MyBinding Paper Handling

Sharpening makes sense when the bit is still cutting reasonably clean holes but starting to require more downward pressure or leaving slightly rough edges, since a sharpening stone or handheld sharpener can restore the cutting edge without buying a new bit. Replacement becomes the better call once the bit is visibly chipped, bent, or has been sharpened down enough that its diameter no longer matches your hole specification. Keeping a sharpener on hand alongside your drill is usually cheaper long-term than replacing bits at the first sign of dullness.

A chip clearer removes the compacted paper waste that builds up inside a hollow drill bit as it punches through stacks, which matters because a clogged bit cuts less cleanly and requires more force the longer it goes without clearing. If you're only drilling occasionally or in small batches, you can usually clear chips by hand or with a simple tool as needed. For regular, higher-volume drilling, a dedicated chip speeds up the process and helps avoid the rougher holes that come from forcing a partially clogged bit through paper.

A cutting stick is designed to take the wear that would otherwise dull your blade, so some surface grooving from the blade over time is normal and expected. It's time to replace the stick once those grooves get deep enough that the bottom sheets in a stack start showing ragged or incomplete cuts, or once you've rotated the stick through all its usable sides and it's still cutting poorly. Rotating a multi-sided stick to a fresh edge before replacing it outright is usually the more economical first step. For material and sizing options as you rotate or replace, cutting sticks covers the range of profiles available.

Think about what happens right before and after cutting, punching, or drilling rather than treating mail handling as a separate category. Letter openers and jogging blocks are worth keeping near cutting equipment since squared, properly jogged stacks cut and punch more accurately. If your paper handling workflow also touches outgoing mail or packages, mailroom supplies cover the adjacent equipment so you're not making a separate supply run mid-project. Match what you stock to your actual daily workflow rather than buying a broad assortment upfront.