To Buy or Not To Buy: Personal Laminator

ByChristi Fultz

I know, it’s a burning question isn’t it? You see, I’m a blog stalker and I see all of these teachers with laminators IN THEIR HOUSE and I get jealous. There, I said it. I get jealous, okay? I am a crafty chick. I love DIY projects. My Silhouette Cameo is my nerdy best friend. I NEED a laminator. Right?

Reality sets in. Laminators cost money. You have to buy pouches. What the heck are pouches anyway? I already have access to a laminator at work. Husband gives me the side-eye as I browse laminators online. I do not NEED a laminator at my house. Fine.

Oops. Laminator goes into shopping cart. It was on sale, people! Don’t judge me. Fast forward as I wrestle with self doubt while reading online reviews. Nevermind, the moment has passed. I am a big fat laminator chicken. I’ll just use the one at work. But then I have to spend more time at work and y’all know I’m already there a hojillion hours each week anyway. Boo-hoo.

Enter My Binding. Guess what? They want to GIVE me a laminator for my blog. Say what? YES, PLEASE! Did you hear the choir singing in the background or was that just me? A few days later this glorious box appeared.


And just look at all the stuff in the box.


I love it already and I haven’t even turned it on yet. For real. I didn’t even take it upstairs to the office, that’s how excited I was. The living room floor would be just fine. 🙂




My poor husband couldn’t get the thing hooked up quickly enough as I ran around the house printing and cutting things to laminate. I decided to start with my award/holiday bookmark set and also make a mini book with my reading genres set.


I printed them out on card stock and hoped the laminator could handle it. The light came on so it said it was ready to go. It grabbed the mini posters and pulled them right in.




Everything I laminated came out the other side nicely. Here are my bookmarks on their way out. The lamination has a really nice feel, almost plastic and not wimpy at all. This is a bonus over the softer lamination we have at work.


This thing is amazing, I tell you. Now I shall laminate at any hour of the day in my pajamas and NO WAITING for that laminator at school to heat up. My nerdy little heart spills over. 


So if you are anything like me and wrestling with the To Buy or Not To Buy on the laminator, this one goes soundly into the BUY category. I totally would have bought this one if there was someone like me to whisper shout GO FOR IT. Now I just need a binder to put my mini books together. Maybe one day… 

You’re welcome, friends. You’re welcome. =)

 

36 Comments

  1. I made the plunge in the spring for one. I'm so glad I did! I don't use it for everything, since we have a laminator at school, but I do love using it for task cards, etc. The lamination is so much stiffer and I believe it will hold up longer. Congratulations for entering the personal laminator family 🙂

  5. OMG! Isn't having a laminator at home AMAZING? I bought one at the end of last school year, and I have been happily printing and laminating for the past month. My friends who aren't teachers think I'm crazy. Hope you enjoy your laminator as much as I love mine!

    Susie
    Shafer's Shenanigans 

  7. Fun post, Christi!! The people at My Binding sent me one for review, too, and I'm having just as much fun as you are with it. As you said, the weight of the lamination is amazing … nothing like that cheesy instant-peeling stuff at school. I'm on the cheerleading squad for this one, too! 🙂
    Enjoy it!

    Linda Nelson
    Primary Inspiration

  9. Okay now I'm the one that is jealous after reading your emotional ( I so related) blog and the other comments saying how much they love having a laminator. I too have done the side ways glance! Which one did you get? I didn't realize there were so many choices!
    Pauline

    First Grade by the Sea

  10. I love mine too!! We have a limited allotment on our school laminator so I save it for big things and use this for centers and other small projects. Like you mentioned, the small laminators have a much sturdier feel. I buy my refill pouches at Sams…much cheaper that the Scotch brand refills and I've never had any problems!!

  14. I have a confession to make…I have 2 laminators..yep 2. My forst one only did letter size (A4 in Australia) and I really wanted to get one to do ledger size (we call it A3)so I could laminate posters, call me greedy, but I am a happy woman.

    Tania
    Mrs Poultney's Ponderings

  15. Love my laminator. I have a Scotch Laminator from Wal-Mart. $25 and awesome! I get my laminating paper from Sam's Club (200 sheets) for $20 and one box lasts me forever and def. much thicker than school lamination!

    Nicki
    Mrs. Thigpen's Kindergarten

    1. Okay…can I just blame you??….I saw $25 @ walmart &…I was sunk! Just purchased online & looks like I can pick it up tomorrow!!…one more addiction for me…books, pens, postits, file folders…and now self laminating!! I must admit I'm really excited and can't wait to try it tomorrow…not as fancy as yours Cristi, but your post inspired me (just can't afford $140!)
      Thanks,
      Nancy
      The Apple Basket Teacher

  16. I heard the choir! Your post was awesome. I have used a personal laminator at home but it was not mine. There was a tear in my eye when I had to give it back. I need to just go get my own.

  17. I have my own personal laminator and I love it!!! I couldn't imagine life without it. I use my school one for huge items or ones that I don't really care about the thickness, but for my centers and items that kids are going to touch a lot, I use my personal one. I have the 3M one and the lamination is so thick and nice!

    We are all teachers, we understand the love of laminating!

    Bobbi
    Bitty Bilinguals

  19. This was SUCH a funny read! I must say, I haven't had an "inner battle" about purchasing a laminator, but I could relate on so many other levels! You now have me thinking about how nice it would be to have a laminator at home, though…
    ~Deb
    Crafting Connections

  20. Oh my..I felt your pain and your excitement…doesn't take much for "us teachers" does it! I just "joined" the laminate at home family as well…and couldn't be happier. I purchased a Scotch from Target and am pleased with it. So much sturdier than the laminating done at school…though I will still use that (when it is working) for bigger items.
    Thanks for sharing…I can honestly say "I've been there!"
    Nancy

  21. OMG I've been trying to decide the same thing for years..they are expensive but I too would see all the blogs out there where they're making their own products right from home…gah I'M jealous 🙂

    I'm glad you're enjoying it and it makes me feel like I should go ahead and make the investment…I've also got my eye on a Cameo but for the price I want to make sure I can figure out how to use it!

    -Kelly
    slidinginto2ndgrade.blogspot.com

  22. I just read your post and some of the comments to my husband as my new laminator sits on my lap on the way home from Walmart….missed the part last night about your silhouette…oh how I have longed for one off those for the last few years!!!….no no Nancy….focus on your new laminator…a step at a time…lol
    thanks
    Nancy
    theapplebasketteacher.blogspot.com

  25. Hi, I know it is quite an old post now, but I’d like to know if it is still working well? What model is it? I’m quite interested in getting one, but I don’t know what to get. Any suggestions?

    Thanks

    1. The exact model is linked in my post, but when I clicked on it just now it said it’s not available to purchase. I’m sure there’s a similar one though. I am still using mine.

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