MyBinding Knowledge Base
How do I Choose the Right Paper Drill?
Two- and three-hole punches are great and they offer a convenient way of putting holes in your documents. However, using them often is the best choice when you need to process hundreds of sheets of paper. In that instance, you need a paper drill. This type of machine literally drills holes in your sheets and it can take care of entire reams of paper in just a few seconds. When you shopping for a device such as this, there a few things you need to keep in mind. Here they are....
1.) Size. These drills can be extremely large which can be a problem if your workspace is small. There are both floor model and desktop units available with the former being ideal for heavy-duty use. Meanwhile, the smaller models are better suited for more occasional use. So you'll want to think ahead as to how much space you have and how much you want to process at once.
2.) Drilling thickness. Drilling thickness is the next most important consideration: how much paper do you want to deal with at once? There are some drills that can handle more than 2” of paper, which is more than 500 sheets. The greater the drilling thickness, the more paper you can process at once. You should also think about the bits your machine needs and if they're readily available, because they will need to be replaced at some point.
3.) Number of spindles. The number of spindles a drill has is something else you must think about. Some machines only have one spindle which means you can only drill one hole at a time. Other have up to three so you can prepare your sheets for use in fastener folders and three-ring binders.
4.) Manual or automatic? There are both manual and automatic drills available with the latter being the most expensive. Manual machines can be difficult to use, so they're not great for beginners. This is one area in which you will have to consider cost and convenience.
5.) Odds and ends. A couple other things you'll want to think about include price (of course), warranty, and brand name. Get the best machine you can for your budget and make sure it has an adequate warranty. As far as brand names go, a few to look for are Lassco Wizer, MBM, and Challenge.
As you can see, there are a number of things to keep in mind when buying a paper drill. That said, now that you know what they are, you'll be able to select the right device for your company's needs. Size, drilling thickness, and the number of spindles are all things to think about, as well as if the machine is manual or automatic. Price and warranty will also be factors to consider, as well as the machine's brand name. It's really just like purchasing any other device, although this is one that will increase your productivity and help you save time. Start shopping for your paper drill today so you'll have a fast way of putting holes in your documents.
< 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)
