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Binding Tutorial


 


Plastic Combs

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 andsupplies is available on the product pages.

Plastic Coil

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 Coil

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

  • Very high cost bindings (over $1 per book)
  • 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
  • Desktop binding machines fit office or production environment
  • Floor model machines available (forms coil from a wire spool as it inserts)
Paper punching and wire insertion is similar to plastic coil.

Double Loop Wire

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 andsupplies is available on the product pages.

Tape Bind or Thermal Bind

  • 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 thermalbinding machines and supplies is available on the product pages.

VeloBind®

  • High security strips must be cut to remove pages
  • Only mechanical bind that binds up to 3"
  • 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.




Saddle Stitching or Stapling

  • Binding used by most magazines
  • Staplers may be ganged to place all staples at once
  • Bookletmakers do both folding and stapling in one operation
  • Can bind a wide variety of document sizes
  • Desktop binding machines fit office or production environment
Technical information on saddle staplers and bookletmakers is available on the product pages.

Perfect Bind

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