Color coil binding (also known as spiral, coil bind, plastic coil binding) is one of the most popular and fastest-growing styles of all binding styles. Documents bound this way lie flat, and the pages can rotate 360 degrees around the flexible PVC spine. Coil binding is fast and easy and offers a wide variety of colors to choose from.
1. Select the appropriate size of the colored coil element
- As with other spiral coil styles, your provider should be able to suggest to you the appropriate size of the coil to match your document.
It is important not to use coil bindings that are too short for your document as the document's production time, appearance, and functionality will be greatly affected.
- Appearance is always a good indicator of fit.
- Binding is available in various pitches; Be sure to match your pitch to your punch.
- The most common pitch is 4:1 (or 4 holes per inch).
- 5:1 and 6mm also available, 3:1 being a much less common pitch
2. Starting the Color Coil Binding
- Many spiral binding machines have a prong forming channel, a useful feature to help form the shape to aid in the initial insertion of the spiral coil.
- Begin twisting the coil by hand on the punched document. It's a good idea to rotate the binding by at least an inch.
- After the binding starts, hold it near the rubber rollers. Apply gentle pressure to the binding coil against the roller.
3. Crimping Spiral Element
- When the coil is twisted onto the document, the extra element must be cut and crimped using cut and crimp pliers.
- When using cut/crimp pliers, always use them in your right hand with your thumb next to the red dot.
- Make sure the prongs on the cut/crimp pliers contact the coil and squeeze. This will cut off the excess and twist the coil from the binding to keep it from uncoiling.
Troubleshooting:
Spiral coil not inserting into the document
- Make sure the pitch of the binding supplied matches the pitch of the hole.
- The coil is too small to document.
- Large diameter coil bindings (such as 1″ and above) are difficult to insert under the best conditions. Try an oval hole punch.
Coil binding does not fold when cut.
- Make sure the cut/crimp pliers are in your right hand and the dot is facing up. If not, the pliers will crimp and crimp the part of the coil binding you want to cut!
- Make sure both prongs of the cut/crimp pliers make contact with the coil binding. This can be somewhat tricky on 6mm and 7mm coil bindings due to the smaller diameter.
Notes and Tips:
- Auto cutters/crimpers are available in single or double configurations. They can be tedious to set up but save a lot of time for long production runs.
The document does not act the way coil binding is intended. The pages do not turn freely due to the increased thickness of the binding and the weight of the book.-If possible, do not use coil binding for documents thicker than 1″.
- Another common configuration of a coil binding inserter is a wheel. The wheel may be faster for experienced users, but it is more difficult to learn.
Users with smaller volumes usually have more success with a roller style of the inserter.
-Coil bindings are sold by the inch, so it is possible to get coil bindings in a 9″ length for the top prong and eliminate waste, or an 18″ length for 11 x 17 documents.
When you need a non-standard spine shape, coil binding is the best method of binding.
- Coil binding is available in over 60 colors, the most of any binding style to date
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