Frank,
I can't think of any time when I would buy a laminator. If I really wanted to make a white decal I would silkscreen on water slide decal paper. Silkscreening is something I've had experience with.
The fun for me is to see if I can figure new and cheaper ways to solve problems that come up in my main hobby of old radio restoration and model making as well. I think of these activities of mine as another hobby.
Right now I have 6 pieces of aluminum foil with different recipes of white acrylic paint, water, and talcum powder painted on them. In the DecalPro process using their white foil, excess white has to be lifted off using low-tack masking tape. Can I duplicate their white foil with what I am doing? I don't know, but if I have to make 6 more tests, I'll do it.
Frank, it's all about having fun. I'm 75, retired, and doing things I enjoy doing. The main reason I have posted here about my decal tests is that I wanted to see if there was someone here that wanted to get involved in this.
Check out this site about my work in restoring the photo prints that were on many of the cheaper radios in the 1930s. My scanner doesn't do justice to the color of the prints. Everyone who has seen them a were amazed at how much the prints look like real wood. Old radio restorers are using this method with great success.
Best regards,
Stewart