For those of you who are familiar with our standard laminating pouch offerings, we want to introduce you to their exciting new siblings!

Adhesive-Backed Thermal Laminating Pouches. Our first in our new line of thermal laminating pouches is the Adhesive-Backed Laminating Pouches. These pouches run through your pouch laminator just like any other pouch, but once you’ve laminated your document, you can peel off the protective backing to expose adhesive.

These sticky pouches adhere to any smooth, dry surface, so you can make durable signs, 

BlockBac Anti-Bacterial Thermal Laminating Pouches. The second in our new line of thermal laminating pouches is our antibacterial pouches. Perfect for this season in which social distancing, masks, and disinfecting surfaces is common practice, these thermal laminating pouches are designed to block over 99% of bacteria. Think of how this can revolutionize menus, schedules, calendars, inventories, meal plans, and a host of other uses!

Not only are these pouches designed to block bacteria, but they’re also 100% washable, which further reduces the presence of germs for high-touch, high-traffic utilizations. 

Pouch laminating is a quick, easy way to preserve your important documents, protect them from dirt, wear and tear, and moisture, as well as allowing for reusability (a simple dry-erase marker allows you to reuse a document you created and laminated over and over). Laminating also allows you to clean and disinfect documents that may be touched by multiple people (think menus, schedules, etc). 

Pouch laminators are less expensive than roll laminators, which means they’re more accessible to more people. Pouches come in various pre-cut sizes from 2″x3″ to 12″x18″ for great flexibility, and if you can’t find a pouch in the size you need, you can always size up and then trim down after you’ve laminated your item. Most pouch laminators can accommodate documents up to at least 9” x 12”, and some can accommodate up to 13” widths.

So with that in mind, if you haven’t already added a pouch laminator to your office or home tools, you can see our machines here. If you already own a pouch laminator, get to know these new products—we promise that you’ll love them!

So school just let out (well, in most communities it’s been “out” for a while as all of you wonderful teachers transitioned to distance-learning classes on less than a moment’s notice) which means it’s time to think about…Next Year.

While many school districts are contemplating what school will look like in the coming year, and what changes you’ll be putting into place given current CDC guidelines, one thing is certain: you’ll need badge holders. 

And we know it’s not just schools! Conventions and meetings and craft fairs, you all are going to be coming back online as states start opening up for business again; while you might have to do some configuring and practice some flexibility as you work to comply with current guidelines—keep reading; we’ve got badge holders for you, too!

All Weather Zip-Seal Pouches

If you’re looking to keep bus passes, school ID cards, or any other credit-card-sized item safe and protected from the elements, you’ll want to check out these zip-seal pouches that we offer. These vinyl pouches come in vertical or horizontal orientation and have both a slot at the top for a badge clip and round holes for threading a cord or chain through. You can pair them with a nylon cord lanyard to keep your items with you all the time, or a 6” clear luggage loop to keep your ID and bus pass attached to your backpack or laptop bag. They have a simple “ziplock” closure which means waterproof protection for your important documents while also providing easy access when needed.

All-In-One Badge Holders

Our flexible vinyl All-in-One Badge holders come in multiple colors and two different sizes. They include their own 36” color-coordinated braided neck cord which adjusts for different sizes using a cord slider. These badge holders are perfect for conventions, craft fairs, competitions, and other events; the multiple colors are perfect for distinguishing various groups, tracks, or differentiating coordinators from attendees.  

Vinyl RFID/Proximity Reader ID Holder

If your employer or school uses proximity readers, you’re probably familiar with the age-old problem of having your face or print rub off your card before it’s time for a new one. One of the best ways to keep your card in good condition is to put it into one of our vinyl RFID/Proximity Reader ID Holders. These holders not only protect your ID card, but they can be coupled with a vinyl badge strap or a retractable ID holder to clip to your clothing, nylon cord lanyards to wear them around your neck, or with a 6” clear luggage loop to loop to your bag or briefcase.

Proximity Reader ID Holders also make great luggage tag holders, so if you plan to take advantage of the currently super cheap airline and cruise tickets that are happening right now, grab a couple extra vinyl ID holders and 6” clear luggage loops for your luggage! 

If you’re looking forward (full of hope and optimism) to getting some semblance of normalcy back—to traveling, to going back to school (in person), to business conventions and bake-offs and science fairs, then come visit poppbinding.com—we’ve got everything you need for work and school!

It’s April. Under normal circumstances, for most of us, April would’ve meant seed catalogs and garden starts, Easter candy, gearing up to finish the last of the year’s school projects, celebrating the incoming warmer weather with the kids at local parks, zoos, and rec centers, and backyard barbecues with friends and neighbors.

But not this April. This year, many of us are learning the fine art of social distancing and hand cleanliness; we’re learning how to work from home, to homeschool, to play in our own yards, and we’re cooking in, coordinating childcare, and trying to find a semblance of familiarity in a crazy new world!

Here at Popp Binding, we wanted to help you out this month by giving you a few fun projects you can do with your laminating machine—because, as we all know, laminated items are not only durable, they’re washable. So enjoy these projects and remember to disinfect thoroughly when finished—just because you CAN!

Alphabet Fridge Magnets

We all remember the little plastic alphabet magnets that our moms kept on the fridge. Here’s a fun, inexpensive take on those little alphabet magnets that you can make right now at home to give your littles hours of fun! Use them on your fridge, on a magnetic cooking tray, magnetic chalkboards—anything you have on hand. These are perfect for helping work through math problems, phonics, etc. 

1. Download and print the free ABC cards pdf file
2. Place each printed sheet inside an 8.5×11” magnetic laminating pouch and pass through your laminating machine; please note that these magnetic laminating pouches do work best in 6-roller laminating machines; however, if you don’t have a 6-roller machine, you can pass these pouches through your machine multiple times to make sure the adhesive is properly bonded.
3. Use a trimmer or scissors to cut cards apart; these laminating sheets do not need a border and can be laminated from edge to edge
4. Place cards on fridge, magnetic cookie sheet, or other magnetic surface and let children make words, math problems, or phonics blends (HINT: Print multiple copies so the kiddos have multiples of the same letter!)

If you don’t have any magnetic laminating pouches on hand, don’t worry! You can grab some here. They’re sold individually and can be purchased in multiple sizes, as well as in matte or gloss finish (depending on the size you order). Some other fun uses for magnetic laminating pouches include: 

1. Preserving the kids’ artwork (no need to hunt down fridge magnets!)
2. Making a list of emergency and frequently-used phone numbers for the family
3. Making a “clean/dirty” magnet for the dishwasher
4. What else? Leave your suggestions in the comments below; we’d love to hear how YOU are using the magnetic laminating pouches!

Dry Erase Grocery List 

With the kids home, you may find that you’re going through food (and perhaps coffee?) and other consumables a lotfaster! If you’re having trouble keeping up, here’s a neat idea: 

1. Print out our grocery list pdf. 
2. Trim around the borders (a trimmer will make this job a lot faster!). Line the crop marks up on your trimmer and slice off the excess margins.
3. Slide it into a regular laminating pouch and pass it through your laminating machine.
4. Trim down the edges, leaving a 1/8” border on all sides
5. Use a magnetic clip to hold the grocery list onto the fridge door (our magnetic laminating pouches are not dry erase, so don’t use those for this project!) As you or other family members use the last of items (or when you can see the bottom of your bag of coffee beans), add those items to the grocery list using a dry erase pen or marker.
6. Right before you’re ready to head out to pick up groceries (or when you’re ready to order them online), snap a pic of your grocery list on your phone (or take it off the fridge and bring it with you, if you prefer). 

Now you know exactly what you need, and there’s no mad scrabbling through the cupboards trying to figure out if someone used the last of the lunch meat this past week. As a bonus, not only is this grocery list dry erase, but if you happen to prefer just bringing the entire thing with you when you grocery shop, you can dunk it in soapy water when you get home to clean it off, and then stick it back on the fridge, ready to be used again!

Laminated Window Suncatcher

For this project, you just need regular laminating pouches, some permanent markers (we like colored sharpies), and one black sharpie marker. We printed off a stained glass pattern that we found online; you can do the same or create your own. 

1. Print off your pattern and tape it underneath your laminating pouch, face up.
   
2. Open your laminating pouch and use the black sharpie to trace the black outlines from your pattern onto the insideof your pouch. Make your outlines nice and thick.
3. Remove the paper pattern.
4. Use your colored markers to color in between the black outlines, again, on the inside of your pouch. Be careful while you’re coloring–the marker takes a little while to dry and you can pick up color with your hand and transfer to areas of your picture that you don’t want those colors on.
   
5. Once you’ve colored in your pattern, close up the pouch again. The picture should now be on the inside of the pouch.
6. Run your empty pouch through your laminator. You can use a carrier if desired or if your machine requires one.
7. Once your pouch has come through the other side, it’s finished! Trim around the outside of your design and tape it to your window. Or, better yet, use a hole punch to punch a hole in the top of your design. Slip a pretty ribbon through the hole and hang it on a suction cup hook in your window.
   

For more handy projects you can make for (and with!) the kids, check out our previous blog post here. If you find yourself short on laminating pouches, head over to poppbinding.com and check out our supply. For the month of April, you can use the coupon code “pouch20” to save 20% on all of our laminating pouches; if you don’t have a laminating machine yet, we’re offering a great deal on a machine and pouch bundle (see here). Remember, laminated items are not only sturdy and long-lasting, but you can also wash and disinfect them as often as needed!

From everyone here at Popp Binding & Laminating, Happy Quarantining!

Having a binding machine in your office or school can save you both time & money, but the trade-off, of course, is that keeping your binding machine working is all on you. Here are some tips to make sure that your binding machine “holds things together” for years to come.

As always, refer to your user manual for care instructions specific to your machine.

Check Your Chip Tray

Different machines will have varying sized chip trays (“chips” are those little teeny round or rectangular cut-outs from punching the holes for your bindings)—eventually, though regardless of your tray size, you’re going to have to empty it. If your die get stuck or jammed while you’re punching, then you may want to check your chip tray; it may need to get emptied. 

Follow the Rules

Easily the most tedious part of binding is the punching teeny little holes into multiple sheets of paper. If you’ve got a lot of documents to bind, this tedium can be amplified exponentially. We know the temptation is to slide a few extra sheets of paper into your stack as you’re punching. I mean, if the machine will punch it, why not cheat a little, right? Unfortunately, while you may think there’s no harm in pushing the boundaries of what your machine is capable, punching more sheets than your machine’s maximum limit can seriously compromise the integrity of your dies, not to mention your machine’s longevity. So just don’t do it.

A Little Dab’ll Do You 

Your dies may benefit from a little bit of oil now and then to keep them lubricated, as well as to prevent rust and grime from gumming them up. Check your machine’s user manual for info on if, when, and how to oil your dies—not all machines require this. In general, if you need to add a little oil, you can add a few drops of machine oil (available at your local hardware store) to a soft, lint-free cloth, and rub the oil over the exposed dies. After you’ve lubricated your dies, punch a few sheets of paper until the excess oil has worked its way down into the dies and you don’t get oil residue on your paper. 

Watch Your Alignment

A lot of common binding machine issues can be easily solved by simply paying attention to your paper alignment as you punch. Most machines have alignment guides to help keep your paper situated on the binder properly as you punch—make sure your paper stack is firmly seated against your machine’s alignment guides. It’s always a good idea to test your alignment by punching a scrap sheet of paper, too—this will help avoid the unpleasant experience of having to redo a project because your paper wasn’t properly aligned.

Power Down

If you’re using an electric punch or binding machine, it’s always a good idea to shut off the power when you’re not using it; leaving it powered on around the clock can subject your binding machine to power surges and overheating. 

Leave It to the Pros

Most binding machines are not intended to be serviced by customers; while you’re less likely to experience technical troubles if you follow these simple maintenance procedures, occasionally, bad stuff does happen. If you find yourself with a machine that won’t turn on or isn’t working properly, don’t attempt to service it yourself—call an expert! If your binding machine is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer using the warranty information in your user manual; they can assist you with finding a licensed repair person in your area to help you get your machine back up and running.

Here at Popp Binding and Laminating, we make sure to sell only well-built, high-quality binding & laminating machines, which means that with proper care and maintenance, your machine should last for years and years. If you need additional information about maintaining your machine and keeping it in working order, contact any of our helpful salespeople via phone at 800-437-4787 or email at sales@poppbinding.com for help and tips! 

Having just come off a long holiday break, we can attest to the fact that sometimes a little refresher is helpful to keep our kids’ skills sharpened up. This vacation, we decided to make a simple reusable wipe-clean booklet to help our kids practice their multiplication skills while school was out (and any other time they need practice, too!). We thought we’d share our process here so your children and students can benefit from this quick-to-make tool, too. This is perfect for classrooms, too, as the booklets can be cleaned and reused with multiple students and over multiple years. Obviously, you can use this method with nearly any thing that needs practice: letter formation, other math facts, the periodic table—you dream it, you can make it!

Step 1: Print off the pages that you want use in your booklet.

There are all kinds of free worksheets available online, or you can use worksheets you already have, or make your own. The possibilities are endless!

Step 2: Laminate the worksheets.

We prefer pouches for this project, but it’ll work great with regular roll laminators, too—you’ll just need to do a little extra trimming around the pages. Make sure that when you laminate, you leave ample border around the page edges. We like to leave a little extra border on the left side so that when we get to step 4, we’re not introducing areas in which moisture can get to our worksheets.

Step 3: Select a cover.

We really like the poly covers (made from polyethylene plastic). They are tear resistant, waterproof (like the rest of your book pages), and just overall durable. However, on our sample project, we used a simple vinyl cover. Regardless, adding a cover—any cover—to your booklet will add years of longevity to it. 

Step 4: Bind your pages together.

You can use just about any binding method for this booklet, although we favor spiral because this will allow the book to be opened and folded back on itself, and it’s a bit more permanent than comb or wire binding. Comb is also a great option, however, because it allows pages to be added or taken out later as your students’ needs change. We used comb binding for our sample project. If you left yourself a little extra plastic on the left margin, you can punch your holes through that to avoid punching through your paper. This will keep your pages safe from water and marker residue.

Step 5: Let your student loose with some dry erase markers and watch their skills improve!

That’s it! In just a few simple steps, you can make up a great tool to help keep your kids’ knowledge fresh or improve mastery of new concepts. And bonus! Since it’s dry erase, we (almost) guarantee that your kids and students will love practicing with this booklet!

It’s time to order your binding supplies for your comb binder—you’ve got combs in all the common sizes and colors ready to order, and it’s time to replace your comb inserter, so you’ve got that added to your online cart, but you’re forgetting one thing. Know what it is?

If you said covers, then you’re absolutely correct! We don’t often think of covers as part of our binding supplies, but what’s the good of binding a bunch of papers together without giving them a solid foundation, a protective layer of durability, and a beautiful finish? Without a cover, your document is unfinished. So in this blog post, we’re going to go through the different cover options that are available and give you some useful information about them. In the end, of course, the choice of whether or not to cover your document is yours, but if you’re needing a little help picking out a cover (and you should be picking out a cover!), here it is!

Clear Acetate Covers are completely see through and are one of the most commonly used cover options. They come in different weights, depending on how sturdy your document needs to be, and in different finishes (we offer a traditional smooth gloss finish, a matte clear finish which reduces glare, and a matte suede finish which has a “pebbled” texture on one side and a non-glare finish on the other side. Clear covers are perfect for letting your company’s logo show, or a full-color detailed design, or photos, like you’d find on menus, photo albums, or catalogs. Clear acetate covers are waterproof, tear resistant, and very sturdy, which will add longevity to any project they’re applied to. 

Pros: waterproof, sturdy, and see-through

Cons: work best with projects that already have cover pages and are just needing a bit of sturdiness

 Paper Covers are beautiful, professional-looking heavy-weight paper covers used most commonly for reports and proposals. They typically have a small window so that you can add a title page and view it when the cover is closed, although you can also find completely solid paper covers, as well. The covers are usually textured and may have a light coating on them to add durability. 

Pros: professional-looking, durable, don’t require a full color cover page

Cons: not waterproof, cover page isn’t visible, except through a small window large enough for document title

Vinyl Covers are similar to paper covers in that they’re textured, solid-colored, and are typically used for reports and proposals, as well as other professional applications. Vinyl covers are usually textured and typically come in conservative colors like black and navy. Vinyl covers have a vinyl cover and a heavy paper backing, so they’re durable and tear-resistant, but not waterproof. They work well for items that may see a lot of use, such as employee handbooks.

Pros: professional-looking, durable, don’t require a full color cover page

Cons: Cover page isn’t visible through vinyl

Polyethelene (Poly) Covers, like clear acetate, are waterproof, tear resistant, and extremely durable. They come in several different textures, including a matte finish and a “leather-look-alike” finish. Like the paper and vinyl covers, Poly covers are not clear—they typically come in conservative colors like black or navy, so don’t really work for items that you may want to see a full-color cover page through. The best part about poly covers is that they can easily be wiped clean if they get dusty or dirty, making them perfect for use in schools, businesses, sales presentations, and more.

Pros: professional-looking, durable, don’t require a full-color cover page, waterproof, tear-proof, easily cleaned

Cons: Cover page isn’t visible through vinyl

Thermal Utility Covers are for use with thermal binding machines. They come with a clear transparent 10-mil front cover and a thick linen paper back, and the glue is already inserted into the spine, so you simply insert your finished pages and place them in your thermal binder. Thermal covers require you to purchase the specific spine size that you need, so you either need to keep a variety of sizes on hand, or you need to know your project’s spine thickness before you order. These covers give your project a beautiful finish, especially since their’s no visible binding on the spine. Since these covers have a clear front, you can go ahead and use a full-color cover page with them; they’re great for menus, scrapbooks, school projects, portfolios, and catalogs.

Pros: beautiful finish, clear front cover so cover page can show through, perfect bound spine

Cons: more expensive than other cover methods, requires a thermal binding machine, must order size-specific, and not waterproof due to linen paper backing.

While often overlooked when considering binding materials, covers are a really great addition to your binding project; they give it a put-together, professional finish and lend durability and protection to it that you just can’t get without a cover. So next time you’re stocking up on coils, combs, or wire—remember to stock up on covers, too!

If you’re needing to bind even a fair amount of projects regularly, you’ll want to purchase your own binding machine to reduce costs. If it’s still early in the game and you’re scratching your head about what type of machine you need, you’ll want to head on over to our handy guide Choosing a Binding Method to help you out with that decision. If, however, you’ve already gotten your binding machine and you’re just needing some tips for getting started, then keep reading.

We’ve divided the information by binding type, so feel free to skip to the Comb Binding, Coil Binding, or Double Loop Wire Binding sections for specific info. But first, here are some general tips that are relevant to all binding methods:

1. All comb, coil, and double loop wire binding machines have a built-in hole punch designed to correctly align the holes along the margin of your project with the binding materials that machine is designed for. When you’re punching your pages, it’s really important to make sure they’re correctly seated in the punch—pages should be set all the way into the punch as far as they’ll go, and you’ll want to do a visual check to make sure they’re straight so you don’t end up with holes going slantwise and off the page.

2. While we’re on the subject of punching, keep in mind that each machine has a maximum number of pages it can punch at one time. This information can be found in your user manual and is different to each machine. The maximum punch capacity is based on 20lb uncoated bond, so if you’re punching heavier paper or acetate covers or anything else, you’ll need to adjust how many pages you punch at a time. Also, we strongly advise that you don’t regularly punch the maximum capacity of your machine as this can wear out the die faster, reducing the life of your binding machine.

3. If you have ever wondered where the cut-outs (they’re called “chips,” by the way) go after you’ve punched your pages, check the “chip” tray—typically, it’s located directly under the paper punch (again, consult your user manual for exactly where this is located on your machine and how to access it). You’ll want to regularly empty this tray or else the chips can get jammed up between the die and cause them not to descend properly.

Comb Binding

Comb binding is the easiest and most economical binding method, using plastic combs with curved teeth that slip through the punched holes on the edge of your document and tuck under the spine to hold the pages securely. Comb binding is great for documents as thin as ¼” through 2″ thick. The spines are perfect for personalizing with a screen printed book title! If you’ve got a comb binding machine, here are some ways to get great results every time:

1. If your machine has a margin adjuster, you can use it to help center your punches along the margin so you don’t have holes punching off the edges. Your machine may also have disengageable die which allows you to “turn off” some of the die so you can get your holes aligned correctly. If you need to, you can punch on scrap paper until you get things just right.

2. Along with an adjustable margin setter, your comb binding machine may also have an adjustable depth setting, which allows you to punch holes further away from or closer to the edge of your document. If you’re binding a thicker project, you’ll want to set your depth a little further from the margin of your page to give your document more durability. If you’re binding a thinner project, you’ll want to set your depth a bit closer to the edge of your margin to help your pages turn more smoothly.

3. If you have trouble knowing what size combs to use for your project, check your binding machine for a sizing tool—many have them. Your user guide will give your information on exactly how to use the tool, but it’ll help you tailor your comb size to your document. Often the comb packaging will also have indications on how much paper that comb size can accommodate, so if your comb binding machine doesn’t have a sizing tool, check your comb packaging. And remember to move to the next size up if your project is nearing the maximum number of pages for the previous comb size.

4. When you open your comb to slide your pages onto it, take care to open it just wide enough to accommodate your pages. Opening it too widely will give you less “tooth” space to fit your project onto, which will cost you time as you fiddle with things.

5. Pages go onto both combs and double loop wire face down. You want to make sure you’re only inserting a few pages at a time; trying to slide too many on your comb will cause endless frustration as the teeth curl up between the stack of pages instead of slipping through the holes like they’re supposed to do.

6. Larger combs often have divots on the two outermost teeth. These are designed to slide into a corresponding slot on the spine that help keep the combs closed even when loaded with pages.

Coil Binding

Coil binding is beautiful, versatile, and durable. Coils come in a rainbow of colors for personalized pizazz. One of the biggest advantages of coil is that coil-bound documents can be opened a full 360º, making it perfect for catalogs, calendars, and textbooks. Coil binding machines come in both electric and manual models, and depending on the model, you may have to purchase the coil inserter separately. If you’re just getting started with your coil binder, here are our best tips:

1. As with comb binding, if your coil binding machine allows you to adjust the punch depth, then use this feature to give your project optimal durability. Remember to punch further from the paper edge for thicker documents and closer to the paper edge for thinner documents. Also check for a adjustable margin settings so that your holes are centered along the project’s edge. If you aren’t sure about the correct settings, punch a few test sheets until you get it right.

2. “Pitch” refers to how many holes your machine punches per inch. Most machines only come in one pitch, with 4:1 pitch being the most common, followed by 5:1 pitch. While pitch is something that you would’ve considered when first purchasing your coil binding machine, keep in mind the restraints of your machine, remember to punch within your machine’s pitch capabilities. Machines with a 5:1 pitch can handle projects up to 1″ thick, and machines with 4:1 pitch can handle documents up to 2″ thick.

3. Don’t scrimp on equipment. We know this may sound silly, but there are so many tools out there that can make coil binding faster and easier for you. While a lot of these tools aren’t really optional (like wire crimpers), some of them are. Don’t be afraid to make your job easier with things like an electric inserter or a slantis sleeve

4. Speaking the slantis sleeve—if you’re binding large documents even semi-regularly, consider purchasing one. The slantis sleeve essentially curves your stack of paper so that your curved coils can be more easily inserted into the holes along the margin (otherwise, you’re inserting curved coils into a straight stack of paper, which is just as difficult as it sounds!).

Double Loop Wire Binding

Double Loop Wire binding is one of the most professional-looking method that’s used most often for reports, booklets, calendars (check out our DIY Project: How to Make a Calendar), catalogs, and promotional materials. If you own a double loop wire binding machine, here are a couple tips to help you get the best results always:

1. Once again, adjust your margin and depth settings as needed to give your project the best finish. Punch further from the page margin for thicker documents as this adds durability and closer to the margin for thinner documents so your pages turn smoothly. Adjust your side margins or disengage appropriate die to keep your punches centered on the page. And, as we said previously, if you need to test your settings, don’t be afraid to practice on some scrap pages.

2. Pitch comes into play again with double loop wire binding—you can choose 3:1 pitch or 2:1 pitch (again, remember that pitch refers to how many holes per inch). As with coil binding, your machine will most likely only punch one pitch, so be aware of your double loop wire binding machine’s capabilities before you undertake your project.

3. If your machine has disengageable die, they’ll come in handy with double loop wire. One of the beautiful things about double loop wire is its versatility. For instance, if you’re pairing a wire calendar hanger with double loop wire, you’ll need to disengage the middle two die as you won’t be using them. Use that feature. As often as necessary.

4. When you’re inserting your pages onto the wire, flip the back cover over the front cover. After you’ve closed your wire, you can return the back cover to its correct position and your seam will be neatly hidden inside your document.

5. Keep your wire snips handy. This can be used for shortening your wire if it’s too long, or snipping off sections of wire that are unused (again, remember that wire calendar hanger? You’ll need them for that!).

We hope these tips will get you great results on each of your projects and, in the process, make your binding experience a little faster and a little easier. As always, for best results, remember to consult your individual machine’s user manual for features, settings, maintenance, and guidelines specific to it.

Happy binding!

A company-branded calendar is a great marketing tool! Hand it out to your customers and clients, and they’ll see your name on every day, every month, every year. It’s also a fantastic yet under-rated piece of swag for employees (pre-mark important days like paydays, company holidays, meetings, deadlines to make sure everyone’s on the same page). In this blog post, we’ll show you how to make your own calendar so you can put your company out front and showcase your brand with very little effort.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Pre-printed calendar pages

2. ¼” double loop wire

3. Wire calendar hanger

4. Half-moon punch

5. Wire snips

6. Double loop wire binding machine: (we recommend the Akiles Wire Mac)

Here’s what to do:

1. Gather up your calendar pages—you’ll need one for each month of the year. Mark the center of the long edge of your pages where your binding will go on the finished project.

2. Using your half-moon punch, punch out a divot right over the center mark on each page. Make sure you punch the front and back covers, too. This is where your calendar hanger will sit.

3. If your binding machine has disengageable die, now is the time to use that feature by disengaging the middle two die where your divot was punched. Now slide the long edge of your calendar pages (where the binding will go) into your double loop wire binding machine and punch holes just as you would with any other document.

4. Collate your pages. Once collated, flip the back cover the front cover (this will hide your seam inside the document, giving it a more professional finish).

5. Place your wire into the wire holder on your machine per your user manual and slide your pages onto it face down.

6. Get your wire calendar hanger and slide it into the center of your calendar above the divot that you punched in step 2.

7. Close your wires using either a separate wire closer or the closer on your binding machine, if it has one.

8. Grab your wire snips and cut the two wires in the center of your calendar where your half-moon is punched.

9. Flip your back cover to the back again and pull your wire calendar hanger up.

That’s it.

With just a few simple steps, you can create a beautiful, professional-looking calendar to distribute to your favorite clients, employees, or maybe your family and friends. Now, just stand back and admire your work.