Your Quick Guide to the Best Laminators for Teachers

1. Scotch PRO Thermal Laminator (TL906) · 2. Mead Laminator HeatSeal Pro · 3. Scotch Thermal Laminator TL901X · 4. Sinopuren 3-in-1 Personal ... Teacherslovelaminators!Buttheyhatewaitingtousethesharedoneintheteacherworkroom(plus,whytheheckisitbrokensooften?).Soit’snosurprisethatovertime,manyteachersgiveinandbuytheirownpersonallaminators.Thesesmallermachinescan’thandlegiantitemslikepostersbutdojustfineforlabels,signs,andthemillionotherthingsteachersneedtolaminate.Hereareareourfavoritepicksforthebestlaminatorsforpersonaluse,ineverypricerange. (Justaheadsup,WeAreTeachersmaycollectashareofsalesfromthelinksonthispage.Weonlyrecommenditemsourteamloves!) LaminatorTips Eventhebestlaminatorsrequiresomebasicknow-how.Hereareafewthingstokeepinmind: Thecostofalaminatordoesn’tincludetheplasticlaminatingpouchesyou’llneed(otherthanafewthatincludesomesamplesinthebox). Mostlaminatorsworkwith3-mil(limeter)and5-milthickpouches,butifyouneedtolaminatethickorheavy-dutyitems,you’llwanttogetonethatcanhandle10-milpouches.Checkthemachine’sspecsbeforeusingthickerpouches,oryoucoulddamageit. Alwaystakethetimetolineupyourlaminatingpouchproperlybeforesendingitthroughthemachine.Eventhebestlaminatorswilljamifthepouchismisaligned. Mostpersonallaminatorsthesedaysdon’trequireaspecialfoldertoholdtheitemsasoldermodelsdid.Buttherollerscanstillgetdirtyoccasionally.Cleanthembyrunningaplainpieceofprinterpaperthroughthemachinetogetridofanygluethatmighthaveaccumulated. 1.ScotchPROThermalLaminator(TL906) Thebestlaminatorsaretheonesthatdon’tjamwithyourprizedpapersinside.ThismodelfromScotchhasNeverJamtechnology,whichkeepsyoufromaccidentallyfeedinginaprojectatananglethatcouldcauseajam.Itlaminatespagesupto9incheswideinabout45seconds,afterafive-minutewarm-uptime. RealReview:“Iamapreschoolspecialeducationteacherandamconstantlylaminatingtopreserveitemsforyearstocome.IshouldalsosaythatIputmylaminatorsthroughtheringer!…LOVE!Itsurpassedmyexpectations.It’snearlysilent!…Italsolaminatesfairlyquickly!Iwouldabsolutelyrecommend.” 2.MeadLaminatorHeatSealPro Lookingforaslightlylargerpersonallaminator?ThisMeadmodelcanhandlepouchesupto12.5″wide,soit’sexcellentforartworkorbulletinboarddecorations.Withaquick3-minutewarm-uptime,it’sfasterthansomeoftheothersonthelist,too. RealReview:“Ifyouareateacher,youneedthis.Perfectsize,easytouseanddoesquicklaminating!Waybetterthanfightingwitheveryoneelseovertheschoollaminatingmachine!” 3.ScotchThermalLaminatorTL901X Atlessthanthecostofaweek’sworthofStarbucksruns,thislittlemachineisdefinitelyabargain.Itlaminatesitemsupto9incheswide,in3milor5milpouches.Ithasthousandsoffive-starreviews,too. RealReview:“Imadebathroompasses,dryeraseexittickets,etc.Thisthingisamazing.Itheatsupfast,completelysealsthefirsttimeanddoesn’tgetjammed…Ilikethatitistabletop,easilytransportable(Itfitsinmyteacherbag!),andcoolsdownquicklyforeasy,safestorage.IcanalsoreportthatthisisthenumberonerecommendedlaminatorinmyteacherFacebookgroup.Someteachershavehadtheirsfor3+years!” 4.Sinopuren3-in-1PersonalLaminator Savespacewiththisall-in-oneoption,whichboastsbothabuilt-inslider-stylepapercutterandholepunch.Themachineitselfheatsupin3minutesandhasaquick-releasebuttonincaseofpaperjams.Thebundlealsoincludesacornerrounderpunchandapackof10letter-sizelaminatingpouches. RealReview:“I’mafirstyearteacher.Ourschoollaminatorusuallygoesoutofuseeveryotherweek.Icannowusealaminatorathomewithoutthetaskofusingoneatschool!Instructionsareveryclearandeasytouse…It’sreallystraightforwardandeasytouseifyoumakesureyouuseitcorrectly.I’mlovingmylaminator!” 5.DodocoolHotandColdLaminator Fortheprice,thislaminatorbundlegivesyouawholelotofoptions.Themachinecanworkwithhotorcoldsealpouchesandhandlespaperjamswithaquick-releasebutton.Thebundleaddsapapercutter,acornerrounderpunch,and20assorted-sizelaminatingpouches. RealReview:“I’mateacherandIhavenowlaminatedover100sheets.Itisextremelyawesome!Itlaminateswithin1minutepersheet.” 6.CrenovaA4Laminator Thismachinehassomanyfive-starreviews,wehadtoputitonourlistofthebestlaminators.Bundledwithapapercutter,cornerrounder,and20laminatingpouches,ithandles8.5inchwideitemswithease. RealReview:“Iamateacherandalthoughwehavealaminatoratschool,thisCrenovaLaminatorisjustperfectformyusehereathomeforschoolprojects.Infact,itdoesabetterjoblaminatingthanmylaminatoratschooldoes.TheCrenovadoesn’tjam,thequalityofthelaminatedproductismuchbetter,thepreheattimeisfastanditiscompactandveryeasytouse!Ihighlyrecommendthisproductforyourhomeoffice!” 7.Fellowes5736601LaminatorSaturn3i125 Thislaminatorisalittlemoreexpensivethanothersonourlist,butit’sreadytouseinaboutaminuteandworksfast,too.Itcanhandlehotorcoldsealpouchesupto12.5incheswideandhasanauto-shut-offfeature. RealTeacherReview:“Ineedalaminatorthathandleslongrunningtimeandlotsofmaterialsbeingdone.I’veusedseveralmachinesinthepastandthisoneperformswonderfully.Warmsupsuperfast.Greatmachine!” 8.FellowesLaminatorJupiter2125 Thisisthehighest-pricedmachineonourlist,butit’stheonlyonethatcanlaminateitemsupto10milthick.Thatmeansyoucansendthickcardstockandeventhincardboardthrough.Theresultingproductwillholduplonger,evenintoughenvironments.Itlaminatesitemsupto12incheswide,usinghotorcoldsealpouches. RealTeacherReview:“Whatacoolmachine!Iboughtthisforafriendwhoisateacher…shewantedtousethickerlaminatingsheetsandthickerpapercardstocktoextendthelongevityoftheitemslaminated…Itiswellmade,heavyandappearstobeaprofessionalmachinethatIbelievewillgiveheryearsofservice.Sheissuperhappywithitandhasreportedtomethatitissupereasytooperate,thesheetsregardlessofmilcomeoutperfectlylaminated.Thanks,Fellows,forproducingagreatmachineateachercanrelyupontocreateprojects,andeducatingtoolsforhersecondgradeclassroom.” Waitingforagreatdealbeforeyoubuy?JointheWeAreTeachersDealspageonFacebook—we’llletyouknowwhenfantasticlaminatorbargainspopup! Needapapercuttertogowithyourlaminator?Hereareourfavorites. Postedby JillStaake JillStaakeisaContributingEditorwithWeAreTeachers.ShehasadegreeinSecondaryEnglishEducationandhastaughtinmiddleandhighschoolclassrooms.She'salsodonetrainingandcurriculumdesignforafinancialinstitutionandbeenasciencemuseumeducator.ShecurrentlylivesinTampa,Floridawheresheoftenworksonherbackporchwhiletakingfrequentbreaksforbird-watchingandgardening. AllPosts LeaveareplyCancelreplyYoumustbeloggedintopostacomment. >