Crafty Review: Xyron Machines

After all these years, over 30 of them, you'd think I would find one adhesive that worked on everything and stick to it. While it may not stick to absolutely everything I have found Xyron permanent adhesive works for most things. Xyron machines are simple plastic cases that hold rolls of adhesive, laminate, or magnet and you simply crank your item through to apply whatever medium you are in need of. If you have a great drawing your child brought home from school and you want to save it forever, maybe use it for a place mat, you can use the double-sided laminating cartridge in the Xyron 900. If you have a great picture card from Christmas and would like it to be part of your refrigerator decor you need only grab your XYRON 510 and run it through with the magnet cartridge. Xyron adhesive cartridges allow you to completely glue an item without sticking it to the table or making a mess of your hands. In fact the best part of these machines is their ability to contain the sticky mess I normally make when working.

Xyron has divided its group of machines along two lines. The first is the Create A Sticker line, which allows you to use either a permanent or re-positionable adhesive.

Xyron 150 - This machine is small, portable and affordable. Shaped like an 'X' and in fashionable colors it is available not only at craft stores but also at many major department stores. Put your item in the top right and pull at the bottom left. Tear off the tape using the serrated edge and you will have your sticker sandwiched between a clear cellophane top and a white nonstick paper bottom. Apply a little pressure, I like to use my bone folder and make sure I go around the edges, peal the cellophane off and you have your own customized sheet of stickers ready to go.

Xyron 250 - For some reason this machine looks like it works on the same principal as the others but there is no clear cellophane over the pieces when they come out. I have had trouble with this one due to it containing a faulty cartridge. The company has issued a statement regarding a quality control issue in some 2006 cartridges and is willing to replace them. The information is on their website

Xyron 500 - This little gem goes back to the sandwich method of sticker making and will accommodate a width of 5"

The next two machines move out of the Create A Sticker category and into the Creative Station category. This means along with the two types of adhesive you can choose one sided or double-sided laminate, and magnetic cartridges.

Xyron 510- this machine will accommodate items up to 5" wide for adhesive and 4 ½" wide for lamination. The cartridges can be switched out in the middle of rolls allowing you to optimize the usefulness of one machine.

Xyron 900 - You will be delighted with the larger capacity of 9" on this machine. Besides running entire sheets of 81/2" x 11" card stock and 8"x10" pictures through I do multitudes of small items at one time. Again the cartridges in this can be changed midstream with no ill effects. As a bonus feature this machine has a cutting blade that can be removed and used as a paper trimmer as well.

So is it worth the money. In my opinion, yes.

What have I made with it? Everything, cards, scrapbooks, added glitter to paper without drying time, sticker sheets for the kids, I've even run some of those flat backed plastic gems through these machines as well as wood veneer. The permanent adhesive is great. When working a larger piece that I need to position just right I have the bonus of the backing paper, which I can undo a little at a time. It has drastically cut down on the things that have been wrinkled or stuck back on themselves before making it to their final destinations.