Wire Binding 101 - Comprehensive Guide to Twin Loop ...

29 Apr.,2024

 

Wire Binding 101 - Comprehensive Guide to Twin Loop ...

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TLDR

If you want your documents to impress, then consider adding twin loop binding to your toolkit. This article will guide you through the basics of this popular and versatile binding method, including its pros, cons, and typical use cases.

Twin loop binding (also known as wire binding or double loop wire binding) is one of the most popular binding methods available. Its thinly coated steel wire loops help it look professional, hold up to repeated handling, and work with a wide array of document types. 

In this wire binding buyer’s guide, we will cover:

  • How wire binding differs from coil and comb

  • The pros and cons of wire binding

  • FAQs about working with wire binding

What is Wire Binding

Though there are many ways to bind your documents together, wire binding is one of the most popular methods. Synonymous with wire-o binding and twin-loop binding, wire binding feeds thin wires through punched holes to bind documents together. The result is a sleek, durable finish popular for various applications.

How Wire Binding Differs from Coil and Comb

While wire, comb, and coil binding have a lot in common—especially compared to thermal binding—they have some key differences. 

Materials

A wire-o binding machine uses metal wires to hold pages together, but coil and comb binding machines use plastic. But for most end users, the most salient difference between double loop wire binding and other methods is appearance.

Appearance and Usage

While plastic coil binding looks much like the spiral notebooks we know from school, the double steel loops used in wire binding look more sophisticated. Comb binding has a printable surface on the plastic comb that holds the papers together, allowing for titles or text to be printed on the side.  

Of course, that’s not doable with coil and wire bindings. But they both allow for pages to rotate 360 degrees, which isn’t possible with comb.

Common Users & Uses for Wire Binding

A wire-o binding machine can make corporate reports, proposals, manuals, employee training books, and more. You’ll also see wire binding used for educational documents like dissertations and on consumer goods like planners, notebooks, and calendars. 

Many corporations, non-profits, and educational institutions use wire binding. In particular, many architects, engineers, graphic designers, and financial analysts rely on wire binding to make polished-looking, affordable documents for clients and internal teams.

Wire Binding Capacity and Color Charts

Wire binding can hold up to 300 pages, depending on your punch pattern (pitch) and wire diameter. Wire-O traditionally comes in two “pitches” or hole spacings. 3:1, which has three holes per inch of paper, and 2:1, which has two. Pronounced “three to one,” this pitch is used for smaller binding wires up to 9/16” in diameter. The holes are traditionally square. “Two to one” pitch is used for the larger wires from 5/8” to 1-1/4” diameter, conventionally. However, some manufacturers now make this same pitch in the smaller sizes. The benefit of this? Being able to bind the full span of wire sizes with just one punching machine. But the downfall? The look of 2:1 pitch spacing for small wires can feel a little odd. Holes for 2:1 wires are usually square, but can sometimes be round.

Wire-O Binding Capacity Chart:

Simple steps to get the proper fit for wire binding.

  1. Take the book being bound and lay it flat on a table
  2. Don't compress the paper and measure the thickness of the binding edge
  3. Take the measurement and add 1/8" - that will be the size of the binding element

* Note: the capacities listed below are approximations, determined using standard 20 lb. bond copy paper; the actual sheet capacity will vary depending on the materials being bound.
** Note: The smaller 2:1 pitch wires from 1/4" up to 9/16" are a special-made wire, and are not available in all colors.

Wire Diameter Pitch (Holes per Inch)** Sheet Capacity* Book Thickness* Quantity / Box 1/4" 3:1 or 2:1 11-25 Sheets 1/8" 100 Wires / Box 5/16" 3:1 or 2:1 26-45 Sheets 3/16" 100 Wires / Box 3/8" 3:1 or 2:1 46-65 Sheets 1/4" 100 Wires / Box 7/16" 3:1 or 2:1 66-80 Sheets 5/16" 100 Wires / Box 1/2" 3:1 or 2:1 81-100 Sheets 3/8" 100 Wires / Box 9/16" 3:1 or 2:1 101-120 Sheets 7/16" 100 Wires / Box 5/8" 2:1 121-145 Sheets 1/2" 100 Wires / Box 3/4" 2:1 146-165 Sheets 5/8" 100 Wires / Box 7/8" 2:1 166-185 Sheets 3/4" 100 Wires / Box 1" 2:1 186-210 Sheets 7/8" 100 Wires / Box 1 ⅛" 2:1 211-235 Sheets 1" 100 Wires / Box 1 ¼" 2:1 236-260 Sheets 1 ⅛" 100 Wires / Box 1 ½" 2:1 261-310 Sheets 1 ½" 100 Wires / Box

Beyond size options, you can pick from over 10 colors (and sometimes more, depending on the manufacturer) for the coating on the loops. From gold wire-o binding to red, green, or blue, options abound. This makes it easy to match your unique branding; but if you cannot match it, a clean white, black, silver, or pewter look great with any color scheme. 

Custom Cut-to-Length Wire Bindings

There are many different double loop wire binding sizes, and you can even order custom lengths. While the range of stocked lengths to choose from is limited, cut-to-length wire-o binding can allow you to bind whatever length document you want. When requesting a custom-cut wire quote, you will need to know: (1) the diameter of wire you need, (2) the pitch, (3) the number of “loops”/correlating holes on your binding edge. Before you start, punch a sample of your document and count its holes to help determine the length you need. 

Benefits of Wire Binding

Wire binding has many benefits, but the biggest is aesthetic. Its dual metal loops make documents more pleasant looking than comb and more polished looking than coil. Of course, coil binding looks sleek, but it can create a more notebook-like appearance relative to wire binding. It’s no surprise that wire binding is so popular for professional documents.

Wire binding can flex a bit more than comb binding with use, and can open 360 degrees, like coil binding, making it perfect for manuals, cookbooks, and calendars. It also has perfect registration, meaning that even when opened all the way, the front pages and back pages align perfectly and are not askew like they are with a spiral coil. If you need frequent flipping, wire binding could be perfect for your needs. 

Disadvantages of Wire Binding

Even though wire binding makes for professional-looking documents, it has some disadvantages. Because the loops are metal, wire binding spines can be bent or damaged if they aren’t properly stored (picture Bob from accounting dropping a full water cooler jug on your stack of quarterly reports). Even though wire bindings are made of steel loops, the metal can be bent without much effort. In comparison, because coil bindings are typically plastic, they will return to form just fine. 

The colors available are also on the professional spectrum only, so more exciting and fun colors are not traditionally available unless you need to order production-level quantities and choose a custom-manufactured color.

Beyond material qualities and colors, wire binding is a little more expensive on the consumable end and takes longer to do than comb binding.  

FAQs

Wire binding can be complex. Below, we’ll answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this method.

Can you use a comb binding machine for wire binding?

It might seem counterintuitive, but you can—with the right gear. A specially manufactured Spiral-O Wire will allow you to use wire binding with the comb punch pattern. But you will still need a wire closer.   

Is coil or wire binding better?

It depends on factors like the desired aesthetics, type of document, and size of the document. Both are durable and sleek, but some feel that wire binding imparts a more professional look. Coil is much more durable over time, though. 

Are your wire bindings Prop 65 compliant?

Yes, our Wire-O bindings are Prop 65 compliant.

Want more information on Straightening 9.52mm Copper Pipe? Feel free to contact us.

Can the 2:1 machine be used for the 1 1/2” wires?

Yes, 2:1 pitch can handle many double loop wire binding sizes, including the largest 1-1/2” size.

Wrapping Up: Advanced Insights into Expert Wire Binding

By now, you should have a good feel for the basics of wire binding. No matter what you call it–wire-o binding, twin loop, or double loop wiring binding—this method has an illustrious reputation for a reason. So whether you’re a twin loop ninja or a newbie, if you care about presenting your work in its best form, look no further than Binding101 for your wire binding needs.

 Shop Wire Binding Machines

Call us at(866) 537-2244 or email us at info@buy101.com

Book Binding + Bind It All 2.0 by Zutter

Hello crafty friends, in a previous post here I shared a personalized notebook cover today I want to show you how I do Book Binding using the Bind It All 2.0 Machine by Zutter.

This machine has been in the market for over 10 years. I had the change to try the new 2.0 version and I love it!

Find the Bind It All Machine in Amazon UK here or at USA Scrapbook.com here they have the machine is sale for only $63 ( down from $128)!!!!!

You will also find online different binding Owires.

Zutter Bind It All

Key Features

  • Punch and bind notebooks in any size.
  • This machine is just about 4″ width (10 cm) and it will punch 6 wholes in one go.
  • You can get as creative punching as possible.
  • Light weight (1.2 kilos)
  • Easy to carry.
  • Punch different materials as thick as you can fit in the “punching channel”
  • Bind using different wire sizes ( from 5-1/16″ inches to 1-1/4″ inches wires)
  • It is easy to learn how to use it.
  • The machine includes comprehensive and accurate user manual.

Puching

Step 1.

Before punching pull out the Stabilizing Extention Arm located at the back of the Binf It All machine.

This is essential to be able to work with the machine. Done!

Step 2.

Now chose the setting.

You might have to use different setting for a single project. Understanding each one is essential.

The machine has 4 punching settings.

To change the punching settings all you have to do is to move the “paper stop bar” to A,B, C, or, D.

It is the black piece I’m pointing out in the picture below and it slides into the position or setting desire.

Punching settings briefly explained


A. Open

Punch anywhere in the page – the paper can move freely inside the punching chanel.

Bear in mind that the “A- Open setting” can be used in combination with the “locking levers” , that stop the paper from moving out od the edge of the machine ( sIm touching the locking levers in the picture below)

You can also use the Open Setting and the paper stop guide for projects smaller than 4″ inches.

This will allow you to punch 5 or 4 holes instead of 6, if you ever need it.

The setting A. Open can also be used in combination with the “Extension Paper Guide Side Bar” to punch wholes for projects larger than 4″ inches or to punch holes in other areas of the projects.

For example you can locate the center of your project and using the “Extension Paper Guide Side Bar” you will always punch in the same spot.



B. Continuous

There is a little guide tab that will slide into position once you use the setting “B” in the machine.

You can see it from the back of the machine ( see picture below) . You should engage one of the punched holes into that tab to aligne the punching .

Which hole engage in the guide tab? I would say any but bear in mind there is a gap between the guide tab and the next punch so make sure it is at least the last second hole in a row BUT it could be any hole after that.

To avoid partially punch the opposite corner of the paper always remember to aligne the opposite edge of the paper with the edge of the machine or just a little bit offset.

Then find the nearest punched hole to the tab and engage it on the tab in that way you will never ever have an issue doing continups punching.


C. Cover and D. Inner Pages

  • Just bear in mind that the cover should be cut 3/16″ inches larger than inner pages for accurate punching.
  • If you will use a deocrative paper over the cover bear in mind that this will add bulk to the edges so trim the cardboard 1/8″ inches larger than the inner pages.
  • By doing this you will have a small edge around the edges of the cover so that the cover will protect the inner pages.
  • However, you can punch covers and innerpage using the same setting. It all depends on your needs
Tip:

Buy paper pads ( pre-cut) and cut the cover to the size.

Binding

Step 3. Binding

Included with the machine, you will find Owire Gauge Templates ( in the picture above)

This will allow you to screw the Owire Binding Clossing Channel to the size of the wire you will be using.

Insert the narrow point of the wires through the pages and cut the wire to the size using players.

Yes! You can count the punched holes and then count the wire loops and then cut the wire if you want to do this too.

Next, turn around the pages and insert the cover facing up…

Then insert the backing facing down.

Place the wire on the Owire Binding Clsing Channel. Pay attention and place the wider points / edge of the wire facing the machine.

Press down the handle. You will have to work in smaller sections.

DONE!!

Oh! do not forget to empty the bin…
It is the little container at the side of the machine.

Bear in mind that only experimenting and going through a very short learning curve you will become a binding pro.

Happy Binding.
x
Bibi

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