Using Cold Lamination Film With A Thermal Laminator

Hot lamination is the most common and durable lamination method and is generally preferred over cold lamination.

Using cold lamination film with a thermal laminator. That s where the cold setting on your machine comes in handy. Cold laminating films have a more aggressive adhesive that can be applied with pressure instead of heat. Technically when using a cold pouch you don t need a machine. This laminating method uses laminating rolls or pouches that are coated on one side with thermally activated glue.

Also respect the laminating temperature of 40 c to avoid wrinkling due to damp materials during the laminating process. 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. Heat along with pressure coats the laminating film to documents pictures and more. Hot laminators use a heat activated adhesive that is heated as it passes through the laminator.

Hot laminating hot laminating often called thermal laminating is very common. Thinner film needs less tension thicker film needs more. However you will find that the supplies need for cold lamination are more expensive than what you need for thermal processing. The downside to hot laminators is that some items for example some photographs can not handle the heat required to apply the lamination.

Precision top quality construction prevents wrinkles and provides a perfect edge seal resulting in a professional finish. Over laminate film is usually between about 24 and 100 microns in thickness. Lamination film is available to serve a variety of purposes often a mixture of protection and enhanced appearance. Low melt films have heat activated adhesives that can applied at 185 to 195 degrees.

Our standard laminating film is the equivalent to gbc nap lam i and usi standard laminating films at a fraction of the cost. Similar to using standard adhesive tape to cover your document cold lamination is ideal when the precision quality of a thermal heat laminator is not necessary or when the material you are using is not suited for the heat of thermal lamination. No warm up time necessary. There s a choice of cold heat assist and thermal adhesives for laminates.

Once heat is applied the glue melts much like a hot glue gun. You can seal a document with your hand a ruler or credit card. At the same time a laminating machine distributes more pressure more evenly. Cold roll and tape laminating are alternatives to thermal laminating that require no heat to activate the adhesive.

So going with the cold machine could end up costing you a bit more in the long run. Something you absolutely must think about before getting a laminator is what you plan on laminating.