One of the best laminators for occasional use by home users, office workers, and teachers is the GBC HeatSeal H312 Pouch Laminator. This is a reasonably priced product that has a lot of terrific features including several different temperature settings and jam free operation, even as it also has a couple of weaknesses. Here s the lowdown on this device.
Strengths:
* The H312 has a feed opening that s just over 12 inches wide so you can laminate larger documents such as signs, menus, maps, and school projects, in addition to smaller objects.
* You can use pouches as thin as 3 mil or as thick as 5 mil. The machine has several different temperature settings, including one for cold lamination. Thanks to its ability to do this type of laminating, it s possible to use self adhesive film with this device. There is a knob you turn to select the setting you want, as well as a small chart to help you determine which temperature you will need for your particular job. Both the knob and chart are colorful and easy to read.
* There are two rollers in this machine to ensure high quality results whether you re working with regular paper, cardstock, or photographs.
* Technically speaking, you don t need to use a carrier on the hot cycles, which can help you save a little bit of time. However, using a carrier is strongly recommended. (More on this in the Weaknesses section below.)
* This device will warm up in under five minutes and it will audibly alert you as to when it s ready to go. This way you can start warming up the machine while performing other tasks and still be alerted when you can begin laminating. The machine has a top laminating speed of 14 inches per minute. It also has a lever that will free up any jams you experience, as well as a cleaning sheet can help you keep the rollers free from adhesive.
* The H312 will shut off automatically when it s not being used, which will cut down on the risk of fire, injury, and dealing with a high power bill.
* GBC has included a free rotary trimmer with this device. This can be used to trim any excess laminate from your work and you could even use it to trim other documents.
* Each unit has a limited one year warranty and is cost effective with a suggested retail price of $269.00.
Weaknesses:
* Although it is possible to not use carriers when working with this unit, you probably should. Not using a carrier can possibly damage your machine because it s very possible that glue will come out of your pouches and potentially wreak expensive havoc on the device s rollers. Using the cleaning sheet simply isn t enough to prevent this from happening, so be sure to use a carrier when using the hot cycles of this machine.
* It is disappointing that the H312 cannot handle pouches that are thicker than 5 mil. If you need a more rigid end product, choosing a machine that can handle thicker pouches is necessary. (One option would be the GBC HeatSeal H425.)
Overall, the GBC HeatSeal H312 is a great laminator for the home and office, as well as schools and print shops. It s affordable, has a variety of temperature settings, and is safe to use. This is one machine that should fit the needs of many people and organizations that need a high quality device.
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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