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

How to Make Coil Binding Easier Than Ever

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link …How to Make Coil Binding Easier Than Ever. 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 and it can be used to prepare documents that are up to 440 pages long. A lot of people choose to bind with coils because they come in a wide variety of colors ranging from basic black and white to florescent pink. However, coil binding can be a bit tricky, especially when you need to assemble thick documents. Luckily, you can make the process easier by using a binding sleeve. It's a piece of plastic that looks a bit like a three-ring binder minus the rings and it will keep your pages flush. Just follow these directions to use one of these items:

• Punch holes in your document using your coil binding machine.

• Select a binding sleeve that can accommodate your entire document. These sleeves vary in thickness, ranging from 0.25” to 2”.

• Place your document in the binding sleeve. Make sure that the holes in your document are visible, as in the photograph. You will notice that document's spine is concave.

• Insert a coil through the holes in your document either manually or with an electric coil inserter. You will notice that coil insertion is easier since the spine is curved.

• Crimp the ends of the coil with a pair of crimping pliers. Make sure the red dot on them is facing up when doing so. (This ensure you will crimp the coil instead of just cutting it.)

• Remove the document from the binding sleeve. Repeat the process if you need to bind more documents.

As you can tell by reading the above instructions, using a binding sleeve is a great way to make the coil binding process easier. One of these sleeves will keep the pages flush and curve the spine for easier coil insertion. Use a binding sleeve the next time you assemble your documents so you can make the process a snap.

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!

Binding Legal-Sized Documents: Methods to Use

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link …Binding Legal-Sized Documents: Methods to Use. 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 haven't already done so, you should think about binding your own documents. This is one task that can be very efficient, cost-effective, and rewarding – especially once you hold a finished book in your hands. Most of the bookbinding devices on the market are really designed for letter-sized paper that measures 8.5” x 11” which can be problematic if you ever need produce documents that are legal-sized (8.5” x 14”). Luckily, there are things you can do and supplies to stock up on so you're prepared. Let's take a look at three of the most common binding methods and how you can use them to assemble legal-sized books.

1. Coil coil. Binding with color coils is really popular because the coils can be used to bind books of different sizes. They're also available in almost any color you could ever want, from black and white to pastel and neon shades. Coils are pretty affordable and they're available in various lengths including ones that are 15” long. (That's the recommended length for a legal-sized book.) To process your documents, you'll need a punch that can handle larger pieces of paper. And when you're ready to spin the coil through your work, you can use a spine former to align the pages and then insert the coil by hand. You can then fold the coil ends in with a pair of crimping pliers. That's all there is to it.

2. Plastic comb. Plastic comb binding has been around for a long time and it's still incredibly popular thanks to its simplicity and low cost. Combs are great for thicker documents since they can be used in books that contain over 400 pages. And, best of all, it's pretty easy to find combs that are the right-length for legal-sized works. There are comb binding machines available that can process larger documents and they tend to have disengageable punching dies and an open throat. The disengageable dies will help you punch the correct number of holes for documents of different sizes so you can use the same machine for large and small books.

3. Twin-loop wire. Twin-loop wire binding requires the use of a machine with disengageable dies, just like the plastic comb method. The main difference between the two methods (aside from their look – wires look more sophisticated than plastic combs) is that you need to custom order wire spines. Thus, they need to be ordered well ahead of when you're going to be binding. Needless to say, this can be inconvenient, especially if a big project just fell in your lap. However, books that are bound with wire spines look great, so the inconvenience can be worth it.

Binding legal-sized documents isn't really that different from working with smaller documents. You just need to make sure that you select a machine that's compatible with your paper and order your spines ahead of time, if necessary. If you do that, you're well on your way to producing documents of which you can be proud. Good luck and happy binding!

Plastic Comb Binding: What You Need to Get Started

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Plastic Comb Binding: What You Need to Get Started. 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.

Plastic comb binding is easy, affordable, and it can help you produce great-looking documents. However, before you can use this binding method, you're going to need to have some things to get started. Check out what you need to start binding with plastic combs. 

• Paper.  One of the most important things you need to get started with plastic comb binding is paper. Chances are you'll be using 8.5” x 11” (letter-size) paper for your document which is just fine. Most of the available machines can handle this size. You can use white 20 lb. bond or you could used colored paper. If you want to use different sizes of paper, such as legal-size (8.5” x 14”) make sure your machine can handle it. (We'll talk about binding machines in a moment.) If you want to save time, you can purchase sheets that have been punched for use with comb binding machines.
• Covers.  Using the right covers is an important part of producing a professional-looking document. For one document, you'll need a front and back cover. There are many different types of covers to choose from including leatherette, regency, recycled poly, and even holographic ones if you want to give your work a unique look. Covers come in a variety of thicknesses and colors such as black, red, blue, and so on. Clear covers are particularly helpful because readers will be able to see the title of your document. They also look great.
• Binding combs.  If you're going to use a bookbinding machine, you're definitely going to need plastic binding combs. As you're probably aware, most combs are about 12” long for use with letter-sized documents. The combs come in different thicknesses so you can bind short and long documents. (The thickest combs can bind up to 425 pages.) Different colors are available as well. There are some combs that are made for use with legal- and half-sized sheets if you want to avoid using letter-sized paper. However, if you want to work with those combs, you need to look for a machine with a couple of special features. Which brings us to....
• The machine.  Finally, you're going to need to select a machine. The most basic elements of a device are the paper punch, comb opener, punching handle, and punching dies. Most machines can handle letter-sized paper. That said, you should look for a machine with disagreeable punching dies and an open throat so you can work with different sizes of paper. Some optional features that can make your job easier include a comb selector, adjustable depth of punch settings, and so on. Make sure you check out the device's punching and bookbinding capacities before buying anything. You want to make sure you get a machine that can work with your supplies.

The supplies used in plastic comb binding are really very simple. They're pretty easy to get and, best of all, they're affordable so this is a great bookbinding method to use if you're on a budget. If you gather up all these supplies, you'll be able to produce professional-looking work in no time. Good luck!

Five Things to Make Your Workday Easier

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link …Five Things to Make Your Workday Easier. 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.

Do you want your workday to be easier? If you do, there are a lot of things you can use that can help you stay organized, save time, and stay productive. Let's take a look at five of them....

• A good letter folder. No matter what you job is, chances are you have to deal with mail at some point. If you send out a lot of correspondence, a letter folder will come in very handy. This type of device can fold letter-sized paper (8.5” x 11”) into thirds so you can pop the letter into an envelope and go about your day. Some letter folders can handle stapled documents or even perform different kinds of folds, so there's one that's just right for your needs. Best of all, a lot of these devices are fairly compact so you can find one that will easily fit on your desk.

• A high-quality pouch laminator. Paper can be ruined if it's handled too much, so it's a good idea to laminate those documents that you frequently refer to. To do that, a pouch laminator is what you need. There are some high-quality ones available that have a lot of great features including multiple rollers (to ensure great results), cold settings (so you can laminate thermally sensitive items), and the ability to shut off automatically. You can use a laminator to protect signs, photographs, calendars, and just about anything else that needs protection. Also, there are some laminators that can laminate a letter-sized document in about a minute, so you can finish the job quickly.

• A selection of index tabs. Do you use binders at work to store and organize documents? If you do, you should keep a supply of index tabs on-hand. These supplies will help your separate the sections in binders so it's faster and easier to refer to something when the need arises. (Something else to have around is a good three-hole punch so you can get your documents ready for the binders.) You can also use index tabs in documents bound with a binding machine, so they're pretty helpful supplies all around. Just make sure the hole pattern is right for the binding supplies you're going to be using.

• A high-capacity electric stapler. A high-capacity electric stapler is a great addition to any office. These machines make it possible to staple thick documents in a couple of seconds. They make it easy to finish up a variety of large jobs so you can get on with your day. There are even some portable electric staplers available if you want to be able to use the device anywhere in the office.

• A whiteboard for your cubicle. Although a lot of people use things like computers and smartphones to stay organized these days, using a whiteboard can be really helpful. For one thing, you can erase them quickly, and they're also easy to refer to. You can just glance at them and not worry about turning them on, waiting for them to boot up, etc.

All of these things can help you have an easier workday. They'll help you streamline your workflow, stay on task, and save time. Consider getting these items for your office so you can enjoy having an easier time at work. 

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!

 

Synthetic Paper: A Brief Overview

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Synthetic Paper: A Brief Overview. 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.

Paper has been around for thousands of years and dates back to the days of the Ancient Egyptians who wrote on papyrus. It's hard to imagine a world without this material given that it's used for everything from note-taking to publishing, packaging to even some types of food. There are numerous different kinds of paper as well including tissue, copier/printer, newsprint, and more. And there's a new type available: synthetic. Let's take a quick look at what it is and how it can be used.

Synthetic paper is very similar to the type used in copiers, fax machines, and printers. However, it differs because it's made out of polyester. Thus, it's essentially plastic and you can use it for a variety of applications. It's available in 8.5” x 11” sheets that are 5 mil thick. These sheets are waterproof and extremely durable so they're perfect for documents that will be regularly handled. One advantage to this material is that you don't need to laminate it, which will help you save time and money. (For one thing, you won't need to buy laminating pouches or film.)

Sheets of synthetic paper can be run through most photocopiers (both black-and-white and color units), digital presses, and laser printers. (They can't be used in ink-jet printers, unfortunately.) They can be used for important documents, ID cards, menus, photo printouts, and more. The sheets are nice and bright so all of your text and photos will look great. Synthetic paper can be punched so you can use it in binders, with various types of binding machines (comb, wire, etc.), and it can be trimmed with a guillotine trimmer once it's been printed on. It offers all of the versatility of regular paper with the added benefit of durability.

If you choose to use synthetic paper, there are a few things you can do to ensure you get the results you need. First, always handle the sheets by their edges. This prevents them from getting scratched or becoming married by fingerprints. Second, before you ran the sheets through your machine, make sure they've been in the room for about 24 hours. This will help them get acclimated to the environment. Third, make sure to fan the sheets a bit before placing them in your machine's feed tray. This ensure they'll run through the machine more smoothly and reduce the risk of a jam. And finally, go easy if you trim them with a guillotine cutter. Since these sheets are plastic they can do a number on the blade if you try to cut too many of them.

When it comes to choosing paper for your projects, you have a lot of different choices. Synthetic paper is one of them and using it definitely has a lot of benefits. It's durable, doesn't need to be laminated, can be used with a variety of different machines, and it can be hole-punched for different binding methods. Plus, it will make your documents look fantastic. Give synthetic paper a try the next time you need to produce professional-looking work.

 

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!