Laminating machines, in particular pouch laminators, are far easier to use that you might think. Many people get frustrated by all the dials and buttons. Don’t worry. You can have your laminator set up in less than 60 seconds with these easy-to-use instructions.

To start with, just keep in mind that a laminator is simply a glorified heater with a motor. All a laminator does is melt glue and apply pressure for sticking it to paper, photos, cards and other documents. I have spoken with people that went extremely retro and simply used an iron and a towel to laminate documents. While I don’t recommend the iron approach (although some people swear by it), it really is that easy.

Here are 5 easy steps to get you laminator up and running.

• Step 1 – Plug in the machine and set the temperature. If there is no temperature dial, set the switch to the pouch thickness you are using. Common pouch thicknesses include 3, 5, 7 and 10 mils. The higher the number, the thicker the pouch.
• Step 2 – Turn on the motor.
• Step 3 – Insert your document into the pouch folder and then place it in a carrier folder.
• Step 4 – Place your pouch into the machine and wait for it to run through.
• Step 5 – Remove your document and repeat the process (if needed).

Sometimes seeing something in action is easier than following a step-by-step list of instructions. Here is a video demo of a pouch laminator:

While there are minor differences between pouch laminators, they all pretty much operate in a similar manner. I have personally found that once you know how to use one, the rest are all pretty easy to figure out. At ABC Office we offer some of the best prices and selection on pouch laminators. You can find our entire selection of laminating machines here.

Coil binding is considered by many people, professionals and businesses to be one of the most versatile book binding formats available. There are many reasons for this. Here are just a few of the most common reasons I hear from our customers:

1. Plastic PVC coils are durable.
2. Pages turn 360 degrees.
3. Coil bound documents look professional.
4. Coils are available in several different colors and sizes.
5. Coil binding machines are very affordable.
6. Coil binding is great for binding cookbooks, reports, presentations and other documents.

Now that we have established that coil binding is pretty nice, there are a few things you should ask yourself prior to buying a machine. Answers to these questions should help you find the right machine that will work for you.

Coil Binding Questions

• How many books will you be binding per day? The amount of books you bind per day will determine whether you need a manual punch or an electric punch. Electric punch machines are ideal for runs of several dozen to several hundred books. Manual punches are fine for a few to a few dozen books a day.
• What size are the books you will be binding? How big is the book you will be binding. Most coil binding machines have at least a 12″ binding width, however, some can bind legal size 14″ documents. Also, if you are binding smaller books you may want to consider getting a machine with disengageable punching pins. This will allow you to bind a wide variety of custom-size books.
• How thick will be books be that you are binding? If you will be binding a book about ¼” thick, most machines will work for you. If you will be binding thicker books, you may want to consider using a machine with an adjustable margin depth. This allows you to punch deeper into a sheet of paper, depending on the thickness of the book. This will help cut down on pages inadvertently tearing out.
• Which hole binding pitch / pattern do you prefer? Coil binding supplies comes in 4:1 pitch and 5:1 pitch patters. This is 4 holes per inch (4:1) and 5 holes per inch (5:1). Different pitches / hole patterns create different appearances. The 4:1 pitch pattern can bind more paper than a 5:1 pitch.
• Where will you be using your binding machine? Keep in mind how big the machine is. Be sure the desk or table you are using can accommodate both the size and the weight of the machine.
• Do you need an electric coil inserter? Coil binding machines come with and without electric coil inserters, depending on the design. If your machine does not have an electric coil inserter, you will need to insert the coils by hand. If you are only binding a few to a dozen books a day, this isn’t a big deal. If you are binding several dozen to hundreds of books a day, I highly  recommend getting a machine with an electric coil inserter.

Answers to these questions should help you track down the right machine. I understand that you may still have some important questions. Please feel free to post your questions here and I will try to answer them. You may also call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our coil binding experts.

You can find our entire selection of coil binding machines here.

One of the most common issues with paper shredders is the feared paper jam. This almost always occurs when someone feeds too much paper into a shredder. Typically the motor becomes overwhelmed and simply stops. While these jams can often be cleared out by simply pulling back on the paper, this will not help the most severe shredder jams. Here are a few tips that should help you out.

ALWAYS unplug the shredder when trying to clear out a paper jam! You don’t want to injure yourself. Remember, shredders use sharp jagged metal to cut paper. You don’t want to hurt yourself.

If your shredder has jammed, do not keep trying to run it. This may cause damage to the motor, gears and other components.

Fixing A Jammed Paper Shredder

1. My first bit of advice is to unplug the shredder, remove the shredder head and try removing the paper from underneath the shredder. The underside of a shredder head provides the easiest access to the blades. Many shredder jams are the result of paper winding around shredder blades, causing the shredder to stop. You can often clear out jammed shredder manually from the blades. A screwdriver can often be used to fish out paper particles. Be careful not to cause further damage to the shredder blades with the screwdriver.
2. If you are unable to manually remove paper from the jammed shredder, I recommend pouring shredder oil along the width of the shredder throat and waiting 15-30 minutes for the oil to soften the paper. This will often allow the jammed paper to pass through.
3. If your shredder jam is the result of shredding a CD or a credit card, I recommend using needle-nose pliers to try and remove the jammed plastic particles from below the shredder. Pliers are often able to remove plastic particles far easier than by hand.
4. Check to see if your shredder has a reverse switch. While this isn’t a common feature, many shredders have a reverse switch. This will often back out the jammed paper, making it easy to remove, thus remedying the situation.

Worst Case Scenario

If you are still unable to clear the jam, you may need to have the shredder serviced.  We have a Service Department that should be able to at least offer advice, ship replacement parts and if needed, repair it.  If the gears are broken, chain is stripped or shredder blades are irreversibly damaged, our Service Department is still often able to repair the shredder.

You can reach our Service Department by filling out this form or by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129.

If your shredder is ruined, or will cost more to repair than the shredder’s value, you can find our entire selection of new paper shredders here.

Do you manage an office, run a business or have employees that need to attach a lanyard to an ID card or badge? Try as you might, a hole punch simply is not going to cut it (pardon the pun). What you are going to need is what’s known as a slot punch.

Slot punches are designed to punch a rectangular-shaped hole, typical 1/8″ tall by ½” wide. These slots are designed to accept most normal-sized lanyards, badge straps and badge reels. Slot punches are extremely easy to use.

If you are only cutting a few ID badges a day, you’ll be fine with a handheld slot punch. If you plan on punching hundreds to thousands a day, you may want to consider an electric-powered slot punch.

Slot punches, depending on the model, are also available with and without guides. The advantage of a guide is that it makes alignment easy and center slot punching a piece of cake.

Most slot punches can handle CR-80 PVC cards and some of the more robust models can even slot punch proximity cards.

You can find our entire selection of manual and electric slot punches here. You can find our entire selection of lanyards, badge clips and badge reels here.

Questions? Give us a call at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our ID card specialists.

Paper folding machines are wonderful to have whether you are letter folding documents, accordion folding brochures or single folding booklets. Many people out there have fears about setting up folding machines that use manual folding plates. No worries. These types of folding machines are actually pretty easy to set up. Here are a few tips that may help you out.

I would say that about 60-70% of the paper folding machines out there use manually adjusted folding plates. Manual folding plates cut down on manufacturing costs, which is why these types of machines typically cost less than automatic machines.

Most paper folding machines have two folding plates. The first folding plate, usually the longest one, typically sits about where the folded paper comes out of the machine. The second folding plate, usually the shortest one, typically sits below the feed tray. The position of the fold plate may vary, but this is the most common setup.

Even automatic paper folding machines utilize two folding plates. The only difference is that automatic paper folding machines use a motor and a computer to adjust the folding plates.

Many of our Intelli-Fold paper folding machines utilize a “<” folding plate design. In this setup, folding plate 1 and 2 are on the same side of the machine, creating a < design.

Folding plates typically have the most common folds printed directly on the folding plate. Simply look at the guide (typically on the folding plate) and make the proper adjustments. Once you grasp the idea, setup will take less than a couple of minutes.

Most folding plates have two thumb screws per plate. It is very important that the folding plate be aligned correctly, with both thumb screws tightened at equal positions. If the folding plate is a little crooked, the folds will be crooked as well. Keeping the folding plate even, however, is pretty easy as the guides help keep things in line.

One thing I really like about manual folding plates is that they can be set up for custom folding. Simply play around with the plates until you get the custom fold you want. You can even mark the folding plates with a marker to make custom folds easier to set up later on.
Most manual friction-feed folding machines require that one of the plates, either the short or the long plate, be turned around for a V fold (aka single fold). This blocks off the plate entirely. Some folding machines simply require the folding plate to be pushed all the way towards the machine, activating a metal plate that blocks of the tray. This is because only one folding plate is required for a V fold.

My best advice for people looking for a folding machine is to not be scared away by the term “manual setup.” These machines are easy to set up and often cost less. We offer manual setup machines that can even be used for high-volume paper folding.

You can find our entire selection of manual setup friction feed paper folding machines here. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any paper folding questions. Good luck!

Finding a good coin counting machine can be a bit of a chore. There is a lot of stuff out there, ranging from toys to bank-quality stuff. So how do you find a machine that will do what YOU need to do? Here are a few common questions that you will want to ask yourself. These questions should help you narrow down what you need.

To begin with, a lot of coin counters and sorters out there are basically toys. I was in the local department store chain near where I live and I passed by the office supplies isle. I noticed that they were offering several different coin counting machines. I couldn’t help but crack a smile when I saw what they were. They were basically $20 & $50 dollar toys being sold as “office” coin counters.

I find that buying an inadequate coin counting machine is one of the biggest complaints I find among our customers. There are few things worse than buying a machine only to find out it won’t do what you need.

So here you go, great coin counting questions to ask prior to purchasing a machine.

What Types Of Coins Will You Be Counting?

• If counting U.S. Currency, will you only be counting pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters? If so, most coin counters will work for you. If you will be counting dollar coins or tokens, you may have to check and see if this is a possibility. Machines do exist, however, that will handle tokens and dollar coins. Some machines are also designed to handle Canadian currencies, including Loonies and Toonies.

How Many Coins Do You Need To Count Per Day?

• Coin counters are typically rated on speed, usually coins per minute. The higher the speed rating, the more coins you will be able to count in a day. If you only need to count coins every so often, a lower speed rated coin counter should be fine.

Where Will You Be Using Your Machine?

• We try to provide dimensions with all our machines. Be sure you have adequate room. Most of our machines are fairly compact, but sometimes pictures can make something look smaller than it really is.

Do You Also Need To Sort?

• Most coin counters sort, but not all coin sorters count. If you need sorting and counting capabilities, be sure to verify that the machine can do that prior to making a purchase.

Do You Need To Roll Coins?

• Many people that count and sort coins also need to roll them. Many, but not all machines, have coin rolling attachments. These funnel-like attachments make it easy to put coins in coin tubes, sometimes called shotgun shell tubes. Be sure that the coin counter you want can roll coins (if needed).

These are some of the most important questions you will want to ask prior to making a purchase. If you are still unsure, or would like more advice, feel free to call our Service Department at 1-800-658-8788 x129.

You can find our entire selection of coin counters here and coin sorters here.

GBC Velobind provides one of the most stable and secure binding formats available today. This style of book binding is especially popular with law offices, construction companies and other businesses that require large volumes of paper to be securely bound. Not only is in an effective binding method, it looks great too.

I have had a chance over the years to use several different VeloBind machines. This ranges from the VeloBind System One up to the VeloBind System Three. They are very easy to use. I will demonstrate, in a step-by-step guide, exactly how to use a VeloBind machine.

This guide will be helpful in the case that you have lost your manual or if you are in the beginning steps of looking for a machine. Once you know how to use one GBC VeloBind machine, it is pretty easy to use them all. For this guide, I will be using the GBC VeloBind System Three.

Bind Using GBC VeloBind In 10 Easy Steps

Step 1. To begin with, adjust the margin adjustments to accommodate the paper size you are using. If you are using a VeloBind System Three, familiarize yourself with the electronic punch control panel.

Step 2. Assemble the book you are bout to bind. This includes the paper content, front cover and a back cover.

Step 3. Grab the first few sheets you are going to punch. Be sure you don’t exceed your machine’s maximum punching capacity. I personally like to scale the amount back by about 20% to be easier on the machine.

Step 4. Insert the paper into the machine and either push the button or pull the handle to punch the paper. Repeat this process until all the paper has been punched.

Step 5. Take your paper and job it together until all the holes line up.

Step 6. Take your VeloBind strip and place the top portion (with the 11 prongs) through the punched holes.

Step 7. Now take the back strip and put it on the back of your document, inserting the 11 prongs from the front strip through the back strip.

Step 8. Take your book, along with the VeloBind strip, and place it on the machine. There is a tiny pin on the machine that will line up with a tiny pinhole on the VeloBind strip. This helps you align the book in the machine.

Step 9. Start up the VeloBind machine. This us usually done by bringing down a bar onto the VeloBind strip. Once started, the machine will cut off the excess prongs and seal the front strip to the back strip by using heat. This heat is why VeloBind machines are sometimes called hot knife machines.

Step 10. Remove the book from the machine. Everything should now be completed. If needed, you can now repeat the process.

The end results look great. I love the look of VeloBound documents. They are professional, secure and solid.

You can find our entire selection of GBC VeloBind machines here. Feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any questions.

Paper folding machines make letter folding and other types of paper folding quick, simple and easy. These machines literally save hours upon hours of time over manually folding paper.

The most commonly used paper folding machine is the friction-feed folding machine. This guide will help you learn how to set up your machine.

Whether you have recently lost your manual or are interested in purchasing a paper folding machine, this guide will help you get up and going and become familiarized with the general idea of the friction-feed paper folder. I have personally found that once you know how to use one folding machine, it is generally pretty simple to set up and use another.

To begin with, here is a general breakdown of the standard fiction feed paper folding machine. Keep in mind that this is a basic diagram and may not apply to your machine.

Now I will show you how to set up your paper folding machine and start letter folding in just 7 easy steps. You’ll be surprised just how little work is needed to get one of these machines running.

Using A Paper Folding Machine In 7 Easy Steps

Step 1. Look over your machine and familiarize yourself as to where the power switch is, folding plates are located and how the feed tray works.

Step 2. Most folding machines have a grid or diagram printed somewhere on the machine to indicate where the folding plates need to be set for certain types of folds. Find this and determine where the folding plates need to be set for your fold. In this case I am creating a letter fold.

Step 3. Adjust your folding plates. This will involve two separate plates, usually located on opposite sides of the machine.

Step 4. Now you’ll want to adjust the side guides on the feed tray to accommodate the paper you are using. In this case I am using standard 8 ½” x 11″ letter-size paper.

Step 5. Place your stack of paper in the machine. Most folding machines will handle at least 100 sheets, with some high-end models capable of holding up to 500.

Step 6. Turn your folding machine on for a few seconds and examine the end results. Some folding machines have a “test” button. If the fold is off, make adjustments to the folding plates. If everything looks good, turn the machine on and let it fold the paper.

Step 7. Once completed, you are ready to load another stack of paper.

Not too bad, right? While the amount of time will vary from machine to machine, I’ve found that the entire process generally takes about 10 minutes. This of course depends on the experience of the operator.

You can find our entire selection of new paper folding machines here. Please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 with any paper folder questions. Have a great day and happy folding!

Wire binding is popular and hot right now. The binding format looks great, is extremely professional and very easy to do. So what should you do if you have lost your manual or don’t know how to use a wire binding machine? No worries. This wire binding guide will have you wire binding in no time. In 9 easy steps I will show you how to take that paper and turn it into a professional book.

While we offer several wire binding video demos, sometimes it’s easier to simply see the process in some basic step-by-step instructions. Once you know how to use one machine, you should be able to use another. Most wire binding machines operate in a very similar way. So you here you go! My official “how to” use a wire binding machine guide.

Bind A Book With Double-Loop Wire In 9 Easy Steps

Step 1. The first thing you’ll want to do is make the fine-tune adjustments to your machine prior to punching the paper. This includes adjustments to the edge guide, margin depth and wire closer. You can see where these are located (on most machines) by viewing this picture.

Step 2. Grab the paper you want to bind, along with a back and front cover.

Step 3. From your assembled stack, take a few sheets for punching. The amount of sheets you can punch at a time will depend entirely on what your binding machine can handle.

Step 4. Take your paper, insert it into the binding machine and punch it. Punching is typically done either by pulling a lever or pushing a button, depending on whether or not you have a manual or electric punch. Repeat this process until all the paper has been punched.

Step 5. Take your punched paper and jog it until the holes are all lined up. Place the last page of the book (typically the end cover) and place it on top of the stack to be bound. This will help hide the wire binding seam later on.

Step 6. Insert the wire binding element through the punched holes. Some wire binding machines have wire holders that make this process easier.

Step 7. Take the punched paper, along with the inserted wire binding element, and place the wire into the wire closer. Close the wire shut.

Step 8. Remove the book from the machine and inspect the wire. Make sure that it has closed all the way.

Step 9. Take the front page and wrap it around to the back (hiding the seam). You are now ready to bind your next book!

So there you have it. It really isn’t that tough. I wire bound a book just a few days ago and it takes just a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the size of the book. Definitely don’t feel intimidated.

If you are in need of a new or replacement machine, you can find our entire selection of wire binding machines here and wire binding supplies here. Happy binding!

Have you lost your coil binding manual or do you simply want to learn more about how to use a coil binding machine? You’re in luck. This guide will teach you how to use a coil binding machine in 7 easy steps.

Coil binding ranks as one of the top three most popular binding formats used today. This is due to a lot of reasons. A few I can name off the top of my head include the durability of coils, the wide color selection, the price and the ability for the pages to turn a full 360 degrees.

As previously mentioned, I have created a guide that goes through step-by-step instructions on how to coil bind a book. Sure not all coil binding machines work the same, but most are based on similar concepts and functionality. Once you know how to use one coil binding machine, you will probably be able to easily use another.

Coil Bind A Book In 7 Easy Steps

Step 1. The first thing you’ll need to do is set up your machine. This may involve adjusting the edge guide, the margin depth or the selectable punching pins (if equipped).

Step 2. Gather all the pages you intend to bind. This includes the content, a back sheet and a cover sheet.

Step 3. Grab the first few sheets to punch, keeping in mind the maximum punching capacity of your binding machine.

Step 4. Now punch the paper and repeat this process until all the pages in your book have been punched.

Step 5. Now take your punched paper and make sure the holes are all properly aligned.

Step 6. At this point you will want to insert a coil through the first three to four holes. If you have an electric coil inserter, you can now insert the coil the rest of the way. If you don’t have an electric inserter, manually spin the coil the rest of the way through the holes.

Step 7. Now take your coil crimping pliers and crimp / cut off the excess coil on both ends of the book. This will keep the coils from spinning back out. You are now done and ready to bind another book!

Simple, right? You bet. Using a coil binding machine is quick, affordable and it looks great. You can find our entire selection of coil binding machines here and coil binding supplies here. Do you still have questions about coil binding machines? Contact one of our binding specialists at 1-800-658-8788 with all your questions.