Wire bind - 2:1 vs 3:1

[bcr]

We have a modular punch with 2:1 and 3:1 wire bind dies.

I'm ordering binding spines now, and wondered... Is it worth bothering with 3:1 for the thinner documents, or should I just stick with 2:1 for all sizes? Is there a benefit, aesthetic, practical or otherwise from 3:1? We will be binding documents which are A5 and A4 in size.

Many thanks,

 

[lfelton]

Aesthetics really, either will do the job. The thinner the spine, the thinner gauge wire is used. So 2:1 at very thin spine widths looks a bit weedy. Still works, but some customers won’t like it.

 

[Ynot_UK]

We've always used 3:1 for wire bound jobs, only resorting to 2:1 for very thick documents where 3:1 wire elements are not available. In fact we've only got one size of 2:1 elements on the shelf, No.20 being 1.25". We have both dies for the original Magnapunch, in round hole flavour. For us, no-one has ever asked if the holes would be round or square.

 

[bcr]

Thanks guys. My supplier only does 2:1 above a certain page count. So I got 3:1 up to I think 65 sheets and 2:1 spines after that.

We've got round hole dies on the GBC modular punch. Heard after ordering that square is a bit easier with larger page volumes as the holes are a bit bigger, but you live and learn.

 

[lfelton]

Ha, I'll post a photo of our "spool wall" one day to make you laugh, what a PITA that is to keep accurate stock levels of every single size of 3-4 different colours. With current generation automated wire binders you have to use the right size wire, in the old Rilecart days we could get away with using a bigger size wire. Round vs square? Don't sweat it. Round looks nicer for 2:1 and we have zero problems running that on our binders. As long as you have clean, accurate punching you should be ok. 2:1 wire goes down to 1/4 inch on spools (I don't know about cut wire boxes), but as I say it looks a bit weedy. It is cheaper per book though as there's less wire.

 

[bcr]

Ha, I'll post a photo of our "spool wall" one day to make you laugh, what a PITA that is to keep accurate stock levels of every single size of 3-4 different colours. With current generation automated wire binders you have to use the right size wire, in the old Rilecart days we could get away with using a bigger size wire. Round vs square? Don't sweat it. Round looks nicer for 2:1 and we have zero problems running that on our binders. As long as you have clean, accurate punching you should be ok. 2:1 wire goes down to 1/4 inch on spools (I don't know about cut wire boxes), but as I say it looks a bit weedy. It is cheaper per book though as there's less wire.

Thanks!

I'm ordering bare metal ones as I think that looks the most classy.

We've got two Ricoh machines with GBC streampunch pros, which so far punch the pages far more accurately and consistently than I ever managed punching them myself.

Also got a renz ECL360 wire closer so not going fully automated.