A4 Laminator

Review by Some Day I’ll Have a Boat for Apache AL13P Professional 13″ Wide A3 4 Roll Hot Cold Laminator for Document and Photo
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I destroyed my previous laminator when I set the temperature too hot and melted a pouch inside. Tried to clean but it was a nightmare and I had to throw it out. Thus, the best feature to me on the Apache is the fully adjustable temperature. I gave the laminator several minutes to warm up and then gradually increased the temperature until it was perfect for my pouches. I had a backlog of stuff to laminate when this unit arrived and so did about 200 prints the first afternoon with great results. Since I do mainly photos, I’m a little pickier about just how clear something laminates but the Apache did a great job. This is a heavy duty unit, all metal, and I would say it weighs around 15 LBS. I price checked other 4 roller models and some cost $400 so I think the price is very good too. Would recommend.

Review by Exscotticus for Apache AL13P Professional 13″ Wide A3 4 Roll Hot Cold Laminator for Document and Photo
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I purchased the Apache AL13P after looking over the $125+ laminators sold by Staples. I’m sure the Saturn is a great laminator but it’s twice as expensive and feels like a cheap piece of plastic consumer crap. The Apache, by contrast, is a solid metal beast (I immediately nicknamed it THE TANK), and harkens back to an era when quality items were always made of metal and felt industrial and unbreakable. Add to this the adjustable temperature feature which, now that I’ve used it, can’t imagine not having.

So what’s there not to love? Well… Apache doesn’t exactly have a huge Web presence. Indeed, they don’t seem to have any Web presence at all. No Web site. No online PDF manual. No parts replacement. Nothing. The unit did not ship with a manual per se, but rather a sheet of paper upon which the instructions were clear enough–but also clearly written by someone who does’t speak the King’s English. Reputation?–no idea. Long term performance?–no idea. Support?–no idea.

Basically, if you can get around the fact that the Apache is a mystery product produced by a mystery company, then you won’t believe how much metal you’re getting for your money. It works and it works well–so far…

Review by A. thomas for Apache AL13P Professional 13″ Wide A3 4 Roll Hot Cold Laminator for Document and Photo
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i am a teacher assistant and one of the frustrations i have had at school was to see all of this paper going in the trash everyday, so i had the idea to laminate the pages of letter and use a marker over it that i can clean right off. It works great and more classes are doing it now.

i am so glad i got this laminator. it really doesnt take much space at all and it is so easy to use.

i dont get the display screen, i just dont see why this device will need one! but ho well it does not hurt either!

Review by Lily for Apache AL13P Professional 13″ Wide A3 4 Roll Hot Cold Laminator for Document and Photo
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I use it to seal 10 mil lamination sheets, and it seals evenly. It’s a lot cheaper than other alternatives that can seal thick lamination sheets, no protector is needed, and there are settings such as cold laminating.

Review by N. Howell for Apache AL13P Professional 13″ Wide A3 4 Roll Hot Cold Laminator for Document and Photo
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This is the best laminator I have ever used….and it’s the only one I have ever used. Based on other reviews, I bought it, and am very pleased. I will include instructions, as mine were written by an ESL person and was in degrees C (every temp # I list below, will be in degrees F, since that’s what the machine displays). Also, I will include some tips I found, as I’m new to this. And finally, I will actually do a review at the bottom.

First off, the device is easy to use, so there will not be many instructions. Temp adjust buttons to adjust the temp up and down, and a slot to insert the laminate pouch.

I’ve seen a lot of reviews give temps, but the instructions I have worked well, even if higher than others peoples temp settings. I would suggest maybe starting 30 degrees lower than the instructions, and work up in 10deg increments for your first few laminations. The final product will be warm to the touch and should be clear. If not, then the temp needs to be raised. If it buckles, then the temp should be lowered.

The instructions list:

1.5mil 230deg

3mil 266deg

5mil 302deg

10mil 356deg

Allow about 5min after reaching temp, before laminating.

When finished with the unit, adjust temp down to less than 200deg (I do 100deg), and allow to run for 2min. The instructions say shutting down at high temp can harm the rollers. Hold the button down, and the numbers change quickly.

A carrier for the laminate is not needed, and I’m guessing using one may change the temp setting.

Aside from that, that’s about it.

Tips:

As the laminate comes out warm, be careful on how you handle it for about 30s to allow it to cool. I find, the warm laminate will form a slight permanent buckle if you grab it with thumb and fingers, like one might naturally do. I pick them up with the flat of my hand, and avoid using my thumb. Additionally, while the unit will hold onto the laminate so it does not drop to the floor, I suggest placing something about the same height at the exit – being careful not to block the fan ports. This way it does not form a slight bend as it cools (but it is only slight – I am a little picky)

When laminating two sheets of paper placed back to back, I use a stick glue to bond the paper to each other. The laminate will bond to the surface, but the glue will help in making the paper sheets not feel odd when they separate naturally inside the laminate…I but a glue stripe ever couple inches.

The laminate of course, seals all the way around, which is a water tight seal, but if one is not concerned about that, and only a single sheet of the paper was laminated, the laminate with paper can be cut that will produce a clean durable laminated sheet on both sides. (my wife is a teacher, so we laminate the paper, then cut out the flashcards for use in class – rather than cutting first and laminating the pieces.)

Review:

Ok, as I said, this is the best laminator I have used. It heats up quickly, does an excellent job, and works like a charm. Yeah, the instructions are odd at best, such as ‘Strictly prohibit to repair the machine with electricity’.

Also, this thing weights a ton, shipping weight is 18 pounds. Its very well made, all metal, all of which gets warm, but the only hot area is that dark grey removable section – and I don’t think it’s really that hot…but it is possibly a safety concern for higher temps.

I have only used 5mil pouches so far, and a 300deg setting works very well…so did 290, but I figure I might as well go by the directions. I am getting some different thickness pouches, and if something changes, I will update this.

All in all, I’m very pleased with this product….given that it’s at least half or a fourth of other products, that’s just all bonus for a teacher.