Bind It, Shred It, Laminate It, Finish It: A MyBinding.com Blog

How to Choose a Rotary Trimmer

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link …How to Choose a Rotary Trimmer. Please feel free to check out this post along with many other helpful reviews, demos, how to videos and more on the official blog of MyBinding.com.

If you routinely need to cut perfectly straight lines, using a rotary trimmer can be very helpful. These devices are commonly used in offices and schools, and crafters sometimes use them as well. In order to choose a rotary trimmer that will fit your needs, there are a few things you need to consider and look for. Check them out:

• Cutting length.  It's vital that you choose a trimmer that's large enough to accommodate your paper. You will be able to choose the right trimmer by making sure that a trimmer's cutting length corresponds with the size of your paper. For example, if you will be trimming letter-sized paper, get a cutter that has an 11” cutting length.

• Cutting capacity.  Rotary trimmers have different cutting capacities. In other words, the trimmer you choose will be able to cut a certain amount of paper at once. You need to pay attention to cutting capacity because if a trimmer can only trim 5 sheets at a time and you need to cut 10, that might be problematic.

• An encased blade.  Since a rotary trimmer is a cutting tool, it's something that needs to be used with caution. It's a good idea to get a trimmer that has a blade that's fully encased in plastic. While you will still need to be careful when cutting our paper, the casing will help protect your fingers as you work.

• An alignment grid and ruler.   It's important to choose a trimmer that has both a ruler and an alignment grid. These features will help you properly line up your paper so you can get a precise cut. You should also make sure the trimmer has a paper clamp. This will keep your paper in place as you work.

• Interchangeable blades.  Some rotary trimmers have interchangeable blades. These cutters are very helpful if you want to perforate and/or score your paper. Also, sometimes these trimmers can create wavy edges, so they're ideal if you do a lot of crafts.

• Durable construction.   Finally, it's a good idea to select a rotary trimmer that is durably constructed. You can tell a cutter is well-made if it has a lot of metal parts. The base should also be sturdy so it can withstand a lot of use.

Finally, you may want to try out a few different rotary trimmers to see which one you like the best. That way, it will be easy for you to choose the trimmer that's perfect for you. Happy cutting!

How to Successfully Use a Pair of Crimping Pliers

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link …How to Successfully Use a Pair of Crimping Pliers. Please feel free to check out this post along with many other helpful reviews, demos, how to videos and more on the official blog of MyBinding.com.

Coil binding is a popular document finishing method that is used by professional binderies, office workers, and school employees and volunteers. Documents bound with coils tend to look very professional and most coil binding equipment is pretty easy to use. However, a lot of people run into trouble when it's time to crimp the ends of the coil with a pair of crimping pliers. This is unfortunate because crimping the coil is the most important part of the process. If you don't crimp your coil, your document will fall apart. However, with good instructions and a bit of practice, you can become skilled at this task. Here is how you can successfully use a pair of crimping pliers:

• First, make sure you have a pair of crimping pliers. These look just like normal pliers and a pair is sometimes included with new coil binding machines.

• Bind your document, making sure that you use a coil that's 1” longer than your document.

• Hold your book in your hands with the coil facing you. Grab your pair of crimping pliers and make sure that the red dot on them is pointing up.

• Grab one end of the coil with your pliers. Apply some pressure so the the coil is trimmed. Turn your wrist slightly to bend the end of the coil.

• Flip your document over and make sure the coil is facing you. Crimp the other end of the coil with your crimping pliers. You're done!

As noted above, you might have to practice a little bit before crimping comes naturally to you. That's normal, so be patient with yourself and practice as much as necessary. If you're a visual learner, make sure you watched the embedded video to see someone crimp the ends of a coil. It might help. Good luck to you and happy crimping!

 

Tips for Using the Martin Yale P6200 Letter Folder

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Fast and Simple Letter Folding with the Martin Yale P6200. Please feel free to check out this post along with many other helpful reviews, demos, how to videos and more on the official blog of MyBinding.com.

One of the most time-consuming office tasks is folding paper. Whether you're folding invoices or correspondence, it can take up a significant chunk of your workday. Luckily, there are machines that can help you out such as the Martin Yale P6200, a desktop letter folder. Using this machine is a snap. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of it:

• The P6200 can fold up to 3 sheets of paper at a time and they can be stapled together. Don't try to fold more than 3 sheets at once. If you do, you could end up with a paper jam.

• It's possible to fold up to 30 letters per minute with this machine. The paper will be folded as soon as you place it in the feed opening which is nice and convenient.

• This device works with letter-sized paper that measures 8.5” x 11”. It will fold the paper into thirds, so you will want to make sure that you have the right size envelopes on-hand.

• If you want to boost your productivity, make sure you keep the P6200 on your desk for easy access. (Or you could place it in your copier room near the postage machine.) The machine's approximate dimensions are 13" x 6" x 6" so it won't take up much space.

• At some point, you may end up with a paper jam despite your best intentions. If this happens, it's easy to fix. Unplug the machine and turn it upside down. Remove the green paper stop and untwist the black disc. Then, insert the stem of the black disk into the hole on the right side of the machine. Start cranking the disc to remove the paper. Make sure to return the black disc and the green paper stop to their original positions before folding more paper.

• Turn off the P6200 when you're done.

Using the Martin Yale P6200 is extremely easy, even when you have to deal with a paper jam. Give this letter folder a try so you can save time during your workday.