LX Strips By Width

Yes. Measure the entire stack exactly as it will enter the Fastback machine. Covers, coated inserts, index tabs, photographs, and heavier paper can add substantial thickness even when the sheet count appears low. Jog the stack square and apply light, even pressure before measuring so loose sheets do not create a false reading. When a job sits near the boundary between narrow and medium, follow the machine and strip guidance rather than forcing the smaller width. It is also useful to bind a representative sample when the document combines several materials. That test confirms whether the selected strip creates a firm spine and whether every sheet receives adequate adhesive contact. Repeated jobs should use a recorded finished thickness rather than relying on memory.

Strip length should match the binding edge of the finished document and the Fastback format being used. Standard letter and A4 work commonly uses an 11 inch strip, while half letter and A5 photobook formats may use an 8.5 inch length. Confirm the actual spine length, because sheet orientation changes which edge is being bound. The related Fastback 9 supplies can help keep strip length, width, cover format, and machine requirements within one compatible workflow. Do not trim a strip as a routine substitute for ordering the correct length, since the finished ends and adhesive placement are designed for the intended format.

LX strips are designed for the Fastback 9 family and should not be treated as interchangeable with strips made for later Fastback systems. Set the machine to the correct LX binding mode and follow the operating instructions for strip placement, heating, and cooling. Super, CP, Composition, Perfectback, and Image strip families have different machine and material requirements, so similar appearance does not establish compatibility. Using an unsupported strip can lead to incomplete adhesive activation or a failed bind. Confirm the model number on the equipment itself, especially in facilities that operate more than one Fastback machine. If the label or operating guide is unavailable, identify the machine before purchasing supplies rather than testing an uncertain strip on an important document.

Use another strip family when the machine model, paper surface, document thickness, or desired finish falls outside the LX workflow. Coated or difficult papers may require a strip formulated for those surfaces. Very thick documents may need a wider option supported by a different Fastback system. Composition strips can suit a coordinated fabric style, while Perfectback materials support a commercial paperback appearance with the required covers and equipment. The range of Fastback binding machines helps establish which supply families belong with each system. Decide from verified machine compatibility and document construction, not from color or strip appearance. LX remains appropriate only when the Fastback 9 workflow and available width capacity match the job.