Ask Ozone

Question:

I am looking to purchase a wire binding machine for photo calendars that I offer to customers in my photo lab.  They would be 13 pages of regular photo paper and a 10″ width. Any recommendations?

Answer:

We would need to ask a few more questions about your project, but based on past customer needs we highly recommend the Akiles WireMac wire binding machine. This comes in either a 2:1 or 3:1 pitch version. A 2:1 pitch machine punches two holes per inch while the 3:1 version punches three. The 3:1 pitch machine is the most popular model.

The Akiles WireMac is a manual punch binding machine. This means you have to pull down a handle, located on the right side of the machine, to punch your papers. If you plan to produce several calendars, then an electric punch machine is recommended.

This is an affordably priced binding machine with a lot of high-end features, such as independently disengaging dies that prevent half-punched holes at the ends of the paper. Both the 2:1 and 3:1 pitch models punch up to 20 sheets of 20 lb. bond paper at a time.

One last important item you should consider before making your purchase is the thickness of your calendars. The Akiles WireMac 2:1 model will bind 20 lb. bond paper up to 1-1/4 inches in thickness, or roughly 230 sheets at a time. The 3:1 model binds less, up to 9/16-inch, or 120 sheets of paper.

Be sure to take a closer look at the Akiles WireMac wire binding machine today.

Office Zone features a large selection of pouch laminating machines. We are often asked by visitors to our Web site, “What’s the best pouch laminator?” We confidently recommend several models in different price categories. However, the one pouch laminator that consistently stands out from most other models is the Banner American PL12A pouch laminator.

The PL12A comes highly recommended mainly due to its impressive performance track record. Product returns on this model are a rare occurrence. The PL12A features an independent heat and motor control system. This means that the laminator may be left on stand-by (heat-ready) throughout the day without wearing out the motor. You can instantly re-start laminating without waiting for the machine to warm up.

Office Zone has rated the PL12A as a high-quality, high-volume pouch laminator. It has a wide 12-inch opening, ideal for laminating menus, promotional signs, maps, certificates, luggage tags, important documents, photos and more.

The PL12A pouch laminator has durable metal gears and a powerful motor — a big reason why this machine lasts so long. This laminator also features a four-roller lamination system that delivers a clear, professional finish every time.

Would you like to give your next printed presentation a professional look? Do you also need to protect your document from possible tears, smudges and stains? Then consider spicing things up with an attractive report cover. Office Zone offers the largest online selection of clear, polypropylene and cardstock-style report covers.

Clear style composition, binding covers display the second page of your report through the clear cover page. It not only protects the pages inside, but it also looks great. Clear covers are available in several popular styles and thickness.

Add a degree of professionalism to your next sales proposal, school report, composition, or other important document with a polypropylene cover. These highly durable covers are made from a plastic-based material that makes reports appear highly attractive, yet durable. These covers are available in a variety of colors and textures.

And finally, cardstock report covers complete the list. These are still the most popular style of report cover used today. They are made from paper, of course, and come in several colors, styles and designs. Cardstock covers may be used as a front or back report cover.

Clear, polypropylene and cardstock-style report covers can be used with comb, wire, coil and other binding formats.

Question:

I’m wondering why you don’t carry 3:1 pitch wire binding larger than 9/16″. I have 1/2″ and 9/16″ and they just don’t hold anything. I want to do larger note taking books but no one seems to carry wires that will hold any amount of paper.

Answer:

This is a common question and the answer is so simple it may surprise you. The reason why 3:1 pitch binding wire is not available in diameters larger than 9/16 inches has to do with the ease of turning a page.

Let me explain: With a 3:1 pitch document (3:1 means three holes punched per inch) the punched holes in your document are much closer together than a 2:1 pitch punched document. This causes the pages of a thicker document to bind when turning.

That’s why 3:1 pitch wire has a limited diameter range. It simply will not allow the pages to easily turn if it was any thicker. We always tell customers that if they need to wire bind thicker books, they should use a 2:1 pitch binding machine. You can punch and bind up to 120 sheets with a 3:1 wire binding element. Compare that to 2:1 pitch where you can create a document up to 230 pages in size. That’s quite a significant difference.

So, why do some people prefer binding with 3:1 pitch wire? Because it creates a nice, professional look. Documents bound with 2:1 pitch wire certainly look good, but 3:1 wire provides an added touch of class.

You can view our 2:1 pitch and 3:1 pitch binding machines on our wire binding machines page. You may also see our wire binding supplies here.