Frequently Asked Questions About Laminators

Laminators are popular office machines, offering a great way of protecting treasured and important documents. They have also become a loved at-home office supply for DIY crafts, and more. That said, the world of lamination can be a bit confusing. With so many different machines and laminates to choose from it can be hard to know which setup is right for you. These laminating FAQs will help demystify the process so you can choose the best laminator or get the most out of your current machine.

What is the difference between a cold and hot laminator?

When most people think of laminators, they picture hot or thermal laminators. Thermal laminating is accomplished by heating and melting adhesive on the laminating film, bonding it to your paper. They are the most popular laminator type and have a wide range of compatible supplies. You can easily find thermal laminating film with your desired finish, and you can also use the machine to apply foil to your documents. The main downside of hot laminators is that they can deteriorate heat-sensitive materials, like water-based inks, so those documents should generally be avoided.

Cold laminating or pressure-sensitive laminating, as the name would imply, is accomplished without heat. The film is already sticky and can be applied using pressure alone to adhere it to paper. This is the gentlest way to laminate, and because it doesn’t require heat there is no waiting for your machine to warm up before use. Cold lamination can be accomplished entirely without electricity so you can easily laminate on the go. There are manual laminators, or you can even laminate without a laminator using a pressure-sensitive pouch and pressing it with the back of a spoon. That being said, there is a more limited selection of laminate to choose from which can sometimes make it a more expensive way to laminate over time.

What is the difference between laminating film and laminating pouch?

Laminating film refers to any form of sheet laminate often wound onto a roll. Roll laminators use film in this form, allowing them to laminate custom lengths and stock up in bulk. This makes laminating film ideal for high-volume output as well as accommodating custom sizes. Typical users include print shops, sign shops, schools, and more.

A laminating pouch is two sheets of laminate pre-sealed along one edge and cut to a pre-determined size. Pouch laminators are very popular and are easy-to-use. All you do is slide your document into the pouch laminate, run it through your machine, and you’re done. Plus, they fully encapsulate your page to protect it from spills, dirt, and more. Pouches come in all sizes so, depending on the width of your laminator, you can make everything from business cards to posters. They are available in all the different laminate styles allowing you to get creative and achieve your desired finish. Some of the most popular options are:

• • • Gloss
    • Matte
    • Colored Back
    • Antimicrobial
    • Peel-and-Stick
    • Cold/Pressure Sensitive

What is laminating used for? What can I make with my laminator?

Most commonly lamination is used to protect your documents. However, that isn’t the only thing that it is used for. Laminating can create protected, easy-to-clean surfaces, including dry-erase visual aids, placemats, and calendars. Lamination can also reduce glare and add durability to your display graphics, signs, and window or floor decals. Adding laminate to photographs helps preserve them and enhance their clarity and color. Overall, anything that is frequently handled or needs to be preserved can benefit from being laminated.

Additionally, laminators are a great way to expand your creative crafting capabilities. Laminators are great for DIY projects, at-home crafts, creating activities for students, and enhancing packaging or greeting cards. Not only can a laminator add a sleek and durable finish to your projects, but it can also add foil, for extra shine, or turn your paper into a sticker or magnet. Some of our favorite applications include:

• • • Chore Charts
    • Reusable Activity Sheets & Coloring Books
    • Mouse Pads
    • Business Cards
    • ID Badges
    • Custom Scrapbook Stickers
    • Placemats (bonus points for preserving flower petals or leaves)
    • Dry-Erase Maps or Emergency Procedure Sheets
    • Family Photo Refrigerator Magnets
    • Event Signage & Displays
    • Luxury Packaging
    • Menus
    • And so much, much more

Will lamination damage my documents or prints?

When laminating this is certainly something you want to keep in mind. Is your project printed with water-based ink or otherwise susceptible to heat damage? If so, low-temperature or cold lamination is going to be the best option. Also, check your laminate. What protection does your laminating film provide? Does it have UV protection? Does the film itself contain anything harmful? Is it acid-free? Aside from the supplies, consider the capabilities of your machine. For example, using a cheap laminator for photos could cause a poor result with milky streaks across the picture. Your laminating machine quality should match the output quality you need to maintain for various projects. All of these factors will affect how gentle lamination is on your document & how well-protected it is. Additionally, think long term. Whether it is an archival print or an original piece of art, do you want it to be laminated forever? Or would it be better to use a protective sleeve that doesn’t adhere directly to the print.

What’s a pouch carrier?

A pouch carrier protects your machine and your project when you use a pouch laminator. It looks a bit like an envelope and surrounds your document while you’re laminating with a machine that can accept at least 10mil pouches. Carriers prevent the glue from seeping out of the laminating pouch keeping your machine clean. It also keeps your laminate out of direct contact with the rollers and other handling while it cools down preventing the transfer of impurities and imperfections. Pouch carriers are often included with every box of laminating pouches you buy. If your machine can accept 10mil pouches we recommend to always have one handy to avoid avoidable cleanup .

What mil is best for laminating?

There is no one mil that is “best” for laminating. It depends on what type of finish and flexibility you are hoping to achieve. When talking about lamination, mil means "thousandth of an inch" and refers to the thickness of the film. One mil is equal to 0.001 inches. It is the standard way to talk about laminating film thickness in the United States. Most laminating films are between 1.5 & 10mil thick. Lamination thickness determines how rigid your final document will be. You can use the following table for a quick reference.

How close can I cut laminated paper?

If you want to fully encapsulate your page, we recommend leaving a 1/8" thick border around all edges. This ensures the seal is wide enough to prevent dirt and moisture from reaching your sheet, damaging it and weakening the lamination. Some laminating films, however, can be trimmed right up to your print. These are generally more specialized films used in the print industry and will be specified on the film listing. If you’re talking laminating pouches instead of film, however, then trimming right up to the edge of your sheet could lead to peeling.

What are some features I should look for in a laminator?

• • • Reverse Button: Mis-feeds are bound to happen when laminating. The easiest way to fix a laminator jam before or after it happens is by reversing the rollers to remove the document before it can do any damage.
    • Variable Temperature: Having control of your machine’s temperature allows you to fine-tune settings to get the best lamination results every time, no matter what film you are using.
    • Variable Speed: Similar to adjusting temperature, having the ability to adjust your laminating speed allows you to find the setting that gives you the best finish.
    • Cold & Hot Capability: If you are looking for a versatile machine, one that can handle both thermal & pressure-sensitive laminating will allow you to use almost any laminating film.
    • Automation: If you are planning on laminating large batches all at once, an automatic laminator might be a necessary addition to your workflow. These laminators allow you to set it and forget it as it laminates and trims in bulk while you work on something else.

Which laminating machine is best?

There are tons of great machines out there. At the end of the day, it is less about “what is the best laminator” and more about “what is the best one for you.” Consider whether you need hot or cold lamination. If you are looking to use a wide range of films and have a lower cost over time, hot is the one for you. If you are hoping to laminate heat-sensitive/delicate materials and don’t want to wait for your machine to warm up, cold lamination is the way to go.

Then decide what style of laminator you are looking for. Pouch laminators work best for those looking to laminate in standard sizes quickly and easily. Roll laminators are ideal for laminating in bulk and all different sizes. Automatic laminators are a great choice if you are laminating one size in bulk and don’t want to dedicate manpower to feeding every piece through.

These two factors will help you narrow your options to just a handful of machines. From there, consider the widest size sheet you want to laminate and how fast you want to work. That should lead you to the best laminator for you.

How do I get the best laminating results?

Choosing a laminator with adjustable heat and speed settings is an easy way to achieve a great finish. These settings allow you to fine-tune to find the best combination for your film. Additionally, having access to a wide temperature range can also be helpful. For example, if your machine can reach over 300°F you will be able to laminate foil. Choosing quality materials also helps. For example, some sellers sell a 3mil pouch that is 1.5 mil on each side while others sell a quality 3mil that is 3mil on each side (like our in-house options) which are better quality.

Can I pay for a laminator with a purchase order?

Our education and government customers can pay easily using a purchase order. Business customers can also explore a number of financing options including Buy Now Pay Later and Enterprise Net 30 solutions.

Can I laminate without a laminator?

Yes, you can. Because cold lamination pouches only require pressure to seal them, you can achieve quality lamination without a machine. Once you have placed your document into the pouch, smooth out the laminate by applying pressure, pressing out the bubbles, and fully sealing the document. We recommend you use the back of a spoon to do this or a hand roller. There are a few other methods you can try. You can check out our article on laminating without a laminator where we go more in-depth.

Is it cheaper to laminate at home/in-house?

Yes, when doing more than the one-off lamination job, it is cheaper to laminate yourself than utilizing other businesses' print and finish services. The average cost to have a standard letter-size document laminated with 5mil film via these services is around $2.20, with the lowest price being about two dollars. In comparison, the average cost for you to laminate that same document with a 5mil laminate pouch in-house is just 50 cents, the most expensive being about one dollar. For even more savings, the same lamination job with a roll laminator would only cost you about 30 cents in materials. Even the fanciest of laminate finishes wouldn’t reach the 50-cent mark. So, if you plan on laminating even semi-frequently a laminator is a worthy investment.

Can I find laminating services near me?

Most likely yes. Stapes, Office Depot, FedEx, and other print shops/stores offer laminating services and can be a great option for one-off or infrequent projects. The stores listed also offer same-day turnaround if you need your materials quickly. However, these services have a limited lamination selection and can be fairly expensive per piece. Outside of more traditional print shops, you can usually select from only 1 to 3 thicknesses with a glossy finish. Shops can also help you with custom laminating but will have a longer turnaround time and higher prices.

Didn’t find your question here? Click our live chat bubble on your screen to talk with our experts or email with your question. We also have a large array of other articles on all things laminating.