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No, a paper jogger is not a machine that runs paper around the track. Paper joggers are simple, yet effective machines, that every person that handles paper should use. You will find paper joggers in printing presses, binderies and businesses around the country. So what is a paper jogger? I’ll explain in this article.

Paper joggers are machines that are designed to take disorganized and jumbled stacks of paper and vibrate them back into shape. They square paper up as if it was brand new and in the package. This is ideal for paper prior to placement in a copy machine, printer, burster, folding machine or stack paper cutter. Paper joggers can be used with standard copy paper, card stock, glossy and even coated paper.

So how do paper joggers work? It is actually pretty simple. They have special motors that rotate at several hundred to several thousand revolutions per minute (RPMs). As the motor spins, it causes the paper jogger’s bin to vibrate. These vibrations, combined with gravity, cause paper to quickly square up. Many paper joggers include variable speed motors, usually controlled by a dial, that allow the operator to adjust the vibration speed.

While paper joggers are primarily designed to square-up sheets of paper, they are also popular for squaring up folded sheets of paper, brochures and even mail. I have even seen people use paper joggers to square up manila envelopes and file folders. Paper joggers also have a couple of other benefits other than just shaking a stack of paper.

Static Elimination - Paper joggers channel away jam-inducing static electricity. Many people that have issues with paper handling machines jamming may not realize that they may have electrostatic issues. Many people I have spoken with eliminate paper jams in their printers, collators, copy machines and paper folding machines simply by running paper through a jogger prior to insertion in a machine.

Ink Drying - Paper joggers help dry ink. This is especially nice for offset printers and digital duplicators. While ink drying happens in any jogger, those that are air equipped (pneumatic) are best for drying ink the fastest. If you need to quickly dry ink, prior to inserting the paper in another machine, a paper jogger may be just what you need.

Paper joggers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Types of Paper Joggers

Air Paper Joggers – Air paper joggers are designed for high volume and continuous paper jogging. This are primarily found in print shops and production houses. Most paper joggers are floor models, which include their own stand. Most air paper joggers feature adjustable jogging speeds.

Desktop Paper Joggers – These types of paper joggers are designed to be used on a desktop, countertop or table. They are compact and can often be placed right next to a paper folding machine, copy machine or other paper handling machine. These are the most common paper joggers used today. Simply plug them into a wall, place your paper in the bin and flip the switch to the “on” position.

Multi-Bin Joggers – These types of paper joggers have multiple paper slots for jogging multiple individual stacks of paper. These types of joggers are ideal for high-volume jogging or for use with multi-bind paper handling machines like paper collators.

Do you still have questions about paper joggers? You can speak with one of Office Zone’s paper jogger specialists at 1-800-543-5454. They are more than happy to answer your questions. You can find Office Zone’s entire selection of paper joggers here.

With all the different binding machine formats floating around out there, it is a little tough to know which one you should use. I have over 10 years of experience using pretty much everything out there and I have to say that comb, wire and coil binding are still my favorites. Of these three binding formats, each have their own pros and cons that I would like to explain in this article.

As mentioned earlier, I really like comb, wire and coil binding machines. These three formats also happen to be the most widely used today. These binding styles each go by a variety of different names:

• Comb Binding (AKA) – 19-Ring Binding, Plastic Binding, School Binding
• Wire Binding (AKA) – Metal Comb, Spiral-O, Wire-O, Twin Loop, Double Loop, 3:1 Binding, 2:1 Binding
• Coil Binding (AKA) Spiral Binding, Spring Binding, Plastic Spiral Binding, Color Coil Binding, 5:1 Binding, 4:1 Binding

Now that we have established the different names attached to these binding formats, I would like to cover why you may want to use these binding formats.

Comb Binding – If you are looking for a binding machine purely for binding and organizational purposes and you don’t care what the end results look like, this is the binding format for you. Comb binding is by far the cheapest method of binding books, reports and presentations. The machines are cheap and the supplies are about as inexpensive as they come. Having used dozens of different comb binding machines myself, I have to say that this is probably the easiest binding format out there.

Comb binding involves 19-hole punched paper (on the 11″ side of letter-size paper). Once paper has been punched, place a comb on the machine’s comb opener. Open the comb and slide the comb’s fingers through the punched holes and close the comb element. That’s really all there is too it.

Comb binding elements themselves come in a wide array of colors and are usually available in quantities of 100 per box. Comb binding elements allow you to remove and re-add pages. The elements can be re-used multiple times before they wear out, which is ideal for those of you who are into recycling.

Wire Binding – If you bind things for professional purposes, let’s say in a business environment, wire binding may be the best format for you. This binding style utilizes loops of wire, often referred to as twin loop wire. Each of these twin loops is inserted through punched holes (usually done on a wire binding machine). The look is very professional and very classy.

Wire binding comes in 3 different hole patterns. The least common is 19-ring wire, aka Spiral-O wire. This format involves 19 total holes along an 11″ sheet of paper and is designed to work with the same hole pattern as coil binding. Holes are rectangular in shape.

The other 2 more popular hole formats are 2:1 pitch (2 holes per inch) and 3:1 pitch (3 holes per inch). While both common, the 2:1 pitch is probably slightly more popular. Two-to-one pitch holes are slightly rectangular in shape, where 3:1 pitch holes are square (sometimes round).

The biggest downside to wire is that it cannot be re-used and can potentially bend if hit or dropped. Wire binding comes in a variety of colors and is one of the most popular “business” binding machine formats”

Coil Binding – If you need a binding format that is almost indestructible and is perfect for long-term booklets, reports and presentations, coil binding is just what you need. This format uses binding elements that look like coils, often referred to as spirals. Coil binding is made from PVC plastic, which makes them really tough. I had someone tell me once that they accidentally ran over a report that fell onto their driveway that was coil bound and it came out of the incident unscathed.

Coil binding supplies come in a wide range of colors and diameters, however, you should be aware that there are 2 different hole patterns. One is 4:1 pitch (4 holes per inch) and 5:1 pitch (5 holes per inch). Both of these hole patterns look good. The style you use depends on the look you prefer and how much paper you need to bind. The more common 4:1 pitch can bind more paper than 5:1 pitch.

While there is a little bit of a learning curve with coil binding, it is easy to pick up and the process is pretty quick, especially if your coil binder is equipped with an electric inserter. The biggest advantage of coil binding, other than its durability, is the fact that coil bound pages can be completely wrapped around a full 360 degrees. Pages lie flat for easy reading. This is probably why coil binding is so popular for instructional booklets, cookbooks and manuals.

Best Brands

Who makes coil, wire and comb binding machines? To date, there are over a half-dozen different reputable manufacturers. These are the ones that I feel confident you will enjoy using:

• Akiles
• Fellowes
• Intelli-Bind
• Renz
• SircleBind
• Tamerica

Hopefully this guide has been helpful to you. Office Zone is one of the best sources for binding machines online. You can find Office Zone’s coil binding machines here, comb binding machines here and wire binding machines here.

If you are new to binding, and this guide hasn’t answered all your questions, please feel free to call one of Office Zone’s experts at 1-800-543-5454.

Laminators are underappreciated, and in my opinion, under used. They are used to protect, coat and preserve photos, maps, posters, business cards and more. Using the right laminating film can dramatically impact the end result. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people ask me which mil thickness is best. I will try to help answer some of the most common questions I get regarding film.

Not all laminating film is the same. To begin with, laminating film is measured in mils (thousandths of an inch). The higher the mil thickness number, the thicker the film. Laminating film is typically available in 1.5, 3, 5, 7, and 10 mil thicknesses.

Before reading on, familiarize yourself with your laminator’s capabilities. I personally recommend reading through your owner’s manual. While most laminators can handle 1.5 or 3-mil film, not all can handle 5, 7 or 10. Ten mil is probably the least common as far as compatibility is concerned. Each of these thicknesses have different uses.

1.5 Mil Laminating Film – This film thickness is used primarily to lightly protect the surface of a document. It has little to no stability. It is primarily used to add a glossy coating to posters and maps. It can also help bring out colors. This film thickness is also popular for single-sided lamination purposes.

3 Mil Laminating Film – This film thickness has a little bit of stability, but is still mostly used for coating documents or to add a glossy appearance. It can help bring out colors and is often used for coating business cards, photos and posters.

5 Mil Laminating Film – This film is probably the most popular used today. This is due to its universal capabilities and reasonable price. It provides medium stability while still protecting and preserving. This film is used for signs, banners, posters, photos and other material.

7 Mil Laminating Film – This film is often used, rather than 10-mil film, because it is less expensive than 10-mil film while still providing almost as much stability as 10-mil film. This is used to add stability, protection, bring out color and more for posters, presentations, signs, restaurant menus and other documents.

10 Mil Laminating Film – This is the thickest “common” laminating film available. It still coats, protects and enhances color, but is primarily used for its rigidity. Double-sided lamination (pouches or 2 rolls of film) uses a sheet of film for the top and a sheet of film for the bottom of a document. When using 10-mil film, the top and bottom combined equal 20 mils. This thickness is just 10 mils shy of a credit card thickness (30 mils).

In my experience, I have to say that the 3 and 5 mil film thicknesses are probably the most popular. When a person speaks with me, having no idea what they should use, I typically recommend a 5-mil film simply because of its universal qualities.

Office Zone offers laminating film for both pouch and roll laminators. You can find our pouch laminating film here and our roll laminating film here. Most of Office Zone’s film has a glossy finish to it, which is what 90% of our customers use.

If you are in the market for a laminator, you can find our pouch laminators here and our roll laminators here. If you are still having trouble tracking down a film, or simply need a few answers to some questions, please post your question here as a “comment” or call one of our Laminating Specialists at 1-800-543-5454.

Paper folding machines make letter folding extremely. Most folding machines can create over a half dozen different folds. While operating, running and maintaining a paper folding machine isn’t difficult, there are a few simple things you can do that will help avert a lot of issues. This article will cover some of the most common issues.

While I haven’t used every paper folder out there, I have years of experience with machines from Martin Yale, Duplo, Dynafold, Intelli-Fold, Intimus, Dahle, Formax and Standard. While each manufacturer has their own unique manufacturing process, they all utilize a similar design. These tips should be able to help you out, even if you don’t own a machine by the above mentioned brands.

Common Folding & Paper Jam Issues

Constant Jams -  Manual setup paper folding machines often require the removal and adjustments of folding plates. These plates typically rest on a couple of points in the machine. If the folding machine isn’t properly seated, paper can become quickly jammed. If you continue to have paper jams, and have a manual setup machine, be sure to double check the folding plate.

Occasional Jams - If your machine sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t, you may have one of several potential issues. If the machine has been used for some time, you may have dirty or worn rollers. As paper runs its course through a paper folding machine, dust and ink begin to accumulate on the rollers. This dust and ink can cause the rollers to begin slipping on the paper, resulting in occasional jamming issues. I recommend using some roller cleaner and rejuvenator (found here). This will clean the rollers and moisturize them in the same process.

Another common problem is folding paper after it has come off a printer or copy machine. This paper is often statically-charged. Simply put, static electricity and paper folding machines don’t mix. There are a couple of things you can do to eliminate static electricity. The first thing you can do is jog the paper using a paper jogger (found here). Paper joggers quickly eliminate static and help to square up paper. Another way to get rid of static electricity is by using static eliminator spray (found here).

Feeding Issues – Feeding issues can be caused by a couple of sources. The most common source is glossy or coated paper. Friction-feed folders use friction grabbing rollers. When they try to grab glossy paper, they can often slip, resulting in a misfeed. If you are experiencing issues due to glossy or coated paper, you may need to upgrade to an air-feed (suction feed) folding machine.

Another issue that causes feeding issues is how paper is placed in the feed tray. While most modern paper folding machines don’t require fanning, some older paper folder designs (along with a few new designs) require the paper to be fanned prior to placement in the feed tray. If your paper folding machine has a retarder wheel, the paper probably needs to be pre fanned.

Crooked Folds – Crooked folds can be annoying, and in most cases, the fix is simple. The primary cause for crooked folds is an improperly set folding plate. Most folding plates (manual setup machines) need to be locked down in 2 points. If these points are not even, a crooked fold may occur. Another thing you can do, if so equipped, is you can use the skew adjustment to align paper as it runs through the machine, which fixes a lot of crooked folds.

Hopefully these tips have helped you out. With over 10 years of personal paper folding machine experience, I suspect this should help resolve about 90% of the problems out there. If you are still having issues, contact Office Zone’s Service Department at 1-800-543-5454 x129.

If for any reason you need a new machine, you can find our entire line of paper folding machines here.

Today my wife and I paid a trip to the local Costco to do a little grocery shopping. I couldn’t help but notice as we walked by the office supply section that several paper shredders were being offered. While they looked halfway decent for individual use, I couldn’t help but wonder, “I hope nobody is buying these for their office.” I have been around office paper shredders for over 10 years and know which brands to look out for.

While I won’t mention any of the brands I would stay way from by name, (although a certain James Bond movie comes to mind) I will gladly list 5 brands that I would recommend to my closest friends and family for office use. These brands have impeccable reputations and are widely used by government agencies and businesses throughout the United States.

These are the top 5 best brands I would recommend for office use. Four of these brands are made in Germany. Do you see a trend here?

• Dahle – Dahle is well known for their lines of paper cutters, trimmers, folding machines and other products. They are equally as known for their German-made line of high-end office paper shredders. Dahle paper shredders come in strip cut, cross cut and even high security designs. Dahle shredders are known for their easy-to-use control panels and unparalleled sound absorption technology. Most Dahle shredders feature thermally protected motor, chain driven shredder blades and premium electronic components. You can find our Dahle paper shredders here.
• Destroyit – I have a lot of respect for MBM Destroyit (by Ideal). These German paper shredders may be some of the best around. These shredders are designed to be used and abused and still function. As is the case with Dahle, Destroyit shredders feature continuous-duty motors that can run all day long without overheating. I have seen Destroyit shredders last well over 5 years without an issue. Destroyit is easily a personal favorite. We see these shredders ship out all the time and I’m not aware of anyone returning one. You can find our Destroyit paper shredders here.
• Formax – Formax is kind of the new kid on the block, having only been around for a 3-4 years. While Formax is new, compared to the other brands on this list, they are some of the best value for the dollar. While some of these shredders look like something that came out of an industrial complex, they are a huge hit with our customers. As notoriety improves, we see more of these shredders shipping. Formax has done a great job making office paper shredders. If you are looking for something that will last for years, and not break the bank, consider buying one of these. Formax has a great reputation with our customers. You can find our Formax paper shredders here.
• HSM – HSM is a brand that is well-known in Europe, being German, but aren’t as well known in the United States. This shouldn’t scare you off. HSM paper shredders, including their well-known Shredstar line, are some of the best available. HSM shredders look great and blend in well with an office environment. HSM makes strip cut, cross cut and high-security paper shredders. You can find our HSM paper shredders here.
• Intimus – These German shredders, which used to be owned by Schleicher, are now owned and managed by Martin Yale. These are some of the nicest-looking paper shredders we offer. They also feature energy conservation technology, sound absorbing shocks and are packed with features. Intimus paper shredders are also popular with government and military entities. You can find our Intimus paper shredders here.

I am confident that you will be pleased with paper shredders from any of these brands. You can find our entire line of paper shredders here. Please feel free to call 1-800-543-5454 to speak with one of Office Zone’s paper shredder specialists.

If you own, run or use a pouch laminating machine on a regular basis, you’re probably well aware of the fact that these machines require film to run properly. This film is often referred to as laminating sheets or pouches (found here). So which type of laminating pouch should you use with your machine? I will cover some basic questions that should set you on the right path.

To begin with, laminating sheets come in a variety of different shapes and thicknesses. The thickness of a pouch is referred to as a mil. A mil is a thousandth of an inch or 0.001″.  The higher the mil, the thicker the pouch. The thicker the pouch, the more stability and rigidity the pouch has.

Before you settle on any given mil thickness of pouch, be sure you are familiar with your pouch laminator’s limitations. Most pouch laminators can handle 3 and 5 mil pouches. Seven and 10 mil pouches are thicker and thus require a laminator capable of handling the additional glue and material. I would estimate about 35% of pouch laminators can handle a 10 mil pouch.

Which mil thickness is most popular? I get this question all the time. People want something that looks good, works with their laminator and gets the “results” they are looking for. I have found in my own personal experience that a 5 mil pouch is the most popular thickness available.

A 5 mil thickness is universally accepted by most laminators, can still be used to coat and protect photos, documents, cards and more. A 5 mil pouch has a nice blend of flexibility while maintaining enough stability not to be “floppy.”

While laminating sheets and pouches are available in several different finishes, a clear glossy finish is by far the most popular style of pouch available. The glossy finish reflects light and has a slick texture and feel to it. Over 90% of available pouches are glossy.

At Office Zone we offer 3,5, 7 and 10 mil pouches in a variety of sizes. These sizes are as follows:

Standard-Size Glossy Laminating Pouches (found here)

• 2 1/4″ x 3 3/4″  (Business Card)
• 2 1/8″ x 3 3/8″ (Credit Card)
• 2 3/8″ x 3 5/8″ (Driver’s License)
• 2 5/16″ x 3 1/4″ (IBM)
• 2 1/2″ x 3 7/8″ (Key Card)
• 2 5/8″ x 3 7/8″ (Military)
• 2 1/2″ x 3 5/8″ (School Card)
• 2 15/16″ x 4 1/8″ (Jumbo)
• 2 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ (Luggage Tag w/o Slot)
• 2 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ (Luggage Tag w/ Slot)
• 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ (Index Card)
• 3 15/16″ x 5 11/16″ (Circulation Card)
• 3 9/16″ x 5 5/16″ (Post Card)
• 3 15/16″ x 6 7/8″ (Extra Circulation)
• 4″ x 6″

Large-Size Glossy Laminating Pouches (found here)

• 6″ x 9″ Laminating Sheets
• 9″ x 11 ½” Laminating Sheets
• 9″ x 14 ½” Laminating Sheets
• 12″ x 18″ Laminating Sheets

When picking a size of pouch, be sure your laminator can properly accommodate the size. I have seen people purchase a 12″ pouch for their 12″ laminator. Because there is so little room for error, jams are frequent. When a pouch is fed into a laminator, any deviance in the alignment, even by 1/16″ of an inch, will result in increased deviation as the lamination film makes its way through the machine.

If for any reason a jam does occur, don’t try to fish the laminating film out using scissors, a knife or other sharp objects. This can result in damaged silicon rollers which will affect our laminating results. If you have a serious jam, please feel free to contact our Service Department at 1-800-543-5454 x129 for advice on fixing the problem.

You can find our entire selection of laminating sheets and pouches here and our wide selection of pouch laminators here. Good luck and happy laminating!

If you use a paper shredder in the office, chances are pretty good that you rely on it and need it to stay healthy.  Many people don’t realize that office equipment requires special treatment. Paper shredders are very similar to cars in that there they have certain limits and require regular maintenance to keep up optimal operation. Here are a few tips on how you can keep your shredder purring for years.

To begin with, you need to be aware that paper shredders are not indestructible machines. They have limits, albeit those limits vary greatly depending on the make and model. I recommend that you first familiarize yourself with the shredder. Break out the owner’s manual and learn how much paper it can shred, what the bin capacity is, etc. If you can’t find your shredder’s manual, contact our Service Department at 1-800-543-5454 x129 and see if you can get a new one faxed or e-mailed to you.

Having used paper shredders for years myself, I have developed an understanding on the most important things you can do to maximize the life of your shredder. Here are the most important things to keep in mind.

Shredder Oil – Paper shredders, especially those of the cross cut variety, have a lot of moving parts that generate dulling and heat generating friction. A special oil has been manufactured that keeps things lubricated and running smooth. You can find our shredder oil here. Keep in mind that a can of WD-40 or vegetable oil will not cut it. WD-40 is too lightweight and vegetable oil…are you kidding me? This is a machine, not a French fry cooker.

Shredder Bags - As a paper shredder cuts paper, it begins to create a lot of dust. While not all shredders have the luxury of a dust-proof gearhouse, using the proper size of shred bag can help cut down on dust and particles from winding back up into critical shredder components. Proper shredder bags (found here) also make bag changes cleaner, faster and easier. While garbage bag may cut it, it usually leaves gaps and limits the maximum bin capacity.

Staples and Paper Clips – While some paper shredders feature specially hardened cutting blades and shafts, many shredders can become damaged when a paper clip is run through. As a good habit, I personally like removing staples and paperclips (especially paper clips) prier to shredding paper.

Motor Temperature - Most home office and deskside paper shredders require a cooldown period. The general rule is 30 minutes use and 30 minutes cooldown. While many shredders will automatically shut off when they become too hot, this isn’t always the case. Don’t overwork your shredder. I recommend no more than 30 minutes use. If you have a continuous-duty shredder with a thermally protected motor, use it all you want. Thermally protected shredders are designed to be run all day long.

Capacity – All paper shredders, regardless of make, model or brand, have a maximum sheet capacity. While many modern shredders have load detectors that will back paper out if too much is fed through, not all shredders have this luxury. Some shredders, lacking load detection, will simply jam and break down. This can cause permanent damage to motors and gears. Make sure you know if your shredder has load detection, and if not, know how many sheets it can handle.

I hope these tips help you out. If your shredder has already failed and is no longer working, it may simply need a replacement gear or belt. Feel free to contact our Service Department at 1-800-543-5454 x129 (or by filling out this form) to see if your shredder can be repaired. We are official dealers for Dahle, Destroyit, Fellowes, Formax, GBC, Kobra, Intelli-Shred, HSM, Intimus and Martin Yale.

If your shredder is irreversibly damaged, you can find our entire selection of brand new paper shredders here. If you aren’t sure what type of shredder to order, please feel free to call and speak with one of our paper shredder specialists at 1-800-543-5454.

Are you in the market for a new paper shredder? Perhaps you need a model because last year’s model broke down or burnt out. Regardless of the reason you’re looking for a paper shredder, chances pretty good you want something that will hold up. With literally hundreds of different models floating around, it is probably tough to sift through the clutter and find a shredder that fits your bill. I have compiled this list of highly reliable office paper shredders.

Before I provide you with my list of best office paper shredders 2011, let me familiarize you with the “best” paper shredder manufacturers available. These brands may not be as familiar to you as many of them are not commonly found in your local department store. These shredders are, however, very well known among the government and military.

Top Paper Shredder Brands

• MBM Destroyit Paper Shredders
• Formax Paper Shredders
• Dahle Paper Shredders
• HSM Paper Shredders

Do these brands sound familiar? These brands compile the best office paper shredders modern technology has to offer. They have proven track records, have been around for years and to be honest, our Customer Service Reps love them because the don’t have to deal with after-sale issues.

So what do I consider to be a good shredder? I have a few requirements:

• To begin with, a paper shredder must have a continuous-duty motor. You shouldn’t have to wait around for a shredder to cool down, especially in an office.
• An office shredder needs to have a nice shredding capacity. You don’t want to have to wait around a paper shredder like water cooler, waiting for a few sheets to finish shredding before you insert the next 5-6 sheets. You need something that allows you to shred at least 15+ sheets at a time. Stay away from wimpy shredders.
• An office shredder needs to have a nice bin size. I recommend at least a 15 gallon bin or larger. If you can afford it, go with a shredder that has a 30 gallon bin or larger. Larger bins mean less bag changes and time saved for you!
• Get a shredder with a nice feed opening. I personally like at least 10″ or wider for office use. A wider opening will be able to handle disorganized stacks of paper better and will also be better able to handle computer forms. Some higher-end departmental shredders have openings as wide as 16″!

So here you go, my list of the top 10 best office paper shredder for 2011. Shredders are arranged alphabetically.

1. Dahle 20614EC Heavy Duty Shredder
2. Dahle 30414 Cross Cut Paper Shredder
3. Dahle 20800EC Office Paper Shredder
4. Formax FD 8500 Office Shredder
5. Formax FD 8650CC AutoOiler Office Paper Shredder
6. Formax FD 8500AF AutoFeed Paper Shredder
7. MBM Destroyit 4002 Heavy Duty Shredder
8. MBM Destroyit 3104 Cross Cut Office Shredder
9. MBM Destroyit 3105 Office Shredder with Auto Oiler
10. HSM 411.2 Departmental Paper Shredder

So there you have it! The top 10 office paper shredders (designed for departmental use) for the year 2011. These 10 shredders are all from the top 4 paper shredder brands available today. I wish I could have added a few more shredders, but wanted to keep the list around 10. All four of these brands offer other models that may be better suited for smaller businesses.

Of these shredders, 70% of them are German engineered and German built. I have personally found that German paper shredders tend to hold up better than shredders made in “other” countries. This isn’t always the case, but is a good rule of thumb.

You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here. Please feel free to call one of our shredder experts at 1-800-543-5454 with any questions.

Although a rare request, we sometimes get asked if it is possible to fold laminated paper.  It sure is!  While there isn’t an automatic paper folder on the market today capable of doing it by itself, it can be done manually with the addition of a scoring machine.

What is a scoring machine?  Scoring machines will basically make a crease in your paper, thus making it easier to fold.  They are typically used for thick card stock or heavier paper.  They work similar to a rotary cutter, and utilize a fine edge blade on a rolling wheel.  Simply slide the wheel left or right, applying a small amount of pressure, and you have your desired crease.  Now you’re ready to easily fold anything you need.  Not only can you fold it easier, any wrinkles will be eliminated, which is the main reason you would want to score or crease the paper.

So, folding laminated paper can be done, but why would you ever need to do it in the first place?  I used to ask myself the same question about algebra in junior high.  Turns out it comes in handy now and then!  One great thing that you can laminate and fold would be restaurant menus.  They all need to be laminated for obvious reasons, and you often find them folded, as well.  Using a scoring machine, it can be done.

Can you use a paper folding machine to fold laminated material?  Unfortunately, the answer is no.  We do carry many paper folders that can handle heavy stock paper up to 110 lb. thick, as well as air-feed folders that will work on glossy paper, but laminated paper simply is too much for the machines to handle.

You may be thinking it would be better to fold the paper and then laminate it.  Sounds good, right?  The problem with that is the crease in the folded paper will cause an uneven surface, resulting in air being trapped underneath.  It can certainly be done, but the end result will not look nearly as professional as you would like it to be.  You will probably be okay using this on regular copy paper, but if you’re using anything thicker, chances are the end result will turn out sloppy.

If you have a large volume of scoring or creasing to do, the machines are available in manual or automatic.  You can find our manual paper scoring machines here and our automatic paper scoring machine section here.

Scoring machines almost always come as combo machine to perforators as well.  Instead of making a thick crease in the thick paper, a perforator will put tiny holes, in a straight line, across your paper.  This is ideal for making part of your paper to be easily torn aware from the rest of the paper.  This is similar to a check or a movie ticket.

If you need to fold laminated paper, score, crease, perforate, or simply fold large stacks of paper automatically, we have everything you need.  You can find links to all these folding machines here.

Also, if you would like us to test some samples for you on our showroom floor, we are more than willing and capable to do so.  Sometimes we get some really unique and creative requests, and we’re always happy to try new things for our customers.

If you have additional questions, feel free to contact our sales department at 800-543-5454.

Laminators can be extremely easy to use.  However, cleaning them can be quite tricky, even dauntingly scary if you haven’t done it before.  Why could it be considered scary?  There isn’t much damage you can do to yourself, but more than one laminator has been ruined due to improper cleaning.  It’s also important to note that cleaning your laminator is crucial.  It allows your laminator to last a lot longer, as well as making sure your laminated material comes out as smooth as possible, absent bubbles or creasing.  This article will explain how to clean your roll laminator properly, easily preserving it for years and years to come.

First things first: make sure to never try and clean your laminator without first turning off the laminator and giving it time to cool off (about 5-10 minutes).  Not only can you accidentally get burned, but it will make it much easier to clean.

The next thing to do is to remove the lamination rolls.  Make sure to put the machine in reverse to get all extra lamination out of the machine.  Forgetting this step can, unfortunately, can cost you precious time.

Now for the most important part.  You’ll most likely be cleaning off burnt film that was a result of leaving on the laminator too long, or turning up the heat too much.  Never, never, never use a knife, scissors, or any cutting tool on the Teflon coated boots or the silicon rollers.  Too many roll laminators have nicks on the rollers, which will cause creases in your lamination and permanent (yes permanent) damage to the crucial rollers.  Also, make sure to not use standard rubbing alcohol, as it can potentially dry out the rubber rollers and cause cracking, again making them useless.  Now that you know what pitfalls to avoid, it’s time to clean.

How To Remove Excess Film

Start by warming up the laminator to a mildly warm setting, then turning off the power again.  This will heat up the excess just enough to make it much easier to clean.  Use a clean cloth to rub off the film, turning the rollers manually as you do so.  Another great tool is to use a rubber rejuvenator substance that helps break down the glue for easier removal.  You can find more information about the rejuvenator here.

Another smart choice is a laminator cleaning kit, which can be found here.  This inexpensive tool is definitely worthwhile, and will save you a lot of time.  With this you’ll be able to avoid the indecision of what to use while cleaning the rollers.  It includes foam cleaner, non-abrasive pads, and a course-cleaning pad.  Use the non-abrasive sponge pad for cleaning off heat shoes and the coarse pad for cleaning the rubber rollers.

How often should you clean your laminator?  A good rule of thumb is every roll change.  It’s an easy thing to let the build up continue, but if you are consistent in cleaning each time you change the rolls, the process seems much easier.  Not only will your end product look crisper, smoother, and more professional, it will preserve your roll laminator for many years to come.

If you are still having trouble cleaning your laminator, or it’s just to the point of desperation, you can always contact our service department at 800-543-5454 x 129.  They will be able to coach you through the process, or, if necessary, have you send in the laminator for cleaning.  While we are primarily based in Utah, we also have technicians spread throughout the U.S. that can come to your location within 48 hours.

If your laminator is truly beyond the point of no repair, you can find our wide selection of new roll laminators here.