Binding machines are popular office devices
because they allow you to punch and bind documents of varying sizes. If
you have this type of device, you're going to want to keep an eye on
the punching dies so you can recognize when they are becoming dull.
Here's some information about how to recognize a dull die and how to
prevent this from happening.
Binding machines are popular office devices
because they allow you to punch and bind documents of varying sizes. If
you have this type of device, you're going to want to keep an eye on
the punching dies so you can recognize when they're becoming dull.
Here's some information about how to recognize a dull die and how to
prevent this from happening.
One of the best ways to keep your machine's dies in
good shape is by only punching 2 plastic covers at a time. This is true
even if your device has a large punching capacity. Plastic just isn't
the same as paper and trying to punch a lot of it at once is just
asking for trouble. Your device simply won't be able to handle it.
There are some things that should never be punched and that includes
cardboard and wood as well as plastic covers that are thicker than 30
mil. Your binding device wasn't designed to handle these materials and
punching them is a good way to ruin the dies.
Emptying
the chip tray is a vital part of maintaining your device. Doing this
may be a bit messy, but it will improve the performance of your machine
and it will reduce wear and tear on the dies. If you have an electric
machine, emptying the tray regularly will help reduce the chance of the
motor burning out.
Whether or not you follow the maintenance tips listed above, you should
make sure you keep an eye on the dies regularly. This will help you
notice when they're getting dull. Here's how you can identify an aged
die:
The first clue you might get is noticing that the holes
aren't punched as cleanly as they used to be. You'll probably see
deformed holes that lacks the crisp appearance of holes that have been
properly punched. This is true even of sheets that were punched singly.
You may notice that your documents have little bits of
paper still attached to them. These are called "chads" and if you want
your work to look its best, you'll need to remove them by hand. That
can be very time-consuming and monotonous to say the least.
If you're working with plastic covers, you may still see deformed holes
when the dies are getting dull. And you'll probably notice that the
covers get all stressed out. This essentially ruins them so you'll have
to start all over again and throw out the ruined covers.
If you're experiencing any of these problems, you're pretty much out of
luck and will have to purchase a new die set for your machine. This can
be pretty expensive so the best way to avoid this situation is to
prevent it by not punching certain items as well as never working with
more than 2 plastic covers at a time. Maintaining the dies is pretty
easy, so you owe it to yourself to do so. You'll be glad you did.
Jeff McRitchie is the Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, review and blog posts on topics related
to book binding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment.
More than 2,500 of his articles have been published in thousands of
location on the Internet. If you're looking for information about binding machines, his articles are a great place to start.
