| Using a pouch laminator and some laminating pouches | | | | pouches are too thin for laminating smaller items such |
| it is incredibly simple to create high quality laminated | | | | as business cards (if cut down to smaller sizes they |
| signs, luggage tags, name tags, visual aids and | | | | will curl). However, they are great for use with letter |
| identification pieces. All you need to do is insert the | | | | size, legal size and menu sized sheets. |
| material that you want to laminate into the laminating | | | | 3. 5mil laminating pouches are the thinnest pouches |
| pouch, insert the pouch into the carrier and then run the | | | | available for laminating smaller documents such as |
| carrier and pouch through your laminator. All this is very | | | | credit card size, bookmark size and index cards. They |
| simple if you have the right laminating pouches for your | | | | offer a small amount of additional rigidity to larger |
| job. This article is designed to provide information that | | | | documents but are not overly rigid. These pouches are |
| will help you choose the right thickness of laminating | | | | a good compromise for companies who want to give |
| pouch for your documents. | | | | their laminated materials a premium feel without paying |
| There are five primary thicknesses of laminating | | | | a premium price. |
| pouches available on the market. However, before we | | | | 4. 7mil pouches offer even more rigidity than traditional |
| discuss these different thicknesses it is important to | | | | five mil pouches. These pouches do offer a slightly |
| note a few things. First, the thickness of the laminating | | | | heavier feel than 5mil pouches. However, most users |
| pouch is per side. This means that a 10mil laminating | | | | who are looking for the extra heavy duty feel will opt |
| pouch is actually 20mil thick (10mil on the front and 10mil | | | | for a 10mil pouch. The most common application for |
| on the back). It is also important to note that not all | | | | these pouches is for users that want to laminate small |
| laminating pouches will accept all the different | | | | items such as business cards and name badges. |
| thicknesses of laminating pouches. Before you select | | | | These pouches offer a compromise between the ultra |
| the thickness of pouch that you want to use you will | | | | heavy duty 10mil option and the lightweight 5mil option |
| need to reference your laminator's user's manual to | | | | (remember that small pouches aren't available in |
| determine the maximum pouch thickness that it can | | | | smaller sizes. |
| accept. | | | | 5. 10mil laminating pouches are ideal for laminating |
| There are five different thicknesses of pouches. Here | | | | documents and reference materials that are frequently |
| they are... | | | | handled or will be exposed to abuse. These pouches |
| 1. 1.5mil Pouches are the thinnest laminating pouches | | | | offer the most rigidity available and have a finished |
| available on the market. In fact, they are so thin that | | | | thickness that is slightly less than a credit card. These |
| most laminators don't support them. However, these | | | | pouches are ideal for reference materials, flip charts |
| "economy" grade pouches are ideal for high volume | | | | and name badges. |
| output where flexibility and low cost are a priority. | | | | Hopefully this should help you better understand the |
| These items offer a basic level of protection for your | | | | different sizes of laminating pouches that are available. |
| documents but it is still easy to crease or bend the | | | | Using this information you should be able to choose the |
| laminated output. | | | | thickness of pouches that you need based on the |
| 2. 3mil laminating pouches are the most commonly | | | | amount of rigidity that you want, the frequency with |
| used laminating pouches for larger sized documents. | | | | which the items will be handled and the capabilities of |
| These pouches offer a basic level of protection while | | | | your laminator. Good luck and happy laminating. |
| still allowing documents to remain flexible. These | | | | |