How To Make your own Perfect bound document with a Thermal Binding Machine

Perfect binding

One of the most common forms of book binding today is perfect binding. Perfect binding is seen most frequently to bind paperback books and phone books. The problem with this style is that perfect bookbinding machines are fairly expensive and don't lend themselves to single book runs or to beginners. However, now you can create your own with a thermal book binding system! Here's what you need to get started.

1. Materials
   • First, you'll need a good thermal book binding machine. Lower end entry level models may not get hot enough to activate the adhesive properly and ensure a secure bind.
   • Perfect book bind covers consist of a single page large enough to encase the front and back covers as well as the spine. These sheets are often printed on all three sides.
   • You will need a device to score the cover to cleanly (such as the GBC SmartCut A425pro Rotary Dial-A-Blade Trimmer) and accurately fold the cover at the spine.
   • You will need an adhesive thermal binding glue strip to insert in the spine of your scored book
   • Finally, all perfect bound documents need to be trimmed. This will more than likely require a stack cutter to handle the pages smoothly.
2. Creating the Cover
   • After your document is printed, you'll be able to get an idea of how thick of a spine you need.
   • You can then create the artwork for the cover making the spine text the appropriate size.
   • It is a good idea to create tic marks on the cover (in an area that will get trimmed) to mark the point for scoring the cover.
   • Score and fold the cover, creating a ‘U’ shape.
3. Adhesive
   • You will need to trim the adhesive strip down to size to fit your spine.
   • Take the measurement of the book block, and cut the adhesive strip just slightly oversized. Cut the strip about 1/8” short on the top and bottom of the book so the adhesive does not run out the ends of the document.
   • Place the adhesive strip in the spine of the book.
4. Binding the document
   • Once the cover is created, and the adhesive is cut to size, place the glue strip into the cover followed by your document.
   • Then run your project through the bind cycle as you normally would for traditional thermal book binding. It is highly recommended that you run these covers through a couple of bind cycles to ensure a secure bind
   • Set your project down and allow it to cool.
5. Trim the book
   • Cut the document down to finished size using a stack cutter.

Notes and suggestions:

• You can try to cut the cover down to size prior to binding the book. This could eliminate the need for a more costly stack cutter, but is a much less exact finish.
• Due to the fact that the adhesive strip is probably not perfectly cut and since there is no edge glue, the front and back pages may not be securely bound.
  

If you have any other questions or comments about this article please feel free to
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Written by Jeff McRitchie
©2011 www.MyBinding.com