This is worth every cent! I've tried using an iron as well as a flat iron (Chi) for sealing Mylar bags and it is labor intensive requiring multiple attempts with not much success. This crimper seals perfectly FIRST time and EVERY time. I also like the variable temperature settings as well as the protective stand for surfaces. It elevates the bag so that the contents aren't falling out when attempting to seal. It was an investment, however, it takes the guesswork out of properly sealing bags. I've actually been able to cut bags in half, seal the cut end thus doubling my Mylar bag quantity for smaller items. I could have saved money by purchasing the smaller length, but I took the advice of another reviewer and purchased this 12" length. It eliminates the process of having to seal the wider bags twice to cover the width.