How Do I Use VeloBind Strips?

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.

Five Surprising Facts About Fastback Binding Strips

Fastback binding strips from Powis Parker are one of the most innovative binding solutions on the market today. Here are five surprising facts about these unique binding spines that you may not know:

  1. Each individual strip includes three specialized glue formulations to meet the unique needs of the various stress points of the bind. These adhesives ensure that the spines are strong, durable, and long-lasting. As a result of these advanced adhesives, the pages of a book bound with Fastback binding strips can resist up to 50 lbs. of pull.
  2. Fastback binding strips feature Powis Parker’s patented Smart Strip technology, which allows the machine to recognize the strip that is being used and adjust its settings automatically, with no manual adjustments required.
  3. Though some thermal binding processes release dangerous fumes, Fastback spines are specifically designed with operator safety in mind and do not give off any harmful fumes.
  4. The adhesive that lines Fastback strips is environmentally neutral, and will not pollute landfills or water tables.
  5. The binding strips contain no regulated levels of NTP, IARC, ACGIH, or OSHA-listed carcinogens.

What is Simple Channel Binding?

Simple channel binding (also referred to as MetalBind) is a binding style that uses U-shaped metal channels to bind documents. The bind is created by crimping the spine slightly using a simple channel binding machine. Unlike most other binding methods, simple channel binding does not utilize punching or gluing to create a secure bind. Instead, it uses the pressure created by the crimped metal spine to hold the pages in place. Below is a brief overview of binding with the MetalBind system:

  1. Slide the adjusting lever on the front of the machine to the far left, and move the arm into the upright position.
  2. Select the correct spine size based on the thickness of your document, and insert it into the binding machine (following the instructions for your model).
  3. Move the adjusting lever to the right until you feel slight resistance.
  4. Place your document between the binding covers of your choice. Simple channel binding strips can be used with your choice of traditional soft covers or specially-designed hard covers.
  5. Insert the document into the binding machine so that the edges of the paper align with the edges of the spine and the back cover faces you.
  6. While holding the document in place, pull the machine’s handle to crimp the spine.
  7. Slide the adjusting lever back to the left and remove your document from the machine.

Four Ways to Bind Without Using a Machine

Almost every business will need to bind documents at some point, but some will not need to bind often enough to warrant the purchase of a machine. Below are four methods of binding that don’t require the use of a binding machine:

  1. Spiral Coils & Pre-Punched Paper – Most binding methods utilize two separate processes – punching and inserting. When you use pre-punched binding paper, you eliminate the punching portion of the process. And unlike binding with plastic combs and twin-loop wires, spiral coils can be inserted by hand (though manual insertion is considerably more time-consuming than using a machine). A pair of inexpensive coil crimpers are then used to cut off the excess coil and crimp the ends to prevent the document from uncoiling.
  2. Screw Posts – Screw posts are an excellent solution for binding projects of all types, ranging from manuscripts and proposals to pricelists and catalogs. To bind with a screw post, use a standard hole punch to create a single hole or multiple holes in the desired location(s) on your document, insert the post into the hole, and twist the screw until tight.
  3. Looseleaf Rings – Like screw posts, looseleaf rings only require the use of a standard hole punch. Simply punch a hole in the upper corner of your document, open the loosleaf ring, insert it into the hole in your document, and squeeze it to close.
  4. Slide Bar Report Covers – Report covers with slide bars are easy to find at most office supply stores, and are even easier to use. A slide bar report cover is made up of two pieces – a one-piece cover with a crease along the spine and a plastic bar with a thin opening. To use this style of binding cover, place your document within the cover and slide the bar onto the spine to secure the sheets within the cover.

A Quick Tip for Punch Maintenance

Does your binding machine not punch as smoothly as it used to? Then try this quick tip for maintaining the metal punching die on your binding machine:

  1. Lightly spray a sheet of paper with WD-40, concentrating on the long edge of the paper.
  2. Carefully insert the sheet into the punch.
  3. Punch the sheet a few times, moving it slightly between each punch.

This technique applies a light coat of lubricant onto each die, without leaving excess residue behind.

Five Ways to Use Screw Posts

Screw posts (also called Chicago screws or binding posts) are an inexpensive, easy-to-use binding method that will allow you to bind a wide variety of materials with no additional tools needed.  Here are five ways that you can use screw posts to help grow your business:

  1. Create a Swatch Book – Whether you’re in the quick-printing industry or you work primarily with fabric, creating a swatch book using Chicago Screws will help you display the options that your business offers to your customers with ease. Since screw posts are a non-permanent binding solution, you can make on-the-spot revisions to ensure that your swatch book is always current.
  2. Make a Photo Collection – Many companies, especially within the interior design or landscaping sectors, have photographs showcasing their best work. Bind them together with a screw post, and keep a few sets in your office and your briefcase so that you can share examples of your organizations talents with prospective clients.
  3. Organize Odd-Sized Documents – If you work with blueprints or architectural diagrams, then you’ve probably had a difficult time finding a binding method that will accommodate your documents. Binding posts are a great way to bind documents of any size or to bind multiple document sizes together, since they don’t have the size limitations of traditional binding methods.
  4. Enhance Your Menu – Many restaurants use screw posts to secure their menus, specials, or wine lists within customized screw post binders. This elegant presentation protects and preserves your menus, and it also lends an extra level of sophistication to your offerings.
  5. Keep Client Info Organized – Keeping all of your contacts organized can be difficult, especially if you travel frequently or work in-the-field. Use a screw post to store the business cards of your top contacts in a convenient set, and keep it in your briefcase so that the information you need is always handy.

What are Disengageable Pins?

Many binding machines offer either fully or partially disengageable pins as a feature, but what exactly does that mean? Binding machines use a die to punch the hole pattern in your documents, and each pin corresponds to the location of one of the holes. Being able to disengage some or all of the pins means that you can choose to eliminate specific holes from the punch pattern, which can help you to accommodate non-standard document sizes or specialty paper (such as three-hole punched paper).

Binding systems that have fully disengageable pins give you the ability to punch with as many or as few holes as needed for your specific project. In the case of binding machines that have partially disengageable pins, a small number of the pins have the ability to be disengaged, which allows you to prevent select holes (usually the most commonly disengaged holes) from being punched.

Having the option to disengage at least a portion of the pins on your binding machine is extremely useful, especially if you plan on doing specialty projects, like creating calendars with your wire binding machine, or if you frequently utilize an unusual paper size within your organization.

Sticky-Back vs. Self-Adhesive Laminating Pouches: Which Style is Right for You?

When referring to laminating pouches, the terms “sticky-back” and “self-adhesive” are often used interchangeably, however they actually correspond to two distinct styles of pouches that have specialized properties. In this post, we’ll discuss both self-adhesive and sticky-back laminating pouches to help you understand the similarities and differences between the two pouch styles.

Self-Adhesive Laminating Pouches

Also called self-sealing, self-laminating, or cold laminating pouches, self-adhesive laminating pouches are made from pressure-sensitive laminating film and do not need heat in order to seal the document. Like laminating with pressure-sensitive roll laminating film, cold pouches do not damage heat-sensitive documents (such as digitally-printed materials). To laminate with self-adhesive pouches, simply remove the backing that lines the adhesive side of the pouch, insert your document, and firmly press the layers together to create a seal. This style of pouch is considerably more expensive than traditional thermal pouches, so if you are looking to laminate large quantities of documents, you may want to consider purchasing a pouch laminating machine to take advantage of the lower pricing for thermal pouches. If you’re only laminating a few documents, laminating as part of a one-time project, or performing lamination in the field (without access to electricity), then self-laminating pouches may be an ideal choice for you.

Sticky-Back Laminating Pouches

Sticky-back laminating pouches are similar to traditional thermal laminating pouches in that they require heat to create a seal around the document. The unique feature of sticky-back laminating pouches is that they have an adhesive backing, which allows the laminated document to be stuck to a folder, bound presentation, signboard, or any other smooth surface. After placing the document within the pouch and running it through your laminator at the proper temperature, simply peel off the release liner on the back of the pouch to expose the adhesive and affix it as desired. Though the cost of the added adhesive backing is reflected in a higher retail price as compared to standard thermal pouches, sticky-back laminating pouches are much less expensive than self-adhesive pouches.

In Review

Though the terms sticky-back and self-adhesive may sound similar, the pouches that they refer to are actually very different. Self-adhesive (cold) laminating pouches use pressure-sensitive adhesive to encapsulate documents without using a thermal laminator. Since they don’t require the use of a thermal laminating machine, these pouches are a great option for small laminating projects or for laminating documents that are heat-sensitive. They require more manual labor and cost considerably more than thermal pouches, so if you plan on laminating a high volume of documents, you’ll definitely want to consider purchasing a machine that would enable you to use thermal laminating pouches. Sticky-back pouches are thermal laminating sleeves that have an adhesive backing, allowing users to affix them to any smooth surface. Like any other thermal lamination pouch, they must be run through a laminator in order to achieve a seal. The added adhesive backing does come at a slightly higher price point compared to standard thermal pouches, but they are still substantially less expensive than self-adhesive pouches.

If you are looking for a laminating pouch that can be sealed without a laminator, then a self-adhesive pouch will fit your needs. If you want to adhere a heat-sealed laminating pouch to a bound presentation or in-store display, then a sticky-back pouch is an excellent option.

Save Even More on Screw Posts with New Volume Pricing!

We’re excited to announce new volume pricing on all screw posts and screw post extensions! These versatile and easy-to-use binding posts are a customer favorite, and now you can save even more over our everyday low prices with this new pricing structure. Click here to explore all 78 screw post varieties and take advantage of our new volume pricing. Lamination Depot will beat any price, guaranteed!

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Pouch Laminator Review: The LA-5000 & LA-5000T Laminating Machines

In an effort to reduce costs and improve efficiency, a growing number of businesses are bringing their laminating projects in-house. Pouch laminators are the most popular style of machine for office use, because they are extremely easy to use and take up very little space.  There are a wide range of pouch laminators currently on the market, but not all models can stand up to the demands of high-volume, all-day use. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the LA-5000 pouch laminator series, which is durable enough to handle daily use at a price that can fit into nearly every budget.

LA5000LG

The Basics

Pouch laminators are designed to work with pre-cut laminating pouches. They use heat to melt the adhesive lining of the pouch, creating a protective seal around the document. Laminating with a pouch laminator is easy – simply allow your laminator to reach the proper temperature, align your document within the laminating pouch, and insert it into the machine. The rollers inside the machine will feed the pouch through at the correct speed, and your finished document will be released at the back of the laminator.

Benefits of the LA-5000 Series

There are two laminators in the LA-5000 series – the LA-5000 and the LA-5000T. Both models have metal casings, convenient stand-by modes to reduce excess motor and roller wear, accommodate 5-10 mil laminating pouches up to 4” wide, and are capable of laminating photographs. The only distinction between the two models is that the LA-5000T includes an external thermometer to help the user ensure proper laminating temperature. An internal thermometer controls the temperature on both models, so the external thermometer on the LA-5000T will not allow the user to make adjustments to the temperature, but it does provide visual assurance that the machine has reached the optimum laminating temperature.

The LA-5000 series laminators are built to withstand high-volume use. Unlike many home or small office laminators that have a plastic casing, the metal casing on these machines allows them to be run continuously without requiring cooling periods. They have a robust laminating speed of 33” per minute, which is nearly 50% faster than other comparably priced models. One of the most unique features of this series is the five-year limited warranty, which is five times as long as other laminators in the same category. Though you will likely never have to use it, the extra long warranty period provides added piece of mind for organizations looking to invest in a new pouch laminating machine.

In Review

Pouch laminators are a simple and inexpensive way to bring laminating capabilities into your home or office. There are many great pouch laminating machines available on the market, but not all models are suitable for high-volume use. The LA-5000 series machines provide an ideal balance between performance and price, beating out many other comparably priced models in both speed and durability. The LA-5000T gives users the added ability to see an accurate machine temperature at any time, but won’t allow them to make any adjustments since the machine’s temperature is controlled internally. Whether you invest in the LA-5000 or the LA-5000T, you won’t be disappointed with either of these versatile and powerful models.