If you have a wire binding punch, lack a wire closer on your binding machine or simply want to speed up binding operations, you may wonder if you can manually close twin loop wire by hand. It is a question I get from customers from time to time. I have also had customers ask if they can reuse the wire. I will answer these questions and more in this article.

Having personally tried to close wire using my hand. Can it be done? Yes. Does it look good? No…absolutely not. The problem is that a wire closer, used with most wire binding machines, closes all the rings of wire at the same time, providing a nice and even look. Closing each individual loop (32 loops with 3:1 pitch and 21 loops with 2:1 pitch) results in each loop being closed a little more or a little less than the next or previous loop. To put it simple, it looks horrible.

So can you open wire and reuse it? Unfortunately this is not a possibility either. Having tried this myself, I can vouch for the fact that it is impossible. While I have seen some wire binding machines that include a wire opener, that actually does an OK job, it still never looks as good as a new wire binding element. The problem is that opening the wire causes kinks, crimps and gets fatigue spots in the wire that never look right, even when the wire is re-closed. It is also extremely hard to remove wire from a wire bound book by hand. It can easily rip and damage the document in the process.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but twin loop wire binding is not forgiving. If you need to be able to reuse or reopen a binding element, I recommend you consider using a comb binding machine. Coil binding, while it can be re-used, is easy to remove if you need to add or remove a page.

You can find our entire selection of wire binding machines here, wire binding supplies here and book binding machines here.

If you are binding a book, whether it is coil, comb or wire, you have to select a specific supply diameter to finish the process. Many customers get a little frustrated not knowing what size of supply they should get. Comb, wire and coil binding supplies are typically sold in quantities of 100. So which diameter of comb, coil or wire should you use?

If you don’t do a lot of book binding, yet need to order supplies for your machine, you have a few options. We offer a capacity guide on our supplies that will give you an approximate amount of sheets that can be bound for any given diameter.

Is there a well-rounded diameter that you can use for a lot of stuff? I have found that most customers purchase a ¼” diameter element for typical report, presentation and booklet binding. The ¼” size can handle up to 20 sheets, yet doesn’t look funny when binding 10.

Here is a good list of binding supply diameters and their binding capacities:

• 3/16″ — Binds up to 12 sheets
• ¼” — Binds up 20 sheets.
• 5/16″ — binds up to 40 sheets.
• 3/8″ — Binds up to 55 sheets
• 7/16″ — binds up to 70 sheets
• ½” — binds up to 90 sheets
• 9/16″ — binds up to 100 sheets
• 5/8″ — binds up to 120 sheets
• ¾” — binds up to 150 sheets
• 7/8″ — binds up to 170 sheets
• 1″ — Binds up to 200 sheets
• 1 1/8″ — Binds up to 220 sheets
• 1 ¼” — Binds up to 230 sheets
• 1 ½” — Binds up to 290 sheets
• 1 ¾” — Binds up to 360 sheets
• 2″ — binds up to 425 sheets

These diameters and capacities apply to comb, wire and coil. These capacities are based on 20# paper, so if you are using card stock or clear covers you may need to scale that amount back a little.

Be aware that while you can use a larger-than-required diameter to bind fewer sheets, you don’t too few sheets as the end results may look odd. An example would be binding only 5 sheets using a 5/16″ binding element.

You can find our book binding supplies here:

• Comb Binding Supplies
• Wire Binding Supplies
• Coil Binding Supplies

Not only do we offer a great selection of book binding supplies, but we also offer an excellent selection of machines. If you need a machine, you can find our entire selection of book binding machines here.

Please feel free to call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our book binding specialists. They are more than happy to help answer your questions.

I had a customer pose a really good question to me this morning. They asked me, “Do your twin loop wire binding supplies get thicker as the diameter increases?” I had never thought of that before and had to do a little research to find the answer.

According to this customer, they have purchased wire of varying gauge qualities, with some wire staying the same thickness even when the diameter increased. They claimed that with “cheaper” twin loop wire, the wire gauge was so pathetic that the books got all bent out of shape after only being used a few times.

I decided I needed to go out to the warehouse and investigate this for myself. I broke out a box of ¼” wire, ½” wire, 7/8″ wire and 1 ¼” wire. I broke out a micrometer (although the difference was visually evident) and can confirm that the gauge thickness of our wire does get thicker as the diameter increases.

I figured our wire had to get thicker as we carry the highest quality wire available for wire binding machines. The 7/8″ and 1 ¼” twin loop wire was dramatically thicker than the ¼” wire. This makes sense. The thicker the book, the more strain that is being put on the wire.

Not only is our twin loop wire (both 2:1 and 3:1 pitches) high quality stuff, but it is available to you at an excellent price. You can find our entire selection of twin loop wire supplies here and our large selection of wire binding machines here.

Good luck and happy binding!

Do you need affordable wire binding supplies for your twin loop wire binding machine? Whether you use a GBC, Akiles, Tamerica or SircleBind wire binding machine, they all need supplies to work. I would like to set you up with some great prices on both 2:1 and 3:1 pitch wire.

In case you didn’t know, we stock all our wire binding supplies rather than drop ship them. This is beneficial to you because it means cheaper prices and much faster shipping. We offer our wire binding supplies in 2:1, 3:1 and 19-ring hole patterns. You can find our entire selection of wire binding supplies here.

In case you aren’t familiar with the various hole patterns used in wire binding, perhaps this will help you out:

3:1 Pitch - Three holes per inch. This hole pattern creates a tighter look but at the expense of binding capacity. The 3:1 pitch hole pattern caps out at a 9/16″ hole pattern. Some people call this Wire-O or twin loop wire.

2:1 Pitch – Two holes per inch. This hole pattern is currently the most common used today. It has wider hole spacing than 3:1 and the binding capacity caps out at 1 ¼” of paper.

19-Ring - This wire pattern is sometimes called Spiral-O wire or wire comb. This wire was designed specifically to work with 19-ring comb binding punching patterns. If you have a comb binding machine, and a wire closer, you can use this wire.

Hopefully this helps clarify a few things. With all the different hole patterns, I can completely understand why you may be confused. We offer wire in 11″ lengths in a variety of different diameters and several different colors.

I appreciate you reading through this blog posting. As a reward, please feel free to use coupon code ABCWIRE05 for an additional 5% off our already low wire supply prices. This code can be applied to your shopping cart or may be mentioned over the phone. You will be hard pressed to find a better price, and if you do, please let me know!

You can read more about wire binding and it’s sheet capacities here.

You can find our entire selection of wire binding machines here and wire binding supplies here.

In much the same way a car needs gas to run, your binding machine is going to need binding supplies to function properly. If you have a comb, wire or coil binding machine, you are probably looking around for the best prices on book binding supplies. That is completely understandable. With the economy in the state it is in, everyone is looking for a great deal.

At ABC Office we are able to offer some of the best prices available online for supplies. There are several reasons for this. To begin with, we manufacture many of the supplies we sell. This alone allows us to offer you great prices. Second, we have our own warehouse and we stock literally thousands of binding combs, wire and coils.

Our book binding comb, wire and coil is available in a variety of different hole patterns (pitches), colors and diameters. It is almost guaranteed we have the supplies you need.

If you are ordering hundreds to thousands of supplies, we may even be able to offer you an even better price by giving you a quantity discount. For a quantity discount quote, you can either call us at 1-800-658-8788 or by filling out this form. Just let us know what you need and we’ll quote you the best price possible.

You can find our comb, wire and coil binding supplies here:

• Comb Binding Supplies
• Wire Binding Supplies
• Coil Binding Supplies

Unlike many online dealers of book binding supplies, our supplies are made out of the highest-quality materials available and will allow you to bind professional reports, presentations and booklets.

We also offer a great selection of book binding machines found here. Good luck with your book binding projects. Take advantage of our great prices and lock in your lowest-price deal today!

Wire binding is one of the classiest and best-looking book binding formats available today. When done correctly, twin loop wire almost appears to defy the laws of nature. Wire binding is commonly used for binding reports, presentations, books and more. So what should you look for when buying a wire binding machine? Here are a few tips that should help you out.

Features To Look For In A Wire Binding Machine

1. Binding Pitch – Wire binding machines come in 3 different hole patterns. These hole patterns are 3:1 pitch (3 holes per inch), 2:1 pitch (2 holes per inch) and Spiral-O (19-ring wire). The 3:1 and 2:1 pitch are the most popular hole patterns. Some wire binding machines come with multiple punching dies, making it possible to bind in 2:1 or 3:1 pitches.
2. Paper Size - The majority of wire binding machines can easily handle letter size 8 ½” x 11″ paper. If you are wire binding legal size documents (14″) or larger, you will want to get a machine that either has a wider punching width a machine is open ended.
3. Punching Capacity – Each wire binding machine has a maximum punching capacity. This amount is the absolute maximum amount of sheets you can punch before breaking or jamming the machine. Most wire binding machines punch anywhere from 8-20 sheets of paper, depending on the make and model.
4. Book Thickness – Be sure and determine the maximum thickness you need for your books prior to purchasing a machine. Be aware that 3:1 wire can only bind up to 9/16″ of paper and 2:1 pitch up to 1 ¼” of paper. Spiral-O 19-ring wire handles about 1″ of paper.
5. Margin Depth – Different diameters of wire require holes to be punched at different depths in the paper. This capability is known as an adjustable margin depth. Not all wire binding machines have this capability. I, for one, really like this feature.
6. Disengageable Dies – If you plan on binding non-standard paper sizes, or smaller lengths of paper, you may want a wire binding machine with disengageable punching dies. This will allow you to disable specific punching pins, which will allow you to eliminate half-punched holes that often show up on the edges of non-standard paper sizes.
7. Machine Durability – How durable do you need your machine to be? Wire binding machines come in plastic, aluminum and heavy-duty steel designs. Many machines implement a combination of the three. Most heavy-duty steel machines hold up better when used continuously throughout the day. If you are only binding a few books a day, machine composition may not be as big a deal as plastic and aluminum machines typically cost less.
8. Wire Closer – If you find a wire binding machine that doesn’t come with a wire closer, don’t buy it. A wire closer is 100% needed to complete the wire binding process. Wire closers, however, can be purchased separately if needed. Machines that have wire closers (which is most models) come in different configurations. Some require you to eyeball how far the wire has closed where other machines allow you to dial in the wire radius you are using for an even “close” every time. I personally like it when the wire binding machine allows you to set the wire diameter. Wire that has been closed too much or too little can cause some serious problems.
9. Electric or Manual – Wire binding machines are often available with manual or electric punches. While the end results look the same either way, electric wire punches are better for higher-volume binding. If you are only binding a few books a day, a manual wire punch is probably more than enough.
10. Foot Pedal – If you are buying a wire binding machine with an electric punch, you may want to consider a machine with a foot pedal. Foot pedals allow for hands-free punching, which is really nice when binding a lot of books.

You can find our entire selection of wire binding machines here and our entire selection of wire binding supplies here. Good luck with your wire binding! If you still have questions, give us a call at 1-800-658-8788.

Wire binding, sometimes called twin loop or double loop wire, is one of the most attractive book binding formats used today. If you already own a wire binding machine, you probably know what I mean. The end results look professional and are perfect for reports, presentations and booklets.

I often get asked which color of wire binding supply is most popular. The title of my post has probably already given away the answer to this question, but black is by far the most popular color. There are several reasons for this.

Black wire binding supplies match with just about any binding cover. They can be used with clear covers, plastic report covers and even card stock. Another reason black is so popular is because it doesn’t draw too much attention. Most people want the cover of their report to be the focal point, not the binding spine.

We offer black wire binding supplies in three different hole formats. These are 2:1 pitch, 3:1 pitch and 19-ring Spiral-O. You need to make sure you use the correct hole pattern for your machine. Unfortunately supply hole patterns and machine hole patterns are not interchangeable.

You can find our black wire binding supplies here:

• Black 2:1 Pitch Wire Supplies
• Black 3:1 Pitch Wire Supplies
• Black 19-Ring Spiral-O Wire Supplies

We also offer a wide range of other colors. Other popular colors include white and silver. We currently over about 5 common colors. You can find our entire selection of wire binding supplies here.

If needed, you can find our entire selection of wire binding machines here. Good luck with all your book binding projects!

Are you shopping around for a wire binding machine and can’t seem to settle on a specific hole pattern? The two most common hole patterns found in twin-loop wire binding is 2:1 and 3:1 pitch. So which format is best for you and which is most popular? Here are a few answers that may help you out.

To begin with, 2:1 pitch wire has a two-holes-per-inch pattern, where 3:1 pitch wire has a three-holes-per-inch pattern. Both styles of wire look great and both have some great benefits. Here is a brief breakdown on the two hole patterns.

2:1 Pitch Wire

• Hole Pattern – 2 Holes Per Inch
• Loop Wire Spaced Farther Apart
• Binds Up To 1 ¼” Of Paper

3:1 Pitch Wire

• Hole Pattern – 3 Holes Per Inch
• Loop Wire Spaced Tightly Together
• Binds Up To 9/16″ Of Paper

Looking at these stats, you can see that 2:1 pitch wire can bind more sheets of paper together. This is the reason I believe 2:1 pitch wire is the most popular hole pattern used today. On the flip side, many people tell me they prefer the tighter look of the 3:1 wire. A lot of it depends on your personal preference.

Many people still have a tough time settling on any one hole pattern. For this reason many binding machine manufacturers have created multi-format / combination binding machines. These types of wire binding machines typically have two different punching dies. This allows you to bind in 2:1 and 3:1 wire. While these machines typically cost a little more, they do open the door to more binding options.

You can find our entire selection of wire binding machines here and wire binding supplies here. If you still have questions, feel free to speak with one of our wire binding machine specialists at 1-800-658-8788.

Do you have a wire binding machine, but aren’t sure what diameter of wire you should use for the paper you are binding? While many binding manuals will offer some assistance, many machines leave users in the dark. There are many reasons why it is important that you use the correct size of double-loop wire when binding books.

To begin with, a book bound using a wire that is too large will look funny. It will still be functional, but it will not look proportional or professional. Binding a book using a wire that is too small will cause pages to bind, tear and fall out.

I am including in this post a guide that should help you determine the amount of sheets you can use for a specific diameter of wire. This should help smooth out the binding process and will hopefully save you a headache later down the road. This applies to 2:1 pitch, 3:1 pitch and Spiral-O 19-ring wire. Be aware that 2:1 pitch diameters go up to 1 1/4″, 3:1 pitch diameters go up to 9/16″ and Spiral-O 19-Ring diameters go up to 1″.

Double-Loop Wire Binding Sheet Capacity & Diameter Guide
(Based On 20# Paper)

3/16″ (4.76mm) – 10 Sheets
1/4″ (6.35mm) – 20 Sheets
5/16″ (7.94mm) - 40 Sheets
3/8″ (9.53mm) – 55 Sheets
7/16″ (11.11mm) – 70 Sheets
1/2″ (12.7mm) – 90 Sheets
9/16″ (14.29mm) - 100 Sheets
5/8″ (15.88mm) – 120 Sheets
3/4″ (19.05mm) – 50 Sheets
7/8″ (22.23mm) – 170 Sheets
1″ (25.4mm) – 200 Sheets
1 1/8″ (28.58mm) – 220 Sheets
1 1/4″ (31.75mm) – 230 Sheets

At ABC Office we offer our wire supplies in all the diameters listed above. Our double-loop wire is made out of durable heavy-gauge wire and comes in a variety of different colors. You can find our entire selection of double-loop wire here and our entire selection of wire binding machines here.

It’s a bold statement to make, but I feel safe in saying that we offer some of the best prices and widest selection of comb, wire and coil binding supplies available online. I’ll explain why you should consider buying your comb, wire and coil supplies from us.

Unlike many online office equipment dealers, we actually stock our own binding supplies in our own warehouse. We have tens of thousands of square feet of warehouse space stocked with supplies and equipment. This means that when you place an order with us, your binding supplies will ship out within 24 hours and should arrive to you within a week (often sooner), depending on where you live.

Many other online dealers drop-ship their binding supplies. This means they ship it from other people’s warehouses and are subject to their rules and conditions. This also means that they have little control over shipping speed and supply stock.

We actually manufacture many of the supplies we offer. This means that we are able to offer you some excellent “wholesale” prices. We are especially good at giving you a bulk discount rate. You can request your discounted “bulk” binding supply prices from us by calling 1-800-658-8788.

As mentioned before, we stock most colors and sizes of comb, wire and coil binding supplies. You can find them here:

• Wire Binding Supplies
• Coil & Spiral Binding Supplies
• Comb Binding Supplies

Binding doesn’t have to be expensive. It should be fun, hassle-free and dependable. You can view our entire selection of binding machines and supplies by visiting us here.