Glossary of Binding Terms

3:1 - Three holes punched per inch. 32 total holes along the long edge of a paper.

4:1 - Four holes punched per inch.

5:1 - Five holes punched per inch. 19 Ring Wire - 19 ring wire is double loop wire that has been made to fit through holes made by a plastic comb binding machine. 19 ring wire is also known as Spiral-O wire.

19 Ring Wire - 19 ring wire is double loop wire that has been made to fit through holes made by a plastic comb binding machine. 19 ring wire is also known as Spiral'O® wire.

Adhesive binding - The type of binding in which single leaves are secured together with an adhesive applied to the textblock spine. In traditional systems animal glue or polyvinyl acetate glues are mostly used, in the modern Fastbind method a hot melt adhesive is used. This type of binding is also called perfect binding. Sections with perforations along the fold (for adhesive penetration into the folds to hold each section together) is a type of adhesive binding. It is known as perfo-, burst, or perfopunch binding.

Binding Element - The supply that your binding machine uses. An example of this would be plastic comb, double loop wire, a coil, etc..

Cover spine - the space between the boards of a case to accommodate the thickness of the textblock. The inside of this space is stiffened with a spine strip. A hinge area left on either side of the spine strip allows for the movement of the cover boards on the shoulders of the textblock as the book is opened and used.
The outside part of the cover spine usually receives stamping for author, title, and publisher. Also called spine, backbone, back backstrip, and shelfback.

Crimping Pliers - Crimping pliers cut off and bend the excess coil after the coil has been inserted. Crimping pliers are only used with Coil Binding.

Comb binding - A book binding similar to a spiral binding but using a round tubular plastic piece with many teeth which fit through small rectangular holes punched into the binding edge of the book. View Sircle Corp's full range of Comb Binder Machines

Die - The part of the binding machine that physically punches the paper.

Disengaging Die - Some binding machines have disengaging dies. This means that the user has complete control over which hole punches and which does not. Most binding machines do not have disengaging Dies. Disengaging dies are not to be confused with interchangeable dies. Interchangeable dies are dies that can be completely removed from the machine and be replaced with a new die.

Interchangeable Die - Interchangeable dies are dies that can be completely removed from the machine and be replaced with a new die.

Mandrel - A cylinder looking unit that is used with coil binding machines with a coil inserter. The coil winds around the mandrel before being inserted into the punched document. The size of the mandrel depends on the size of coil being used.

Margin Depth - How far the binding machine will punch into the paper. Some binding machines have a fixed margin depth, and some machines have an adjustable margin depth.

Nipper Clamp - The nipper clamp squares the book cover off and fits it perfectly around the bound document. This creates a paper bound book. An additional paper cutter may be needed to cut of any excess paper if the book cover is not cut to fit the book before binding.

Perfect binding - Also known as case binding. A type of binding used in making hard cover books using adhesive to attach the separate cover to the inner sheets.

Pitch - Pitch is the style of holes your machine punches. Different binding machines have a different pitch. The spacing of the holes your machine punches depending on the pitch.

Side stitch - Binding by stapling along one side of a sheet.

Spiral binding - A book bound with wires in spiral form inserted through holes punched along the binding side.

Spiral-O Wire - Spiral-O wire is double loop wire that has been made to fit through holes made by a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O wire is also known as 19 ring wire. Check out the large Wire Binding Equipment and Supplies

Thermal Binding - A method of securing loose printed pages with a strip of tape or plastic strips fused with heat is known as thermal binding. Thermal binding allows documents to lay flat when opened, is sturdy, and neat. Also Known As: tape binding, Fastback (brand name of tape binding). View our range of Thermal Binding Machines

Waste or Catch Tray - The part of the machine that catches the punched out pieces of paper during the paper punching process.

Wire binding - A method of wire binding books along the binding edge, often using double loops. A time consuming method as it requires several manual steps to get a book punched carefully before the actual wire assembly. View our full range of Wire Binding Machines