Do you need a reliable pouch laminating machine for use at home or in a small business environment? If you’re in the shopping process right now, you have probably discovered a huge selection of machines. One model I would recommend you look at is the Fellowes Cosmic 125 12” pouch laminator. This is my review.

Fellowes, although better known for their shredders, also makes a wide variety of pouch laminators. The Cosmic 125 (aka CL-125) pouch laminator is the home / small office version of the heavier-duty Saturn 125. This laminator has been around for some time now and has a great reputation for light to medium-volume jobs.

Let me get down to the basic specs. This laminator has a 12 ½” wide opening that is designed to laminate wider documents or several smaller documents. As far as pouch laminators go, a 12 ½” wide opening is very large. This allows you to use the Cosmic 125 to laminate signs, menus, photos and much more. The Cosmic 125 literally measures in at 3.5625″ x 20.6875″ x 7.875″

Aesthetically, the Fellowes Cosmic 125 is one of the best looking laminators around. It features a calm white and gray color scheme. Rounded edges almost make this laminator look like a piece of home entertainment equipment than a piece of office machinery. It should easily fit in with your existing office products.

This particular laminator is designed to be used both 3 and 5 mil thick pouches. A mil is a thousandth of an inch. The 5-mil thickness is compatible for use with index card size items and smaller. The 3-mil thickness can be used with larger documents. While this is a thermal laminator, capable of heating up in 5 minutes, it can also be used for cold laminating.

If you have ever used a pouch laminator, you may have noticed that they can get pretty hot. Some are extremely hot to the touch. The Cosmic 125 uses special HeatGuard technology that keeps the laminator cool to touch. This is nice when you need to quickly unplug and move (or re-position) the laminator.

Portability is extremely easy with the Cosmic 125. An included carrying handle is located on the back of the laminator. It also features cord storage. This is nice for packing up and moving the laminator.

Have you ever started laminating something only to notice that you fed it in crooked? If not fixed, this can result in a jam. The Cosmic 125 features a release lever that disengages pouches, making them easy to remove or re-position. Once you’re ready, this lever can be re-engaged and laminating can re-commence.

Overall I think the Cosmic 125 is a good value. Just remember that this is not designed for high-volume use. It is best used for low to medium-volume laminating. Also be aware that you cannot use this laminator with 7 or 10-mil thick pouches.

You can find the Fellowes Cosmic 125 12″ pouch laminator here and our entire selection pouch laminators here.

Model: Cosmic 125 Laminator
CRC: 52160
Item Number: 5216001

If you’re in the market for a binding machine, you may have come across thermal and tape binding. I find that many customers that are torn between the two formats, with both typically producing similar end results. If presented with both formats, I would personally go with a thermal binding machine. I’ll explain why.

To begin with, let me explain what thermal and tap binding involves:

Tape Binding – Tape binding typically involves a strip of tape lined with some sort of pressure sensitive adhesive or heat-activated adhesive. This tape is typically applied to the spine of a stack of paper. Most tape-bound documents utilize some sort of clear cover and card stock back cover. While some tape binding machines can bind thicker books, this format is usually used for thinner reports and presentations.

Thermal Binding – Thermal binding machines use special covers, typically a clear cover front and a card stock back, that includes some sort of heat-activated clue in the spine. Paper is placed in the pre-made cover, after which the cover is placed in a machine that heats the glue. Once the hot glue has absorbed into the paper, the cover is removed and the glue solidifies. This type of binding is especially popular for reports and presentations.

Having used both binding formats myself, I can attest to the fact that the end results are almost identical. So why do I like thermal binding machines more? It all has to do with the longevity of the bind.

Tape binding, after a duration of time, will begin to lose pages. This is because, in most cases, the tape adhesive begins to dry out and crack. Because the tape is only sticking to the back spine of the paper, pages begin to loosen and fall out. Continuous use helps prolong this problem.

I remember years ago we offered a tape binding machine called the Report Master. I remember customers calling up complaining that literally after a few weeks to a few months pages would start falling out. I now tell customers that tape binding is intended for temporary use.

Thermal binding, on the other hand, uses glue that absorbs much farther into the paper than tape. As a result, thermal bound documents last much longer. Fellowes makes a line of thermal binding machines called “Helios” that use pre-made covers with glue in the spine, much like I described earlier.

In conclusion, I have to say that both binding formats look great, but ultimately I would go with a thermal binding machine. You can find our thermal binding machines here.

If you don’t mind the involvement of a thermal binding strip, comb, wire, coil and Velobind will all last longer than either thermal or tape. You can find our comb, wire, coil and VeloBind machines here.

Are you in the market for a sub $100 pouch laminator that you can use at home or in the office? Many laminators under $100 aren’t worth much when it comes to quality results. At ABC Office we try to offer only the highest-quality laminators available and the Fellowes Saturn SL-95 pouch laminator is one such machine. This is my review.

Fellowes has developed a stalwart reputation for their huge line of paper shredders. What many people don’t realize is that Fellowes also makes a large line of binding machines and laminators. All Fellowes products have something in common – they look great!

The Saturn SL-95, at the time of this article, runs at a price of about $94 new. This is very affordable, especially for a 9 ½” pouch laminator. Not only is the SL-95 affordable, it touts an impressive 2-year warranty. It even includes a laminating starter kit.

For a laminator, The SL-95 is very attractive. It features a charcoal gray with a lighter gray design with soft rounded curves. It almost looks like something out of a Sci-Fi movie. The control panel is very easy to use and extremely easy to set up.

The large 9 ½” width is capable of handling most letter-size documents and can be used to laminate small pouches as well. The thermal temperature settings are designed to handle 3 mil and 5 mil laminating pouches. Warm-up time only takes about 5 minutes.

As with any thermal pouch laminator, they can generate a lot of heat. Because of this heat, safety can be an issue with some laminators. The Fellowes Saturn SL-95 features HeatGuard technology that makes the laminator cool to the touch. This is great, especially for home use.

One of the most annoying features of pouch laminators is alignment. If a pouch is fed in crooked, it can eventually run into the side of the laminator and cause a jam. The SL-95 has a special release lever that releases pressure on the pouch, making it easy to re-position. Once re-aligned, the laminator can be clamped back down and laminating can continue.

Portability is frequently an issue with pouch laminators. Many laminators are awkward and difficult to pick up and move around. The Fellowes Saturn SL-95 includes a built-in handle, making it easy to pick up and move around. Weighing in at just 7 pounds shipped, the SL-95 can be used on most desks, tables and workstations.

Be aware that the SL-95 is not designed for high-volume use. It is, however, great for the occasional laminating job. I would rate it for low to medium-volume use.

Considering the price, the warranty, the quality and the great looks, I think the SL-95 to be a great fit for any home or small business.

You can find the Fellowes Saturn SL-95 pouch laminator here, our entire selection of pouch laminators here and our pouch laminating film here.  Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-658-8788 with your pouch laminator questions.

Finding a reliable Level 3 paper shredder for under $100 can be tough, especially with an the junk that seems to be out there. One solid little shredder that is perfect for deskside or home office use is the Fellowes W-11C cross cut paper shredder. This is my review.

Fellowes has made a name for itself over the years with its line of paper shredders. With the recent shortage, finding a Fellowes shredder has been a little difficult. One model that is readily available, and very popular, is the W-11C.

The W-11C cross cut paper shredder features a Level 3 cross cut security level. Security levels range from 1 to 6. The higher the security level, the tinier the particle cut. This bodes well for the W-11C as it will effectively destroy documents, rendering them unreadable by suspecting thieves. Particles measure in at 5/32 x 1-3/8″.

The sheet capacity isn’t amazing, at 11 sheets, but it is more than adequate for deskside and home office use. The motor runs at a speed of 16 feet per minute, which is impressive for a shredder of this size. What I personally like about the W-11C is that it makes shredding convenient.

A 9″ throat width is designed to accommodate and shred letter-size paper, envelopes and other standard-size material. If you are shredding paper wider than 9″, you can fold it in half and feed it through the shredder.

The design of the Fellowes W-11C paper shredder is modern and attractive. The gray & black design looks great and fits in well with existing office décor. The control panel layout is very easy to use and even includes a patented safety lock that disables shredder for added safety protection

For the price, you really can’t do much better than the Fellowes W-11C cross cut paper shredder. It looks great, gets the job done and won’t break the bank.

You can find the Fellowes W-11C cross cut paper shredder here and our entire selection of paper shredders here.

Are you in the market for a pouch laminator and are looking for a slick deal? We have a few models that may meet your need for an excellent price. While these laminators may not be the best for industrial jobs, they are excellent for home and small business laminating.

Our least expensive pouch laminator, the Intelli-Lam IL200 from Intelli-Zone, is back in stock. This laminator has been hot, and for under $50 you really can’t go wrong. The IL200 can be used to laminate documents up to 9” wide, making it perfect for laminating letter-size documents and smaller.

Other popular “bargain” laminators include machines from SircleLam, Fellowes and Banner American. All three of these brands are well established and have developed a great reputation with our customers.

Top 5 best deals on pouch laminators:

1. Intelli-Lam IL200 Pouch Laminator
2. SircleLam HQ-230 Pouch Laminator
3. Fellowes EXL 45-2 Pouch Laminator
4. SircleLam HQ-330 Pouch Laminator
5. Banner American QuikFinish PL100 Pouch Laminator

These laminators are all available to you for under $100. They have proven to be reliable machines and should help you protect, preserve and enhance a wide variety of documents. You can find our entire selection of pouch laminators here.

While thermal binding is nowhere near as popular as comb, wire or coil binding, it is still very popular and, in my personal opinion, looks really nice. Covers are already pre-made, which means you don’t have to track down report covers or backings for books.

Thermal binding is easy. Simply take your paper, place it in a thermal cover and let the machine do the rest. So which thermal binding machine is the best to use?

When it comes to thermal binding machines, there is really only one brand that hits the mark every time. This brand is Fellowes. Fellowes, known for making all sorts of shredders, also makes some of the best thermal binding machines available today.

Here are the best-rated thermal binding machines we offer:

• Fellowes Helios 30 Thermal Binding Machine
• Fellowes Helios 60 Thermal Binding Machine

Both of these machines are simple to use. The end results look great, and as mentioned earlier, the process is extremely easy.

You can find our entire selection of book binding machines here.

Are you in the market for a small, compact paper shredder for use at home? There are a lot of no-name brand shredders floating around out there. One brand that stands above the rest, for home paper shredding, is Fellowes. One great little shredder you may want to consider buying is the Fellowes P-35C cross cut paper shredder. This is my review.

To begin with, Fellowes has established itself as a reliable paper shredder for home and small office use. While there are more robust shredders out there, Fellowes shredders are inexpensive and carry a tough warranty. The Fellowes P-35C personal shredder has a limited 3-year warranty, which is hard to come by in the paper shredder market.

The Fellowes P-35C is a compact little shredder. It measures in at 14″ H x 13″ W x 8″ D and only weighs in at 10 pounds shipped. Don’t let this small size discourage you. To be honest, the P-35C isn’t designed for high-volume shredding. If you only need a shredder for occasional home use, the P-35C easily fits the bill.

Unlike many comparable shredders out there that feature a strip-cut design, the Fellowes P-35C uses a higher security Level 3 cross cut pattern. This is great for most shredding applications. A single sheet of paper is turned into 5/32″ x 1-9/16″ (4mm x 40mm) particles.

The P-35C is not designed for high-volume use. The motor and shredder head are capable of shredding “up to” 5 sheets of paper at a time. Remember that 5 sheets is the maximum amount. Don’t try and press it above that limit or you will run into trouble. I would personally scale that amount back to 3-4 sheets at a time.

Because the Fellowes P-35C is so compact, it can easily sit next to a desk, and in many situations, under a desk. I have even heard of people that have placed this shredder in a pantry for shredding junk mail.

One thing I personally really like about the P-35C is the design. It looks great. I don’t know what it is about black-colored office equipment, but I think it looks slick. The P-35C will easily blend in with your existing office décor.

Overall I have to say that I really like this shredder, but must caution those of you who want to use it for large office or departmental shredding. It is simply not designed to be used all day long. It is best suited for occasional “every-so-often” shredding, ideally in a home or small office environment. It is called a personal shredder for a reason.

You can find the Fellowes P-35C cross cut paper shredder here. You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

Are you looking for a compact and portable laminator that you can use at the office for occasional jobs or at home for laminating photos and other small documents? If this sounds like your situation, you may want to consider looking at the Fellowes EXL 45-2 pouch laminator. This is my review.

To begin with, Fellowes has a knack for creating beautiful equipment. This includes their shredders, binding machines and laminating machines. While functionality is ultimately most important, it is nice to get a piece of office equipment that looks good. The EXL 45-2 is a very attractive laminator.

For those that complain they can’t find the power button on their machine, you’ll be happy to know that the power button on the EXL 45-2 is the most obvious thing on it. It is ridiculously large. In some strange way it reminds me of the power button on my Xbox 360. This laminator’s colors are platinum and charcoal.

Looks aren’t everything though. The real question is, “does the EXL 45-2 perform?” To start, the EXL 45-2 is a small laminator. The feed opening is only 4.5″ wide. If you need to laminate letter-size documents, this is not the laminator you want to use. If you only plan on laminating photos, business cards and other small material, this may be an good option.

It only takes about 5 minutes to fully warm up. This is especially nice if you need a laminator for occasional use that can be turned on and used quickly, as needed. The EXL 45-2 has a maximum laminating film thickness of 5 mils. This means you will be able to use both 3 and 5 mil pouches, but won’t be able to use 7 and 10. The good news is that 3 and 5 mil pouches are the most common used thicknesses.

While the EXL 45-2 is primarily designed for thermal laminating, it can be set up and used for cold laminating as well. While it says film can be run through it without a carrier, I personally still like using one. This is up to you. I personally think carriers help prolong the laminator’s life be preventing hot glue from squeezing out onto the rollers.

The Fellowes EXL 45-2 is only a two-roller laminator. This should come as no surprise as the laminator doesn’t cost very much. This isn’t the end of the world, but this also means that the EXL 45-2 is not designed for high-volume use. It is best used for light to occasional use.

Overall I think this is a great laminator for the price and what it’s meant to do. It is a great option for a small business or home.

You can find the Fellowes EXL 45-2 pouch laminator here and our Fellowes laminating pouches here. You can find our entire selection of pouch laminators here.

Thermal binding is one of the least known binding formats used today. This isn’t because it is bad, but because more common methods such as comb, wire and coil have taken precedence. Fellowes recently unveiled one of their newest thermal binding machines called the Helios 30. This new machine is both attractive and very affordable. Is it a machine you consider using?

The new Fellowes Helios 30 replaces their older TB 250 thermal binding machine. I personally find the new Helios 30 much more pleasing on the eyes. Fellowes has some very talented design engineers on staff as they continue to make some of the most attractive office machines used today.

To start with, the Fellowes Helios 30 uses a binding format called thermal binding. As the title would suggest, heat is involved. The Helios 30 uses special thermal binding covers that have glue in the spine. The glue is very similar to what is found in a hot glue gun.

Once plugged in, the Helios 30 warms up a heating element. This entire process takes about one to three minutes. While the machine is warming up, you can take your report or paperwork and place it in a thermal binding cover.

Once warmed up, the cover is placed in the machine. The machine then heats up the cover, melting the glue. As might be expected, the glue soaks into the spine of the paper. This process takes about a minute. After a minute, the cover can be removed where the glue later cools down. Once solidified, the booklet is bound.

Thermally bound reports and books look very nice. The Helios 30 can be used with a thermal binding cover up to an amazing 300 sheets of paper.

One thing I really like about the Helios 30 is the HeatShield technology built into the machine. This allows the Helios 30 to get blazing hot on the inside, for melting the glue, but remain cool on the outside. This is ideal for safety, not to mention you don’t want to be using a heat-radiating machine throughout the day.

While thermal binding is attractive, it generally isn’t used for long-term binding. On top of that, you need to be aware that the Fellowes Helios 30 must use special thermal binding covers. You cannot use any cover you want.

The Helios 30 is attractive and compact. It is very user friendly and features an easy-to-use control panel. Once done, the machine can be folded flat for easy storage.

You will find the Fellowes Helios 30 thermal binding machine here. The Helios thermal binding is available in a larger size called the Helios 60 found here. You will find our entire selection of thermal binding machines here.

I have been working with paper shredders for years. As a result I can tell you that the general concept of the paper shredder, and the way they work, has remained pretty much the same for the past decade. Some work better than others.

Not only have I tried to stress the importance of using a paper shredder, for destroying sensitive information, but I have also been a big advocate for paper shredder safety. There are few things that make me cringe more than hearing about a dog getting its tongue stuck in a shredder or a toddler losing a few fingers as a result.

We have a pretty big showroom here at ABC Office, full of several different shredders from a wide variety of manufacturers. The types of models vary from strip cut to micro-cut particles. A while back we brought in a Fellowes Intellishred SB-99Ci for testing and display.

Fellowes paper shredders, for me, have never drawn my attention. I have always considered them to be best used at home or next to a desk. Fellowes must have recently hired some talented designers to work for them, because their current line of paper shredders looks modern and are aesthetically pleasing.

The Fellowes Intellishred SB-99Ci is a shining example of a “beautiful” paper shredder.  You can see several pictures of it by clicking here. It really does look nice. Upon turning the shredder on, a striking blue LED lights up. Again, this is much different than comparable models. A lighted gauge on the paper shredder (sheet capacity indicator) indicates the effect the load of paper is having on the motor, letting you know if you are pushing it too hard. It also features jam-proof technology, which makes it impossible to jam or seize the shredder head.

The thing that struck me the most was the SafeSense technology. If for any reason a finger or hand gets close to the shredder opening, the shredder will turn off. This is great for preventing possible injury. The sensor never failed.

If you are looking for a nice looking and safe paper shredder, I would recommend the Fellowes Intellishred SB-99Ci. Fellowes has several “Intellishred” models to choose from. You can find the SB-99Ci that I tried by clicking here. Enjoy!