Using Cold Lamination Film With A Thermal Laminator

Over laminate film is usually between about 24 and 100 microns in thickness.

Using cold lamination film with a thermal laminator.

No warm up time necessary. You can seal a document with your hand a ruler or credit card. Thinner film needs less tension thicker film needs more. Every laminator needs a certain amount of resistance in the unwinding of the supply rolls so that the film lays flat as it goes into the nib of the laminating rollers.

Precision top quality construction prevents wrinkles and provides a perfect edge seal resulting in a professional finish. Hot laminators use a heat activated adhesive that is heated as it passes through the laminator. Heat along with pressure coats the laminating film to documents pictures and more. Lamination film is available to serve a variety of purposes often a mixture of protection and enhanced appearance.

Our standard laminating film is the equivalent to gbc nap lam i and usi standard laminating films at a fraction of the cost. Once heat is applied the glue melts much like a hot glue gun. Heat assist films have pressure sensitive adhesives psas and liners and are applied with hot roll laminators at 185 to 195 degrees. Hot laminating hot laminating often called thermal laminating is very common.

Technically when using a cold pouch you don t need a machine. Cold roll and tape laminating are alternatives to thermal laminating that require no heat to activate the adhesive. This laminating method uses laminating rolls or pouches that are coated on one side with thermally activated glue. Something you absolutely must think about before getting a laminator is what you plan on laminating.

Usi s opti clear premium low melt thermal roll laminating film is nationally known for its crystal clear finish and superior bonding. However you will find that the supplies need for cold lamination are more expensive than what you need for thermal processing. There s a choice of cold heat assist and thermal adhesives for laminates. Low melt films have heat activated adhesives that can applied at 185 to 195 degrees.

Hot lamination is the most common and durable lamination method and is generally preferred over cold lamination. So going with the cold machine could end up costing you a bit more in the long run. What you re going to be laminating. Also respect the laminating temperature of 40 c to avoid wrinkling due to damp materials during the laminating process.

The downside to hot laminators is that some items for example some photographs can not handle the heat required to apply the lamination. That s where the cold setting on your machine comes in handy.