Using Cold Lamination Film With A Thermal Laminator

Heat along with pressure coats the laminating film to documents pictures and more.

Using cold lamination film with a thermal laminator.

Hot laminators use a heat activated adhesive that is heated as it passes through the laminator. Cold roll and tape laminating are alternatives to thermal laminating that require no heat to activate the adhesive. Hot laminating hot laminating often called thermal laminating is very common. That s where the cold setting on your machine comes in handy.

Lamination film is available to serve a variety of purposes often a mixture of protection and enhanced appearance. No warm up time necessary. At the same time a laminating machine distributes more pressure more evenly. Over laminate film is usually between about 24 and 100 microns in thickness.

Usi s opti clear premium low melt thermal roll laminating film is nationally known for its crystal clear finish and superior bonding. Something you absolutely must think about before getting a laminator is what you plan on laminating. The downside to hot laminators is that some items for example some photographs can not handle the heat required to apply the lamination. There s a choice of cold heat assist and thermal adhesives for laminates.

Also respect the laminating temperature of 40 c to avoid wrinkling due to damp materials during the laminating process. Once heat is applied the glue melts much like a hot glue gun. Thinner film needs less tension thicker film needs more. 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.

You can seal a document with your hand a ruler or credit card. Low melt films have heat activated adhesives that can applied at 185 to 195 degrees. Heat assist films have pressure sensitive adhesives psas and liners and are applied with hot roll laminators at 185 to 195 degrees. This laminating method uses laminating rolls or pouches that are coated on one side with thermally activated glue.

However you will find that the supplies need for cold lamination are more expensive than what you need for thermal processing. Technically when using a cold pouch you don t need a machine. What you re going to be laminating. 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.

Hot lamination is the most common and durable lamination method and is generally preferred over cold lamination. Cold laminating films have a more aggressive adhesive that can be applied with pressure instead of heat.