What to Think About When Buying a Thermal Binding System

One of the bestbookbinding methods that is available today is thermal binding. Thisdocument finishing method allows you to create extremelyprofessional-looking reports, anthologies, proposals, and photo albumsthat resemble the books you can buy in a real bookstore. With thermalbinding, you can create books with both soft and hard covers easily andquickly.

One of the bestbookbinding methods that's available today is thermal binding. Thisdocument finishing method allows you to create extremelyprofessional-looking reports, anthologies, proposals, and photo albumsthat resemble the books you can buy in a real bookstore. With thermalbinding, you can create books with both soft and hard covers easily andquickly. To do so, however, you'll need the right machine. Here's whatyou need to think about when selecting your new device.

1. A good brand name.There are many manufacturers of binding machines, so knowing which onesare the best can be a bit tricky. However, a few of the best areUnibind, Fellowes, and Pro-Bind. All three of these companies makegreat devices that are worth your consideration and they have productsthat will fit almost every budget. Some machines to check out are theUnibind XU138, the Pro-Bind 1000, and the Fellowes Helios series.
2. A timer.It's true that thermal binding is one of the fastest ways to produce ahigh-quality document that will impress everyone who sees it. In fact,a binding cycle can take as little as 30 seconds and some machinesallow you to bind more than one book at once so you can produce a lotof documents very quickly. The machine you choose should definitelyhave a timer so you'll know when your documents are ready. Make sure ithas both a visual and audio indicator otherwise it can be difficult toknow when the machine has worked its magic.
3. Binding length and document thickness.Just about all thermal devices are capable of finishing offletter-sized documents (8.5" x 11"). However, if you plan on usinglarger paper and covers, such as legal-sized ones, you'll need amachine with a longer binding length. You'll also need to think abouthow thick your documents are going to be and choose a device that canhandle them. For example, if you anticipate creating books that are 2inches thick, a machine that can only bind 1-inch books just isn'tgoing to cut it, so shop accordingly.
4. A cooling rack.After your books have been bound, they're going to need to cool off abit so the adhesive in the spine can set. Make sure the device youchoose comes with a cooling rack that can hold several documents. Also,the best cooling racks are metal. They last longer than their plasticcounterparts, obviously.
5. Settings for both hard and soft covers.The device you choose should be able to bind both softcover andhardback documents. Many thermal devices lack an adjustable temperaturesetting, so make sure the one you select has setting for both types ofcovers.
6. A good warranty. Finally, make sure your new binder comes with a decent warranty so you can get the machine repaired or replaced if necessary.

Ifyou look for these six things, you're definitely going to find athermal binding machine that's right for you. Good luck and enjoy yournew device!

Article Tags: Think About, Thermal Binding, Make Sure