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

Half-Letter Sized Documents: How to Bind Them

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link …Half-Letter Sized Documents: How to Bind Them. 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.

Whether you're new to bookbinding or have been at it for years, there will probably come a time when you need to put together a document that's 8.5” x 5.5”. This is known as half-letter size since a piece of paper with these dimensions is basically just half of a sheet that measures 8.5” x 11”. Binding documents that are 8.5” x 5.5” can be challenging due to the way some machines are designed and the availability (or lack thereof) of supplies. However, it is possible to do so. This article will fill you in on some tips and tickets you can try.

• If you have a binding machine equipped with disengageable dies, you can use it to put together your document. Since your device is equipped to handle the long side of a 8.5” x 11” sheet of paper, you can “turn off” some of the dies so your paper will be punched properly. This will ensure that the document has the right number of holes.

• Now you'll need to make sure that you have the right binding supplies for your project. Plastic combs can be special ordered in 8.5” lengths as can color coils. You could even take one of the binding elements and cut it down to the appropriate length with scissors. (You can also do this with GBC ZipBind and ProClick spines if you prefer those supplies.) If you have a wire binding machine, it's possible to order the right spines, although it could take a while to get them due to the nature of custom ordering. And if you're using a VeloBind device, you can just purchase strips that are the right length.

• Once you have your binding elements, it's time to select the covers for your documents. If you can get access to a paper trimmer, you can just cut regular-sized covers down to the appropriate dimensions. (If you're working with plastic covers, make sure you're using a cutter than can handle non-paper materials.) You can also purchase half-letter size covers but finding them can be a bit of a challenge. You should also make sure you have the right size paper on-hand and be ready to trim the sheets if necessary. (Slicing a stack of 8.5” x 11” sheets in half is a quick and easy way to get the right paper for your work.)

• Once you have all of your supplies ready to go, you can start binding your documents. Once you make sure the appropriate dies are disengaged (if applicable), you can bind your work in the usual manner. If you have any questions about how to operate your machine, be sure to consult the instruction manual.

As you can see, binding half-letter size documents is a bit tricky due to the capabilities of certain binding machines and the availability of some supplies. However, with a little bit of planning and ingenuity, you'll find that processing these documents is completely doable. Start binding your half-letter size documents today for yourself to see that it's totally possible to do so.

Exploring GBC Strip Binding Supplies

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Exploring GBC Strip Binding Supplies. 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.

The distinctive look of GBC / Ibico Strip Binding has made it one of the most sought after binding methods. This unique method of securing loose pages enables the user to present a prestigious image with either elegant soft covers or boardroom quality hard covers. The temper resistant "hot knife" process heat seals and rivets the binding comb and receiving strip together, increasing the security of confidential documents so no unauthorized additions or deletions can be made. This binding method portrays an image of importance, which assures it will be read and acted upon. In addition, it provides the maximum in versatility in that only three different sized combs allow for binding documents from as few as two sheets to up to 3" of material. This reduces inventory requirements.

The cover supplies for GBC / Ibico strip binding systems range from economical "smooth" paper stock to high image, coated "regency" paper stock and boardroom quality Velobind / SureBind Hardcases.

Pick up a Velobind comb (that's the one with the pins). Notice the comb has ten pins and the Velobind has eleven pins. These pins are fed through holes in the document to be bound and into the receiving strip where the unused portion of the comb is severed and the heating mechanism heat seals it to form a rivet. The comb also has a pin that is longer than the others. This will be discussed in the equipment operating section.

Pick up both styles of receiving strips, and look at the grainy (textured) side of the strip. This side should always be placed so that it will appear on the outside of the back cover of the document. This gives the document a finished appearance. Turn the perforated strip over, and look at the inside. Notice the Velobind strip has thirteen holes. The two small holes at either end are "locator" holes, which are used to align the strip on the VeloBind unit during binding. The other eleven holes match the pins of the comb strip. The strip has one locator pin and ten comb pin holes. Place the comb strip and receiving strip together to see how they fit.

Strip Binding is available in comb thicknesses for documents 1", 2" and 3" thick. They are available in stock lengths to fit documents with binding edges of 8-1/2", 11" and 14".

SureBind strips are manufactured on GBC / Ibico 19 ring Plastic Binding centers, which means that a document that has been punched with 19-holes can be bound using a strip.

Tips and Tricks for Binding Documents with Surebind

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Tips and Tricks for Binding Documents with Surebind. 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.

As far as binding styles go, GBC Surebind isn't really all that well known. It offers a look similar to Velobind but with a few interesting twists. Luckily, binding documents with GBC Surebind isn't really all that hard. However, if you keep a few important things in mind the binding process will be a lot easier. Here are some simple tips and tricks for Surebinding your documents.

1. Surebind binding spines have 10 pins for an 11 inch spine. Unlike Velobind which uses eleven equally spaced pins, the pins are not spaced evenly. Instead, the pins for Surebinding are designed to line up with the hole pattern used for plastic combs. This means that if you are looking to bind documents with Sure Bind and have a plastic comb punch you can combine the two styles. Using a comb binding punch will allow you to increase punching productivity and offers the flexibility of choosing the type of binding that you want for your documents.
2. The binding produced by a Sure Bind binding machine is both secure and permanent. Pages cannot be removed, edited and added back to a document without cutting the binding spine off the document and using your machine to rebind the document. This security is one of the greatest strengths of this type of binding system. However, if you are going to use this style for your documents you should definitely consider investing $15 in a debinder tool. This type of tool is used to safely cut the spines off of a bound document without injuring yourself.
3. Binding strips are available in sizes up to three inches thick. This means that these systems offer the ability to bind documents that are thicker than any other type of desktop binding system. However, if you are going to want to bind documents using three inch spines you are going to need a System Three Machine. Smaller systems will not bind documents with the larger sized spines.
4. One of the great things about binding with a Surebind system is that you don't need to stock a huge number of supplies. In fact, depending on the thickness of the books that you are looking to bind you won't need more than one, two or three sizes of binding spines. This can reduce the need for storage space and the cost of inventorying a number of different sized spines. Just make sure that you buy ten pin strips when you get your supplies and not eleven pin strips. This is a common mistake and unfortunately the two systems are not compatible with each other.
5. You can use your Surebinding system to bind hard cover books. You simply need to order custom hard cover cases to use along with your system. These hard cover cases will include a binding case and two adhesive fly leaves. You will bind the fly leaves into your document and then peel off the adhesive backing and adhere the fly leaf into the book.

These are just five things to keep in mind when binding documents with your Surebind system. Give these things a try and see for yourself just how easy Surebinding can be.

Surebind Essentials

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Surebind Essentials. 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.

While GBC Surebind is not one of the most popular binding systems, it can be the perfect choice for some businesses. It is similar in appearance to Velobind, but has its own unique characteristics. GBC Surebind is easy to use, and it will be even easier for you after reading this article full of essential information about the process.

Surebind documents look just like Velobind documents from the outside; however, Surebind spines are comprised of an eleven inch spine with ten unevenly spaced pins in them while Velobind binding uses evenly spaced pins instead. Spines for Surebind are designed to work in conjunction with plastic comb binding punches. This is a nice feature that allows you to use a single piece of equipment to create publications in two distinct binding styles. Surebind strips are designed to create a close fit, ensuring security of your pages.

This type of binding is long lasting. You can be sure your pages are permanently bound and can not be removed, altered, or supplemented without removing the spine and rebinding the entire publication. This feature is usually an asset, but can create problems if you have not invested in a de-binder tool to safely remove the spines without hurting yourself or someone else. This tool is an affordable investment at only $15.

Unlike some other types of binding that limit the width of your publication to one or two inches, Surebind can accommodate documents up to three inches thick (approximately 750 pages!). This is the widest spine available on any desktop binding equipment. Pay attention to the model you buy as some of the Surebind models are manufactured for thinner publications.

A nice feature of this system is that you will not need to invest in all sorts of supplies. Spines are available in three standard sizes that are engineered to work with the sizes of documents discussed above. It is kind of amazing that it only takes three strip sizes to create such a variety of document thicknesses. Be careful when ordering supplies that you select the ten pin Surebind strips instead of eleven pin Velobind strips. These two types are not interchangeable, so ordering the wrong supplies can mean down time until the right supplies come in.

In addition to soft covers, you can choose to bind your publications in hard covers for a sharp look. Hard covers include two fly leaves and a case. The fly leaves are affixed to your document using their self-adhesive backing. Hard covers offer a very distinguished, high-end look that is sure to make an impression on your current and prospective clients.

Keep this list of basics in mind as you begin to work with your equipment. Remember the only thing separating the publications your office puts together and those high-quality publications effortlessly churned out by professional binderies and printers is having the right tools. By investing in quality binding equipment for your own office, you are taking an important step toward joining the big leagues.

GBC Velobind Essentials

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … GBC Velobind Essentials. 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 seek a binding system for your school or business, GBC Velobind is worth looking into. Not only does it give your documents a professional boost, but it does so without the need to invest in a lot of supplies. This type of document finishing system works by riveting or snapping a thin strip along the edge of your presentation, manual, or report. To learn more about Velobind, just keep reading.

 

There are many kinds of supplies in the Velobind family. Four Pin Recloseable and Hot Knife Systems are the most popular kinds. Hot Knife systems work by riveting the spines in place using heat to cut off the excess portion of the spine and melt the end for a permanent bind; the Four Pin system snaps pins into a receiving strip on the back of the document. The other types of spines that are available on the market are used by machines that are no longer being manufactured. These include One Eleven and six pin Velobind. Although the machines are no longer produced for these systems, the spines are still available for individuals who still have older binding machines compatible with these supplies.

The number of pins used to bind the document depends on the variety of binding system you own. GBC Hot Knife systems use eleven pin strips that have smooth pins. Velobind models V110e and V50 rely on strips with four pins. The discontinued One Eleven has eleven (serrated) pin strips, and the discontinued Personal Velobind System has binding strips of six pins.

This type of strip binding system requires very little investment in supplies. Certainly less than other systems that are available on the market. Most other document finishing systems including plastic combs, twin loop wire and spiral coil need supplies in different sizes for different sizes of books. With Velo-bind, a single size of strip binds documents of various thicknesses. A single strip can accommodate documents ranging in size from a couple of pages all the way up to three inches thick. Because you only need one or two types of binding strips, inventory management is simple.

Most other binding systems including unibind, coil, wire and combs can not bind documents over two inches thick. Luckily, Velobind works well on thin documents and thicker documents (up to three inches thick). For that reason, it is a popular solution for lawyers, governmental agencies, and accountants.

In addition to its ability to accommodate thicker publications, Velobind binding allows you to choose to bind your documents permanently or bind your documents so that they can be edited. Hot Knife systems secure the binding strips to permanently bind reports, proposals, and guidebooks. Four Pin binding is created to allow you to add and remove pages as business needs change and your document is edited. Plus the Hot Knife eleven hole pattern works with the Four Pin Recloseable system so that you won't have to purchase two machines.

Velobound documents are professional looking and secure; however, they do not photocopy well since you can't lay the bound document flat. If you will be photocopying the document or will need it to lie open on its own, Velobind may not be the best choice for you. Still, this system is versatile and simple. It provides effective solutions for permanent and editable publications up to three inches thick without requiring you to buy a huge assortment of supplies for documents of different sizes.

Choosing A Binding System - Six Reasons To Consider Velobind

This post was originally written for MyBindingBlog.com and can be found at on that blog by following this link … Choosing A Binding System – Six Reasons To Consider Velobind. 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 your office is considering binding documents, reports, briefs and proposals you will need to select a

binding system. Although there are many different binding systems available on the market, one of the most professional binding systems is called Velobind. This article provides a quick overview of six reasons to consider using Velobind for your office. Here they are...

1. Tamper Safe Security: Hot knife binding is by far the most secure option available on the market. The machine actually takes the strip and rivets in place melting the plastic pins into the back of the receiving strip. In order to remove pages from a document bound with Velobind you actually have to cut the binding strip apart using a razor blade tool. Without an expensive machine to rebind the document, users can not edit or tamper with the contents without it being very obvious. For this reason many lawyers and government offices choose Hot Knife systems to bind their briefs and sensitive documents.

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   Copy Safe Design: 

    

    

   Unlike other punch and bind systems, documents bound with Velobind will not open flat on a desk or table. This is an important feature for documents that are of a sensitive nature and should not be photocopied. Although documents can be easily read, pages from the document are difficult to copy using a photocopier since it is difficult to lay them flat on the scanner. When you combine this feature with the tamper safe design of Velobind, no other binding system is more secure.
3. Professional Appearance: Documents bound with this binding style offer a clean professional appearance unlike any other binding style on the market. The Velobind binding stripsrun along the spine of your document neatly framing the spine of the document while concealing any evidence of the holes punched in the document.
4. Durability: This is one of the most durable binding styles available on the market. It offers a completely flat design that makes sending documents through the mail a breeze. Additionally, documents bound with Velobind will not be damaged if something heavy is set on them. The binding spines on documents bound with combs, wireand coilcan become deformed if compressed. Velobind does not have this problem.
5. Document Sizing: Using a GBC System Three Pro it is possible to bind documents as thick as 3 inches (approximately 750 sheets). This is the only binding system capable of handling documents over 2 inches. For companies that bind extremely large documents, reports or briefs this can be very important. Binding strips are also available in a number of different lengths for binding landscape documents, lett er size documents and Iegal size documents.
6. Supply Cost Savings: One of the main benefits of owning a Velobind binding systemis the limited supply inventory that is required for this binding style. Unlike other binding styles which require a separate box of binding supplies for every size of document that you intend to bind, the spines for this system come in just three thicknesses. One spine binds documents up to 1 inch, another up to two inches and a third is designed to bind documents up to 3 inches. This means that companies can save both money and space traditionally taken up by binding supplies.