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Are you tired of waiting to use the school laminator that is almost always jammed, overbooked, or broken? Do you desire to own a laminator that you can always use whenever you want?
Getting yourself a laminating machine is one of the greatest investments you can make for your teaching career. It not only helps to preserve your documents but also enhances the text and graphics.
You can use a laminating machine to create lasting visual aids, name tags, flashcards, positive reinforcements, bulletin material boards among others.
Having the best laminating machine for teachers helps with convenience. You can laminate anytime you want to, there are no restrictions and no limits to what you can do with it. You are also able to take good care of it to minimize jamming and breaking.
Top Laminating Machines for Teachers
Below are some of the best laminating machines on the market:
1.Amazon Basics 12-Inch Thermal Laminator Machine
This 12-inch thermal laminating machine from Amazon basics has a solid reputation among teachers. And it is not only for its impressive features, ease of use, and great price point but also the fact that you can easily get replacement pouches from Amazon at an incredibly low price.
It uses both the 3mm and 5mm laminating pouches. The 5mm is most ideal for thinner documents while the 3mm is ideal for thicker documents like photos.
With the capability of laminating pouches up to 11 inches wide and 17 inches long, it’s versatile enough for laminating a variety of classroom items. From name tags for your students to visual aids to facilitate learning.
It only takes about four minutes for this laminator to heat up. The LED indicator will alert you when it’s ready for use. It laminates at a speed of 270 mm per minute, which translates to a sheet a minute. Pretty fast for even the busiest teacher
Pros
- User-friendly
- LED ready indicator
- No jamming
- Dual heat settings
- Cheap replacement pouches
Cons
- Cannot be used to laminate documents wider than 11 inches
- Can get very hot
2.Scotch Thermal Laminator
The Scotch thermal laminator is another very reputable laminator, and it’s obvious why. It’s a high-quality, pretty reliable, and durable laminator. It also has a very appealing design.
The machine has dual temperature settings as well as two roller functions. The two preset heat levels are consistent and remain hot throughout the laminating process. And there is no waiting, it heats up pretty quickly.
You can use it to laminate all types of documents up to 9 inches wide. There is no limit to what you can make from this machine- flashcards, bookmarks, name tags, visual aids- name them.
You can laminate up to 5mm thick sheets and use any 3-5mm pouches. See how versatile it can be? The machine is lightweight, weighs slightly over 5 pounds, and is compact enough to fit on your desktop or a wide window sill.
The machine is very simple to put together as well as use. You only need to switch on, wait a couple of minutes for it to heat up, feed in the tray, and voila, you have your laminated documents ready!
The Scotch thermal laminator is also available in a 12-inch size, should you prefer a wider laminator, this would be a great alternative.
Pros
- User friendly
- Heats up fast
- Dual temperature settings
- Lightweight and compact
- Easy to operate
- Consistent and reliable performance
Cons
- Only ideal for standard size documents
3.Merece Laminator Set
The Merece laminator is a five in one set and is one of the best laminating machines for teachers on the market. It includes a laminator, paper trimmer, hole puncher, corner rounder, and 10 photo frames. It also comes with 25 laminating pouches, 5 each of A3, A4 & A5, and 10 A6 as well as 3 book rings. All these functionalities add to the convenience of owning this laminator.
The hole puncher is great for punching holes into tags and sets of documents that need to be put together. The trimmer and the measurement grid are for precise cutting while the corner rounder is for documents with round edges.
The laminator is simple to operate, the best option for teachers who prefer simple gadgets to techy and complicated ones. It heats up pretty quickly, takes about 3-5 minutes, and indicates with red lighting when it’s ready for use. It has a dual roller function- uses both hot and cold lamination.
The document comes out with smooth finishing, no bubbles, and no wrinkles. You can laminates documents up to 230 mm per minute which is quite fast compared to most in the market. And with an ABS button, it’s easy to avoid and sort out jammed documents.
The laminator is compact enough to fit on a desktop, measures 390 x 142 x 99 mm, and weighs just 3.68 pounds. You can laminate up to a maximum of 230 mm with a temperature variance of between 120 – 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros
- Multiple functions
- Easy to operate and use
- Minimal jamming
- Dual roller functions
- Comes with different sized pouches
- Laminates up to 50 sheets in an hour
Cons
Its laminating sheets are a bit costly compared to other models
4.ABOX A4 Laminator Machine
ABOX laminator OL381 is a three-in-one laminator. It includes a laminator, trimmer, and a corner rounder. It also functions on both hot and cold laminating to produce excellent laminated documents, with no wrinkles and no bubbles.
The hot function operates at 105 – 135 Fahrenheit while the cold function works with self-adhesive laminating pouches which you have to buy separately.
Weighing just 6.45 lbs, the machine measures 435 x 150 x 81 mm and works at a speed of 250 per minute. It comes with 16 different sizes of laminating pouches ranging between 75-125 mil which you can use to laminate any document, from business cards, name tags, flashcards to A3 documents.
In addition. it features an ABS button to help with unlocking jammed documents. This feature is also helpful in preventing jamming.
Another useful feature is the sharp-edged paper cutter which makes trimming so easy. You, however, have to be extra careful when using it near kids.
Pros
- Superfast
- Comes with a paper trimmer and corner rounder
- Hot and cold laminating functions
- Bubble-free lamination
Cons
- The paper cutting is very sharp and may not be safe to use around kids5.
5. Crenova A4 Laminator, 4 in 1 Thermal Laminator
The Crenova A4 4-in- 1 laminator is another great pick for teachers. Its versatile, heats fast, multifunctional, and consistently produces excellent finished products in seconds. It’s easy to use and the LED light indicates when it’s ready to use.
With a laminating speed of 250 mm per minute, its output is significantly higher as well. It laminates over 50 sheers an hour which is pretty impressive if you ask me. Its very ideal for a busy teacher.
Compared to other great thermal laminators, this machine heats up pretty fast. It only takes 3-5 minutes and you are good to go. You can use it to laminate any documents in the size range of A4, A5, and A6.
In case of any jamming, you can use the ABS lever. It effortlessly removes the jammed documents. It’s also helpful in preventing jamming.
Most users have commented on how efficient the corner rounder and the cutter are. The cutter’s blade is very sharp so you have to be sure of your measurements. For perfectly finished documents, always use the scale ruler and alignment grid.
As an assurance of quality, this Crenova thermal laminator comes with a one-year replacement warranty and a refund guarantee. Extras include 20 pouches- 5 A4, 5 A5, and 10 A6.
Pros
- Compact design
- Heats quickly
- 20 Different sized pouches
- Comes with a trimmer and corner rounder
- Laminates over 50 sheets an hour
Cons
- The heating temperature is on the lower side
- Not a wide laminator
Summary
As a dedicated teacher, investing in a laminating machine can save you money and plenty of time. It helps you to actualize your ideas to keep your students engaged through making visual aids like maps and flashcards. Laminating your work also helps you preserve your work so that you do not have to be buying or creating teaching materials time and again. We hope this review on the best laminating machine for teachers will guide you to the right choice!
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