As a teacher, laminators are a must-have tool for the classroom. They provide a bevy of features that preserve the life of the work of both you and your students. A laminator offers some creative ways to calm the chaos and protect documents and classroom projects from being marred by everyday damage like that from water or food.
If you’re looking for an excellent laminator, the Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i is a top choice and offers incredible value for the price.
What to know before you buy a laminator for teachers
Laminators offer various ways to get the job done, so knowing which works best in your classroom starts by understanding the difference in each.
Pouch vs. roll laminators
Roll laminators are just as they sound in that they use rolls of plastic film to laminate a sheet. These laminators work best on larger items, while pouch laminators are best suited for standard or smaller sheets of paper and fabric, thanks to their plastic film pouches.
Hot vs. cold laminators
Hot laminators utilize heat to melt the adhesive backing on plastic film. The heat bonds the plastic around the item and seals it. Cold laminators, also known as pressure-sensitive laminators, use pressure to seal the plastic film around your document.
Width of a laminator
Width is a necessary consideration for accommodating the size of the items you plan to laminate. Small to medium laminators, or document laminators, support items that max out at 8.5 inches to 9 inches in width. Medium to large laminators will accommodate items up to 13 inches in width. Extra-wide laminators span up to an impressive 27 inches in width.
Laminator for teachers features
Laminators with adjustable temperature controls
There are adjustable temperature controls on some models which allow you to choose how hot the machine will get. These controls vary from model to model, with some having two or more heat settings. Higher-end laminators allow you to turn off the heating element so that you may use the machine for both hot and cold laminating.
Jam release and reverse functions on a laminator
Jamming is an everyday part of laminating life, and it can happen with either a plastic-sheeted film or a pouch. To alleviate the stress of jams, you’ll want to find a laminator with a reverse function. This will allow you to reverse the direction of the rollers so that the plastic can easily slide out. Jam release is a feature that slacks the rollers’ tension so that you may free the pouch or film from the rollers.
Laminator safety features
Safety features are an especially important consideration for teachers when working in a classroom full of children. Auto shut-off options can prevent overheating and double-walled insulation can keep the exterior cool to the touch.
If you’d like to learn even more about laminators, check out this laminator buying guide on BestReviews.
Laminator for teachers cost
As a teacher, budgeting can be a primary concern, so you won’t want to spend a fortune on a laminator. Luckily, laminators vary in price, which is based on the features offered. You can usually expect to pay between $15-$60 for basic, inexpensive, low-end models, with mid to high-range laminators hovering anywhere from $65-$175.
Laminator for teachers FAQ
What’s the most common mistake when buying a laminator?
A. People tend to purchase laminators that are not large enough to handle the task at hand. Standard machines can laminate items up to 12 inches in width, which is usually sufficient for classroom use. However, if you are looking to laminate items such as posters and signs, you may want to consider a larger laminator.
What type of laminator is best for delicate items such as children’s photos, artwork, etc.?
A. For fragile items, it’s best to avoid hot laminators. The heat could damage the documents or images you are looking to preserve for your students. Instead, opt for a cold laminator that uses pressure to seal the plastic film around the document.
Which laminator for teachers should I get?
Best of the best laminator for teachers
Fellowes Laminator Saturn3i: available at Amazon
Our take: This trusted, mid-priced machine is a leader in its industry, offering a speedy turnaround time for the price.
What we like: With a one-minute warm-up, this thermal laminator can quickly laminate any in-classroom project. It features auto shut-off, a jam release lever and accommodates multiple document sizes.
What we dislike: It only comes with 3-millimeter pouches and does poorly at handling pouches thicker than 5 millimeters.
Best bang for your buck laminator for teachers
Scotch Thermal Laminator: available at Amazon
Our take: Here is a budget-friendly model for those looking for an entry-level hot or cold laminator.
What we like: This Scotch brand model is lightweight, portable and provides a small number of laminating pouches with the unit. It has a teacher-friendly price point.
What we dislike: It can take a long time to warm up and may have some bubbling or wrinkling issues.
Honorable mention laminator for teachers
Fellowes Laminator Cosmic 2 95: available at Amazon
Our take: With user-friendly features and a compact design, this trusted brand is an excellent fit for the classroom.
What we like: This laminator has temperature controls and a heat guard producing laminated items that are immediately cool to the touch. It offers reliable lamination with minimal issues.
What we dislike: Prone to occasionally jam, it’s not as speedy as expected for the price.
Honorable mention laminator for teachers
Crenova 13-Inch Laminator: available at Amazon
Our take: The Crenova has a sleek look and can accommodate a variety of laminating tasks.
What we like: This contemporary-looking model laminates quickly and has a two-minute warm-up time. It has a jam-release feature and comes with 25 laminating pouches.
What we dislike: When issues are encountered, customer service is lacking.
Honorable mention laminator for teachers
3M Laminator Kit with Every Size Laminating Pouch: available at Amazon
Our take: This lightweight laminator is photo safe and can work with a variety of laminating pouches.
What we like: You can expect high-quality lamination, and it accommodates items up to 9 inches wide and pouches up to 5 millimeters thick. It comes with a variety of pouch sizes.
What we dislike: Warm-up time is lengthy and can be frustrating.
Rachel Pintarelli is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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