ABC Office September 2004 Ask Dave Newsletter
Valuable binding advice from ABC Office
ABC Office is pleased to announce the fifteenth edition
of our "Ask Dave" newsletter, dedicated to answering
your questions about office equipment and supplies,
and providing you with useful answers.
This month's issue focuses on the history of binding and different ways to bind your documents.
Book binding has come a long way over the years. In the days of the pyramids, the Egyptians wrote on papyrus rolls and stones, animal skins were used in western Asia and clay tablets were used by the Sumerians and Hittites. The Romans used wax tablets for note taking. Paper was not even used until 150 B.C. by the Chinese.
During the middle ages, books were uniquely bound with wooden boards as covers. These covers were often decorated with silk, leather and velvet. Bookbinding's primary purpose was to preserve historical records and documents.
Today, there is a wide variety of binding options available. Many customers wonder what the different styles of binding are and what will work best for them. I will try to answer some of the most common questions asked regarding book binding.
Dear Dave,
I am a college student and need to bind a report for my archeology class. After going to our school copy center, I saw your sticker on the machines and decided to visit your site. After reading your binding guide, I have a few questions. First of all, I have the option of using a comb binder, a wire binder and a coil binder. Which machine would you recommend and why?
Thanks,
Fred
Fred,
There really is no particular binding machine that is better than another. The biggest decision in choosing a binding machine comes down to your own personal preference. There are, however, different benefits to each machine. Let me explain a few of those benefits to you. Hopefully this will help you make a decision.
Comb binding machines are very widely used. They are probably the most popular binding machine in use today. The plastic combs that the machine uses are inexpensive and can be re-used. The pages can be opened 180 degrees, allowing bound books to lay flat. If cost is an issue, a comb-binding machine may be perfect for you.
Wire binding machines are growing in popularity. Many businesses like the professional look that wire binding gives a document. Wire bound documents can open 360 degrees, making wire bound documents easy to read. The metal wires look very unique. The metal wires do cost a little more. You will also want to be careful, if you choose wire binding, to not bend the wires. If you stack something on a wire bound document, you run the risk of destroying the wire.
Coil binding has been around for a while. Coil binding uses a binding element that looks like a spring. Coils used to be primarily made out of metal, but most are now made out of PVC plastic for durability reasons. Coil binding looks good. One good reason to choose coil binding is the fact that the booklets can open 360 degrees. This is great for reading and prevents having to keep pushing papers down.
Comb, wire and coil binding are available in different colors. I would highly recommend choosing a report cover that matches the binding element you are using. We sell several different types of report covers. You can see them all here: http://www.abcoffice.com/cover.htm. You can also read more about different styles of binding here: http://www.abcoffice.com/binding_guide.htm.
Dave,
What is meant by pitch? I am looking at your binding machines and I keep seeing the term pitch used to describe the punch. This is new to me.
-Phil
Phil,
Pitch is something you will want to take into close consideration when purchasing a binding machine. Pitch refers to the punching style of the binding machine. Wire binding machines are available in 19-hole, 2:1 (21 holes) and 3:1 (32 holes) pitch. This means that some wire binding machines can be purchased with the ability to punch 19 holes, two holes per inch (2:1) or three holes per inch (3:1) along the 11-inch side of a sheet of paper.
If you buy a 2:1 pitch wire binder, you will not be able to use the 19-hole or the 3:1 pitch binding elements. The holes would simply not line up. Some people like a lower pitch (19-hole or 2:1) to a higher pitch (3:1), because the lower pitch binding elements are capable of handling a thicker book. Other people like the 3:1 pitch more because of the tight look of the closely punched holes.
Coil binding is also available in different pitches. You can buy coil-binding machines in 4:1 (four holes per inch) and 5:1 (five holes per inch) pitch.
We also sell machines that can bind both comb and wire (http://www.abcoffice.com/combobnd1.htm). We are currently having a special on the Ibimaster 400e combination comb and wire binder (http://www.abcoffice.com/ibi400e.htm). You can find all our binding machines here: http://www.abcoffice.com/bind1.htm.
Dear Dave,
I was browsing your binding index. I am a purchasing manager and use several of the binding machines you sell on a regular basis. Ever so often I like to check your site for new forms of binding. I know this binding machine isn't new, but what does a padding press do? I'm just curious. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Kathleen,
Padding presses do look a little unusual at first glance. They are really just a large clamp. What you do is take a stack of paper and clamp it down in the padding press. Some padding machines are capable of clamping up to 15,000 sheets of paper at once (http://www.abcoffice.com/padallcart.htm). Once the paper is clamped in place, glue is applied to the back of the paper by use of a brush. Once the glue dries, the stack of paper can be cut into smaller stacks of paper. These stacks of paper are used as note pads. Schools and print shops are the primary customer for padding presses. We also sell these to other businesses and organizations. You can see all our padding presses here: http://www.abcoffice.com/pad1.htm.
Feel free to write us with any questions you might have. Have a question? Ask Dave! salesmanager@abcoffice.com
::::::::::
Our aim is to show you the products that interest you most. Let us know what you think. Offers only available at www.abcoffice.com. Not responsible for typographical errors.
This month's issue focuses on the history of binding and different ways to bind your documents.
Book binding has come a long way over the years. In the days of the pyramids, the Egyptians wrote on papyrus rolls and stones, animal skins were used in western Asia and clay tablets were used by the Sumerians and Hittites. The Romans used wax tablets for note taking. Paper was not even used until 150 B.C. by the Chinese.
During the middle ages, books were uniquely bound with wooden boards as covers. These covers were often decorated with silk, leather and velvet. Bookbinding's primary purpose was to preserve historical records and documents.
Today, there is a wide variety of binding options available. Many customers wonder what the different styles of binding are and what will work best for them. I will try to answer some of the most common questions asked regarding book binding.
Dear Dave,
I am a college student and need to bind a report for my archeology class. After going to our school copy center, I saw your sticker on the machines and decided to visit your site. After reading your binding guide, I have a few questions. First of all, I have the option of using a comb binder, a wire binder and a coil binder. Which machine would you recommend and why?
Thanks,
Fred
Fred,
There really is no particular binding machine that is better than another. The biggest decision in choosing a binding machine comes down to your own personal preference. There are, however, different benefits to each machine. Let me explain a few of those benefits to you. Hopefully this will help you make a decision.
Comb binding machines are very widely used. They are probably the most popular binding machine in use today. The plastic combs that the machine uses are inexpensive and can be re-used. The pages can be opened 180 degrees, allowing bound books to lay flat. If cost is an issue, a comb-binding machine may be perfect for you.
Wire binding machines are growing in popularity. Many businesses like the professional look that wire binding gives a document. Wire bound documents can open 360 degrees, making wire bound documents easy to read. The metal wires look very unique. The metal wires do cost a little more. You will also want to be careful, if you choose wire binding, to not bend the wires. If you stack something on a wire bound document, you run the risk of destroying the wire.
Coil binding has been around for a while. Coil binding uses a binding element that looks like a spring. Coils used to be primarily made out of metal, but most are now made out of PVC plastic for durability reasons. Coil binding looks good. One good reason to choose coil binding is the fact that the booklets can open 360 degrees. This is great for reading and prevents having to keep pushing papers down.
Comb, wire and coil binding are available in different colors. I would highly recommend choosing a report cover that matches the binding element you are using. We sell several different types of report covers. You can see them all here: http://www.abcoffice.com/cover.htm. You can also read more about different styles of binding here: http://www.abcoffice.com/binding_guide.htm.
Dave,
What is meant by pitch? I am looking at your binding machines and I keep seeing the term pitch used to describe the punch. This is new to me.
-Phil
Phil,
Pitch is something you will want to take into close consideration when purchasing a binding machine. Pitch refers to the punching style of the binding machine. Wire binding machines are available in 19-hole, 2:1 (21 holes) and 3:1 (32 holes) pitch. This means that some wire binding machines can be purchased with the ability to punch 19 holes, two holes per inch (2:1) or three holes per inch (3:1) along the 11-inch side of a sheet of paper.
If you buy a 2:1 pitch wire binder, you will not be able to use the 19-hole or the 3:1 pitch binding elements. The holes would simply not line up. Some people like a lower pitch (19-hole or 2:1) to a higher pitch (3:1), because the lower pitch binding elements are capable of handling a thicker book. Other people like the 3:1 pitch more because of the tight look of the closely punched holes.
Coil binding is also available in different pitches. You can buy coil-binding machines in 4:1 (four holes per inch) and 5:1 (five holes per inch) pitch.
We also sell machines that can bind both comb and wire (http://www.abcoffice.com/combobnd1.htm). We are currently having a special on the Ibimaster 400e combination comb and wire binder (http://www.abcoffice.com/ibi400e.htm). You can find all our binding machines here: http://www.abcoffice.com/bind1.htm.
Dear Dave,
I was browsing your binding index. I am a purchasing manager and use several of the binding machines you sell on a regular basis. Ever so often I like to check your site for new forms of binding. I know this binding machine isn't new, but what does a padding press do? I'm just curious. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Kathleen,
Padding presses do look a little unusual at first glance. They are really just a large clamp. What you do is take a stack of paper and clamp it down in the padding press. Some padding machines are capable of clamping up to 15,000 sheets of paper at once (http://www.abcoffice.com/padallcart.htm). Once the paper is clamped in place, glue is applied to the back of the paper by use of a brush. Once the glue dries, the stack of paper can be cut into smaller stacks of paper. These stacks of paper are used as note pads. Schools and print shops are the primary customer for padding presses. We also sell these to other businesses and organizations. You can see all our padding presses here: http://www.abcoffice.com/pad1.htm.
Feel free to write us with any questions you might have. Have a question? Ask Dave! salesmanager@abcoffice.com
::::::::::
Our aim is to show you the products that interest you most. Let us know what you think. Offers only available at www.abcoffice.com. Not responsible for typographical errors.