Wire Binding
Twin Loop wire binding is one of the most popular methods of binding available today. Twin Loop wire binding is also known as double loop wire binding, wire-o binding, double wire binding, or just wire binding and involves taking a preformed C shaped wire binding, placing the spine through the holes on the edge of your document and using a wire closer to close the C shape into a round binding element. Twin Loop wire binding is considered to be one of the most elegant binding styles available on the market and is popular with real estate offices, architects, engineers and marketing departments. However, if you are considering using Twin Loop wire binding in your office there are a few things you might like to know …
1. Twin loop wire comes in two different pitches (the number of holes per inch). Generally speaking, smaller sized documents use 3:1 pitch (3 holes per inch) and larger sized documents use 2:1 pitch (2 holes per inch). To be more specific, 3:1 pitch wire is available in sizes from 3/16? up to 9/16? and 2:1 pitch wire is available in sizes from 5/8? up to 1-1/4?. It is possible to order 2:1 pitch wire in smaller sizes. However, 3:1 pitch wire is not available in sizes larger than 9/16? (the diameter of the wire becomes too thick to fit in the holes).
2. Depending on the size of the documents that you are looking to bind you will need to choose the right wire binding machine. Most wire binding machines either punch the 3:1 or the 2:1 hole pattern. However, the Akiles WireMac Duo Combo binding machine is capable of punching both the 2:1 and the 3:1 patterns. If you are looking for an electric binding machine capable of punching both 2:1 and 3:1 patterns, you will need to consider a modular binding punch such as the GBC MP2500ix, or the GBC Magnapunch.
3. Most desktop twin loop wire binding machines include a wire closer that is designed to squeeze the C shaped wires together until they are round. It is important that this wire closer is accurate and closes equally across the entire length of the closer otherwise your documents will not operate correctly. Both Akiles and Renz wire binding machines include high quality wire closers.
4. When binding documents with twin loop wire, a good trick to remember is to bind the back cover of the report on the front of your document. After the document is bound you can flip the back cover onto the back of the document and it will hide the place where the twin loop wire meets giving you a more elegant bind.
Twin loop wire is incredibly popular because it allows documents to not only lay flat but to wrap 360 degrees.Twin loop wire is available in a number of colors including: black, white, silver, bronze, red, blue, green, navy and gray. This style is ideal for higher end presentations and proposals but should not be mailed without protection for the spine since the metal spines can become deformed.
Twin Loop Wire Binding Overview Video
Welcome to MyBinding video. This is a video on twin loop wire binding, both the machines and the systems. Inexpensive and impressive, wire binding is very popular. The process is pretty straightforward with three different steps. First is the punching. This can be done electronically or manually. The final two steps are the binding process. First, you thread your punched project onto the wire. This can be a little tricky but you get used to it over time. The third and final step is closing the wire. This is done with a wire closer. An adjustment is made for the size wire that you're using with your project and you clamp down, the wire is closed, and your project is all finished. If done correctly, the seam of the wire is hidden between the back cover and the back page.
A very common feature is side margin control. This allows all punches to be consistent and centered. Disengageable die pins is a great feature that allows you to process virtually any length sheet of paper. Depth of margin control knob allows you to select a thinner or thicker margin; thicker ones are better for thicker books. All wire closers adjust to the size wire that you're using. However, not all wire closers can accommodate the same size wire. Many wire binding machines have built-in wire closers. But there are also separate, modular units that make the process faster or more versatile. This should be taken into consideration if you have a lot of binding to do or if you have a wide range of thicknesses for your books.
As with all binding systems, wire binding has a great range in size and price for machines and systems used. Some machines are very small, personal, great for the home office and low volume work, as well as extremely portable. Units like these can run under 40 dollars and upwards to about a hundred. As productivity needs increase, so do the size and options of the machines. Almost every machine is a built-in, all-in-one unit that has both punching and binding capabilities. As you move into metal machines that are more heavy duty and can handle larger projects and volume loads, the price goes up into the 100 to 400 dollar range. Another determining factor in price is the electric or manual punch. With smaller workloads, manual is no problem. But if you're going to be doing a lot of binding, the electric punch sure is helpful.
As you move into larger, more heavy duty and industrial machines, you can punch a lot more a lot faster with a greater sense of accuracy, as well as the closer is able to handle and accommodate much larger books. Some of these machines are all-in-one units that do both punching and binding, but there are a few machines on the market that work with modular units. There's a base model that does the punching and the closer is a modular that you add to it, on the side for a separate operator or on top of for a single operator. These more industrial machines can run from 1,000 to 5,000 dollars.
Whatever your binding needs and budget are, we have a solution. For all kinds of demos, reviews, and how-tos, check out MyBinding.com.
