MyBinding Knowledge Base
What are the Different Types of Lanyard Attachments?
When buying lanyards, one of the decisions you must make is this: what kind of attachment do you want? A lanyard attachment is a way of securing your ID badge, proximity card, keys, or cell phone to your lanyard. Indeed, it’s one of the most important parts of this type of neckwear. There are many different types of attachments to choose from and this article will talk about what is available.
Split key rings are a very simple type of attachment. These are good for hanging keys from and they are available in two different finishes: nickel-plated and black oxide. These rings are very durable and are one of the least expensive types of attachments you can get. Another basic type of attachment is the lanyard hook. These hooks have a textured thumb grip so it’s easy to attach your badge or whatnot to your lanyard.
Pull-apart key rings are a popular attachment choice and are available in strong nickel-plated steel. When you use this type of attachment, you can your badge, proximity card, etc. while still wearing the lanyard.
There are several different varieties of swivel hooks that you can use with your lanyards. The first is your basic swivel hook that has a thumb grip and comes in several different widths. (Be sure to pick the right one for use with your lanyard.) You can also get swivel hooks that have bulldog clips attached to them. These are great for holding onto cards that have a hole punched in the top. Other swivel hooks have an attachment known as a “lobster claw” (it really does look like a crustacean’s hand) and trigger snap swivel hooks that are easy to use.
Plastic hooks are a nice option to have if you are on a budget. These hooks, which are available in both black and white, can either be narrow or wide and they won’t twist your lanyard around, so your ID will always be viewable. If you do not want a plastic hook attachment, you can choose a plastic O-ring instead. These come in several different colors including blue, red, and green.
Another attachment option is a badge reel. Badge reels can be easily attached to your lanyard and are great if you want to keep your keycard close to you but not take your lanyard off to swipe it. The badge reel has a retractable cord so you can swipe the card and then reel it back in.
If you choose OptiBraid or OptiWeave lanyards, you should know that these lanyards have their own special line of attachments. This lineup – called DTACH – requires you to choose two different pieces to go with your attachment. The first piece clicks into the second, so you have the ability to detach part of your lanyard, if necessary. The second piece comes in a lot of different varieties, including swivel hook, split ring, and bulldog clip. Additional attachments include a cell phone holder, pen holder, and a lanyard extender. The DTACH items are only available in black, but they are high-quality so they will last for a good long time.
This is just an overview of some of the lanyard attachments that are currently available. When choosing your attachment, make sure you consider what the item is made out of and how much it costs. That way you will know you are making the right decision.
< 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)
