MyBinding Knowledge Base
What are my options for trimming laminated documents?
Now that you’ve successfully laminated your documents, it’s time to get rid of the excess plastic that frames them. But how do you do that? Don’t worry, this article will tell you how to successfully trim laminated documents and projects. And, best of all, all of these methods are easy. Here they are…
- Scissors. Of course, you can always use scissors to trim away any extra film. The good thing about scissors is that there’s almost always a pair around, so you won’t have to spend money on another cutting tool or waste time trying to find that one X-acto knife you thought you had in your desk drawer. While scissors are handy and they’re good for thinner plastics, it can be difficult to get a perfectly straight line with them. If you do choose to use scissors, keep them open and then slice through the plastic. It will give you better results than if you opened and closed them along the sides of the document.
- A ruler/straight edge and knife. This can be a easy way of cutting off the extra plastic. And, best of all, chances are you already have the materials you need. Be sure to use a cutting mat if you choose this method because if you don’t, you’re going to damage your work surface. Also, be really careful with the knife so you don’t wind up accidentally cutting yourself.
- A rotary trimmer. Using one of these devices is a great way to trim the excess laminate from your documents. Using a rotary trimmer will give you a totally straight edge, something that just isn’t possible with scissors. Rotary trimmers come in a lot of different sizes, so there’s definitely going to be one that’s right for your project, whether it’s small or large. These devices are also easy to use – just remember to keep your fingers away from the blade! Also, these trimmers aren’t good for trimming huge stacks of documents, so keep that in mind if you have a big pile of items to work through.
- Zippy Knives. These handy little tools are made by GBC and can be really helpful when trimming your laminated documents. They’re simply double-edged razors secured in plastic handles. They’re safe to use and will give you a clean cut, even on odd-shaped items. Be sure to use a steady hand with these tools because it can be difficult to get a perfectly straight line with them.
- Use a machine. Finally, you can use a machine to trim your items. Some laminators, such as the GBC HeatSeal Sprint H925 will automatically cut away excess plastic. You can even purchase specialized trimmers such as the GBC Pro Trim, which can be really handy if you regularly work with a large volume of documents. However, if you just laminate once in a while, one of the other options would definitely be more cost-effective.
< 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)
