Five Features to Look for In a Thermal Binding Machine

Using a thermal binding machine is an excellent way to produce professional-looking documents that stand out. These machines are easy to use and there are plenty out there. Here are the five features to look for in a thermal binding machine:

• Throat size. It's very important to choose a binding machine that will be able to accommodate your documents whether they're thick or thin. That's why you should pay attention to throat size. A machine with a 1” throat will be able to bind documents that are up to 1” thick. However, you're better off getting a machine with a 2” throat so you can bind both thick and thin documents. Machines with a 2” throat can bind work containing up to 500 pages.
• Binding length. Many thermal binding machines have an 11” binding length so you can bind letter-sized documents. (You can also bind smaller documents with these machines.) However, if you're going to be working with oversized photobooks or legal-sized paper, you should get a machine with a 14” throat.
• Temperature settings. One of the reasons why thermal binding is easy is because the vast majority of machines do not have adjustable temperature settings. This leaves little room for error because you won't accidentally choose the wrong setting for your particular project. However, if you plan on binding hardcover books with your device, you will want to make sure ahead of time that the machine will get hot enough for use. If your machine doesn't get hot enough, you might need to run the book through a second binding cycle to melt all the adhesive in the spine.
• Timer. Most high-quality thermal binding machines have built-in timers that will beep when the device is heated up and/or when the binding cycle is done. This makes the device easy to use because you won't need to look for a ready light nor will you need to guess when your document has been bound. Needless to say, the machine should choose should be equipped with a timer.
• A cooling rack. Finally, you should choose a binding machine that comes with a built-in cooling rack. Your documents need to cool off after they've been bound and placing them in a cooling rack will keep your workspace clutter-free. Make sure the cooling rack is made out of metal so it will last longer.

Those are the five features you should look for when choosing a thermal binding machine. By choosing a machine with these features, you will be able to enjoy having a high-quality device that can make your work look professional. Happy binding!

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Written by Jeff McRitchie
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