How do I use a carrier with my Pouch Laminator?

In general, pouch laminators are easy to use, even for beginners. In most cases, you can just turn it on, let it heat up, put your document or photograph in a laminating pouch and then send it through the laminator for processing. However, it is easy to skip one of the most important parts of the laminating process: using a pouch carrier.

What is a Pouch Carrier?

A pouch carrier is essentially a folder that you put around a laminating pouch and document before you run it through your laminator. Carriers can be used in any pouch laminator that accepts 10mil laminating film. It is designed to catch any adhesive that might drip out of the laminating pouch during the lamination process. Plus, it has a coating that prevents the adhesive from sticking allowing it to be used again and again.

Why Use a Pouch Carrier?

One of the best ways to create beautifully laminated documents and prolong the life of your laminator is by using a carrier when laminating. If you haven’t used a carrier before, you might be wondering why you should do so.

• Extends the Life of Your Laminator: Whenever you run a document through your laminator, the machine’s heating element activates the adhesive inside the pouch laminate. The adhesive is quite sticky and can seep out of the pouch and coat the gears, rollers, etc. This can really damage your laminator, to the point of having to buy a new machine. Pouch carriers catch this adhesive before it can make contact with your laminator’s rollers and prevents it form getting everywhere
• Prevents Pouch Jams: The number one cause of pouch jams is buildup of that escaped adhesive stuck to the inside your laminator. Troubleshooting pouch jams can be time-consuming and frustrating. They can leave you with a lot of ruined documents and potentially a ruined machine. Using a carrier helps not only prevent adhesive build up but also helps your document stay flat as it moves through the machine. This added structure can prevent it from wrapping into the rollers.
• Cleaner Lamination: Using a carrier is a great way to end up with a document that’s beautifully laminated and free from heat marks, wrinkles, and bubbles. If there are any bits of adhesive on the rollers, the carrier will protect your document from the imperfections so your work will look fantastic.
• Protected Cooling: Your document is going to be very hot when it comes out of the laminator and it will need to cool off before you can use it. Touching the item too soon can leave imprints in the still setting lamination. If the item is in carrier, it will be protected from marks and fingerprints as you set it aside to cool off.

How to Use a Pouch Carrier

Now that you know why you should be using a pouch carrier how do you use it? Here is everything you need to know to enjoy hassle-free lamination and keep your laminator in good shape with a carrier.

1. Make sure you have a carrier. Check your package or box of laminating pouches often a pouch carrier will be included inside. The carrier looks very much like a regular file folder and it will be approximately the same size as the pouches. If you don’t have a carrier, it’s possible to buy one separately for a low price.
2. Make sure your carrier is large enough. The carrier should be a little bit larger than the pouch you are using for your document. This ensures it will be able to catch the adhesive before it leaks out into the machine. If the carrier is way too large for your machine or document, you can easily trim it down with a rotary trimmer or a pair of scissors.
3. Laminate. Turn on your laminator and let it warm up. When the machine is ready to go, place the pouch containing your document in the carrier. Insert the folded edge of the carrier in the machine’s feed opening. The laminator will process your document and the carrier will come out on the other side of the machine.
4. Let it Cool. Leave the document in the carrier as its cools off. Re-use the carrier for any other documents you need to laminate.

Using a carrier is an essential part of the laminating process. Luckily, it’s also easy to do. Be sure to start using a pouch carrier with your pouch laminator so you can enjoy hassle-free laminating.