Ecologically-friendly products are continuing to grow in popularity, and Earth-conscious binding solutions are no exception. Though many binding systems have traditionally used plastic spines to secure documents, an innovative new system uses paper to create secure and attractive binds with ease. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the PaperLock binding machine, a powerful, table-top binder that offers a number of unique benefits.

The Basics

The PaperLock binding system uses adhesive-backed paper strips to create secure, eco-friendly bound documents. Though the machine itself does not perform any punching, it utilizes the same 19-hole punch pattern as traditional comb binding. To bind with the PaperLock system, begin by inserting your pre-punched document into the binding slot and clamping it in place. Insert the appropriate size of PaperComb into the holes and remove the adhesive backing, then use the Overturning Panel to flip the comb onto the document. Once the comb has been turned onto the spine, simply pull the binding handle down to complete the bind. After you have loosened the clamp, retrieve your finished document from the binding slot.

Benefits

Like presentations bound with plastic binding combs, documents bound with the PaperLock system lay completely flat when opened, making them ideal for reports and proposals. Because the spine is flush against the surface of the paper, the resulting documents are easy to stack, file, and mail. PaperComb spines are secure and tamper-proof by nature, however you can add an extra layer of protection by signing or applying a company stamp across the seam of the bind – a feature that is unique to this binding style. Since the binding spines are made of paper, they are Earth-friendly and biodegradable, which is why a growing number of environmentally-conscious organizations have begun to use them in place of traditional comb binding spines made of plastic. Unlike plastic combs which require users to stock a broad range of sizes to accommodate different documents, PaperCombs can bind as few as four pages or as many as 200 with only three sizes. They are available in many attractive colors that will compliment any corporate brand identity.

In Review

The PaperLock binding system is an innovative machine that transforms paper strips into secure and attractive binding spines. The machine itself is easy to use, however it does require the use of pre-punched paper in the 19-hole comb binding pattern, as it doesn’t perform any punching. If your organization has been looking for a way to bind documents without having to use traditional plastic spines, then the PaperLock binder may be a great solution for you.

Have you been looking for a way to create stylish, secure, and professional-looking bound documents within your own office or home? In this post, we will provide an overview of thermal binding – a steadily growing binding style that is both customizable and attractive.

The Basics

There are two types of thermal binding – binding with an adhesive spine and binding with sets of pronged plastic bars (commonly referred to as “VeloBind spines”). The most popular thermal binding style involves the application of an adhesive-lined spine to a set of documents using a specialized machine that heats the spine and melts the glue, allowing adhesive to permeate the documents and create a bind. These spines are available in a few styles, including varieties that have pre-attached covers in both soft- and hard-cover formats. VeloBind-style binding is preferred by people looking to create tamper-proof binds, as it is impossible to edit without having to rebind the document. To bind with these spines, the user punches the documents with the proper hole pattern, inserts the pronged side through the holes and then slides the flat side onto the prongs. The document is then placed into a VeloBind binding machine, which trims the prongs to size and melts the ends to secure the bind.

Thermal Binding Spines

Adhesive-lined thermal spines are generally offered in four styles: binding strips, utility covers, soft covers, and hard covers. Binding strips do not have any covers attached, and are available in a wide range of colors and widths. Utility covers are pre-made soft covers that have paper backs and clear front covers. Because they are pre-assembled, they are only available in a specific range of sizes with select paper stocks for the backs. For those looking to create a more individualized bound document, custom covers are a great option. Available in both soft- and hard-cover styles, custom covers enable the user to select the finish, stock, and size, and allow for the addition of personalized lettering or graphics. With only a few covers varieties available as stock styles, many of the covers have to be custom ordered which makes them somewhat more expensive than VeloBind spines and requires additional processing time.

VeloBind spines (also called “hot knife strips”) are available in 9-, 11-, and 14-pin varieties, which accommodate binding on 8 1/2”, 11” and 14” paper. They are able to secure up to 750 pages in a single book, making them the preferred choice for large documents. Though they are not customizable like the adhesive-lined covers, hot knife strips do come in a broad range of attractive colors. Since they are all stock items, the turnaround on purchasing VeloBind strips is generally faster and the cost is lower.

Thermal Binding Machines

Thermal binding machines that perform perfect binding with adhesive strips or covers are extremely easy to operate and require no punching. Simply insert the document into the cover or strip, place it into the opening of the machine, and allow to heat for the specified amount of time. The resulting bind is neat and permanent, and the customizable nature of the covers makes perfect binding a popular choice with many businesses.

Binding with VeloBind spines requires punching with a specialized hole pattern before performing the thermal bind, which generally means that the machines cost more than other thermal binding systems. Because of the additional punching step, VeloBinding is commonly regarded as being one of the most secure and tamper-resistant binding styles, which is why it is often used in binding legal documents.

To learn more about any of the thermal binding machines available at Lamination Depot, visit our thermal binding equipment section.

In Review

Creating professional-looking bound documents is easy with thermal binding. With two distinct styles to choose from, users are able to decide between security and the ability to customize to create a document that fits their specific needs. Each of the two methods only requires the use of a single machine, with no additional crimpers, closers, or other specialized equipment required. Perfect binding generally requires less of an initial investment, since the thermal binding machines are not as expensive, but the spines themselves are often custom and therefore cost more. VeloBinding machines cost more upfront because they perform a punching function in addition to the thermal binding function, but the hot knife binding strips are usually stock items, and are less expensive than custom perfect binding covers. Regardless of which style you choose, thermal binding is a great way to create bound documents that look and feel professionally-made at a reasonable cost.

With all of the binding styles available in today’s marketplace, it can sometimes be a challenge to determine which one is right for your needs. From purchasing the appropriate machine to determining what supplies you will need for any given project, it is important to be able to identify the benefits and limitations of each binding style. In this post, we will cover the basics of comb binding, which is a versatile, inexpensive binding style with many uses.

The Basics

Comb binding utilizes plastic combs in order to create custom booklets. The punch pattern for comb binding has 19 holes per letter-sized sheet, and can be created using either a manual or electric punch. A comb opener holds the comb open while punched pages are inserted onto the prongs.

Plastic Binding Combs

Plastic binding combs are available in a broad range of sizes, accommodating as few as 12 pages and as many as 425 pages. They come in standard 11″ lengths, which are made up of 19 rings and are sized to bind 8 1/2″ x 11″ (letter size) paper. Comb sizing is based upon the diameter of the comb in inches (or fractions thereof). Binding combs come in a wide variety of colors, allowing organizations to create custom-looking bound documents without having to pay for custom combs. The comb design allows for easy editing of documents, since it can be opened after binding to add, remove or reorder pages without damage. It is the only binding style that offers that capability, making it ideal for organizations that require frequent updates to their materials, such as churches or schools.

For information on which size of comb to use for your project, refer to this comb binding chart. To see the selection of comb sizes and colors offered by Lamination Depot, visit our comb binding supplies section.

Comb Binding Machines

Comb binding is based on two individual processes – punching the documents that are to be bound and openingthe binding comb so that the punched documents can be inserted. Depending on the machine, punching can either be manual or electric, however the comb opener is always operated manually. Nearly all machines perform both processes, but it is important to read the description thoroughly because there are a few machines on the market that only offer comb opening (generally used in high-volume production environments to allow punching and inserting to be done simultaneously by two different people).

When researching comb binding machines, there are a number of factors to consider in terms of punching. The primary difference between available models is whether they are manual or electric, which has a major impact on the speed at which the operator is able to complete a job (with electric punches being much faster). Some punches only punch letter-sized paper, while others can accommodate larger sizes. The punch capacity (the number of sheets that can be punched at one time) ranges from 6-55 sheets, and some machines offer the ability to selectively disengage some or all of the punching pins (which allows the user to punch non-standard paper sizes or specialty paper, such as three-hole paper). Many machines include an adjustable depth margin, enabling the operator to move the placement of the holes relative to the edge of the paper. Select machines include other punching patterns in addition to the 19 hole comb pattern, making them a cost-effective option for organizations interested in performing multiple binding styles (such as coil and wire).

All comb openers generally function the same way – when the operator tugs on the handle, small hooks grab onto each of the rings and gently pull them open to allow the pages to be inserted. Depending on the machine, the opener itself is made from either metal or ABS plastic. Each model has its own maximum binding size, so it is important to evaluate your binding needs before making a purchase to help ensure that the machine you buy accommodates the sizes you will be utilizing.

To learn more about any of the comb binding machines available at Lamination Depot, visit our comb binding equipment section.

In Review

Comb binding is a versatile, professional-looking binding style that offers users the ability to make frequent edits with ease. The plastic combs used to bind the pages together are cost-effective, durable and attractive. With both manual and electric punching options available, it is possible to create your own bound reports and presentations at a price point that fits within nearly all budgets. Because it is the only binding style to give users the power to add, remove or reorder pages without having to use a fresh spine, comb binding is highly recommended for use in any organization that creates bound documents that require regular updates, such as training manuals, price lists, or educational materials. With all of the benefits that it offers, it’s easy to see why comb binding is one of the most popular binding methods.

For those seeking extra security and durability in their bound documents, wire binding can is an excellent solution. The wire design also allows booklets to lay flat when opened, which makes it a great choice for applications that encourage note-taking, such as reports or presentations. With two distinct wire binding styles available, selecting the proper method can seem confusing, especially to those who are new to binding in general. In this post, we’ll discuss the similarities and differences of twin loop wire and Spiral-O wire.

Twin Loop Wire: The Basics

Twin loop wire, also called “duo-wire” or “wire-o,” is a versatile binding spine that pairs security and durability with style and affordability. It has signature hole patterns of two holes per inch (21 holes per letter-sized sheet) or three holes per inch (32 holes per letter-sized sheet), depending on the thickness of the document that is being bound. Documents between 3/16″ and 9/16″ thick (5-120 sheets of standard 20 lb bond paper) utilize the 3:1 pitch pattern (three holes per inch), and documents between 5/8″ and 1-1/4″ thick (110-250 sheets of standard 20 lb bond paper) utilize the 2:1 pitch pattern (two holes per inch).

In order to create the secure, tamper-proof finish that wire binding is known for, a specialized device called a wire closer is used to pinch the open ends of the wire together and complete the bind. The majority of wire binding machines include a built-in wire closer, however they are also available as separate units. Since duo-wire comes in two different pitches, each machine is specifically set up to punch either 2:1 or 3:1 pitch hole patterns. If you are unsure as to what size documents you will be binding or want the ability to punch both 2:1 and 3:1 pitch hole patterns, you may want to consider a combination or modular machine that includes both punches.

Twin loop wire is available in sizes ranging from 3/16″ (5-20 sheets of standard 20 lb bond paper) to 1-1/4″ (240-260 sheets of 20 lb bond paper), and in 11 standard colors. Because of its popularity, duo-wire is sold in pre-cut lengths as well as bulk spools, which makes it the most economical wire binding spine.

Spiral-O: The Basics

Spiral-O wires look similar to twin loop wires, but they are specially designed to fit the same 19-hole punch pattern as comb binding. Spiral-O wires have 19 loops (similar to binding combs).

Like duo-wire, Spiral-O wire offers tamper-proof binding that is durable and lays flat when opened. The biggest advantage of binding with Spiral-O wire is that it uses the same pattern as comb binding, which means that users who already own comb binding punches do not need to purchase an additional punch, however it does require the use of a wire closer to secure the bind.

Spiral-O wire is available in sizes ranging from 1/4″ (20-30 sheets of standard 20 lb bond paper) to 1″ (190-220 sheets of 20 lb bond paper), and in seven standard colors. The per-wire cost for Spiral-O is significantly higher than that of twin loop wire, so if you plan on binding frequently, you may want to consider twin loop binding instead.

In Review

For those who already own a comb binding machine and are looking to add wire binding as an option, Spiral-O wire is a great solution. Using the punch that you already use for comb binding in conjunction with a wire closer, you can create secure wire binds without having to purchase a separate wire binding machine.

If you are new to the world of binding and are most interested in performing wire binding, then twin loop wire is your best choice. Most wire binding machines include both a punch and a wire closer, so you can purchase a single machine that will enable you bind from start to finish. Just be sure to purchase the right punch pattern for the size of documents you plan on binding (or order a combination binding machine or modular binding machine that includes both 2:1 and 3:1 pitch punching).