Coil binding is one of the most popular binding
methods and it is ideal for professional documents. However, there are
some things you need if you want to successfully bind your work. Here
are the five things you need for coil binding:
Coil binding is one of the most popular
binding methods and it's ideal for professional documents. However,
there are some things you need if you want to successfully bind your
work. Here are the five things you need for coil binding:
It
almost goes without saying that you'll need a supply of color coils.
These supplies range in diameter from 6 to 50 millimeters, so your
documents can be up to 440 pages long. Best of all, coils are available
in many different colors including black, purple, neon yellow, and royal
blue. Since there are so many colors available, it will be easy to find
coils that complement your company's logo and/or your document's title
page. And if you want to do something good for the environment, you can
use Eco-Coil supplies which are made from post-consumer content and are
recyclable.
Paper and document
covers are also necessary if you want to take advantage of coil binding.
Standard 20 lb. bond paper works well, so don't feel like you need to
spend a bundle on fancy paper to make your documents look good.
(However, you might want to get some pre-punched paper so you can save
time during the binding process.) Also, make sure you have some document
covers at your disposal. There are many to choose from including clear
plastic covers, and linen and leatherette covers.
Obviously,
you're going to need a coil binding machine to get the job done. There
are a number of coil binding machines available so you're likely to find
one that's both user-friendly and affordable. Some brand names to look
for are DFG, Akiles, Renz, and Rhin-O-Tuff. If you want something that
doesn't cost too much and is easy to use, the Akiles RubiCoil is an
excellent choice. Or if you need something that's meant for heavy-duty
use, the DFG Coil Ultimate E is the machine to get. Both of these
devices are high-quality coil binding machines that can help you bind
great-looking documents.
You're
also going to need a pair of crimping pliers. Crimping pliers are very
similar to a regular pair of pliers except they're use to trim and fold
in the ends of the coil. This is an essential part of the coil binding
process. If you skip this step, the coil will spin out of your work.
(You definitely don't want that to happen.) Sometimes a pair of crimping
pliers will accompany a new binding machine, but this doesn't happen
very often. Thus, you'll need to pick up a pair to ensure binding
success.
Finally, you'll need a
little bit of patience as you learn this bookbinding method. Coil
binding is a breeze once you get the hang of it, but it can be a bit
difficult at first. As long as you remain patient and practice this
craft, you'll probably be able to master it quickly.
Coil
binding is a great way to make your documents look great so you can
make a good impression on your colleagues and clients. As long as you
have the five things listed in this article, you'll be able to use this
binding method successfully. Good luck!
Jeff McRitchie is the Vice-President of Marketing for MyBinding.com.
He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related
to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More
than 2,500 of his reviews have been published in thousands of locations
on the Internet. If you're looking for information about coil binding, his articles are a great place to start.