Questions about laminators

This is a question for all of you peeps out there that own a laminator. I got a little Christmas cash & was toying with the idea of purchasing a laminator.

I'd like to keep in in the $50-$75 range (but willing to spend more based on feedback) but I mostly make 12x12 albums using page protectors.

I made this album (see below) for a friend, and I used laminator sheets you stick on by hand to cover the photos so people who look at the album don't get fingerprints all over the photo, but it got expensive and not nearly as good of quality as a heat laminator.

I have a 2 year old Grandson and it would be nice to make him things he can touch so any advice on what I should know about thermal vs just cold laminators, cost & size selection for refill sheets, and I believe they have different thickness.

Thanks for any input and advice ahead of time!

Market Ghost Tour mini album (cover) By Lauri D

Market Ghost Tour mini album (pg.2) By Lauri D

Market Ghost Tour mini album (pg.5) By Lauri D

I have this laminator: http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Thermal-Laminator-Roller-TL901/dp/B0010JEJPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419808158&sr=8-1&keywords=laminator It is not 12x12, but it is reasonably priced and I watch for the laminating sheets to be on sale. It was a gift when I was teaching and I used it a LOT for my classroom and for home...still do. Just a suggestion of reasonable but smaller laminator if you are willing to use a smaller size. hth!

I have a Xyron and bought their laminate roll and a laminate/magnetic rolls.

They work great for things around the house but limited to the size of your machine. I have 9 inch and 5.

The lamentation works great. I have yet to have any issues with it. In fact, One is a label on my cookie decoration basket in the kitchen. i made three or four years ago and still looks great. It doesn't come apart.

I have used it for labels in the kitchen and garage, school projects and kid projects.

Few other reasons I like it is the fact that it is a multipurpose machine, I can pull out the lamination any time and replace it with an adhesive roll. The cold lamination was big since I have little ones. although I am restricted by the machine size I am not by the length. I like having some control over the size.

Hope that helps a little. i am interested to see what others have to say.

I have a Purple Cows hot laminator that I got at CostCo a couple years ago. Haven't used it a lot but it works well when I do. Fun for gift tags, labels, recipe cards, etc. It's not 12x12, though.

The sticker lamination sheets you mentioned are a royal pain, imo, and god help you if something goes wonky while you're adhering it - swearing will ensue!

Personally, I wouldn't want to laminate a scrap page (the exception being recipe pages intended to be used in the kitchen). If fingerprints, etc. are an issue, I'd prefer to take a good pic and have it printed 12x12 (easily reprinted), or printed in a photobook.

And I have no experience with this situation, but I'd be concerned that ANY diimensionality on your page - chipboard, brads and bling, all sorts of embellishments - just wouldn't look good when laminated. I.e. - the lamination wouldn't seal perfectly to the shape of whatever it is, so there'll always be a gap or a shadow or a bubble or something. Maybe someone with more experience can comment, but that would bother me a lot.

I have the Scotch Thermal Heat Laminator. I bought it at Walmart several years ago for about $25. I use it often for school (I'm a teacher) as well as personal. I love it! The sheets come in various sizes up to 9x12. I can get a 50 pack for about $14.00. I can buy refills at Walmart and my Joann's. I think other craft stores carry them as well, I just haven't looked elsewhere. I like this one because I can get refill sheets fairly easily.

I have no words of wisdom for you on laminators but it was nice to see you post. Hope you and your family had a nice Christmas and Happy New Year.

I was looking for some place which would help me laminate covers for a mini album. Heat laminators at school and at child care, as well as ones at staples etc. had the automatic press which would only take thin papers and not chipboard. I had to buy hand laminating sheets. I got some cheap ones and they worked just as fine as the expensive office brand. Keep that in mind as well when you check them out.