MyBinding Knowledge Base
How can I bind hard bound documents?
If you are looking to bind your own hard bound books and presentations there are several options that are available to you. Specifically, you can bind your books using Unibind steel books, thermal binding hard cases or Velobind hard cases. All three of these systems allow you to do your own hard case binding in your home or office. Here is a quick overview of the strengths and weaknesses of these three options.
- Unibind SteelBooks: Unibind Steelbooks provide the easiest method of binding your own hard bound books. With these unique hard case covers, you simply insert your pages into
- Thermal Case Binding: Binding hard bound documents using your thermal binding machine is slightly more involved than binding documents with a Unibind system. Like the Unibind system, you insert your pages into the cover and insert it into your machine. After the book has been heated and before it cools it must be inserted into a hard back book crimper for cooling. The hard back book crimper helps to ensure that the spine of the book is shaped correctly and that the glue hardens in contact with the book block. Thermal binding hard cases are available in a number of sizes and finishes that are not available from Unibind. It is important to note that thermal binding cases require a minimum two week lead time for production. Thermal cases can be customized with windows, foil stamping, silk screening and four color process printed covers (or digital offset printed) are available in quantities as small a 100 books. This makes thermal binding cases a good option for special sized photobooks and highly customized presentation covers.
- Velobind Case Binding: This style of producing hard bound covers is really only ideal for companies or individuals who already own a Velobind system. These hard cases use special fly sheets that are bound together with the book using your Velobind system. These fly sheets are then peeled back to reveal an adhesive that is used to adhere the book into your Velobind Hard Case. These supplies are produced on a custom order basis and can be foil stamped for customization. Cost and lead time makes this the least desirable option for in-house hard case binding. This being said, if you are interested in hard case binding with your Velobind system, you might consider reading our article on using GBC Velobind hard case covers.
< Over the years, a number of customers have asked me whether they can use twin loop wire with their plastic comb binding machine. These customers often don’t want to have to buy a brand new machine but like the look and feel of twin loop wire binding. However, the answer to their question isn’t as simple as it seems. You see, they actually do make twin loop wire that is designed to work with the plastic comb binding hole pattern. With that said, if you want to use these wires you are going to need a way to close the wires. What is Spiral-O Wire? Let me explain a little bit more…There is a product that we carry called Spiral-O Wire. This wire has 19 loops and is designed to work with the hole pattern from a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O Wire is sometimes called Wire Combs or Ibico Wire and was originally designed for use with some of the older Ibico binding machines. A number of the older Ibico plastic comb binding machines also included a twin loop wire closer on the front of them to allow users to use both plastic combs and wire. This 19 loop wire was designed for this purpose. What Equipment is Needed? As the Ibico brand has been phased out by GBC and all of the older Ibico plastic binding machines have been replaced with new models, they no longer have the twin loop wire closer on the front of them. This presents a problem in trying to use these spiral-o wires since you can’t use the wires without a way to close them. One of the only options left is to purchase a Twin Loop wire closer. However, since twin loop wire closers are not incredibly cheap this option usually only appeals to users who have larger electric plastic comb binding machines. Otherwise, it is often advisable to simply buy a low end 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine (the supplies are cheaper). This being said, if you have one of the older Ibico binding machines that has a wire closer included you are in luck. The Spiral-O binding supplies that we carry will work perfectly with your machine and you will be able to use both plastic combs and wire depending on your needs. These Spiral-O binding supplies are available in Black, Silver, White, Blue and Red and in sizes up to 1″ in diameter. If you aren’t sure what type of wire binding supplies that you need to work with your machine simply give us a call. Our trained sales representatives will be glad to help you find the correct supplies for use with your machine.(Read More)
