 |
Free Subscription | Book Binding Tips | Information Packaging Tips | Submit Online Quote | About Eckhart & Co. | Contact Us |
|
 November 2002: Ring Metal Options When you hear the term “ring binder,” it likely conjures up images of the trusty three-ring notebook you toted around in middle school. The reality is that ring binders are a versatile and attractive way to house important information. One of the key elements of quality ring binder construction is the ring metal itself. Here is an overview of the various ring metal options, along with a few other tips to help you properly plan your next ring binder.
Plenty of ring styles — Different products require different specifications, so be sure to match your binder application with an appropriate ring style. The three most popular ring shapes available to hold standard 11” and 8.5” sheets are round ring, straight D-ring and angle D-ring. Round ring and straight D-ring styles are suitable for most binder applications, as they provide both ease of use and plenty of durability. The angle D-ring style is ideal for binders with index tabs, as it shingles the tabs down the face of the binder for easy viewing. Need a binder with extra capacity? The angle D-ring not only holds a great deal of material, but the design allows large groups of sheets to be moved easily without catching or tearing. Round ring and straight D-ring styles are available in diameters from 1/2” to 3”, while angle D-rings are available in diameters ranging from 3/4” to 4”.
Need a booster? — A booster is a mechanism placed at either one or both ends of the ring base that enables the user to activate the rings without prying them apart manually. Boosters can be used to open and close the rings, or open them only. Another option is a locking booster, which allows users to lock the rings open or closed.
A “riveting” range of choices
— Rivets are the most common method of affixing the ring base to the binder.
Traditional rivets are placed along the spine of the binder in round or oval
ring styles. This holds the binder and ring base together securely, but the
rivets are visible on the spine of the binder, which may
Helpful Planning and Design Tips Avoid snagging sheets — Don’t you hate it when the rings in a binder fail to line up properly or close fully after repeated use? Pages will then snag and tear, reducing the binder’s functionality. Insufficient ring and base tension is often the culprit, and the result of inferior metals. Look for a ring binder manufacturer that uses only high-quality metals that provide plenty of ring tension for even the highest-use applications.
More information is available! — At Eckhart & Company, we produce a wide range of ring binders every day. For more information on ring binder applications, ask us for a FREE copy of our ring capacity guide.
|
interfere
with spine copy. One way to avoid this is to use angle and straight D-ring
metals, which are riveted through the back cover of the binder. If you need to
stick with a round ring binder, there are two ways to eliminate visible rivets.
In traditional hidden rivet construction, rivets are inserted through a
plate on the spine that hides the rivet heads. Prong bushings can be used
in place of rivets; they dig into the binder itself to secure the ring base.
Prong bushings typically offer a cost advantage over hidden rivet construction.
