Yamot Articles Directory

With the high cost of trade paperbacks today, it is extremely important that libraries find ways to make their books last. Most public libraries and school libraries have extremely limited budgets for purchasing new titles and would much rather spend their money expanding their collection instead of replacing their books. Now libraries can extend the life of their trade paperback books using a thermal binding machine. Here’s how…

When most trade paperback books are shipped from their publishers they are suitable for personal use. However, their bindings are often not strong enough to hold up to the abuse that most library books receive. Over time the covers of the books can begin to separate from the book block or pages can fall out. However, the binding of these books can be significantly improved by simply running them through a thermal binding machine. The binding machine reactivates the glue in the spine of the books and helps to ensure that the book block is securely fastened to the cover.

In order to complete this process you simply take your brand new trade paperback books out of the box and insert them directly into your thermal binding machine. Simply press the button to start the thermal binding cycle and approximately 45 seconds later the book will be done. When the binding machine beeps to let you know that the book has finished you simply take the book out of the machine and firmly tap the spine of the book onto a hard surface such as the counter. Tapping the spine of the book on the counter will help to ensure that the book block is fully seated into the still hot glue. Finally, you set your book in the cooling stand (or on your book cart) to cool. The glue will fully cure and harden in less than 15 minutes and the bind of the book will be considerably improved.

For best results most users should use a thermal binding machine with a 2″ throat that will accommodate most paperback books (many thermal binding machines only have a 1″ throat). Additionally, choosing a thermal binding machine with all metal construction and heavy duty heating elements will help ensure that the machine will last for years in even the largest libraries. Most thermal binding machines are just a little bit larger than a toaster (so it won’t take up a lot of counter space), and require no maintenance.

In addition to extending the life of your trade paperback books, your thermal binding machine can also be used to repair damaged books making it even more useful for use in both small and large libraries. Check out our other article on repairing books using your thermal binding machine. Plus, if you are part of a school library the binding machine can even be used to bind your own school yearbooks when used along with thermal hard cover cases and a hard cover crimper.

Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com. He has written over 100 articles on binding machines, binding supplies, laminators and more.

Getting a new Website noticed or generating more traffic to an existing site often leads webmasters to use free directory linking. With free directory linking, your site can be added to a directory simply by submitting your link and a brief topic description for your website. There are several different kinds of free directory links, and they can all have a particular effect on your site’s traffic.

General Directory Links

Free directory links are popular, especially for new Web sites trying to get established. Though general free directory links aren’t harmful to a site’s page ranking, they usually don’t drive a lot of traffic your way, either. They can be useful to simply get your link out there and you may get a few hundred hits from listing your link in a free directory.

Niche Directories

In general, niche directories are far more useful than general free directory linking sites. Niche directories target one specific topic, so anyone looking for information on your topic will be able to see the link and visit your site. This is most useful for building traffic to your site, as the users who follow a link from a niche directory are specifically looking for the type of information you’re providing.

Quality Not Quantity

The value of free directory links is only as good as the directories you submit to. Submitting your link to hundreds of free directory linking sites isn’t the best way to get more traffic on your site. Your time would be more wisely spent finding a few high quality directories or niche directories that match your topic.

Directories that are edited by people rather than automatically added to a list are generally more useful. Dmoz is one such site. Dmoz is highly respected, hand-edited, and it is the largest open directory of its kind. A link posted on Dmoz will increase your traffic flow. The only drawback is that it can take a long time for your link to be accepted and added and not all submissions are approved.

The Value of Reciprocal Linking

Some free directory linking sites request a reciprocal link. However, adding a lot of useless links to your site can damage your credibility and lower your page rank. Your goal should be to have more links from high quality sites, preferably ones that relate to your content.

Avoid adding your link to free directory sites that ask for reciprocal links. It may be tempting to build traffic that way, but a better option is to seek sites with a topic and content similar to yours to link to. Most site owners are open to the idea of reciprocal linking because it will serve to benefit both of you.

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For years, GBC / Ibico has made some of the best school laminators on the market. However, for customers looking to replace their existing GBC or Ibico Laminator the difference between the GBC Ultima 65 and the GBC HeatSeal H800Pro Roll laminator may not be completely apparent. These machines look very similar and are priced approximately the same which can sometimes lead to a lot of confusion. However, the GBC HeatSeal Ultima 65 is the better machine for most users. Here is why.

1. The GBC Ultima 65 uses a heated roller technology which is the most common technology used in school laminators. Chances are, if you have used a laminator in a school or print shop before you have used a heated roller laminator. On the other hand, the GBC H800pro laminator uses a heat shoe technology. Although both technologies have their places, most individuals find the heated roller technology more user friendly for loading film and for regular use. The vast majority of laminators used in schools use heated roller technology.

2. The heated roller technology used by the GBC Ultima 65 provides more heat than the heat shoe technology used by the GBC H800pro. For this reason, the GBC H800pro CAN NOT be used with standard GBC laminating films (NAP 1). Instead, the H800 requires the use of more expensive NAP II Low Melt laminating films. Since these laminating rolls are considerably more expensive than the standard laminating films available from GBC supply costs with the GBC H800pro are going to be quite a bit higher than with the GBC Ultima 65.

3. The Ultima 65 is the most common laminator found in schools across the country. It is not only available for a great price but it is simple to use, easy to maintain and incredibly reliable. Down the road, support for the Ultima 65 is going to be cheaper, parts are more readily available and the laminator is easier to use than the H800pro. Thus, the long term costs of owning the Ultima 65 should be significantly less than owning the GBC HeatSeal H800pro.

After taking these three factors into consideration along with the fact that the GBC Ultima 65 is usually priced approximately the same as the GBC HeatSeal H800pro the choice to select the Ultima65 should be simple. This being said, some users prefer a heat shoe laminator over a heated roll laminator and choose the H800pro.

Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com. He is an expert on laminators, laminating pouches and more.

Plastic comb bindings, also called GBC binding, is the most common of the punch and bind styles. It is a relatively easy process and is basically the same for most all manual comb binding machines. Electric comb bind machines are similar, but simply have push button controls rather than a lever.

1. Select the proper size of comb
-Most providers of plastic combs will be able to give an estimation of the size based on the count of sheets of paper and covers.
-A comb that is too small will hinder both the durability and usability of the document as pages will not turn freely and could ultimately rip.
-Comb bind spines that are too large will look awkward and will not function as well as a properly fitted binding.
-Appearance is perhaps the best way to judge the size of a comb.

2. Place the comb on the comb binder so that it opens
-Place the solid spine of the comb on the binding opener from the back side so the loops are in between the fingers of the comb binding opener.
-Make sure that the comb binding will open up rather than down.

3. Depending on the system: push or pull the lever to open the comb binding
-Most systems have a single lever that will operate the punch by pulling forward and the comb opener by pushing back
-Electric punches and some manual systems will have a separate that will usually be pulled toward the operator to open the combs.
-Opening the comb too far will cause the binding to snap shut and possibly fly off the system.

4. “Hang” the front binding cover face down, followed by the contents of the document, and finish with the back cover
-It is very common for plastic comb bound documents to have oversized covers which are easier to hang alone.
-The contents of the document can be hung in sections. For larger documents, it may be necessary to close the comb incrementally.
-For best appearance, start with the front of the document and place the document on the comb binding face down. (This will ensure that the seam of the comb binding is on the back side of the document).

5. Replace the lever into the center or resting position to close the comb binding, and lift the book off the comb opener to remove the document. Make sure that your pages turn freely and that it is assembled correctly and your proposal is done.

Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com. He has written over 100 articles on binding machines, laminators, binding supplies and more.

Comb binding provides an open-flat/lay-flat, updatable and reusable binding method. Strip binding and Thermal Binding offer the ultimate in image and security for confidential documents. However, the market is always searching for new ideas and it responded by offering two different finishes that are as attractive and professional as Strip Binding, Comb Binding and Thermal Binding, yet provide different characteristics. Wire binding and plastic coil binding bring new important features to the table making them better suited for certain applications.

Wire binding creates a high tech look of professional quality. The metal loops encircle the document, and crimp together to provide a secure bind for few or many pages. Opened documents lay flat for easy reading and writing, and pages can wrap around without impairment, making Wire an ideal choice for revenue generating proposals, working documents or reference materials.

Wire binding supplies are available in two different punch patterns (pitches):

-3:1 (3 holes per inch) for documents from 1/16″ through 1/2″
-2:1 (2 holes per inch) for documents from 9/16″ through 1-1/8″

To determine the number of loops per element, multiply the pitch by the binding edge length and subtract “1″:

-A 3:1 element for an 11″ document has 32 loops (3 x 11 = 33 – 1 = 32)
-A 2:1 element for an 11″ document has 21 loops (2 x 11 = 22 – 1 = 21)

Plastic Coil binding provides a bright new trendy look for office documentation, while standing up to the rough treatment often given to packages sent via mail or messenger. The light weight sturdy plastic coil winds continuously around and through the pages of a document to hold them securely, and springs back into shape if crushed. Opened documents lay completely flat for working on spread sheets or reading. Pages can wrap around without impairment, making Plastic Coil an ideal choice for revenue generating documents, manual or reference materials.

Plastic coil is stocked in 4:1 pitch (4 holes to the inch), 3:1 pitch (3 holes to the inch) and 5:1 pitch (5 holes to the inch).
The most common pitch of spiral coil is 4:1 pitch which is used by more than 90% of the marketplace. Depending on the brand of 4:1 spiral coil binding machine that you have it may punch either 43 holes (true .250 pitch) or 44 holes (.2475 Pitch). Both of these hole patterns use the same standard 4:1 supplies, however, the 44 hole pattern is designed to help with better placement of the holes on 11″ documents.

Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for MyBinding.com. He has written over 100 articles on binding supplies, binding covers, 3-ring binders and more.