Laminating paper is a great way to protect your documents from spills, scratches, and other accidental damages. It also helps make them more resistant to tearing and ripping.
Laminating one side of the paper is a simple process that allows you to take advantage of the benefits of laminating without a significant amount of time or cost.
This guide will show you how to laminate one side of the paper in an easy and inexpensive way, so read on to learn how.
7 Steps on How To Laminate One Side of Paper at Home 2022
Follow the steps below on how you can laminate one side of a paper using a laminator even if you are not a professional.
Let’s Get Started!
I. Find a laminator
You will need a laminator in order to laminate one side of a sheet of paper. To find a laminator, head to your local office supply store.
Make sure you get a laminator that is large enough for the size of paper you’ll be using–you’ll want to make sure it will do the job without wasting too much time.
II. Pick your paper size
The first step in this process is to determine what size paper you’re going to be laminating.
If you’re looking to laminate the front and back of a sheet of paper, then your paper needs to be at least 8.5″ x 11″. If you plan on laminating just one side of the paper, then the size is determined by how much space you need for what you’re printing or writing on that side.
You can also purchase sheets with pre-cut sizes like 4″x6″ or 5″x7″.
Next, measure the length and width of your paper to determine its dimensions before proceeding with the next steps.
III. Choose a side to laminate
First, measure the paper to determine which side you want to laminate. If you’re laminating a letter-sized sheet of paper, then the best side to laminate is the short edge that has no folds or creases.
If you’re laminating a ledger-sized sheet of paper, then you’ll want to use the long edge with no folds or creases.
Once you’ve decided on the best side for your project, make sure it’s clean and dry before proceeding. You can use a soft cloth to wipe down any dirt or dust on the surface of your paper.
IV. Print your document
Before you start laminating one side of the paper, you’ll need to print your document. If you’re using a printer at a school or office, make sure you have an account set up for them before printing.
If you don’t have a printer available to you, it’s possible to print your document from an online source as long as the quality is good enough for what you need it for. To do this, just go to any website with a .pdf file and select “Print” from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
If your printer can’t fit all of your documents on one page or if there are multiple pages in your document, be sure to print only one copy of each page. It may take more time and cost more, but it’ll save on ink and paper which will save money in the long run.
V. Place your Document into the Laminator
The first step in laminating one side of the paper is to place the document into the laminator. The document should be flat and centred in the feeder.
You can use a ruler to measure how far from the edge of your documents you want laminate to cover, and make sure it’s centred on your feeder tray. You can also use a guide on your laminator for help with centring.
Next, take a strip of clear packing tape and place it over your document (or you can place it underneath if you are using an automatic feeder). Secure the edges of the tape so they don’t move around when placed inside the feeder tray.
VI. Remove from the laminator
Once you’ve loaded the document into the laminator, it’s time to remove it. You can do this by either pulling out the paper or turning off the machine.
If you’re pulling the paper out, wait until it has come to a complete stop before removing it. This will help prevent any tearing or ripping. If you turn off your machine, be sure that it has completely stopped before handling your document.
When removing paper from a laminator, be sure to wait for it to come to a complete stop before removing it so as not to tear or rip the document.
VII. Cut to size
There is no exact size for which you need to cut your paper, but make sure it’s large enough to cover the surface of your laminating machine.
List of Common Problems with Laminating Machines
There are a few common problems that can happen with your laminating machine. Most of these problems are easily fixed, but some may require specialized attention.
- When you turn on your laminator, it might make a noise like humming or beeping–but the rollers won’t move. This is likely due to an issue with the power cord or outlet, which you can fix by simply tightening one of the screws in the power cord connections.
- The application roller might not turn at all when you’re laminating, or it will only turn intermittently. This could be caused by jammed paper. So try pulling out any jammed paper and turning off the machine for 10 seconds before trying to resume the application. If this doesn’t help, contact customer service so they can help you identify what’s causing the problem and get it resolved quickly!
- The film may get stuck to itself when you remove it from the cartridge so one side is wrinkled or folded over to seal onto itself rather than sealing onto your document or material. You can fix this by applying pressure with your fingers on either side of the wrinkle until it smoothes flat against your document.
Tips on How to fix a Jammed Laminator
One of the most common problems you might experience with your laminator is a jammed roll. Luckily, there are many methods for fixing this issue.
The first way to resolve a jammed roll is to press down on the roll until it unjams. This will usually take some time and effort, but it should work.
If you can’t manage to unjam your machine by hand, try using a broom handle or something similar to twist the roll free. You can also unroll the paper spine-first over an area rug or other soft surface and then use your foot to apply pressure to gently twist the rolled material free from the machine.
There are also products that claim they will unstick your laminator without any effort at all. These include things like WD-40 or even dish soap. If none of these methods works for you, you may need to replace your roll with a new one.
Laminator is not Heating Up: What to do
If you are not able to get your laminator to heat up, this could be due to a problem with the electrical power. Check the power cord for any frays or tears in the wiring. If there are no problems, there may be a problem with the outlet or surge protector that is connected to your machine. Try plugging it into another outlet to see if that solves your issue.
Another possible reason for this malfunction is an issue with the heating element. This can usually be solved by removing and replacing the heating element in your laminator.
Conclusion
Here we’ve talked about how to laminate one side of the paper at home using a laminator that even a first-timer can follow. Also, we discuss common problems a user might face using a laminator and how to solve them.
Are you new to using a laminator and its accessories? Check out our How To’s category.