What supplies should I have with my laminator?

A laminator is an excellent tool for creating, protecting, and preserving a wide variety of materials. From small ID-making machines up to large roll laminators, that can coat just about anything flat to preserve it for years to come. Several tools are available to further enhance your laminating experience. Here are a few essential items you won’t want to be without and some great accessories to have on hand. Once you’ve got your film or pouches, you should consider getting the following to make laminating as easy as possible.

Laminating Workstation: Add extra workspace for your laminator. Typically with wheel casters, simply roll your machine to wherever it’s needed. Easily transition between classrooms or offices. Having a home for your laminator clears up your other work surfaces. Featuring cabinets or other storage features, you can easily store your laminating supplies and ensure they are always close by. Cabinets, also, provide the added benefit of locking so you can secure various items for restricted use
Cleaning Kit: Laminate adhesive can stick to the rollers of your machine. Uncleaned, this adhesive can increase your risk of jams and leave unwanted marks and residue on your projects ruining the finish. A cleaning kit gives you the tools to eliminate the sticky adhesive so your prints come out looking crisp. The average kit includes a spray cleaner, a foam pad, and a scouring pad to keep your machine sparkling. These kits are must-have items if you want to keep your laminator in terrific shape.
ID Accessories: If you are planning on making IDs with your laminator you are going to need lanyards and clips to finish the process. Additionally, if you aren’t using slotted laminating pouches you will need a slot punch. They come as handheld or tabletop machines and can be manual or automatic. For heavy-duty punching, automatic is the way to go. Even if you only make the occasional name tag, having a readily accessible slot punch keeps you prepared.
Pouch Carrier: Compatible with any 10mil pouch laminator, a carrier helps to slow the buildup of adhesive on your laminator’s rollers. It also virtually eliminates the risk of having a pouch get caught around the rollers. Pouch carriers come in numerous sizes and can even be custom-cut to your specifications.
Trimmer/Cutter: Many roll laminators have a built-in slitter, but if a cutter isn’t included, you will want to purchase one and keep it handy. This will enable you to easily remove your items from the film roll after they’ve finished. Your documents are also likely to have some excess film around them. You can trim the lamination away for a more polished look. (We recommend maintaining at least a ¼” border to maintain a solid seal). Trimmers range from small handheld tools to large machines designed to work in conjunction with a roll laminator. They come in a variety of sizes to accommodate all models and offer a range of features.
Laminating Foil: If you ever want to add a bit of elegance or flare to your documents, add a bit of laminating foil. Laminating foil is available in a rainbow of colors and finishes and works with any laminator that can reach 300°F. For more information on how to foil laminate, check out our knowledge base article all about it here.

Owning a laminator can make you more productive and allow you to produce great-looking documents that will stand the test of time. These supplies can make using and maintaining your laminator easier, your lamination projects look better, and help you save space in your workplace. Consider these supplies so you can get the most out of your laminator.