Bill counters are great machines to have on hand if you handle money on daily basis. They are typically fast, efficient and save hours of time versus manually counting money by hand.

While there are many different types of bill counters out there, there are a few common features that you will probably want in a machine. Here are a few suggestions that may prove useful if you are in the process of getting a machine.

5 Features You Need In Your Bill Counter

1. Batch Counting - Batch counting is extremely useful when counting bills. It makes it easy to create organized stacks of money and is a must-have tool for many businesses.
2. Speed – I recommend getting a bill counter that counts at least 600 bills a minute (minimum).
3. Portability – Make sure your bill counter either has a carrying handle or is portable. This is very important for most businesses that count money on a daily basis.
4. Hopper Capacity - Try to get a bill counter that has the ability to hold at least 100 used or 200 new bills. This will save you a lot of time.
5. Digital Display - Lighted digital displays make the amount easy to see and read versus monochrome LCD displays.

Here are a few features that I find nice but are not absolute necessities for everyone:

• Counterfeit Detection – Catches counterfeited bills.
• Dust Cover – Keeps dust from counted bills from polluting the air.
• Fan Filtration – Removes dust from counted bills. Great for those with allergies.
• Half & Short Bill Detection – Lets you know when damaged bills are found.
• Variable Speed – Great for counting coupons, paper and other non-bill material.

You can find our entire selection of currency and bill counters here. Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 if you have any additional questions about bill counters.

Paper cutters are useful tools. Depending on the model, they can be used to precisely trim photographs or cut entire reams of paper. Regardless of the paper cutter you’re using, they all share the fact that the blade will eventually become dull. So what can you do to extend the life of your paper cutter? Here are a few tips.

5 Easy Steps To Improve The Life Of Your Paper Cutter

• Staples & Paper Clips - When cutting large volumes of paper, sometimes it is easy to forget those rogue staples and paper clips. Be sure to check the paper you are cutting for these items. Nothing does more damage to a paper cutter blade than cutting into a staple or paper clip.
• Card Stock – Thicker paper can cause your paper cutting blade to dull more quickly. If you are cutting card stock, scale back the amount you are cutting.
• Capacity - I personally like to scale back the amount of paper I am cutting by about 15% from the maximum amount allowed. This means less force needed by the operator and less force on the cutting blade.
• Laminated Material - While most paper cutters can cut laminated paper, plastic will cause the blade to dull more quickly. Cutting laminated paper, however, is a necessity for many people. This will not damage a paper cutter, but will simply dull the blade a little faster versus cutting paper.
• Water & Liquids – Be careful with drinks around paper cutters. A spilled drink on a paper cutter blade has the potential to cause the blade to rust.

So what can you do if your paper cutter’s blade is already dull? You have a few options, depending on the cutter. If you have a guillotine or a stack cutter, you may be able to get the blade re-sharpened. Contact our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129 about that.

If you have a rotary paper trimmer, you’ll have to replace the blade. We offer replacement blades for every paper cutter we sell. Again, call 1-800-658-8788 x129 about replacement blades.

In the event that you’re paper cutter is kaput and needs to be replaced, you can find our entire selection of paper cutters here.

Are you looking for a tough, fast and durable 27″ roll laminator? With several options available, you may be wondering which laminator you should get. The Ledco Professor 27″ roll laminator may be just what you need. This is my review.

Ledco is considered to be one of the best manufacturers of roll laminators for commercial and industrial use. Their machines are well constructed and are designed to be easy to use and operate. Ledco roll laminators vary in size and width, depending on where they are used and what they will be laminating.

The Ledco Professor is 27″ wide. This means it is ideal for laminating signs, banners, posters and other large documents. It can also be used to simultaneously laminate several small things at once. The Professor is considered to be very fast, with a variable speed motor capable of running at up to 15 feet per minute.

One thing I consider to be convenient is the fact that it can be used with a standard wall outlet. The exact power specifications are 110 volts, 1560 watts, 15 amps. While the wattage is pretty high, you should be fine.

The Ledco Professor is a tough laminator, capable of handling laminating film up to 10 mils thick. This is the thickest film available. This laminator can process roll film, pouches and can even accept mounting board up to 3/16-inch thick.

One of the biggest hassles with using a roll laminator is loading new rolls of film. Feeding the new rolls can seem like trying to navigate a maze. The Ledco Professor has a built-in self-threading feature that makes loading new rolls of film quick and easy. This is a huge plus in my book.

One common concern with any laminator is the quality of the end results. Nobody wants waves, bubbles or cloudy patches in their film. The Ledco Professor uses heated rollers and uses a forced air cooling system that helps the film turn out beautiful and clear.

I am a huge fan of Ledco roll laminators and an I have to say that the Ledco Professor is right up there. It is tough, durable and designed for continuous use. You should be fine using the Professor laminator for medium to high-volume laminating jobs. It is not only easy to set up, but extremely safe to use.

You can find the Ledco Professor 27″ roll laminator here. You can find our entire selection of 25″ and 27″ roll laminators here. Do you still have questions? Feel free to speak with one of our laminator specialists by calling 1-800-658-8788.

Do you have projects that need a reliable paper folding machine but have found most machines can’t get the job done? Do you fold glossy, coated or wet paper? If any of these questions apply to you, you may want to take a look at the Martin Yale 959AF Air-Feed AutoFolder paper folding machine. I have used this machine and this is my review.

To begin with, the Martin Yale 959AF is an air feed paper folding machine. In fact, it is the air-feed version of the standard Martin Yale 959. These types of folding machines are sometimes called air suction or pneumatic folding machines. Unlike friction-feed folding machines, air-feed machines can be used with glossy, coated and wet paper. Friction-feed machines jam on glossy paper and smudge wet ink .

The 959AF uses a built-in air compressor to get the job done. It is extremely customizable and has adjustable air controls that allow you to adjust the pressure and vacuum. The end result is a crisp, clean fold.

This folding machine is manually set up. This means that the folding plates are manually adjusted to get the required fold. Some people prefer a more automated system for selecting a fold, but I personally don’t mind it. Albeit I do have a lot of experience, but I can set up manual folding plates just as quickly as an automatic machine. It shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes.

The Martin Yale 959AF can be used to create letter folds, half folds, Z-folds, double parallel folds, right angle folds and baronial folds. Because the folding plates are manually adjusted, custom folds are also very easy to set up.

All is included with this folder to get it up and running. Once pulled out of the box, and set up, you can begin folding paper. It does weigh 220 pounds, so you will need a table or desk capable of supporting that weight.

As far as specifications are concerned, this is a pretty tough machine. It can handle paper up to 14″ x 18″ in size or as small as 3″ x 3 ¼. It can also handle a wide variety of paper weights, from 16# to 110# bond. The Martin Yale 959AF can definitely be considered a commercial paper folding machine.

One downside to the 959AF, when compared to the standard 959, is that the air feed version is a little louder. This is due in part to the fact that an air compressor is used during the folding process.

Overall the build quality on the 959AF is great. I am very impressed with the 959AF. If you are a printing press and need a good, solid folding machine, the 959AF is a great fit.

You can find the Martin Yale 959AF Air-Feed AutoFolder paper folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of air feed paper folding machines here. Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our paper folding specialists.

Are you looking for an affordable paper folding machine that can be used for creating letter and accordion folds? If so, you may want to look at the new Intelli-Fold IF300 paper folding machine from Intelli-Zone. This compact paper folding machine is brand new and I have had a chance to test it out. This is my review.

To begin with, Intelli-Zone is a leading manufacturer of affordable office equipment. They make a wide variety of laminators, paper shredders, binding machines and paper folding machines.  You can find Intelli-Zone’s entire product line here.

The Intelli-Fold IF300 is very similar in setup and operation to the LF286, LF283, LF283B and Dahle 10560. At first glance, you’ll find the IF300 to be a very attractive machine. It features a modern office design that blends in well. Another thing you’ll notice is that it has a digital display that will tell you how many sheets have been folded.

Setup of the IF300 is manual. This means both of the folding plates have to be manually set to the fold you want to do. This isn’t difficult. Common folds are printed on the folding plates, making adjustments simple. You should be able to have this folding machine set up and running in less than 10 minutes.

The feed tray can hold up to 100 sheets at a time and will automatically fold those sheets until they are gone. It even gives you the option to tell it how many sheets you want it to fold before it stops. The motor itself is adjustable. You can choose from low, medium and high-speed options.

Keep in mind that the Intelli-Fold IF300 will not work with glossy paper. This is the case with most friction-feed folding machines. This is because the friction rollers will slip on glossy coated paper, causing the machine to jam.

I personally ran several stacks of paper through, creating a letter fold (C fold) and accordion fold (Z fold) and a single fold (V fold). It seemed to do a nice job at folding the paper. The IF300 is primarily designed to work with standard copy paper with a paper thickness range of 6 to 24# paper.

Also keep in mind that this folding machine is not designed for high volume use. It is a great folding machine to have on hand for light-volume folding. This is the case as well with the LF286 and LF283 series folding machines.

Overall I give this machine high marks for what it is designed to do. It is affordable, great looking and much faster than folding paper by hand.

You can find the Intelli-Fold IF300 paper folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here. Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any paper folding machine questions.

Do you work for a school and are looking for a great all-round roll laminator? You probably need a laminator that can withstand constant / daily use without the need to be constantly serviced. I have come up with a list of the top laminators our customers in the educational field prefer to use. This list focuses on thermal roll laminators.

This list is based on popularity with teachers and track record. These laminators have proven themselves over the past decade to be reliable, easy-to-use and extremely durable. Price is of course a huge factor as well since most schools are strapped for cash. This list focuses on roll laminators. Roll laminators are the most popular laminating format used in schools today.

Top 5 Best School Roll Laminators

1. Banner American Easy-Lam School Budget Roll Laminator – This laminator isn’t the fastest laminator around, but it is by far the cheapest in its size. Price plus a great brand (Banner American) makes this laminator a school favorite.
2. Banner American EasyLam and EasyLam II Roll Laminators – The Banner American EasyLam and Easy Lam II have been around for years. These laminators offer a blend of good quality, ease-of-use and price.
3. GBC Pinnacle 27” EZLoad Roll Laminator – The Pinnacle 27” EZLoad is not only popular for its price, but also for the extremely easy system used for loading new film rolls.
4. Ledco Educator 25″ Roll Laminator – A laminator designed for teachers, by teachers. That pretty much sums it up. This laminator was designed from the ground up for use in schools.
5. Banner American MightyLam 2700 Roll Laminator – The name MightyLam pretty much sums it up. This popular school laminator is tough and is designed for the daily rigorous use laminators face in a school environment.

You can find our entire selection of roll laminators here. Do you still have questions about laminators? Feel free to speak with one of our experts at 1-800-658-8788.

I have had several customers ask me how they can get a better deal on the office equipment we sell. I can completely understand this as I’m an avid online shopper myself. I started off as an eBay junkie over 10 years ago. I understand the desire to get a good deal. Here are a few tips and ideas on how you can save money at ABC Office.

To begin with, we try very hard to save you money right off the bat. One lesser-known way to save money is by asking for a quantity discount. If you are ordering multiple quantities of the same product, we can often give you a pretty nice discount. This is especially beneficial for schools, government and military. Quantity discounts equal serious cash savings. You can request a quantity discount by calling us at 1-800-658-8788 or by filling out this form.

We try to get our prices as low as possible so you don’t have to hassle around with trying to find the best price. If for any reason you find one of our products for less elsewhere, we offer a low-price guarantee. This means we are often able to either match or beat a competitor’s price. To take advantage of this, call us at 1-800-658-8788 or fill out this form.

You can also get in on some great deals, savings and coupon codes by signing up for our promotional e-mail. This e-mail goes out on a bi-weekly basis and is full of deals on paper folders, paper shredders, cutters, laminators, binding machines and much more. You can see an example of this e-mail here.  You can sign up for our bi-weekly specials e-mail here.

Hopefully some of these tips will help you get in on some great deals.  Have a great day and happy shopping!

Do you laminate posters, maps and signs that are up to 27-inches wide and need a new or replacement roll laminator? One machine you may be looking at is the GBC HeatSeal Ultima 65 roll laminator. Is this the right laminator for you? This is my review.

To begin with, GBC is a well-known manufacturer of laminators. This includes both pouch and roll laminators. Not only has GBC been making laminators for years, they continue to be one of the most popular brands of laminators to date. GBC products are considered by many to be on par with Fellowes as far as quality is concerned.

The GBC HeatSeal Ultima 65 is a 27″ wide roll laminator designed to be used with Nap-Lam I roll lamination film. This is the most common type of roll laminating film used, which is a big plus for the Ultima 65. You can find our Nap-Lam I film here. It is not uncommon for the Ultima 65 to last for years without any special maintenance.

This laminator is commonly used in schools, copy centers and other organizations that need to laminate posters, maps and signs. It is also commonly used to laminate several smaller items at once. This laminator is sometimes called a school laminator because of its popularity with schools.

While the Ultima 65 can only be used with 1.5 and 3 mil roll film, it is extremely easy to set up and use. It includes several preset temperature settings and speed controls, which results in a nice finished product.

The rollers in the Ultima 65 are also heated, which helps cut down on cold spots and eliminates annoying cloudy spots in film. It takes about 20 minutes for the Ultima 65 to be fully warmed up and ready to be used.

The GBC Ultima 65 has a motor that runs at a speed of 10 feet per minute. This is a decent speed for a laminator of this size and should get most jobs done quickly. A built-in reverse switch is especially nice for preventing or clearing out jams. An auto shutoff feature turns the laminator off automatically when not in use.

Overall I consider the GBC Ultima 65 to be a good laminator. It isn’t ideal for high-volume jobs, but should hold out and work well for use in schools. I would rate this as a medium-volume laminator.

I think the biggest downside is that it cannot be used with laminating film thicker than 3 mils (three thousandths of an inch). This isn’t an issue for most schools.

You can find the GBC HeatSeal Ultima 65 roll laminator here. You can find our entire selection of roll laminating machines here. Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with laminator questions.

Are you looking for a simple no-nonsense paper folding machine that is compact, easy-to-use and simple to set up? If this applies to you, you may want to consider looking at the Martin Yale 1701 AutoFolder paper folding machine. I have used this machine and this is my review.

Martin Yale has been making folding machines for years. This includes classics like the 1501X (CV7), 1217A and the 959. Both the Model 1601 and 1701 AufoFolder paper folding machines are new to Martin Yale’s lineup. So how does the 1701 hold up compared to the competition?

To begin with, the 1701 AutoFolder is an automatic paper folding machine. This means there is no manual adjustment of the folding plates. Simply tell the 1701 the fold you want to do and it will automatically set itself up for you. This is a pretty nice feature. Folding machine setup really can’t get much easier.

The Martin Yale 1701 is designed to be used with paper up to 8 ½ x 14″ large and can hold up to 150 sheets of paper at a time in the feed tray. This isn’t bad for a paper folding machine of this size and price. It can be used with paper up to 70 lb. index, which is especially nice. This means you will be able to fold normal paper and even some card stock.

Not only will the 1701 automatically fold one sheet at a time, but it also has a feed bypass slot. This feed bypass will allow you to manually feed up to 5 stapled sheets of paper for folding. This is a really nice feature and very few folding machines have this capability.

The exit tray uses a conveyor system. Unlike many other folding machines out there, that simply fold the paper and shoot it into a catch tray, the 1701’s conveyor exit system keeps folded material organized. This is especially nice if you are folding documents that need to be kept in alphabetical or numerical order.

The machine itself is pretty light. It weighs in at 39 pounds. For an automatic folding machine, this is pretty light. This means you can use the 1701 on just about any table or desk.

Overall I like the 1701. The build quality is decent and it extremely easy to set up. I would recommend using this folding machine for medium-volume folding.

You can find the Martin Yale 1701 AutoFolder paper folding machine here. You can find our entire selection of paper folding machines here. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any paper folding questions. Have a great day!

Guillotine paper trimmers are not only accurate for trimming photographs, but can also be used to cut several sheets of paper at a time. If you are in the market for a well-rounded trimmer, you should take a close look at the MBM Kutrimmer 1058 guillotine paper trimmer. This is my review.

MBM Kutrimmer (by Ideal) manufacturers a wide variety of guillotine paper trimmers. These trimmers all share a certain level of design, with the biggest differences being the length of the blade and the amount of paper the trimmer can cut. Kutrimmer is considered to be one of the best guillotine trimmer manufacturers out there.

The Kutrimmer 1058 guillotine paper trimmer is a customer favorite for many reasons. To begin with, it has a long 23″ cutting length and the ability to cut up to 40 sheets of standard paper at a time. This means the 1058 can cut most common sizes of paper and can trim a variety of photo sizes.

I have handled this cutter and the build quality is amazing. You just don’t see many pieces of equipment made from solid metal components. The base is metal, the cutting arm is metal and even the clamping mechanism is metal. Other than the blade needing sharpening every so often, there isn’t much on this cutter that should break or wear out.

The wood-base guillotine trimmers of 20 years ago were pretty unsafe to use. The blade was completely exposed and you definitely didn’t want children near it. The 1058 has several safety features build in, keeping the blade protected during the cutting process. While I still wouldn’t recommend letting children use this cutter, it is definitely built to prevent injuries.

Another problem with older guillotine trimmers was the accuracy of the cut (or the lack thereof). The Kutrimmer 1058 has a handy clamping mechanism that keeps paper in place during the cutting process. The clamp, along with a razor-sharp Solingen steel blade, keeps the cuts straight and accurate every time.

An adjustable front gauge and back gauge make measuring cuts easy. The back gauge is adjusted by sliding a guide, where the front gauge is adjusted by turning a knob found on the front of the machine. The front gauge even includes a paper support, making it easy to cut lightweight paper.

Overall I give this guillotine trimmer extremely high marks. For the length and cutting capacity, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything that even compares.

You can find the MBM Kutrimmer 1058 guillotine paper trimmer here. You can find our entire selection of guillotine paper trimmers here.