A bag sealer having an electrically heated wire and a pivotally mounted sealing member which is substantially parallel to and normally biased away from the wire. An integral transformer and solenoid are provided for reducing the voltage supplied to the wire and for bringing the sealing member into pressure bearing relationship with the wire. The primary winding of the transformer serves as the solenoid coil while the solenoid armature, upon being closed, completes the transformer. In order to facilitate activating the switch to energize the transformer winding, a lever extends out through the housing. Molded side pieces carry an extruded channel on which is mounted a resilient pressure bar.