Tutorial

Plastic comb binding is the most popular of the mechanical bindings.

• Durable, good-looking bindings
• Easy to assemble
• Least expensive of all bindings
• Wide variety of binding machines
• Books open flat, with pages aligned
• Books up to 1-7/8" thick may be comb bound
• Combs are available in a wide variety of colors
• Comb bound books may be reopened to remove and insert pages
• Desktop binding machines fit office or production nvironment
• Titles may be custom printed on the spine of the combs

The pages to be bound are punched with 19 rectangular holes on an 11" edge. The comb "fingers" are then opened, pages are slid onto the fingers, and the combs are allowed to close. Combs are normally sold in 11" lengths, but may be trimmed to fit smaller books.
Technical information on comb binding machines and supplies is available on the product pages.

Plastic coil is a relatively new binding system, but is rapidly growing in popularity.

• Modern looking binding; popular among designers
• The coil is more durable than any other binding - great for books which must be sent through the mail.
• Low cost bindings
• Pages can be rotated 360°
• Books up to about 1" thick may be coil bound
• Coil is available in a variety of colors
• Coil is available in 12" and 36" lengths
• Easily trimmed - great for binding odd sized books.
• Desktop binding machines fit office or production environment

Pages are punched with round holes, with either 4 or 5 holes to the inch. Coil is then inserted into the first hole and spun through the book. Insertion is normally by use of an electric motor driven inserter, but may be done by hand for single books. Once inserted, coil is crimped manually by coil crimper pliers or automatically by an electric crimper.
Technical information on coil binding machines and supplies is available on the product pages.

Metal spiral coil is similar to production blank notebooks found in stationery stores.

• Very high cost bindings (over $1 per book) in small quantities
• Economial only for very large production runs
• Pages can be rotated 360°
• Books up to about 1" thick may be coil bound
• Limited choice of colors
• Coil is available in 12" lengths for small production runs
• Desktop binding machines fit office or production environment
• Floor model machines available (forms coil from a wire spool as it inserts) for high production

Paper punching and wire insertion is similar to plastic coil.

Wire is preferred wherever appearance is paramount.

• Popular among architects
• Often used on technical publications
• Clean, neat appearance
• Pages can be rotated 360°
• Books up to about 1" thick may be wire bound
• Wire is available in several colors
• Available in 11" lengths
• Paper may be punched with square or round holes
• Desktop binding machines fit office or production environment
• 3:1 wire uses paper punched with three holes per inch (32 holes per 11" edge)
• Available in sizes of 3/16" to 9/16" diameter
• Best appearance of all wire
• Paper may be punched with square or round holes
• 2:1 wire uses paper punched with two holes per inch (21 holes per 11" edge)
• 2:1 is available in sizes of 1/4" to 1-1/4" diameter
• Used to bind books too large for 3:1 wire
• Wire is sturdier than 3:1
• Paper may be punched with square or round holes
• 19 loop wire uses paper punched with nineteen rectangular holes per eleven inch paper edge
• Designed to fit holes punched for plastic combs
• 19 loop wire is available in sizes of 1/4" to 1" diameter
• Appearance is similar to 2:1 wire
• Allows organizations with an existing plastic comb machine to bind with wire using an inexpensive wire closer

Paper is punched with the appropriate hole pattern. A wire comb is then inserted through the holes and crimped closed with a wire closer.
Technical information on wire binding machines and supplies is available on the product pages.

Proclick is a new binding system using the 3:1 hole pattern commonly used for double loop wire.

• Paper can be punched by any 3:1 wire machine or universal punch.
• Pages can be rotated 360°
• Books up to 85 sheets of 20# bond can be bound
• Proclick spines are not as easily damaged as double loop wire
• Allows for removing or replacing pages of already bound documents using a simple tool
• Desktop binding machines fit office or production environment

Technical information on proclick spines and punches is available on the product pages.

• No paper punching required
• Produces professional, permanently bound books
• Documents are bound with a thermal glue
• Allows for removing or replacing pages of already bound documents
• Desktop binding machines fit office or production environment

Thermal Bind

• Thermal bind uses a wraparound cover set with integral glue strip

Tape Bind

• Tape bind uses a binding strip coated with thermal glue
• May be used with any covers, including clear covers
• Titles may be printed on the tape strips

Technical information on tape and thermal binding machines and tape and thermal supplies is available on the product pages.

• High security strips must be cut to remove pages
• Binds up to 3" thick documents
• Often used for legal documents
• Moderate cost of materials; relatively high cost binding machines.
• Desktop binding machines fit office or production environment

Technical information on VeloBind machines and supplies is available on the product pages.

• Binding used by many magazines
• Staplers may be ganged to place all staples at once
• Bookletmakers do both folding and stapling in one operation
• Bookletmakers may also face trim the booklet after folding and stapling
• Can bind a wide variety of document sizes
• Desktop and floor standing binding machines fit office or production environment

Technical information on saddle staplers and bookletmakers is available on the product pages.

• Cost of binding machines is relatively high
• Economical only for large volume applications
• Desktop and large floorstanding models available
• Most models require a separate cutter to trim the pages after binding

Technical information on perfect binding machines is available on the product pages.

• Simple and easy to use laminators
• Machine cost is comparatively low
• Precut laminate pouches allow for quick lamination of common sized documents
• Small pouches are available in 5, 7, and 10 mil thicknesses
• Large pouches are available in 3, 5, 7, and 10 mil thicknesses
• Machines are available for office and production use
• Machines are available to laminate up to 11" x 17" sheets
• Equipment prices range from $100 to $1000

• Can be used to laminate materials up to 60" wide
• Common film widths are 12", 18", 25", 27", 31", and more - up to 60"
• Ideal for posters, signs, and for any odd-shaped documents
• Allows for high production rates
• Usually requires trimming the output
• Material costs are lower due to buying film in bulk
• Machines require some training to set up and to load the film
• Equipment prices range from $800 to $30,000