VeloBind strips (also called hot knife strips) are popular binding spines that use heat to create a tamper-proof and professional-looking bind. Though the two-piece design of VeloBind spines can make them seem complicated to use, they are actually quite easy to work with. Below is a step-by-step overview of binding with hot knife binding strips:

1. Begin by placing your document between the desired covers. Clear binding covers are the most common choice for the front of the document, with a more durable textured paper or polycover used as the back cover.
2. Punch your document using your VeloBind-compatible binding machine.
3. Insert the prongs into the holes so that the plastic bar rests against the front cover and the tips of the prongs protrude through the back cover.
4. Place the second strip into the binding channel of the machine so that the small guide holes on the strip align with the pins in the channel.
5. Insert the prongs into the pre-drilled holes in the strip so that the strip lies flush against the cover and initiate the binding process, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Because VeloBind strips utilize a thermal binding process, be sure that your machine has reached the appropriate temperature in order to ensure a secure bind.

The machine will trim the excess length from the prongs, and will use heat to melt the tips to lock the two sections of the VeloBind strip together.