Do you want to create your own spiral notebook? It can be done, and at an affordable price. The type of binding that is used with spiral notebooks is what we call coil binding (aka spiral binding). The only difference between traditional spiral notebooks and what our coil binding machines can do is the coil element itself.

Our coil binding machines use colored PVC coils, versus the metal coils used in spiral notebooks. The hole patterns are still the same, pages still turn the same and sheets can be torn out the same way as will a spiral notebook. The hole pattern used with a spiral notebook is usually a 4:1 pitch (four holes per inch). This makes the pages easier to tear out for note taking purposes versus a 5:1 pitch (five holes per inch).

So why is PVC coil better than metal coil? Metal coils bend easily. Very easily. This may be from stacking a book on the metal coil or placing the notebook in a backpack. PVC plastic coils do not bend and can take a lot of abuse without showing any wear.

You can actually buy lined paper at a paper store for creating your own spiral notebook. Simply punch holes in the lined paper, put chipboard on the back and a sheet of card stock on the front. The end result looks great and the coil notebook can then be taken to school, used for taking notes and much more.

Another big advantage of using PVC plastic coils over metal coils is the color. Metal coils are usually nickel or chrome in color. PVC plastic coils are available in an assortment of different colors. This means you can create a spiral notebook with a pink, blue, red or black coil .The colors are endless.

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

So you’re looking for a spiral binding machine (aka coil binding machine) and aren’t sure whether to go with an electric punch or a manual punch. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages you’ll want to consider prior to making a purchase.

Volume – How many books would you like to bind per day? While a good manual binding machine can keep up with the best of them, the operator will eventually get tired. It’s normal. Electric punches require a lot less effort and are far more ideal for continuous, daily binding.

Some high-end electric punch machines, however, are capable of punching far more paper than a manual machine. These typically are not all-in-one spiral binding machines, but rather are binding punches designed specifically for punching paper.

Electric Coil Inserter – Some spiral binding machines include an electric coil inserter. This is usually some type of an electrically powered rubber roller. These are found on both manual and electric-punch machines.

I personally love having an electric coil inserter on my spiral binding machine. The time saved using an electric coil inserter, over manual coil insertion, is significantly more than the time saved going from a manual to an electric punch machine.

Budget – So is it in your budget to get an electric punch machine? Electric punch spiral binding machines are more of an investment than a manual spiral binding machine. Be aware, however, that buying a cheaper manual spiral binding machine may cost you more money in the long run in operating time and output volume.

Convenience – This one is pretty easy. An electric-powered binding machine will always be more convenient to use than a manually operated machine.

Space - Electric and manual spiral binding machines use about the same amount of surface space, so space shouldn’t be a major concern when selection a machine.

Whether you decide to go with a manual or an electric spiral binding machine, spiral binding looks great and is perfect for binding cookbooks, journals, reports, booklets and more. You will find our entire selection of manual spiral binding machines here and electric spiral binding machines here.

Spiral binding machines, also known as coil binding machines, are one of the most widely used binding machines used today. Spiral binding has many benefits. The coils look great, they hold up well and pages can turn a full 360 degrees. The binding coils themselves are very affordable and are available in a wide variety of colors. So why are there two different pitches (hole patterns) available?

Spiral binding machines can be found in two different hole patterns. These are 4:1 pitch and 5:1 pitch. What it all boils down to is 4:1 pitch uses a hole pattern of four punched holes per inch of paper and a 5:1 pitch uses a hole pattern of five holes punched per inch of paper. While very similar, these two different hole patterns do visually look a little different when compared side-by-side.

A 4:1 pitch hole pattern is the most widely used and most popular spiral binding hole pattern used. The 4:1 hole pattern is able to bind more sheets of paper, at about 230 total pages. This is because the holes are spaced farther apart. Many people feel the pages turn more easily as well. You will find our 4:1 pitch spirals here.

The 5:1 pitch hole pattern has what many people call a “tighter” look. This is because the holds are closer together. The 5:1 pitch pattern is able to bind up to about 150 sheets of paper. Some people feel the tighter look is better for thinner books and for presentations. You will find our 5:1 pitch spirals here.

The pitch you use ultimately depends on your preferred look. Although 4:1 pitch is more popular, you may prefer the look of 5:1 more. You will find our entire selection of spiral binding machines here.

Spiral binding is a very popular binding format and is growing in use year over year. Spiral binding and coil binding are just two different names for the same type of binding. Spiral binding has been around for some time, especially metal coil binding, but PVC plastic coils have since replaced the metal. This is because plastic coils are more durable and come in a variety of colors.

One reason the coil-binding format is so popular is because coil bound pages can turn a full 360 degrees. This means that pages can be turned completely around and that the books can lay flat. Spiral binding is not only popular for reports, but is also commonly used for scrapbooking, cookbooks and sheet music.

Spiral binding machines are very easy to use. Spiral binding machines come in two different hole patterns, these being 4:1 and 5:1. The first number is the amount of holes and the second, following the colon, is the measurement. This means that 4:1 equals a total of four holes per inch of paper.

The wider hole pattern (4:1) can bind a thicker book. The thinner hole patter (5:1) has a tighter look. The pitch you choose will depend entirely on the look you prefer and how many pages you need to bind. Supplies for the different hole patterns are not interchangeable. This means 4:1 supplies cannot be used with a 5:1 machine and visa-versa.

Types of spiral binding machines:

Manual Punch Coil Binders – Manual spiral binders are the least expensive type of coil binding machine. These machines require the paper to be punched manually. This is fine if you are binding up to a few dozen books a day. After the paper is punched, the coils can be manually inserted or be inserted with an electric coil inserter. Manual comb binding machines are available with and without an electric coil inserter.

Electric Punch Coil Binders – Electric spiral binders are ideal when binding 50-100+ books a day. These types of machines use an electric punch to punch the paper. Once the paper is punched, the spirals can be inserted manually or with an electric coil inserter. Electric coil inserters are faster to use. Most electric punch coil binders include an electric coil inserter.

We have huge selection of spiral binding machines. You can view our entire selection of coil binding machines here.