The Fastback 20 binding system from Powis Parker is one of the most user-friendly thermal binding machines on the market, allowing even novice operators to create professional-looking bound documents in only 20 seconds with just the push of a button. In this post, we share six tips that will help make binding with the Fastback 20 as efficient as possible.
- Ensuring that the edges of all of the pages of your document are evenly-aligned before binding is key to creating a book that is durable and strong. Before inserting your document into the Fastback 20, firmly tap the binding edge against a flat, hard surface a few times. If you notice that your pages are uneven after you have inserted them into the binding channel and activated the book clamp, simply press the “OPEN” button to release the clamp. Jog the pages of your book and re-insert them into the machine before pressing the green “BIND” button again.
- The grain of your paper may impact the quality of your bind. For best results, the grain of the paper should run parallel to the binding edge. Paper that has a grain that runs parallel to the long edge of a sheet (i.e. the 11″ side of a letter-sized sheet) is referred to as being “grain long.” If the grain runs parallel to the short side of the paper (i.e. the 8-1/2″ side of a letter-sized sheet), the sheet is referred to as being “grain short.” A sheet of paper will flex more easily along the direction of its grain. Most standard copy paper is grain long, so it should work well with the Fastback 20. If you are binding with a new type of paper for the first time, it is recommended that you determine the grain and perform some test binds before doing any large production runs.
- Index tabs are a great way to divide the content of books. Tab dividers can be used in conjunction with the Fasback 20 binding machine, but not all styles are compatible. Many paper tabs work well, however most varieties with plastic or mylar reinforcements along the along the binding edge will not properly adhere to the adhesive used on Fastback binding strips. Contact your Fastback dealer for advice on which tabs to use with your book. It is highly recommended that you perform some test binds before doing any large projects using tab dividers.
- In order to allow the pages of your book to adhere to the spine, it is important that you allow the book to cool for 2 – 3 minutes after binding. The book should be placed in the cooling rack with the spine side down. Though the document can be moved out of the cooling rack after 2 – 3 minutes, it is recommended that you wait at least 5 minutes before opening it to ensure that the glue has time to set. Once set, the pages of a book bound using Super Strips can resist up to 50 lbs. of pull.
- Unlike books bound with traditional plastic coils or binding combs, Fastback-bound documents are completely recycleable. The adhesives that are used in the strips are environmentally-neutral, which means that they will not pollute landfills or water tables. Furthermore, the strips themselves are paper-based, making them a far more ecologically-sound binding option than plastic-based spines.
- Color copies that are made from older-model copy machines that use fuser oil may not bind well using the Fastback Model 20. Fuser oil and some specialty digital paper types can be difficult to adhere to, so they must be prepared with the Powis Parker Splitter Machine prior to binding. The splitter creates small slices in the binding edge of the paper, allowing the glue to penetrate the fibers and form a durable bind.