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

Selecting Paper Binding Covers: Things to Consider

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Paper Binding Covers: Selecting the Right Ones. 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.

You have a lot of decisions to make when binding your documents and one of the most important is what kind of paper cover you're going to use. Take a look at the five things you should consider when making your decision:

1. Weight. Paper comes in various weights that reflect its thickness. For example, most of the paper used in photocopiers and printers is of a 20 lb. weight because it's pretty thin. Weight is important because a thicker cover will give your document more protection, so be sure to choose accordingly.

2. Size. Obviously, size is an important factor when making your decision. Many of the supplies you can choose from are designed for use with letter-sized paper (8.5” x 11”). Therefore, if you're working with letter-sized sheets, it will be easy to choose the right supplies. Covers are also available in other sizes, such as half-letter (5.5” x 8.5”). If you're going to be to inserting tabs into your document, you'll want to choose a cover that's a little bit larger so that the tabs will be covered up. And if you end up with supplies that are too large for your particular project, you can trim them down with your rotary trimmer or guillotine paper cutter.

3. Color. One of the most important things to consider when choosing a cover for your document is the color. As you might expect, these supplies come in various hues, so you'll have a good number of them to choose from. Keep in mind that the color will convey information about your work and company. That said, you'll want to select a color that looks professional and possibly even reflects your company's logo. If you're putting together your work with plastic combs, color coils, or wire spines, the color should complement the binding implement for a polished look.

4. Texture. Covers are available in a few different textures so you can make your work look – and feel – unique. There are supplies that are completely smooth and ones that are not. These textures include linen weave and leatherette. You can also choose one that's metallic if you want your document to be sleek and eye-catching. It all depends on what your documents need.

5. Special details. Finally, it's good to know that covers can be customized to your heart's content. Some people choose to have windows cut out of them so that they can display the title of their document. Others opt for foil stamping which can add a bit of color and shine to the finished work. Offset printing is also a popular choice. There are lots of options so there's bound to be one (or more) that are just right for your needs.

Choosing the right paper binding cover is easy as long as you know what to look for and what your options are, especially when it comes to things such as color and size. Remember that the cover you choose will speak volumes about your work, so choose one that projects your desired image. Good luck and happy binding!

Five Reasons to Bind Your Documents Yourself

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Five Reasons to Bind Your Documents Yourself. 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 produce a lot of documents, you will probably need to bind them at some point. You can either have this done by a third party or else you can do it yourself. There are many reasons why you should consider doing it yourself. Let's take a look at them....

1. The most compelling reason to bind your documents yourself is to save money. Having your work processed by a third party such as a bindery can be really pricey, especially if you do it often or have a large number of books that need to be assembled. Your own binding machine is a one-time cost. Once you have it, all you need is paper, covers, and the binding implements themselves (i.e. plastic combs). These supplies can be inexpensive, particularly if you buy them in bulk.

2. Another reason to assemble your documents in-house is that it gives you control over the entire process. You'll be able to control when and how you bind, and you won't need to stick to a third party's schedule. This can be very helpful, especially if you're the kind of person who likes to monitor how a project is progressing.

3. Bookbinding has come a long way since the days when plastic comb binding was really the only document finishing method available. While plastic combs are still available (and popular), you can now bind your books with twin-loop wire spines, spiral coils, and so on. There's never been so many bookbinding methods available and the good news is that they're all pretty easy to do. You can actually become very proficient at assembling your documents which will not just boost productivity, it will add another item to your skill set.

4. Binding your own documents will allow you to customize them as you wish. There are different sizes, weights, and colors of paper available, as well as covers. You can choose between plastic and paper covers, or even have the covers offset printed or embossed. Basically, you can make your work look the way you want it. This will help you take pride in your final product and it will also impress your colleagues and readers.

5. Finally, binding your own work typically doesn't take that long. This is especially true if you use pre-punched paper or have a thermal bookbinding device that can process more than one document at a time. Doing this will help you meet deadlines, something that may be difficult to do when someone else is handling the work for you and they have their own schedule.

There are some very compelling reasons to bind your own documents. Of course, meeting deadlines is crucial and being able to customize your work is a nice perk. However, perhaps the best reason to do this is so that you can save money. This is helpful for the moment and the future so your company can continue to enjoy success. Start binding your own work today. It will be one of the best decisions you ever make. 

School Yearbooks: Make Your Own to Save Money

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … School Yearbooks: Make Your Own to Save Money. 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.

 Is your school one of the many that's facing unending budget cuts? If it is, you're probably wondering how you can help the institution save money and still keep certain programs in place. One of the first things to go when budgets get tight is the school yearbook so you'll be glad to know that you can make your own and save some money. Here's a rundown of how you can do so:

• The first step is to have your students design and create the contents of the yearbook. Allow them to get creative and experiment with different fonts, layouts, and such. Once the book is put together, you can start thinking about printing it. Using your school's photocopier is the cheapest way to do this. You can either use regular 20 lb. bond paper or something a little bit fancier. Whichever paper you choose, make sure your machine can handle it.

• When your books have been printed, it's time to select the covers for them. You're going to need thermal binding covers. These covers have adhesive in the spines that melt when they're placed in a thermal binding machine. This produces a strong binding so the yearbooks can be enjoyed throughout the years. When selecting your covers, make sure you choose one that are just the right size so that the pages won't fall out of the books. Both hardback and softback covers are available.

• One thing you might want to consider when selecting your covers is whether you want them to be customized or not. There are a lot of options available including offset printing, embossing, foil printing, and so on. Just keep in mind that customized covers can be a bit pricey. If the cost becomes prohibitive, it doesn't hurt to hold a fundraiser to get the funds you need. Also, if you do choose to get customized covers, you'll need to order them a few months ahead of time since it takes a while for them to be produced.

• Now that your yearbooks are printed and you have your covers have been selected, you can start binding them. Since you used thermal covers you're going to need to use a thermal binding machine. Using this type is device is very easy. All you really need to do is turn the machine on and let it warm up, stick the document in, and give it a couple of minutes. You'll have a bound yearbook in no time at all. Many thermal binding machines can bind more than one document at a time which is very convenient. One thing to keep in mind is that you'll probably need to crimp the spines of the yearbooks. This only takes a minute or so and it strengthens the spines so the books will last longer.

Although budget cuts have seemingly become a permanent of life, you can still make sure that your students have yearbooks at the end of the year. Making your own can help you save a lot of money so you can continue this tradition. Good luck and have fun creating your own yearbooks!

 

Plastic Covers: The Supplies You Need to Protect Your Documents

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Plastic Covers: The Supplies You Need to Protect Your Documents. 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.

There are certain things you need to bind your documents properly. For one thing, you'll need a binding machine and the right supplies for your chosen bookbinding method (plastic combs, color coils, etc.). You'll also need good paper to print your document on. And you'll need covers. When it comes to covers, you really can't go wrong with the plastic ones, especially if you need to protect the pages of your document. Here are a few reasons why you should use these covers:

1. They protect against moisture. Chances are good that you spent a good amount of time preparing your document. Writing and editing can take up a lot of time and then you have to punch the pages, etc. The last thing you want is for your work to be ruined by spilled coffee or another type of liquid. Plastic covers are waterproof so they will prevent your work from getting soaked and ruined.

2. There are different varieties available. Plastic covers are available in a variety of colors and they can either be transparent, translucent, or opaque. The clear and translucent ones are good to use when you want to see the title page of your work without having to open it. As far as colors go, you can choose from traditional hues (black, blue, etc.) or more whimsical ones (aqua, purple, etc). You can even get covers that are striped or have a holographic finish to them. The choices are really just about endless.

3. They can't be torn. Paper covers have one major disadvantage: they can be easily ripped. This can make your documents look bad and it definitely won't impress your readers. However, their plastic counterparts are extremely durable and can't be torn at all. They're perfect for those documents you want to last a long time, especially if they're going to be used a lot.

4. They're thicker than paper ones. Plastic covers are known for being on the thick side – more so than paper ones. The most durable ones are 16 and 19 mil thick so they're ideal for documents that will be used over a long period of time. They're very rigid and can't really be folded so they'll keep your work looking great for a long time.

5. They probably won't melt. Finally, plastic binding covers are more or less heat-resistant so if doesn't matter if you accidentally leave your documents in the car on a hot summer day. You don't need to worry about the covers becoming warped so your work will look great. This also makes them ideal for thermal binding which is one of the most popular bookbinding methods around.

Plastic covers are an excellent choice when you're binding your documents and you want them to be as protected as possible. They won't rip or warp, they're thick and durable, and they'll keep moisture out of your work. Plus, they come in some great colors and finishes. Get some plastic covers today so that the next time you bind your work will be protected from the get-go.

Binding Half-Letter Sized Documents: What You Need

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Binding Half-Letter Sized Documents: What You Need. 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've been binding your documents lately, you're probably aware that there are many different paper sizes. The most common one is letter-sized (8.5” x 11”) and it's the kind of paper typically used in photocopiers and printers. Most binding machines are designed to handle letter-sized sheets but at some point, you may want to bind books that are half-letter sized. In other words, ones that measure 8.5” x 5.5”. Binding documents with these dimensions can be difficult. However, it's not impossible. You just need the right machine and supplies and you may already have them. Let's take a look at what you're going to need....

1. First of all, you need to use a machine that has disengageable dies. This means that the device can punch different hole patterns. You can disengage the dies you don't need so that you'll be able to perfectly punch the 8.5” side of the paper. If your machine doesn't have disengageable dies, you can still punch the sheets but you'll have holes running off the sides of your document. That doesn't look particularly good.

2. There are a few different binding elements you can use when assembling a half-letter sized book. For example, plastic combs are a great choice because there are some that are manufactured for smaller documents. Spiral coils are also available in shorter lengths. The longer coils can even be trimmed down with scissors if that's all you have on-hand. You can also trim twin-loop wire spines, although you'll need a pair of wire cutters. (Regular scissors just won't cut it. No pun intended.)

3. Once you have your binding elements, you can begin thinking about the paper and covers you need for your documents. Half-letter sized paper can be difficult to find but you can make your own. Just use a rotary trimmer or guillotine cutter to cut 8.5” x 11” paper in half. It's really that simple. You can also do this to covers of the same size if you can't find any to purchase. If you choose to use plastic covers, make sure your cutter can handle it. (Not all paper cutters can slice through plastic. )

4. Once you have your machine and supplies, you're ready to begin binding your books. Make sure certain dies are disengaged before you punch your pages. After that, just follow the instructions that came with your machine. You'll end up with great-looking documents in no time whether you're putting together journals, cookbooks, presentations, and so on.

Binding half-letter sized documents isn't that different from assembling letter-sized books. However, you do need a certain type of machine and special supplies. The good news is you may already have the right binding implements, paper, and covers on-hand. If so, you can simply trim them down to the size you need. (Just make sure you have the right cutting tools especially if you're going to be using plastic covers.) After that, the rest is pretty easy: just punch and bind. Good luck with your bookbinding projects!

Five Things You Need to Get Started With Coil Binding

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Five Things You Need to Get Started With Coil Binding. 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.

Thinking about what binding method to choose isn't terribly difficult. However, knowing what materials to gather up once you've chosen your method can be. If you've decided to go the coil binding route, there are five things you're going to need to get started. Let's find out what they are.

1. Your documents. The first thing you're going to need are your documents. Be sure to proofread them and get them as polished as possible before printing them. Using high-quality paper when you print them is a must so your work will look great overall.

2. A coil binding machine. A good binding machine is obviously going to be a must-have device. There are a lot of them available including those from lesser-known manufacturers. As a general rule, you should choose a device made by a well-known company (i.e. GBC) to be sure that you're getting the most for your money. Keep in mind that there are some devices out there the are some machines that lack a coil inserter. This doesn't need to be a problem since coils can generally be inserted manually. However, if you're going to be producing a lot of books regularly, an inserter would be a great choice.

3. Color coils. As you probably expected, you're going to need some color coils to get going with this bookbinding method. These supplies can be use to bind documents containing just over 400 pages so you can use them for just about anything you want: anthologies, scrapbooks, marketing materials, employee training manuals, and so on. You can choose from dozens of colors too, so you can make your documents visually striking.

4. A good supply of covers. Covers are definitely things you need to have around when you're working with your new binding machine. These supplies come in a lot of different varieties including clear plastic, metallic, leatherette, and twill. There are even holographic ones available if you want your work to really stand out. Binding covers are sometimes pre-punched when you get them. If they're not, you'll be able to punch them yourself with your device. Just be sure to not punch more than two plastic covers at a time. That can wear out the device's punching heads.

5. Crimping pliers. There's one tricky thing about this binding method: when the coil has been inserted in your book, you need to trim the ends and then fold them up. This is called “crimping” and it's important because not doing so can cause your documents to fall apart. The crimping pliers you use to do this look like their regular counterparts but are made only for bookbinding. Some machines come with pliers, but you may need to purchase one on your own.

These are the five things you need to get started with coil binding. All of them – your documents, the machine, the coils themselves, the covers, and pliers – are very important so make sure you have them handy when you start binding your documents. (You should also have some patience just in case you're new to this activity and your first few attempts at bookbinding don't go as planned.) If you have all of these things, you should be successful in your bookbinding endeavors.

All About Punching Die Maintenance

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … All About Punching Die Maintenance. 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.

Binding machines are popular office devices because they allow you to punch and bind documents of varying sizes. If you have this type of device, you're going to want to keep an eye on the punching dies so you can recognize when they're becoming dull. Here's some information about how to recognize a dull die and how to prevent this from happening.

• One of the best ways to keep your machine's dies in good shape is by only punching 2 plastic covers at a time. This is true even if your device has a large punching capacity. Plastic just isn't the same as paper and trying to punch a lot of it at once is just asking for trouble. Your device simply won't be able to handle it.

• There are some things that should never be punched and that includes cardboard and wood as well as plastic covers that are thicker than 30 mil. Your binding device wasn't designed to handle these materials and punching them is a good way to ruin the dies.

• Emptying the chip tray is a vital part of maintaining your device. Doing this may be a bit messy, but it will improve the performance of your machine and it will reduce wear and tear on the dies. If you have an electric machine, emptying the tray regularly will help reduce the chance of the motor burning out.

Whether or not you follow the maintenance tips listed above, you should make sure you keep an eye on the dies regularly. This will help you notice when they're getting dull. Here's how you can identify an aged die:

• The first clue you might get is noticing that the holes aren't punched as cleanly as they used to be. You'll probably see deformed holes that lacks the crisp appearance of holes that have been properly punched. This is true even of sheets that were punched singly.

• You may notice that your documents have little bits of paper still attached to them. These are called “chads” and if you want your work to look its best, you'll need to remove them by hand. That can be very time-consuming and monotonous to say the least.

• If you're working with plastic covers, you may still see deformed holes when the dies are getting dull. And you'll probably notice that the covers get all stretched out. This essentially ruins them so you'll have to start all over again and throw out the ruined covers.

If you're experiencing any of these problems, you're pretty much out of luck and will have to purchase a new die set for your machine. (Or, if you're really unlucky, a whole device.) This can be pretty expensive so the best way to avoid this situation is to prevent it by not punching certain items as well as never working with more than 2 plastic covers at a time. Maintaining the dies is pretty easy, so you owe it to yourself to do so. You'll be glad you did.

The Five Easy Steps of the Coil Binding Process

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … The Five Easy Steps of the Coil Binding Process. 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.

Color coil binding is a popular document finishing method. This is partly due to the fact that the binding elements come in more than 50 different colors but it's also because this is an easy way to produce professional-looking work. There are 5 easy steps in this binding process. Here they are....

1. The first thing you need to do is get your document ready. That means proofreading it, fixing any typos, and then printing it out. When you've done this, make sure all of the pages are in order and select your front and back covers. Put everything together and be sure to include index tabs if your work calls for them.

2. At this point, you can punch your pages with your coil binding machine or modular punch. How many pages you'll be able to punch at once depends on the device you have. Some machines have large punching capacities so you'll be able to move on to the next step in just a short amount of time. However, you'll likely only be able to punch about 10 sheets per lift. One word of advice: try to avoid punching at full capacity. While this may sound counterproductive, it can actually prevent paper jams from occurring and won't age the machine before its time. Before you start punching, you can do a test punch to make sure the device will give you the results you need. This will prevent you from needing to re-punch your entire document.

3. Now that your document is all ready to go, you can select the coil that will bind your work. If your machine has a coil selector, you can use that to determine what size coil you need. You can also use a ruler to see how thick your document is and then make your choice based on the results. If you go the ruler route, you'll want to select a coil that's about 2 millimeters larger than your document so that the pages will be easy to turn.

4. Since your document is punched and you've selected your coil, you can begin to assemble the document. You can insert the coil manually –- just spin it through the holes in your paper. You can also use an electric coil inserter if you have access to one. Using one of these devices is really easy and it helps move things at long at a decent clip.

5. The final step in the process is crimping the ends of the coil so that your document doesn't fall apart. Crimping involves cutting off the excess coil and then folding up the ends so secure the binding. Make sure that the red dot on your pliers is facing up or else this won't work.)This involves using a pair of crimping pliers and it can be tricky at first, but it should get easier. You can also use an electric crimper if there's one in your workplace.

It's easy to bind your document with coils as long as you follow these 5 simple steps. Doing so will give you professional-looking work that you can take pride in. Good luck and happy binding!

Five Popular Types of Paper Binding Covers

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Five Popular Types of Paper Binding Covers. 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.

Choosing the right paper cover for your work is one of the final steps in the document finishing process. The good news is that there are a lot available so chances are excellent that you'll find one that's absolutely perfect for your needs. Here are 5 popular types of paper binding covers. Perhaps the one that's right for you is listed here....

1. Metallic. If your document calls for an elegant appearance, a metallic cover is your best bet. These supplies will give your work a sparkling, elegant look that will impress colleagues and clients alike. There are a number of different colors available including silver, blue, inferno red, and more. Generally speaking, these materials are made out of heavy stocks so they're a good choice if you need something durable.

2. Twill. One of the best choices for a book that needs to look professional is a twill cover. Each one of these items is embossed so they have a great texture that will make your document stand out. You can even choose materials that have windows cut into them so people will be able to see the title of your work easily. These covers come in several colors (black, green) and sizes (8.5” x 11”, 11” x 17”) so it's easy to find one that's perfect for your document.

3. Regency leatherette. Regency leatherette covers are more durable materials you can use for when your work needs some extra protection. These supplies look and feel a lot like genuine leather which makes them just right for legal documents, sales presentations, and more. (A vinyl coating is what gives these covers their unique appearance and feel.) Regency leatherette covers are compatible with most of the types of binding machines available (i.e. plastic comb, wire), which makes using them pretty convenient.

4. Linen. If you like the way linen looks, then you may want to use linen covers the next time you put together your documents. Like the twill materials, these items can have windows cut into them and they come in various colors (navy blue, maroon, light gray, etc.). Six different sizes are available including letter-sized (8.5” x 11”) and A4. You can also use them with just about any binding machine you want.

5. Touche. Finally, if you want something that's truly different, a touche cover is a terrific choice. These materials are incredibly soft and make handling your documents a unique experience. (They actually feel a bit like rose petals.) Best of all, these supplies can be embossed, die cut, foil stamped, and silk screened, making them totally customizable. They're also pretty thick and come in hues as varied as slate blue, maroon, and white.

These are 5 of the most popular types of paper binding covers. Each one of them can give your document that finishing touch you want and it will make people want to pick up your document and read it. Take a look at these covers for yourself today to see what materials are right for you.

Ingento Maple Desktop Paper Cutters Still Around and Still the Same

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Ingento Maple Desktop Paper Cutters Still Around and Still the Same. 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 have been in the workroom of almost any school in the past ten years, chances are you have seen an Ingento Maple Trimmer. These excellent quality paper cutters consist of a hardwood maple surface with a ruler for determining measurements and a Guillotine Style Cutting blade. They do what they are designed to do and interestingly enough haven't really changed in years.

A few weeks ago, a local customer of mine asked me to help them replace their old Ingento Maple trimmer. Their 12" x 12" Ingento Maple trimmer was more than twenty years old and the blade had been sharpened so many times that there was hardly any metal left. It was definitely time for a new cutter. I went ahead and ordered them a brand new GBC Ingento CL500m Maple Trimmer. Much to my surprise when the cutter arrived and I took it out of the box, the new CL500m was identical to the twenty year old trimmer. The design hadn't changed.

All of the Ingento maple trimmers include a self sharpening hardened steel blade, a steel tension spring to secure the blade in any position, a protective guard rail, a latch hook to lock the blade in place, an alignment grid and ruler as well as a 10 year warranty. If you are looking for a guillotine style paper cutter the Ingento is the way to go. Thousands of other Paper Cutters have come and gone and the Ingento is the same great cutter as it has always been. Don't settle for anything less than the best. Choose GBC Ingento.