Laminating documents is easy. Using your pouch
or roll laminator you can have your documents laminated in just
minutes. However, after your documents come out of the machine you
aren't necessarily done. You may still need to trim your output. This
article is designed to help you understand some of the different
options for trimming laminated documents.
A
Rotary Trimmer: Perhaps the most efficient method for trimming laminate
is to use a rotary trimmer with a sharp blade. Rotary trimmers aren't
ideal for cutting large stacks of paper. However, the round cutting
wheels are great for trimming excess laminating material from documents
provided you cut in a straight line. Trimming with a rotary cutter is
fast, easy and your cuts will be straight. However, the blades can
become dull and will need to be replaced over time. Additionally, this
type of cutter is not a good option for use with items that aren't
square or rectangular.
Zippy Knives: Zippy knives
are special tools that are used to trim laminate. They work in much the
same way as a letter opener does with a fixed razor blade that is
safely kept away from fingers. Using your zippy knife you can quickly
and easily cut off any excess laminate left by your machine. They are
great for odd shaped documents and output and are very safe. However,
it can be fairly difficult to cut a perfectly straight line with a
zippy knife.
Scissors: If you don't have a special
trimming device, you might just want to resort to a pair of scissors.
These tend to work especially well for thin laminate. The best method
for trimming with a pair of scissors is to begin to cut the material
and then slide the scissors through the material (like you might cut a
piece of wrapping paper). This will give you a more fluid cut line and
will be much faster than continually opening and closing the scissors.
Again, it is difficult to cut a perfectly straight line with a pair of
scissors and they will not always do a great job on thicker thicknesses
of film.
A Razor Blade and Straight Edge: The most
precise way to trim your documents is using a razor blade and a
straight edge. With this method you eliminate any problems with the
material rolling over as you attempt to cut it. However, this method
can be much more time consuming than some of the other methods and
requires large spaces with a cutting mat to protect the surface under
the items you are cutting. If you choose this method for trimming you
need to be very careful that you don't cut yourself or ruin the table
or countertop under your material.
An Automated
Laminating Trimmer: For the highest volume users, there are actually
automated trimmers with flying knives and side slitters. These special
trimmers will detect the leading edge of your documents and use sharp
razor blades to automatically trim the laminate as it feeds through the
device. These devices such as the GBC Discovery Cutter are difficult to
configure and require high speed feeding equipment to pair with.
However, for companies who produce thousands of documents at a time
these devices are highly accurate and incredibly productive. As an
alternative to a standalone automated trimmer there are a few
laminators on the market that have built in trimming. A new laminator
from Fujipla (distributed in the United States by Drylam) will actually
take letter sized documents, laminate and trim them all in a single
step. This type of laminator allows you to essentially "set it and
forget it".
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