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If you’re shopping around for a coil binding machine, you may want to take a look at a coil binding machine. Why? There are a lot of reasons why I consider coil binding to be one of the most superior book binding formats out there. Before I explain why I personally like coil binding, let me go over exactly what makes up a coil binding machine.

Coil binding machines, frequently called spiral binding machines, use a special plastic PVC coil to bind and hold sheets of paper together. This binding format is very similar in appearance to the lined spiral notebooks you can buy at the store for school purposes. The only difference is that PVC coil binding is available in multiple colors and doesn’t easily bend or break.

Coil binding comes in two different hole patterns, commonly referred to as the pitch. These are 4:1 pitch and 5:1 pitch. A 4:1 pitch is 4 holes per inch, which ends up being about 44 holes along an 11″ side of paper. A 5:1 pitch is 5 holes per inch and ends up being about 55 holes along the 11″ side of a sheet of paper. Between these two hole patterns, I find 4:1 pitch to be more popular. This is because it can be used to bind more sheets of paper.

4:1 Pitch Capacity: 2 to 230 sheets of paper (1/4″ to 1 1/4″ of paper)

5:1 Pitch Capacity: 2 to 152 sheets of paper (1/4″ to 13/16″ of paper)

The binding format you use ultimately depends on your own personal preference. I personally like both. A 4:1 pitch has a more spaced look where 5:1 pitch has a tighter look. Both can be used to bind reports, presentations and books. You will find, however, that 4:1 pitch coil supplies are more readily available online and locally.

A few binding machines I personally like include:

1. Akiles iCoil 41 Coil Binding Machine
2. Intelli-Bind IC310 Coil Binding Machine
3. Intelli-Bind IC410 Coil Binding Machine
4. Akiles CoilMac ER Coil Binding Machine
5. Akiles CoilMac-ECI Coil Binding Machine

These machines are all manual punch machines with an electric coil inserter. I personally think an electric coil inserter is a must-have accessory on a coil binding machine. Some entry-level machines don’t include an inserter, which means you will have to manually spin coils through the punched holes.

I really like coil binding because the spines look nice, the pages turn easily and pages can even be wrapped a full 360 degrees. I have used cookbooks bound in coil and I love the face that the pages wrap around and the books even lay flat for easy reading.

Coil binding is available in a wide variety of colors and diameters. If you need to bind books smaller than 11″, you simply cut off a little more coil when crimping the ends of the coil closed. It is simply a very versatile binding format. Here is a vide demo of a coil binding machine in use:

As you can see from this video, coil binding a book takes just a minute or so. It is easy to do, the machines typically hold up well and they can be used at home, in the office, at a school or in a church. Coil binding is both function and professional.

Did I mention that coil binding is extremely durable? You can drop coil bound books, step on them, stack other books on them and the coil will retain its look. The same can’t be said for comb binding or wire binding.

You can find Office Zone’s entire selection of coil binding machines here, coil binding supplies here and binding covers here.

Happy binding!

If you’re shopping around for a paper cutter, you may be thinking, “which of these models should I choose?” There are hundreds of different paper cutters out there from literally dozens of different brands. So which paper cutter should you go with? I will explain some of the most common paper cutting projects, the best paper cutters to use and the pros and cons of each style of cutter.

To begin with, there are 3 main types of paper cutters. There are divisions within those categories, but most people categorize paper cutters as:

• Rotary Paper Cutters
• Stack Paper Cutters
• Guillotine Paper Cutters

I’ll go into more detail in this article what each of these paper cutter types are and what they are used for.

The term paper cutter and paper trimmer are often used interchangeably. Most industry experts, however, consider trimmers to be light-volume machines and paper cutters to be medium to higher-volume machines.

What do most people cut? Having spoken to thousands of customers, most people want to cut paper, photographs, card stock, business cards and laminated materials. Here is the paper cutter you may want for each of these projects:

• Photos / Photographs – If you are cutting photos, I generally like to steer people towards rotary paper trimmers like those made by Rotatrim, Dahle or Carl. They are precise, excellent for alignment and are affordable for photographers and scrapbookers alike. If you are looking for a multi-purpose cutter that can also handle photos, you may want to consider using a guilllotine paper cutter.
• Card Stock – If you are cutting down dozens to hundreds of sheets of card stock, I recommend using a stack paper cutter. These amazing cutters are capable of cutting entire reams of paper, with some even capable of cutting up to 3″ of card stock at a time. If you are only cutting a few at a time, I recommend to first consider a guillotine paper cutter and then a rotary paper trimmer.
• Business Cards - I first and foremost recommend using a business card cutter. These cutters are designed to cut standard 3.5″ x 2″ cards. Simply print your cards and run them through one of these handy machines. If you are cutting non-standard size business cads, or need to cut hundreds to thousands of them, I recommend using a stack paper cutter. In a few passes, a stack paper cutter can create thousands of cards.
• Laminated Paper – If you are cutting out menus, signs, ID badges or other laminated paper, I recommend using a rotary paper cutter like those made by Dahle or Rotatrim. These trimmers are designed for precision, and thanks to self-sharpening blades, the lamination film does not easily dull them. If you also need to cut card stock, chipboard and other material, a guillotine paper trimmer also does a great job.

Now that we have covered some of the most common uses of paper cutters, let me go over the pros and cons of each style of paper cutter.

• Rotary Paper Cutters – These cutters are extremely precise, which is why they are so popular for cutting photographs, art prints and artwork in general. They are also great for cutting paper, cover stock, laminated material and much more. The only downside to rotary paper cutters (aka rolling paper trimmers) is that they don’t usually have the cutting capacity of guillotine or stack cutters.
• Guillotine Paper Cutters – Guillotine paper trimmers are one of the most common style of trimmers used in schools and copy centers. Many of the older guillotine trimmers cut crooked and were a little dangerous. Modern guillotine trimmers have excellent paper clamps, razor sharp blades and are chuck full of safety features. Simply put, guillotine paper cutters are the best rounded machines out there.
• Stack Paper Cutters – Stack paper cutters are available in manual, electric and hydraulic designs. The are designed for high-capacity and heavy-volume cutting. You will often see these cutters in print shops, copy centers and other locations where hundreds of sheets of paper need to be cut at a time. These workhorses are great for cutting a lot of paper, but are not the best machines for cutting a single sheet or a few sheets of paper.

Hopefully this helps you determine which cutter is best for you. We have over 30 years of experience with paper cutters and trimmers, so feel free to call us at 1-800-543-5454 for advice on the right paper cutter for you. You can find Office Zone’s entire selection of paper cutters here.

Remember that Seinfeld episode where George’s fiancé died from licking envelopes? Here untimely demise could have been averted had she just used an envelope stuffing machine instead of licking them herself. Envelope stuffing machines tend to be cost prohibitive for casual home or wedding use, but they are a must have for businesses that send out large volumes of correspondence.

Envelope stuffing machines do exactly what they sound like. They insert correspondence, such as documents, letters, invoices, remittance, statements and even wedding invites that have been folded into an envelope. Most of the higher quality envelope stuffing machines will perform a combination of tasks, such as folding the sheets of paper, stuffing the envelope and then sealing the envelope for mailing.

When considering which envelops stuffing machine to purchase, remember that not all envelopes are compatible with an envelope stuffing machine. Some envelope stuffing machines are only compatible with standard business style envelopes. Higher end envelope stuffing machines are able to accommodate manila and side open envelopes.

Envelope stuffing machines are mostly automated, and require minimal user effort or supervision. They can run from start to finish on their own. Although features and settings may vary from model to model, envelope stuffing machines all work using the same steps.

The envelope stuffing machine operator begins by adjusting the settings on the machine to match the paper and envelop size, as well setting the fold style for the paper. Most combination folder and envelope stuffing machine are preset with all the standard folds, (V-Fold, Letter Fold, Z Fold, Gate Fold, etc.), and a few customized folds.

The operator will then place the envelopes to be stuffed into the envelope tray and the paper to be inserted into the hopper, or feed tray. How many sheets a hopper can hold will depend on the size of the machine, itself. Some envelope stuffing machines have one hopper, while higher end machines will have multiple hoppers, sometimes as many as seven, for larger envelope stuffing jobs. Envelope stuffing machines with multiple feed trays or hoppers accommodate larger jobs can hold as many as 325 sheets each and the envelope tray holds up to 250 envelopes at a time. These machines are used for folding and stuffing correspondence with multiple pages into one envelope. Envelope stuffing machines with multiple feed trays are also useful for inserting return envelopes, inserts, buck slips and more. Envelope stuffing machines have a range of being about to stuff 1,350 sheets of paper per hour in entry level machines to high performance machines that can fold and stuff 4,300 sheets per hour.

The operator then turns on the machines and observes while the machine does the rest. The friction rollers feed the sheets of paper into the machine where the fold plates crease the sheets into the desired fold. The friction rollers then feed the folded sheets into the envelopes loaded in the machine. The machine folds the envelope flap down to close the envelope, applies moisture to the sealing glue on the envelope, and then applies pressure to seal the envelope. The envelope stuffing machine then releases the sealed envelope into a catch bin. Please note that friction rollers are not compatible with glossy paper. If you need an envelope stuffing machines to fold and insert glossy paper then you’ll need to purchase a suction-fed envelope stuffing machine instead. Envelope stuffing machines are able to fold and stuff hundreds of sheets of paper per hour into hundreds of envelopes.

There are some manufacturers that make better envelope stuffing machines than others. Formax is one of the foremost brands of envelope stuffing machines on the market. Along with producing exceptional products, Formax has exceptional customer service. Their envelope stuffing machines and other office machines have a high user satisfaction track record. You can find Office Zone’s entire selection of Formax envelope stuffing machines here.

Some businesses believe that they need to invest hundreds of dollars in a paper shredder for their company. While this may be the case for some companies, it isn’t the case for all. There are several good paper shredders that can be purchased for under $100. It doesn’t make sense to spend $1000 on a paper shredder if you don’t require the unique features on a high-end paper shredder. Before purchasing any shredder, you should remember some key considerations.

What is your security level? Not every company has papers containing sensitive information that need to be shredded into tiny bits of confetti. And even among those that do, it is not necessary to have a high security paper shredder at every desk or in every office. Many companies will keep their high security shredder in a central location, and will have standard cross cut or strip cut paper shredder for general use.

The volume of use is another good consideration. If you’re only shredding dozens or even hundreds sheets of paper in a day, then a $100 or less shredder will be more cost effective than a high volume paper shredder that can shred thousands of pages a day. The amount of paper that a paper shredder can destroy at a time is also something to consider. If you shred documents that are six pages or less, then spending $100 on a low volume paper shredder makes more sense than spending $800 on a shredder that can destroy 2—30 page documents.

Here are four of the best paper shredders for under $100.

1. GBC SC032 Paper Shredder – The SC032 Paper Shredder by GBC is available for $58.69. It is a desk side paper shredder that is perfect for light office or home use. The SC032 Paper Shredder is a low-volume strip cut style shredder that can shred six sheets of paper at a time. The blades can handle shredding any standard-size paper, and can even handle destroying plastic cards, like expired credit cards or ID cards.  The SC032 Paper Shredder has a four-gallon bin, which is a good size shred bin that does not need to be emptied often depending on your shredder usage. The GBC SC032 Paper Shredder is easy to use and requires minimal maintenance.
2. Fellowes P-35C Cross-Cut Paper Shredder - The P-35C Cross-Cut Paper Shredder by Fellowes can be purchased for $65. Fellowes has a reputation for high performance and durable office equipment, so this is a real deal.  The P-35C Cross-Cut Paper Shredder is cross-cut style low volume paper shredder that can shred up to 5 sheets of paper into tiny 5/32″ x 1-1/2″ particles. So it is a good choice for people that want added security at a bargain price. The P-35C Cross-Cut Paper Shredder has a compact design, so it will fit easily at a desk in a business or home office.
3. Fellowes W-11C Cross-Cut Paper Shredder – The W-11C Cross-Cut Paper Shredder by Fellowes retails at $83. This is a paper shredder for under $100 that is designed for more rugged home office or business office use. The W-11C Cross-Cut Paper Shredder has a 9 inch shred opening that can handle shredding 11 sheets of paper at a time. This cross-cut paper shredder has a Level 3 security ranking, which means the shred particles are smaller than lower level printers. This will appeal to those who are concerned with protecting their or their clients’ private information.
4. HSM Compact Multishred Shredder – The Compact Multishred Shredder by HSM can be purchased for $93, and is the most versatile shredder that can be purchased for under $100. The Compact Multishred Shredder is a cross-cut shredder that can destroy 8 sheet stacks of paper with each pass. It is a Level 3 security shredder that is able to turn paper and also thin plastics into tiny bits. This includes laminated sheets of paper, floppy disks (assuming you’re still using them), credit cards, and ID cards. It’s compact design makes it ideal for individual use at home or at the office.

Each of these quality paper shredders can be purchased at OfficeZone.com. You can find Office Zone’s entire line of paper shredders here.

Counterfeiters are clever and are always looking for ways to work the system. While the US government is always looking for newer and more clever ways to battle counterfeit money, you should still be on guard. Criminals that counterfeit money are often clever, using the latest in technology to produce near-perfect duplications. Luckily there are several methods of catching counterfeit bills. I will discuss a few of those methods in this article.

One of the best ways to combat counterfeit money is by using a counterfeit bill detector. There are literally dozens available. The model you use will depend on a lot of factors.

• Speed - If speed isn’t an issue, you may be able to use most of the machines out there. If you need to scan a bill on the fly, you may need a machine capable of detecting counterfeit bills in just seconds.
• Quantity – If you need to scan hundreds to even thousands of bills in a day, you probably aren’t going to need a handheld scanner. You are probably going to need a high-speed bill counter with counterfeit detection capabilities.
• Location – Where do you need to use you bill counter? Is an outlet available? While most counterfeit bill detectors are portable, not all can run on batteries. If you aren’t going to be near an outlet, I highly recommend using a battery-powered machine. Some can use both an outlet and batteries.
• Lighting – Some of the more manual counterfeit detectors will only work indoors. Sunlight can often make it difficult to visually inspect the results of a counterfeit bill detector.

Now that you have answered these questions, you may want to familiarize yourself with the different types of counterfeit detection technology.

• UV – UV scanners use ultraviolet light to detect the UV strip found in legal U.S. currency. This strip will light green / yellow under a UV light. This is one of the most common and popular counterfeit detection methods used today.
• MG – MG (magnetic) detectors are able to scan the magnetic properties of ink used in legal bills. This may be done automatically or may require you to physically rub the bill over a sensor, depending on the machine being used. Magnetic detection is also one of the most common counterfeit detection methods used today.
• WM – WM detection (watermark) is essentially a backlight that allows you to see watermark properties in bills. Most US bills incorporate a watermark face. While you can hold a bill up to a light to get the same results, the power of the light may affect the outcome. WM detectors use bright white light, which leaves little room for error.
• Size Detection – Many modern bill detectors can detect whether or not a US bill is the right size or not. While this method isn’t going to detect everything, it is an excellent extra layer of protection.
• Magnifying Glass – Many stand-alone counterfeit detectors have a magnifying glass that makes it easy to read micro text and other microscopic features incorporated into legitimate US tender.
• Pen – The pen used to be one of the most popular counterfeit detection method used. Ink in the pen would react with starch found in standard paper, causing a visible reaction. While this is still a good way to catch many counterfeit bills, it won’t catch everything out there.

This is an example of a standard desktop counterfeit money detector:

These are by far the most common counterfeit detection methods used today. At Office Zone we carry a great selection of counterfeit bill detectors (found here) and an excellent selection of bill counters (found here) that incorporate counterfeit detection technology.

Do you still have questions? Please feel free to speak with one of our knowledgeable experts at 1-800-543-5454.

If you’re in the market for a pouch laminating machine, you may be a bit confused by the wide selection. Some sites out there feature dozens to even hundreds of different models. I can tell you from personal experience that you need to get a high-quality pouch laminator. Having used pouch laminators and laminating pouches for over 10 years, I have a pretty good idea on what works and doesn’t work. Here are a few tips.

Purchasing a bad laminator can lead to some dramatically bad results. It can also lead to ruined documents and valuable material such as photos. Bad laminators can create cloudy splotches, ripples and bubbles. Many of these artifacts cannot be removed, even with multiple passes. It is horribly frustrating and can result in one bad day.

Even if you don’t take my advice on laminator models in this article, please at least try to find a pouch laminator with at least 4 rollers. That’s right. Four rollers is the magic number for a good pouch laminator. Some higher-end laminators feature 6, 8 and even 10 rollers. Stay away from 2 roller laminators unless you’re simply shopping around for a paper weight.

There are many brands out there, but I have personally had excellent luck with Intelli-Lam, Fellowes (some models), Akiles, Tamerica and Banner American. Now to the list.

Top 10 Best Pouch Laminators 2011 (Sorted by Price – Lowest to Highest)

1. Intelli-Lam IL300 – This is the least expensive of the recommended pouch laminators. It features four rollers, can handle 10-mil thick film and is perfect for laminating signs, business cars, ID cards and much more. This laminator is a great value for the price.
2. Tamerica TCC-230 – Tamerica (aka Tahsin) laminators have a great reputation with our customers. The TCC-230 is a feature-rich laminator and has an incredibly quick warm-up time.
3. Intelli-Lam IL400 – The IL400 is one of the best deals available online for a 13″ pouch laminator. It features four rollers, the ability to handle 10 mil thick film and is extremely fast.
4. Tamerica TCC-330 – The TCC-330 is a time-tested classic that has a proven track record for being reliable and producing high-quality results.
5. Akiles iLam 240 – While relatively new, this 9″ laminator has quickly become a favorite. Akiles has a great reputation for producing high-quality equipment that lasts for years.
6. Akiles iLam 340 – This laminator is perfect for the no-nonsense operator. This 13″ wide pouch laminator is extremely easy to set up and produces top-quality results.
7. Banner American PL135-4 – The PL135-4 has been around for more than a decade and used to be one of the most affordable 4-roller laminators. This laminator is solid, time tested and you won’t be disappointed.
8. Tamerica C-Lam – This laminator is cool to the touch, easy to operate and produces some of the most professional results of any laminator listed here. A total of 6 rollers produce crisp results.
9. Banner American PL12A – This classic is by far the most popular commercial pouch laminator available. It utilizes 4 rollers and is designed for daily use.
10. Akiles Pro-Lam 320 – The Akiles Pro-Lam line of laminators are fast, effective, easy to use and can handle just about any pouch laminating film out there. A total of 4 rollers quickly and evenly distribute heat.

So there you have it! My list of the top 10 pouch laminators for 2011. These laminators have proven themselves time after time and I’m confident you will be impressed as well.

We have been selling laminators for years, so if you have any questions, please feel free to call one of Office Zone’s laminating experts at 1-800-543-5454. You can find Office Zone’s entire list of pouch laminators here.

Paper shredders are important to any business or home. Not only do paper shredders help conserve garbage space, but they also help prevent fraud by keeping your private information secure by destroying documents with sensitive information.

Paper shredders can provide years of use so long as they are properly used and maintained. Since paper shredders have engines, cutting blades and other moving mechanical parts that can heat up and wear out, it’s important to keep the paper shredder properly oiled. Proper lubrication will extend the life and functionality of the paper shredder, and will allow it to run quieter. Failure to do so will drastically reduce the operating life of your shredder, and cost you more in the long term through premature replacement.

The way you oil a paper shredder, and how often it needs to be oiled, will depend of the type of paper shredder you own.  Low volume and low use paper shredders don’t require as much maintenance. Low volume paper shredders that are regularly used should be oiled once or twice a month. High volume paper shredders or paper shredders in constant use will require regular oiling, sometimes every four hours depending on how heavy it was being used. As a general rule of thumb, you should oil the paper shredder each time you replace the catch-bag or empty the bin.

Before adding oil or other lubrication (found here) to your paper shredder it is recommended that you review your owner’s manual. Liquid oils are the most common type of lubricant used to oil a paper shredder, although there are aerosol options also. It is recommended that you only use oil that is specifically made for lubricating paper shredders. Using WD-40, motor oil or other types of lubricant can actually damage the machine because it isn’t designed to adhere to the moving parts of the paper shredder. Using oil not designed for lubricating a paper shredder may also void your service warranty.

To begin oiling your paper shredder, begin by unplugging the paper shredder from the wall electrical outlet. You wouldn’t put your hand in a car engine while it’s moving, and paper shredder accidents can be equally as nasty. There are two ways to add oil to your paper shredder; the direct way and the indirect way.

For the direct way, you’ll apply the oil directly to the cutting blades by squeezing the bottle to squirt the oil through the paper feed opening. This will coat the lubricating oil on to the cutting blades of the shredder. Be sure to spread the oil along the length of the blades. Once your fingers or any dangling clothing is clear, plug the shredder back in and turn it on to the reverse setting. Let it run in reverse for 15 seconds. This will work the oil into the motor and on to the different parts of the paper shredders cutting head. Once this is done you should feed a few sheets of scrap paper through the shredder. This will remove any excess oil from the blades and will prevent potential messes.

The indirect way to oil your paper shredder is by adding oil to paper and running it through the shredder. The proper way of doing this is by spreading a small amount of paper shredder oil in a wide zig-zag pattern down the length of the paper so each blade will be touched by the oil. Make sure the oil is zig-zagged over the over the entire sheet, but don’t soak the paper. Soaking is unnecessary and will waste oil. After the paper is properly oiled, feed it through the paper shredder like you would any other document. One the sheet is completely fed through, switch the paper shredder to reverse mode. This will work the oil into the motor and on to the different parts of the paper shredders cutting head. Depending how heavily the paper shredder is used, this process may need to be repeated two or three times. As with the direct lubrication method, you should feed a few sheets of scrap paper through the shredder to remove any excess oil from the blades to prevent potential messes.

Once oiling is complete, your paper shredder will run quieter, faster, and will not wear reduce the wear and tear on the motor, gears, blades and bearings. You can find Office Zones paper shredder oil here and Office Zone’s entire line of paper shredders here.

People always need to deliver printed correspondence, such as letters, invoices, statements, pamphlets, announcements, or flyers through the mail. To do this they need to fit the paper documents into an envelope. While some larger envelopes can hold a sheet of paper without modification, most paper needs to be folded to fit in the envelope in which it will be delivered. Since there are multiple sizes and types of envelopes there are several different ways that paper can be folded. One of the most common ways to create a fold is by using a paper folding machine.

The most common types of paper folds are the Single Fold, the Letter Fold, the Z Fold, the Double Parallel Fold, the Double Parallel Fold, the Cross Fold, the Half Accordion Fold and the Gate Fold. Most paper folding machines are designed to accommodate these paper folds.

The Single Fold, also known as the Half Fold or the V Fold, is the most common type of paper fold. It is easy to make either manually or with a paper folding machine.  The Single Fold places a horizontal crease in the center of the paper, making a 50/50 area on each side of the fold. It gets its name, obviously, from the single crease, or the V-shape it makes as it unfolds.  This fold is generally used for cardstock correspondents, such as announcements, invitations, greeting cards or Thank You cards, which are sent in larger envelopes, such as Pocket, Wallet, or Banker envelopes.

The Letter Fold, also known as the C Fold, is widely used by people and businesses when folding their stationary or correspondence. The Letter Fold places two creases in the sheet of paper, usually around the top 1/3rd and the bottom 1/3rd. The two end flaps close overlapping each other. The letter fold gets is name because it is the most used by people when sending letters, and it is reminiscent of a C-shape when open.  The Letter Fold accommodates most standard types of regular style envelopes.

The Z Fold, also known as the Accordion Fold, is another tri-fold style of paper fold. The Z Fold is also done by places two creases in the sheet of paper around the top 1/3rd and the bottom 1/3rd of the paper. However, instead of folding the two flaps in on each other, the folded flaps point and collapse in opposite directions forming a Z-shape. The folded paper can be pulled open and pushed closed on itself, reminiscent of an accordion. The Z Fold can also be used for most standard types of regular style envelopes.

The Double Parallel Fold is a type of paper fold that is used to fold oversized sheets of paper, such as 8½” x 14″ legal sized paper.  The Double Parallel Fold places three creases in the sheet, creating four parallel panels. The middle crease is folded so that the top crease sets into the bottom crease, creating a double V. The Double Parallel Fold is used to make oversized paper fit into regular style envelopes, open end envelopes and booklet envelopes.

The Cross Fold is sometimes also called the French Fold or the Right Fold. The Cross Fold is a unique paper fold, used to fit sheets of paper into smaller envelopes. The Cross Fold is made by making two creases through the middle of the sheet, one horizontal fold and the other a vertical fold so the creases make a cross shape. The paper is then folded so it resembles two tents combing at a central point.

The Half Accordion Fold, also known as the Fold-out or colloquially as the Engineering Fold, is very similar to the he Z Fold.  The Half Accordion Fold involves placing two creases in the sheet of paper, but instead of making three equal panels, one of the folds is placed either closer to the top or lower to the bottom, so one panel is much smaller than the other two.  The Half Accordion Fold is often used to make sure mailing information lines up with the panes in a windowed envelope.

The Gate Fold is similar to the Letter Fold. Two folds are made toward the top and the bottom of the sheet, and both panels are folded toward each other. But instead of overlapping the panels as the Letter Fold does, the Gate Fold brings both the edges together, so that it opens and closes like a gate. This a common fold used for announcements, invitations, ads and other cardstock products sent in Pocket, Wallet, or Banker envelopes.

Quickly creating a fold is best done on a paper folding machine. Office Zone offers a great selection of paper folding machines here.

A jammed paper folding machine can cost you time and money, not to mention it is a huge hassle. While you may not be able to avoid every paper jam, there are certain things you can do to keep your paper folding machine humming like the day you bought it. If it was a lemon out of the box, I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you much, however, if you purchased a good solid machine these instructions will help you keep your folding machine running for years.

Paper folding machines consist of a motor, a friction roller (friction-based machines), a series of silicon rollers and a couple of folding plates. While there are a few additional sensors and parts, that pretty much sums it all up. If you can keep in mind that there isn’t much to your paper folding machine, it won’t be intimidating and it will be easier to maintain.

As a paper folding machine operates, it pulls paper in and expels it out the other side. Most folded paper, with a few exceptions, is printed on. As paper runs through the machine, ink and dust begin to accumulate on the silicon rollers. As is the case with snow on a road, dust on a roller can cause it to become slippery. This causes slipping and sliding that should not occur in a paper folding machine, resulting in the imminent jam. Ink has the same effect.

I recommend using a roller cleaner rejuvenator (found here) to keep rollers clean. Roller cleaner rejuvenator not only cleans, but it also helps moisten the rollers. This helps prolong the life of the folding machine and keeps things running smooth. Never use cleaning solvents or rubbing alcohol to clean your folding machine. This could potentially cause the rollers to dry out and crack.

If you ever experience a paper jam, please do not try forcing the paper out by hand. It could cause a belt to strip. If you can’t easily get the paper back out, call Office Zone’s Service Department at 1-800-543-5454 x129 and get some advice before proceeding with anything else. Also, please never use scissors or other sharp objects to try and fish out paper! That could potentially irreversibly damage your silicon rollers, requiring them to be replaced.

Another big issue with paper folding machines is static electricity. As is the case with rubbing your hair on a balloon and sticking it to a wall, static electricity in paper causes it to stick together. The end result can be a multi-sheet feed, which almost always results in a paper jam. Electrostatic-charged paper is extremely annoying. There are a few ways to get rid of static in paper.

One method of  getting rid of static electricity in paper is by using a static eliminator spray (found here). Once sprayed on your paper folding machine’s rollers, static electricity is dramatically reduced. Another option, and perhaps the best, is to use a paper jogger (found here). Paper joggers quickly square up paper and remove static electricity.

Another common issue with paper folding machines is incorrectly seated folding plates or incorrectly set folding plates. Make sure the folding plates on your paper folding machine feel snug and that there is little to no play.

If you are still experiencing issues, you may need to contact Office Zone’s Service Department at 1-800-543-5454 x129. They are talented, kind and provide affordable solutions. Office Zone’s Service Department can repair folding machines from Duplo, Standard, Intelli-Fold, Tamerica, Martin Yale, Dahle and many others.

If your paper folding machine is kaput and cannot be repaired, Office Zone has a great selection of paper folding machines found here. Good luck!

When shopping around for a paper folding machine, you want to buy the best one for your money, right? It makes sense. You probably also want a machine that will last for several years. There’s no sense in shopping around for a new machine every few months or year. Having used paper folding machines myself for over 10 years, I have a very good idea which machines you should use.

There are a lot of factors that you should consider before purchasing a paper folding machine. To begin with, you don’t want to purchase a cheap $200 machine for a job that really needs a $2,000 machine. Trust me, you’ll be out of a machine in a few days if you expect a cheap folding machine to do a commercial job.

With that in mind, be aware that while these machines are on my “top 10″ list, that doesn’t mean that each one will do the job you need. You need to consider monthly duty cycle, sheet capacities, fold types and more. I recommend calling 1-800-543-5454 to speak with a folding machine specialist for answers to your specific questions. Also be aware that these are friction-feed style paper folding machines, not air suction machines.

These paper folding machines have a great reputation, an excellent track record with customers and are known to be extremely reliable.

Top 10 Best “Manual Setup” Paper Folding Machines 2011

1. Intelli-Fold DE-102AF Paper Folding Machine – This machine has been around for years, previously under the name Dynafold DE-102AF. This machine is a great value for the money and is extremely fast. It also creates just about any fold you could want.
2. Intelli-Fold IF-300 Desktop Folding Machine – This machine isn’t designed for high-volume jobs, but is excellent for occasional desktop runs. For under $300, it is a great deal.
3. MBM 93M Paper Folding Machine – This is the replacement to the popular MBM  87M. As was the case with the 87M, the MBM 93M is a solid piece of machinery that is a perfect fit between the DE-102AF and the IF-300. It isn’t too expensive, yet is robust enough for medium-volume runs.
4. Intelli-Fold DE-112AF Folding Machine – This paper folder is almost identical to the above mentioned DE-102AF except the DE-112AF has a powered exit conveyor, which helps keep paper neat and orderly. It is one of the cheapest paper folding machines that features a powered exit conveyor.
5. Formax FD 312 Paper Folding Machine – Formax makes some of the most solid office equipment around. They are better known for their paper folder inserters and paper shredders, but their line of paper folding machines are is equally as good.
6. Intelli-Fold DE-172AF Paper Folding Machine – This paper folding machine has it all. It can create most popular folds, handles 11″ x 17″ paper and includes a powered exit conveyor! For the money, few competitors even come close to competing.
7. Intelli-Fold DE-202AF Paper Folder – Once known as the Dynafold DE-202AF, the Intelli-Fold DE-202AF is a time tested classic. It has been around for years and has proven itself time after time. Its fast, has a 500 sheet feed tray and can handle larger sheets of paper.
8. Formax FD 320 Paper Folder – This Formax paper folding machine can create all the folds you need, has easy-to-adjust folding plates and of course features Formax quality.
9. MBM 207M Paper Folding Machine – MBM, the manufacturers of the classic Destroyit line of paper shredders, also make some of the best paper folding machines around. This is the easiest manual setup paper folding machine around. It is fast, accurate and includes a powered exit conveyor.
10. Tamerica TPF-42 Paper Folding Machine – This paper folder is pretty much a clone of teh MBM 207M, but available to you at a lower cost. We have been selling this machine for a few years now and it has quickly become a hit.

HONORABLE MENTION

Martin Yale 959 Paper Folding Machine – If this had been a top 11 list, the 959 paper folding machine would have been included. While I’m not a big fan of Martin Yale, the 959 is a beast, designed for high-production paper folding jobs. It can be used every day without hesitation. Check it out!

So there you have it. My top 10 best paper folding machines of 2011. While there are some pretty good automatic machines out there as well, these manual setup machines are solid examples of engineering excellence. You can find Office Zone’s entire selection of paper folding machines here.