A binding machine, as its name suggests, is a device used to bind sheets of paper into a book. This is a machine that is very useful for both a professional and an individual. Its role is in particular to give a beautiful presentation to your documents. For this reason, it is important to choose your equipment carefully.
Are you planning to adopt a binding machine ? Know that the best model is the one that manages to meet your needs. Also, before validating your purchase, consider considering a few criteria. In order to guide you as well as possible, we have decided to write you a buying guide. And to help you use your machine properly, a user guide will also be provided. Finally, to complete your knowledge, we will answer the various questions most frequently asked by curious consumers.
How to choose a binder?
Would you like to start buying a binding machine ? Whether you are a student, an individual or a professional, you will surely find the model that corresponds to your activity on the current market. In any case, it can only be advantageous for you to acquire a binding machine. It is also important to rely on effective purchase criteria to avoid a disappointing acquisition.
This is among other things the reason for our buying guide. We guide you step by step to help you find your ideal binding machine. To do this, we will see 3 essential parameters.
Note in advance that for this time we will not focus on the price. The reason is that it is a criterion which can immediately mislead. An expensive device is not necessarily suitable for all needs and a cheaper variant is no less qualitative. In short, before ordering your machine, we invite you to identify the:
Existing binding type
Since there is a wide variety of binding, we will focus on the most used methods at the moment: spiral binding and thermal binding. Spiral binding (plastic or metal) is very popular with many consumers for its practicality. As for thermal binding, it attracts more and more thanks to its performance. It ensures the most ergonomic use.
Type of use
How often will you be using your machine? For which sheet size (A4, A5, etc.)? For what thickness of paper (small or large volume)? For what end? For non-regular personal use, a 10-sheet punching and 120-sheet binding capacity may suffice. Otherwise, it is more reasonable to opt for larger capacities, punching 12 sheets and binding 300 to 400 sheets or even more.
The ideal model: portable or desktop
If you have to move your binding machine regularly , it will be more advantageous to lean towards light models. Small weights, on average, are between 2 to 5 kg. If you are looking for office equipment , you can bet on heavyweights. They are available from 6 kg, such as the Fellowes 5627601 Pulsar (6.9 kg) and Fellowes 5620701 Pulsar-E (9.52 kg).
How to use a binder?
Generally speaking, any type of device presented on the market is accompanied by a user guide which serves to facilitate its use. This is indeed an obvious reality, especially for products of a specific nature.
Are you planning to buy a binding machine and want to know in advance how to use it? Did you buy a machine for which the manual is missing? We try to solve your problem cases with the help of our user guide. To help you use a binding machine properly , we will generally go through 4 very concrete steps. These are:
The preparation
Preparation is all about getting your papers organized. It is important to gather everything in advance to avoid oversights. If you were missing just one sheet, you will need to redo the work. Also, make sure your binding machine is set up on a flat surface . Binding documents is a task that requires as much precision as possible. The result of your work will therefore depend on your sense of thoroughness.
Adjustment
The adjustment you make next will depend on the type of binding machine you are using. For the most classic models, there is not too much manipulation to do. You just have to arrange the papers well so that their perforation is very precise. For more or less efficient models, you will need to use the adjustment guide to make some adjustments which will consist of aligning the sheets correctly.
perforation
The actual perforation consists in perforating the sheets of paper as well as their cover using a lever. If it says your binding machine has a punch capacity of 10 sheets, be sure to heed this warning. Nor should its binding capacity be exceeded. Otherwise, you risk damaging the teeth of your equipment. For 100 sheets to be bound, you will therefore need to perform 10 punching steps.
Binding
Once punched, your sheets will be bound. To do this, you will open the rings using another lever. Don’t forget to go through the back and front covers. When the rings are opened, you will put your complete document in them in a logical order. To close the rings, it will be necessary to manipulate the same lever in the opposite direction. The final step is to gently remove the book from the binder and you’re done.
Binder FAQ
❓ Is a binding machine sold with a starter kit?
A binding machine is not necessarily supplied with a starter kit, it depends on the brand that offers it. In any case, there are indeed a large number of machines that already include various accessories. This is for example the case of the Binding Machine A4 Makeasy. This one comes with 100 pieces of 3/8 inch PVC binding. Pavo’s Starmaster 2 comes with a starter pack. The latter includes various pieces of plastic binding, cover and decor in A4 format. If the model you want does not show any information about it, you can always ask for confirmation.
❓ Can both plastic and metal spirals be used on a binding machine?
There are different types of binder. If it is possible to use metal and plastic spirals on the same machine, the answer is yes and no. This information is obviously set out in the sales proposal. Binding with metal and plastic rings is, for example, possible for the Fellowes 5627601 Pulsar model. In addition, it can also depend on the solidity of the device. If it is tough enough, it can handle both variants well. Among the machines made solidly of steel, there is for example Pavo Smartmaster Plus. It can do metal and plastic bindings of similar shapes well.
❓ Can we still handle all sheet sizes on one binding machine?
If you can handle all sheet sizes on one binder. Yes and no, as always, it depends on the brand. In general, such a machine processes A4 papers but also offers the possibility of binding A5s. This is the case of Pavo Smartmaster Plus, Fellowes 5627601 Pulsar… You will then have to play with the layout of the sheets and make some adjustments. In addition, there are many versatile binders. The Professional model from General Office and the 5227901 Starlet 2 from Fellowes are specific examples. It adapts very well to the processing of A4 and A5 paper.
❓ Where does the confetti go?
A practical and efficient binding machine makes its user happy. However, this does not prevent some users from asking questions about the destination of the confetti. Where do they go and why are they scattered under the binding machine? This type of device always includes a suitable drawer or tray. This is where the waste paper goes. If it is full, it will have to be emptied, especially since it is easily detachable. If you don’t clear it of its entirety, the scraps of paper will seek other places to land.
❓ How to handle the rings on a binder?
When the perforation of the sheets of paper is completed, it is necessary to enter the last stage: the binding. Before that, it is necessary to spread the rings, whether plastic or metal. To do this, you will have to place them on the teeth of the binding machine and move them apart using a suitable lever. It is then that the perforated sheets must be placed on the rings. The last step that remains to be done is the release of the rings. It is then sufficient to press the same lever but in the opposite direction. You are now going to carefully remove your work from the binder.
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