional device that can even be used around young children. We think this is an excellent addition to any school supply room.