springmama Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 For those who do lots of laminating, is it cheaper to do it at home with your own machine or to take it somewhere and pay someone to do it for you? I see a machine on ebay for $34 that laminates up to 9 inches wide and I think that would be big enough, but I wonder if the laminating sheets are too expensive to justify having my own machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Depends on how much you need to laminate. I found using clear contact paper useful when I needed to make something durable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlessedMom Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I have the "Scotch Thermal Laminator". http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=382953 I have been very pleased with how well it works. I purchased mine for 24.99. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 (edited) I have a Fellowes laminator I bought at walmart, and I LOVE it. That said I make a lot of home made games for the kids, take to your seat centers etc. I have done contact paper in the past, as well as packing tape but the laminator is Soooo much better for what I need. It was fairly inexpensive, I paid like $50CDN, the packs of laminating sleeves are like $15 or so I can't recall exactly now. This weekend was the first time I actually fired it up and I used it so much I went through 2 packs of sleeves! ETA: my machine does up to 12" which is great for bigger projects Edited March 24, 2009 by swellmomma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Someone posted about getting laminating pouches at Rainbow Resource for a good price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Buckin' Longhorn Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I have the "Scotch Thermal Laminator". http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=382953 I have been very pleased with how well it works. I purchased mine for 24.99. Mine is not this exact one, but very similar. I love having it. I don't have big laminating jobs, so this is perfect, handy, and available whenever I need it. I see it as a worthwhile investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennay Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I have a DUCK laminator that I bought at Walmart. It has held up great. I have used it A LOT for school things and other projects. I get my laminating pouches from: http://www.oregonlam.com/LETTER.htm#lr3 (the 3 mil). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frontier Mom Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I have the "Scotch Thermal Laminator". http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=382953 I have been very pleased with how well it works. I purchased mine for 24.99. That's what I have and I bought mine at Sam's. However, Walmart carries it too and I think the price is the same. They also have the replacement sleeves. In additon to this, I have a Xyron 900 that I love!! It not only does laminating, it also does magnetic backs and sticky backs, depending upon the cartridge you have. They are a little pricey but I bought mine at Michael's with a 40% coupon. I watch for the cartridges to be on sale as well and I love mine. I use it tons. I think I am going to get my dd the new Xyron sticker maker I saw at Walmart because then we can do things like time line figures. Basically, it makes a sticker out of anything. The different models really depend upon the size you want. Mine does a standard letter page perfectly. It also doesn't need heat. I'm not sure how much cheaper it is in the long run but I am sure it will save. I just like being able to laminate at midnite, which is usually when I am working on projects like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I also have the Duck laminator that walmart used to sell (I got it 3 years ago for about $15 on clearance, the fellowes one has now replaced it) and I love it. It's held up great and although I don't laminate a lot now it does still come in handy from time to time, if it's just saving me time and money on going to the copy center. The sleeves I use I get at walmart and are about $10-15 a pack depending on size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 My husband's shipping stores all have laminators, so I just send things to be laminated to work with dh or ds. If I didn't have this available, I would definitely buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranberry Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 don't know if it's cheaper, but it is certainly more convenient for me to have one at home. I find laminating fun. :blush: I would never bother with it if I had to get organized to schlep everyone and everything out to a store and stand there while they did it for me. Also, sometimes what I want to do is little pieces/cards that would be impossible to give to someone else to do. I have the scotch one from walmart too. I get the sleeves from laminator.com or something. You have to buy them in 100s but it's much cheaper, even with shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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