Scotch Thermal Laminator

Purchased this when it was a daily Amazon special and am so happy I did! I've used it to laminate aging sheet music and to protect recipes from the ravages of kitchen spills. Both were easily and quickly done, with great results. The Laminator: It's a lightweight, small footprint device that is very simple to operate. On/Off switch, a release lever to use if the item you are laminating jams, and a 3mm or 5mm switch - relates to the thickness of whatever you are laminating; use the 5mm for thick paper or two regular sheets of paper which are back to back. The 5mm setting is the hottest and the machine takes about 8 minutes to heat up for initial use at this setting. When placing two regular sheets of paper back to back (with recipes on each side), inserting them in the 9 x 12 pouches with the crease into the machine first (any bubbles escape out the open end), I was able to laminate my project in less than 10 seconds. Very quick and easy, and the front end (the part that comes out of the machine first) is cool to the touch with the end out last cooling off in approximately 15 seconds. The laminator remains hot and after multiple sheets, I noticed no change in the output quality of this laminator. The Pouches: The laminating pouches that are used with this machine come in several brands including the Scotch brand. All are on Amazon and you can choose smaller sizes than the 2 large sized ones that come with this unit, but I'd suggest the same size and if you choose to laminate two smaller items you can simply use one pouch and cut the final sheet into two. Tips: Make sure when you are laminating that you have at least a quarter inch around the item you are laminating so that the pouch can adhere to itself - sealing the sides and protecting your item. If you leave the item sticking out, proper adhesion can't occur. Don't put lumpy items in the machine to be laminated. This will jam the machine and won't get the item laminated! Overall, it's a great item for under twenty dollars, and the only real costs are in the laminating pouches so shop around and get the best deal. Some on Amazon include: 5 mil Letter hot Laminating Pouches 100/box 9" x 11.5" glossy thermal laminator pockets, Clear Laminating Pouches, 5 mil, 2-1/4" x 3-3/4",, and Scotch(TM) Thermal Laminating Pouches, 9 Inches x 11.4 Inches, 50 Pouches (TP3854-50). Check 'em out to see what works best for your needs, but all will work with this super-easy to use, quality laminator. UPDATE: July 25, 2011 I've been using this product to laminate back to back sheets of recipes, printed on regular printer paper. It works great! Using a 3-hole punch I then put my recipes into a 3-ring binder to have handy in the kitchen. If a page gets wet, I simply wipe it off and keep going. School awards and artwork get the same treatment before being put into safe-keeping. All in all, this is one of the best products I've ever purchased for home and office use. Highly recommend it!