MyBinding Knowledge Base
Why Should You Bind Your Documents?
Working on a big report or other project takes a lot of time and effort. When you’re finally done with it, you probably just want to get it off your desk and move on to other things. But there’s one more thing you should do before you say “Adios!” to your project: you should consider binding it. Although it may seem unnecessary, binding can be the crowning touch on your work, especially if you’re trying to impress your customers and, of course, your boss. Here are three reasons why you should bind your documents.
- Binding looks good – and appearances count! Using a binding machine can make your project look really good. After all the effort you’ve put into your project, do you really want to staple it together or throw it in a binder? That just looks lazy and your work deserves better than that! By binding it, you’re showing pride in your work. As for what binding method to choose, think of how you want your booklet to look. A plastic comb binding machine can provide a simple, utilitarian look to your work, while a fancier binding method, such as spiral coil or thermal binding, can really make your booklet stand out. Thermal binding can actually make your document look like a hardcover book. How cool, huh? The humble staple sure can’t do that.
- Binding protects your work and keeps it organized. Your work isn’t going to hold up very well if you just staple it together, and we all know how easy it is to accidentally tear pages out of a 3-ring binder. By using a binding machine to bind your document, you’ll be confident that your work will stay intact. And if you use plastic binding covers, your work will be less likely to be ruined by spilled drinks and other messy things. Index tabs can also be used so your work will look – and stay -organized.
- You can bind anything you want. When it comes to binding, what you can bind is limited only by your imagination. You’re not just limited to binding your company’s latest financial report. Indeed, you can bind anything you want. Some possibilities are:
- Cookbooks.
- Calendars.
- Photo albums.
- Self-published novels.
- Catalogs and sales materials.
- School projects.
- Workbooks.
- Employee handbooks.
- Reference guides.
- Phone directories.
- Yearbooks.
As you can see, binding can used for a number of different purposes. If you’re a creative type who loves to put together photo albums or an amateur writer who’s written a novel, binding may be a fun new way to express yourself and make your creative projects look even better.
Now you know the three reasons why you should bind your documents. It can give your work a more polished look, it can protect your efforts, and it can be used for a variety of different purposes. The next time you finish a project, consider binding it. You – and your customers, boss, and/or readers – will undoubtedly be pleased with the results.
< 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)
