With tax money on the horizon :lol: I am contemplating getting our own Laminator and comb binder. Does anyone have one? What kind and what's your opinion? How oftne do you use it? (I want one, but am afraid I'll use it once and it will collect dust)
I have a Scotch TL901 that I got on sale for like $15-20 from Amazon. They go on sale every few months, so if that's the one you want, watch it for a price drop. I love mine, and I actually DO use it. The only thing I don't like is that 8.5x11 is as large as it goes. I wish I had the monster kind that could do posters and stuff. :lol: I'd love to have a comb binder, but I don't have one.
I am ordering a laminator this week too! I am always wanting to use one for something! I use regular binders and a 3 hole punch instead of a comb binder. That way we can take something out and or re-arrange as needed.
I love my laminator!!! It makes simple materials seem so much more professional, and fun. They also last way longer! I bought mine a few years ago as a work expense, and now that I'm home I'm loving it for homeschooling.
I've avoided responding because I didn't want to be negative, but my comb binder just hasn't worked out at all. It's been a disappointment. I don't recall off had the brand - it was one of only two that the local Staples had. The one I bought was $99 new, and I think it will only bind up to 75-80 pp. The thing is, I have a *very* difficult time getting pages lined up evenly in it, so the holes for the comb are askew, or even completely miss the edge of the paper. It's very frustrating. I had avoided ring binders because I heard the pages were more likely to tear, but I've gone back to that, and no tearing. For me, the downside of binders is limited space - when it was time to put a new book in, the old one had to come out. I did like being ale to leave the comb-bound books on the shelf in case anyone wanted to read them. Maybe there's someone out there who's done better with theirs. Or can tell me what I've done wrong.
I also have the scotch laminator, they are $26 at walmart and you don't have to wait for it. I use it all the time for everything even making the kids decorative "white boards" and covers for booklets that I make with my comb binder. This is the machine I have. I have never had problems with it, and use it all the time. Also you can reuse the bindings and it is easy to move things around.. simply load the book onto the the machine, pull the binding rearrange the pages and then rebind.
I have both of these and I LOVE them! Never had a problem with either one and they are work horses! I use mine all the time...several times a week for large amounts of stuff. I have a friend who bought an expensive laminator ($200) at staples and she hates hers. It jams all the time and her dh has had to fix it so often she said she wished she had just bought the cheap one I have. Also, the laminator sheets are sold at Business Costco for around $6.50 and you get 50 sheets. You can't beat that price!
binder I have a coil binder and LOVE it! I prefer it over comb binding. Mine is called a Rubicoil. Don't know your budget, but it's about $139. . . I've used it for 10 yrs and it is still going strong!
