Whether you ve just purchased a roll laminator or you ve been using one for years, choosing the right film for it can sometimes be confusing. Here are five things to think about and look for when buying laminate.
1.) Width. The width of the film you buy will be dictated by the size of your laminator. You ll want to get supplies that are appropriate for your machine. Thus, if your device is 25 wide, you ll want to get laminate that corresponds with that size or is smaller if you re going to be working with smaller documents (i.e. ones that are letter sized). If you re not sure how wide your machine is, make sure you take a look at the machine s instruction book. The width will definitely be mentioned in there.
2.) Core size. Another important consideration is the size of the core. The core is simply the cardboard tube that the film s spun around. Cores come in a few different sizes. The two most common for roll laminators are the 1 and 2.25 cores, although there are machines that can handle 3 cores. As with the width, check with your instruction manual if you re not sure what size core the machine can handle.
3.) Length. Length is another thing to think about, although it s not as important as the width and core size. This is because most laminating film is only available in one length. However, if you do find that there is more than one length available, you ll want to choose a roll that s not too big for your laminator. If you do so and you try using it, you re going to find that it s next to impossible. So save yourself the time and frustration and go with a shorter length.
4.) Thickness. Thickness is a pretty important thing to think about when purchasing laminating film and it comes in a variety of thicknesses. The thinnest available is usually either 1.5 or 1.7 mil, while the thickest is 10 mil. The thicker the film, the stiffer your finished product will be. However, keep in mind that some devices especially school laminators can only handle the thinner films. Again, if you have any questions about which supplies to get, your instruction manual should fill you in on which thickness to use.
5.) Finish. Laminating film is typically available in two different finishes: glossy and matte. The glossy stuff will make your documents shine (literally) and it usually tends to be less expensive than its matte counterpart. Although the latter does cost a bit more, it can be a good choice because your work will look very professional. You can even write on matte laminate, if you choose. There are other finishes available, but glossy and matte are definitely the most common and will likely be the ones you have to choose from.
Choosing the right film for your roll laminator is easy when you know what you need to look for. Now that you ve read this article, choosing the right laminate should be a breeze. Just remember to look for these five things and you ll make the right decision.
Author Resource:-
Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for http://www.mybinding.com .He has written over 500 articles on binding machines,binding covers,binders,laminators,binding supplies,laminating supplies,paper handling equipments,index tabs, and shredders.
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