Laminators are sometimes our most requested item for patrons to use! Whether you want a laminator for the library, or want to make one available, these machines are handy to have. Here are some basics on laminators for libraries.
There are two main kinds of laminators: hot and cold. Hot laminators use heat to melt adhesive and fuse together the material and plastic. They tend to be a little larger than cold laminators. Cold lamination uses pressure and adhesive to fuse items together, and can range in size. Which laminator you use or purchase will depend on what your laminating needs are.
Hot Laminators
Hot laminators area great choices for anyone looking for high quality and sometimes thick plastic lamination. The plastic available for hot laminators varies in size, thickness, and material, and the process itself is fairly quick. The materials for hot laminators are also less expensive than those available for cold laminators. However, because of the heated element, some inks and papers can be melted during the lamination process. During the heated lamination process, bubbles can also occur, meaning you might have to start over again. The process itself is simple, though you do need a little bit of time:
- Power on and heat up the laminator and wait about 10 minutes until it is heated
- Select the proper setting for the material you are using
- Place the item or items being laminated in the feeder, and run the lamination process
- Wait until the process is complete, then slide the blade to cut the plastic
Cold Laminators
Cold laminators are a logical choice for many, as they do not require any heat, they move quickly, and there are very few steps involved in the process. You also have more control over the process, as cold lamination generally involves a manual hand crank. However, materials for cold laminators are less varied than materials for hot laminators, and are also more expensive. Here is the easy cold lamination process:
- Place the items on the laminator feeder
- Use the hand crank to pull the items through
- Slide the blade to cut the plastic