Lamination Machine?

[midaycare]

I'm looking for a decent but not break-the-bank lamination machine. Anyone use one? How expensive is the laminate paper you have to buy?

[Blackcat31]

I bought mine at Harbor Freight for less than $25. (I got it on sale. I think it's normally about $30)

I buy refill packs of lamination paper (in 8x11 size) for $5.99-6-99 for 25 sheets.

http://www.harborfreight.com/9-inch-hot-laminator-92499.html

[midaycare]

Great thanks! The ones I saw at Stapes were over $200 and I knew their had to be cheaper options.

[SignMeUp]

I buy laminating supplies at http://www.mybinding.com/
You can sign up for discounts by email too.

[Josiegirl]

Hoping to get feedback on a laminator I saw at Walmart yesterday for 19.99 and then you buy pouches to go in them. Has anyone seen those? Or have one/used one? I almost picked one up but didn't.

[SignMeUp]

What size sheets does it laminate? If it does the size you think you will use, it may be worth trying it. I guess I'd look at the warranty too, but it's probably short, like 90 days.
Over the years, I have had a really inexpensive laminator ($20)(from Target) and a more expensive one ($80). Neither was better or worse. The more expensive one lasted slightly longer -- but it cost four times as much.

One of my DCDs took the expensive one apart to try to fix it. He turned a plastic gear around to "wear" it the other way, and it lasted almost another year -- the gears were made of plastic in the more expensive one.

If it were me, and I'd never used one before, I would take a chance on the $20 one. You may wear it out eventually, but everything wears out eventually

Do they sell the pouches too? If you think you will laminate much, check their prices against websites. Maybe Walmart's are competitive, but most stores aren't.

[Josiegirl]

It laminated up to a regular size piece of paper, and I'd probably use it mostly for smaller items. I might have to go back and pick it up.
Yep, they sold the pouches there too.
I only hesitated getting it because my cart was already filled. Next paycheck.

[SignMeUp]

It laminated up to a regular size piece of paper, and I'd probably use it mostly for smaller items. I might have to go back and pick it up.

That size gives you some flexibility, and it's pretty inexpensive. Be sure to use the "carrier" which is basically a folded sheet of lightweight tagboard with a shiny inside, that you put the laminating pouch inside of, if it comes with one, especially if you do small items. It keeps things from getting lost/stuck inside the laminator.

[kitykids3]

I got one of the ones for like $20 from Walmart or Target a couple years ago. I use it every couple months to laminate everything I can in my 2 month Funshine kit. The biggest it laminates is 9x11, but for the most part that covers most everything I need laminated. I am so happy I bought it. The refill sheets were $12.50 for 50 of them today at Target.