| If you'd like to make your documents look like they've | | | | good results without any guesswork. Lesser machines |
| been professionally bound, a thermal binding machine | | | | won't have this feature, which can make the process |
| can help you out. Thermal binding machines can make | | | | more challenging. |
| your work look like the type of hardcover or | | | | 4. Temperature settings. Something to keep in mind |
| paperback books you see in bookstores which can | | | | about thermal binding machines is that many of them |
| really impress your colleagues and customers. If you | | | | don't have adjustable temperature settings. While this |
| don't have a thermal binding machine but are interested | | | | helps simplify things quite a bit, you may find that you |
| in purchasing one, there are a few things you should | | | | have to run your hardcover documents through the |
| look for as you're shopping. Here they are.... | | | | device twice in order to fully melt the adhesive. |
| | | | Therefore, make sure you choose a device that can |
| 1. A deep enough throat. One of the first things you | | | | properly process hardcover books if that's the type of |
| should take a look at is the size of the throat. How | | | | documents you'll be creating. |
| deep is it? Will you be able to bind more than one | | | | 5. A cooling rack. Finally, the machine you choose |
| book at a time? Will you be able to bind documents | | | | should have a cooling rack. A cooling rack is a handy |
| containing a certain number of pages? All of these are | | | | storage area in which you can place your bound |
| important things to consider, so be sure to pick a | | | | documents so they can properly set. A good cooling |
| device with a throat that will fit your needs. | | | | rack will be made out of metal so you can get the |
| 2. The right throat length. Many of the thermal binding | | | | most use out of it. Plastic racks tend to break after a |
| covers that are available are 11 inches long so you can | | | | while, so make sure you avoid them. As you can see, |
| use them for letter-sized documents. Thus, a lot of the | | | | there are several important things to look for when |
| machines you can buy will be compatible with these | | | | you're looking for your new thermal binding machine. |
| supplies. However, if you'd like to produce legal-sized | | | | Make sure to look for a device with a large enough - |
| documents that are 14 inches long or use photobook | | | | and deep enough - throat, a timer, adequate |
| covers, be sure to look for a device that can handle | | | | temperature settings, and a cooling rack. You'll also |
| documents of this size. | | | | want to look for a good warranty and durable |
| 3. A timer. If you want to purchase a high-quality | | | | construction. If you make an effort to look for these |
| device, you should look for one that has a timer. All of | | | | things, you're going to find the right thermal binding |
| the better devices have timers that will let you know | | | | machine for your needs. |
| when the bookbinding cycle is done so you can get | | | | |