If you have a Powis Parker Fastback model
8, model 8x or model 9 and are having problems with binding quality
this article is for you. lthough the list of problems in this article is
by no means exhaustive it does cover the most common binding quality
problems faced by users of the Fastback 8, 8x and 9.
If you have a Powis Parker Fastback model
8, model 8x or model 9 and are having problems with binding quality
this article is for you. It is designed to identify some of the most
common problems faced by users of these machines and will help you to
correct them. Although the list of problems in this article is by no
means exhaustive it does cover the most common binding quality problems
faced by users of the Fastback 8, 8x and 9.
Problem #1: The Spine Is Not Square
The LX strip may not have been folded to a complete 90
degree angle. The better that you fold your strip the more square the
spine of your book will be.
After binding, make sure that the
book is placed in the cooling rack and allowed to cool for at least ten
minutes. During the first five minutes after the binding cycle is
completed, the glue inside the spine is still hot and pliable.
Attempting to use your book, open the pages or allowing the book to
cool while laying down can sometimes cause your spine to form
incorrectly resulting in a bind that is not square.
Problem #2: The Pages Protrude Past The Strip Or The Edges Of The Pages Are Not Even
This problem is often the result of not properly jogging
your book block before the binding process begins. It is extremely
important to tap the top and left sides of the pages of your book while
they are in the binding recess of your Fastback 9 machine. If the pages
of your document are not completely flush on the top and sides when you
begin the binding cycle your finished document will not be flush.
ages
may protrude past the edge of the strip if you are not careful to make
sure that the edge of your pages is lined up with the edge of the
strip. The easiest way to accomplish this is to make sure that both
your strip and the pages of your book are slid all the way to the right
side of your Fastback binding machine. This allows you to use the side
of the binding recess to align your book.
Problem #3: The Bind Quality Is Unsatisfactory; Pages Are Separating
From Your Strip; There Are Gaps In The Pages Where The Strip Can Be
Seen; Or There Is Thermal Plastic Adhesive Leakage.
The most common cause of these problems is that the
Fastback machine is not set to the correct type of binding cycle for
the type of strip that you are using. Your Fastback binding machine
will have specific settings for running LX Strips, LX CP Strips,
HalfBack Covers, Perfectback LF Strips and Perfectback PS strips. It
also has a setting for editing documents. Check to make sure that you
are using the correct setting for your book.
It is possible
that there is adhesive buildup on the heating plate of your machine. It
is a good idea to check this and if necessary remove any built up
adhesive using a dry lint free cloth. For safety, be sure to only clean
your machine when it is cool and unplugged.
If you have
checked for excess glue and are sure that your machine is set to the
correct setting it is possible that you may need a service call to
further troubleshoot this problem. There may be an issue with a sensor
inside your machine or with the heating or clamping unit. These are not
repairs that can be completed by end users.
Problem #4: The Pages Are Not Adhering To The Strip Very Well (Some
Paper Stocks And Some Heavy Cover Material Can Be Difficult To Bind
The bind may be improved by increasing the Spine bind time in the Setting Menu.
If
you take a piece of sandpaper and roughen the binding edge of your book
block you may get better adhesion between the glue and the edge of your
book.
You may want to consider placing a few staples very
close to the edge of your book. These staples will be hidden by the
binding tape and will ensure that none of the pages fall out. Just be
sure to use flat cinch staples.
You may want to consider
purchasing the Powis Parker Edge splitter for higher volume
applications. The edge splitter was specifically designed to solve this
problem but is fairly expensive for low volume users.
If you are interested in more information about the Fastback 9 or are looking for Fastback Binding Machines or Fastback Binding Strips you should visit MyBinding.com.
They are the largest online dealer for Powis Parker Fastback products
in the United States. In fact, they carry the entire line of Powis
Parker Fastback binding products.
