Need to make PECS or Visual Schedules? ezLaminator to the rescue!
Written: Jan 05 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Compact, Lightweight, No Heat, Safe, Easy and Fun to use
Cons: Cartridge price adds up, film easily wasted, limited by 8 1/2" width
The Bottom Line: With the ezlaminator it is so simple to make helpful learning tools for my child on the Autism spectrum.
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| marytara's Full Review: MANCO INC. LAMINATOR EZ W/30'CRTRDG 00-32000-02 |
I've been using my ezLaminator machine for about a year now and I can tell you - I am still in love with it today as I was the day I first brought it home. If you have any needs for a home laminating machine, this is definitely one to consider.
About the ezLaminator
The ezLaminator is made by Duck Products (also known as Manco Inc.. I've seen the machine available for purchase at Office Supply stores like Staples, OfficeMax, or OfficeDepot. The unit sells in the $50 range and comes packaged with a 30 foot cartridge to get you started laminating. Once that cartridge is out then you'll need to purchase refill cartridges (a 30 ft one sells for around $20, or there is a slightly more expensive 50 or 60 foot one). The machine comes with a 2 year warranty - but if you register online they give you an additional year, at no charge.
Good Stuff about the ezLaminator
The ezLaminator was my choice for a home laminating machine for many reasons. First of all, this machine is not huge. Its about the size of an inket desktop printer and its very lightweight (only 6 pounds). The unit is made of plastic and only weighs 6 pounds. There is even a handy carrying handle on the top of the machine, though I actually store it in the original box that it came in when I'm not using it.
The biggest draw this machine had for me, however, is that its a cold laminating machine. No batteries are needed and it doesn't need to be plugged in. I can use it anywhere and I don't have to worry about the machine heating up and melting plastic laminating film. My son was 3 years old when I first got this and still to this day I wouldn't want to have him around one of the heated laminators - its just a very scary thought. This machine is extremely safe for me to use with him right by my side because its completely manual (the turn of a crank). Even the cutting edge is inside the machine and completely guarded.
To laminate something you simply put your item on the feeder tray and turn the crank. The item will feed into the machine on one side and come out the other laminated. Then you use the trimmer to release the laminated item from the machine. Depending on what you laminated you may or may not have to use scissors and trim it closer. You can laminate anything flat that is no wider than an 8.5 sheet of paper because that is the size of the feeder tray. But lengthwise, the sky is the limit (up to 30 or 50 feet, depending on which cartridge you have in).
When the cartridge is running low you will know because a red and white striped line (which is a sticker) will come out on the laminating film finished product. You have maybe a foot or two left at this point so you'll want to make sure you have a replacement roll on hand. Loading in a new roll is a no-brainer - simply remove and toss the old cartridge and drop and load in the new one.
What I've laminated
Well, first and foremost, I use this laminator to make PECS cards for my child who has speech delayed and on the Autism Spectrum. PECS is the Picture Exchange Communication System which uses picture symbols on small cards to assist in communication. The cards vary in size - most of the ones we use are around 1.5"X1.5" squares and have a picture of an item on it and the word. Having our own laminator means I can very easily make up cards on my computer, print them out on a sheet of paper and then run that sheet of paper through my laminator. Then, simply cut the sheet up into however many cards that I've made, affix velcro to the back and I'm good to go. Before affixing the velcro I do roughen the laminate up with an emory board so that the self-stick adhesive grips and doesn't just slide off of the slick film.
I also use my ezLaminator to make a whole host of visual aids, activity schedules, choice boards, token boards and more to be used in my sons ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) Therapy. The ezlaminator was crucial when I was Potty Training my son. I used the laminator to make all sorts of reward charts, sequence strips, and much much more.
The laminator has come in handy to preserve art projects, make place-mats, laminate important documents, used in scrapbooking and more. I never knew (or would have imagined) how many uses there are for it and I now I cannot live without it!
Some not so Good Stuff about the ezLaminator
Though I love my laminator lots and lots there are a few downsides..
The refill cartridges do add up in price if you use the machine frequently like I do. But,if you shop sales, search around (places like ebay), and/or use store coupons from your Sunday circulars then you can get the cartridges for much cheaper and then stock up.
The ezlaminator is operated by the turn of a crank and it is literally easy enough for my just turned 4 year old son to operate. So easy that I would have to say it is too easy - my little guy likes to turn it and watch the film crank through which is rather wasteful, and the reason that I now keep the machine out of reach!
You are limited by the 8.5" width of items you want to laminate. I have had items that were too big to laminate through this machine, which is a bummer. In this case I've either taken it and had it professionally done or used the laminating film/contact paper type sheets to preserve the item. This is not the machine to use if you want to make the popular "file-folder games" using standard sized folders which are too wide [need to be laminated when open].
Overall
Despite the few shortcomings of the machine its really been a lifesaver in this household. If you have a child on the spectrum, are starting out or using PECS as a communication system, or have any need at all to make and preserve visual schedules and aids that will hold up to time then this is a really super, and affordable laminator that is safe to use around young kids.
www.ezlaminator.com
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
marytara
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 in Education, Kids & Family |
 - Top 50 |
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Member: MT
Location: Jersey Shore
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