How do I measure my bag for seal length?

Lay the bag flat on the table, empty, and measure straight across the mouth from fold to fold. That measurement - not the bag's printed size and not its capacity - is what has to fit inside the seal bar. Buy a bar longer than that measurement.

Can I seal a wider bag in two passes?

You can, and it is what happens when the bar is too short - but the overlap is where the seal leaks and the double line is visible on the pack. It is not a plan, it is a symptom.

Does a shorter bar seal thinner film better?

No. Length and film thickness are separate limits. A short machine is not gentler and a long one is not stronger on heavy film.

Which length should I order?

Send us your widest bag measured flat and we will confirm the length against it. That is more reliable than choosing a standard size and hoping.

Would a faster machine speed up our small-bag packing?

Only if sealing is the slow step. At this size the count is usually slower than the machine, and a scale at the bench does more than a bigger sealer.

Seal length

8 Inch Hand Sealing Machine – Size Check Before You Buy

Eight inches is the length people ask for when the pack is small - and it is the length most often bought a size too short, because the bag that decides it is the widest one, not the usual one.

Ready to order? The 8 inch hand sealing machine page has the price, specifications and spares.