Office related question slightly OT

[Carrie]

Does anyone know how to use a plastic spiral binder?

I bought one (from an ebay seller) a few months ago, NEW. It had no
directions or instructions with it. Only a few rough sketches printed right
on the machine, that all I could figure out was you put the paper in and
BANG hard on the tool on top to punch the required holes in the paper

This is the one I bought, but not from this seller (this has said "out of
stock" since I've been looking for them)

http://www.abcdistributing.com/home/catalog/cat_item_pg.asp?P=115&G=347

All I can figure is, you lay the plastic binding comb in the mechanism, so
the little hooks on the front grab it, push the lever on the side this opens
up the comb, leaving semi-sharp pieces of the comb facing up. You then put
on the pages (previously punched) and push the lever, closing the binding
with the paper inside.

This works, but... I can't get it to do very many pages at once. I made
calendars using cover stock, 12 pages or so. I have made myself notebooks,
using maybe 20 pieces of printer paper, but that's about all that will fit
and it's a struggle doing it. In theory it seems like the stack of punched
paper could be layed by the pointed pieces, and wiggled so the points go
through it all, then closed up. I end up doing it one piece at a time, and
by the time I get maybe 20 on it, it's filled up and I can't fit more
(without it all starting to fall off) Seems like the plastic comb, with the
semi-sharp pieces sticking up to put the paper on, are so light and bendy
you can't just line up the holes (in a few pieces at a time) and lay them so
the points go right through. And, not a lot of pieces of paper will fit on
the open comb at once.

Since it says it binds up to 100 pages (and I am using the combs that
came with it) I'm starting to think maybe I'm doing it wrong. The combs
look like the average size for binding. One of my grandkids had a recipe
book made in school (years ago, but we still have it) with about 40 pages of
heavy paper and the same kind/size of plastic spiral comb holding it
together.

I've looked in google and can't find any websites that have directions
(and maybe pictures) and can't find an address for the company that produces
it.

Just thought where people who use Publisher (also maybe work in an office
and use binding machines for reports, etc) someone might know.

I know, there are binding machines that cost $400 or more that probably
do it better. But, I don't need it that much to invest in something like
this.

Thanks,

Carrie

 

[Anita]

Hi Carrie!

I used to use one of these at my son's elementary school. Here are larger
'binding spines' at Office Depot http://tinyurl.com/25w36o From what I
recall, you just use larger spines to put in more papers. Your description
sounds real familiar ... I think you're doing it right, you just need larger
spines!

 

[Carrie]

Thanks!

I wasn't sure if I was doing it right, before I tried other things

Since the machine says on it (the ebay auction and box) it "binds up to 100
sheets" I assumed the spines that came with it (to start) were ones that
would do this. Otherwise, you'd think it would say "binds up to 100 sheets,
using larger binder combs NOT INCLUDED" (LOL)

I don't really now how many sheets of paper I might want to put together,
the size I got works for calenders and maybe I can get 20 pages on (at least
smaller size ones with fewer holes).

At least I know. I'm trying to decide what is the best way to punch the
holes, which don't always seem to go through cleanly (open) Either press
down really fast and hard (sort of like an exercise for the upper body and
bustline (LOL) or hold it steady and BANG it down really hard. That way
seem to work the best.

It's probably not the best machine, even for the money, but at the time
it was all I could find that wasn't $400

~ Carrie

 

[Carrie]

Hi Carrie!

I used to use one of these at my son's elementary school. Here are larger
'binding spines' at Office Depot http://tinyurl.com/25w36o From what I
recall, you just use larger spines to put in more papers. Your
description
sounds real familiar ... I think you're doing it right, you just need
larger
spines!

Anita, I looked at the binder combs I got from Staples (I don't remember
it saying what size comb held how much paper) and they are GBC combs, 3/8"

Going by the Office Depot page you sent the link to, this should hold 60
pages.

It almost seems like if I openned up the comb myself without the
machine/tool and pushed each one of the plastic arrow pices through all the
holes in the sheets my self (working down the page) it might work. It's
trying to get all the papers on the arrows (which are kind of light, flimsy
plastic and bend easily instead of going through) that's the problem. And
getting filled up and falling off before I can put more on. I tried closing
the machine half way to have more of the arrow pieces sticking up (putting
in a pen to keep it from closing totally) and that helped.

Of course, now I know more about it, I can get bigger spines in case I
want to do more pages. The ones I have look like they were hold more than 12
or 20 pieces of paper, if one could get it ON them before closing.

I'm glad you knew what I'm talking about, because it's hard to
explain.

Maybe there's no trick just keep practicing? Getting the holes
punched nice and clean and open and lined up seems to help, too.

~ Carrie