Jeff McRitchie

Trimming Laminated Documents

Now that you've printed and laminated your document, you're facing the final step in the process: trimming! Here are several ways you can trim your laminated documents.

1. Laminate Trimming Knives. Also known as zippy knives, these are tools that are specially designed to trim laminated documents. They're used in much the same way you'd use a letter opener, making them very safe to use because you're always cutting away from yourself. Also called zippy-knives, these tools can trim your document quickly and they're ideal for odd-shaped documents (such as curved ones), but you may have some trouble cutting a straight line with them unless you have a very steady hand.
2. Sharp Scissors Yes, a good sharp pair of scissors can be used to trim your newly laminated documents and since they're readily available, you don't have to worry about acquiring any new or special equipment. This is a good method for trimming thin laminate and your work can be done quickly if you use the blades as you would a zippy knife. That is, keep them open, rather them continuously opening and closing them. However, it can be difficult to cut in a perfectly straight line with them, so you'll need to consider that if your project calls for straight lines.
3. Automated Cutters Although large electric paper cutters are not the best tool for trimming laminated documents, there are special cutters available that can trim documents in line with your laminator. These trimmers can detect the leading and trailing edge of your document and cut where appropriate. Plus, they often include side slitters to provide four sided automatic trimming. This is definitely the fastest method for trimming laminated sheets. However, it is also the most expensive. Automated trimmers start at more than five thousand dollars and go up from there.
4. Paper Cutters Although it might seem obvious, you can always use a sharp paper cutter to trim laminated documents. Rotary style trimmers tend to work better than guillotine cutters. However, you can use either one. If you are looking for the ideal rotary trimmer for laminate you will want to consider a model that uses a metal blade that runs along a metal edge (instead of one that uses a cutting mat). That style of trimmer is faster and more efficient for trimming laminated documents

These are several ways for your to trim your laminated documents. Try them out and see which one works the best for your application. Keep in mind that many organizations choose to use laminating pouches for certain sizes of documents to reduce trimming. Laminating pouches come with slightly rounded corners and are designed to fit your documents just right so that trimming is not required.

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