How do I Use My Pouch Laminator?

One of the best ways to make your documents and photos last is by processing them with a pouch laminator. There are many on the market ranging from home-use, offices, print shops, and classrooms. If you’ve never used one of these machines before, you’re probably wondering how to laminate with a pouch laminator. It’s actually pretty easy for beginners and professionals alike.

How to Pouch Laminate

1. Plug your laminator in and turn it on.

1. Choose the heat setting. You’ll need to pick a setting that’s compatible with the laminating pouches you’re going to use. Many machines have settings that correspond with pouch thickness. If your laminator has temperature settings instead, take a look at the instruction manual to see which setting is best for the mil of your pouch. Generally, the thicker the pouch, the hotter the device needs to be.

1. Insert your document into a laminating pouch. As your machine is warming up, insert your page into your selected pouch — You should choose a laminating pouch that is at least half an inch larger in width and height than your sheet — Make sure the document is centered so that there’s at least ¼” border on all sides. This ensures that you will have a clean finish with a solid seal.

1. Put the pouch in a laminating carrier, if your laminator is compatible with 10 mil pouches. Pouch carriers look like a paper folder and one should be included in every package of laminating pouches. It is best practice to use a carrier every time you laminate if your laminator can accept them. Insert your loaded pouch. The sealed edge of the pouch should touch the carrier’s folded edge.

1. Feed through your laminator. Now that your machine is warmed up, you can insert the carrier containing your pouch and document into the machine. Insert the folded edge of the carrier first. This helps smooth out air bubbles so your document will look great.

1. Let cool. After your item has been laminated, it will come out of the back of the machine. Leave the document in the carrier and set it on a flat surface to cool off — Make sure you don’t handle your document too much. This can cause damage the finished product —When it’s cooled down, you can take your document out of the carrier. If you see any flaws in your lamination check out our troubleshooting guide so you can adjust the settings for your next document.

1. If you have more items to laminate, go ahead and repeat steps 1 through 6. When you’re done, switch to your machine’s cold setting (if it has one) and let it cool down for a while. You can then turn it off. Using the cold setting at the end of the process reduces wear and tear so your laminator will last longer.

That is all you need to do to become a laminating pro. Using a pouch laminator is really quite easy even if you’ve never laminated before. Use your pouch laminator to protect those important documents and photographs so you can keep them around for years to come.