Best Thermal Binding Machine for Document Binding

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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Office work can be more enjoyable if you have efficient tools and machines like portable laser printers, paper shredders, and binding machines, among others. That is why using the best thermal binding machine is a great idea for daily office work. There are numerous brands out there that can make your work easier. Therefore, after testing a couple of thermal binding machines, we reviewed the best five. So, here is our list of the best thermal binding machines.

According to our review, the best thermal binding machine is Fellowes Binding Machine Helios 30, which is fast and more affordable than its competitors. The second best is the Fellowes Thermal Binding Machine, Helios 60, which has a capacity of 600 sheets, making it suitable for large offices. Thirdly, we have Yaegoo 110V Thermal Binding Machine, which only came third because it heats fast. However, it can bind up to 500 documents easily.

List of 5 Best Thermal Binding Machines

1. Fellowes Binding Machine Helios 30 Thermal

Sale
Fellowes Thermal Binding Machine, Helios 30 (5219301)
  • Ideal for medium duty thermal binding projects or desktop use
  • Binds up to 300 sheets
  • 1-3 minute thermal binding cycle with 4-minute heat-up time
  • HeatShield safety barrier prevents accidental contact with the...
  • Manual document measure and LED control panel ensure ease of use

The Helios 30 thermal binder gives your documents a "square back-glued" rendering. Designed for frequent use in the office, I managed to bind several documents simultaneously. I also go the same design for my small home office, and I did not regret it.

It is highly functional, with a binding capacity of 300 sheets. Its pricing also makes it one of the most preferred. You can have your bonded documents ready in 1-3 minutes because that is how fast it takes to bind documents.

Image source: amazon.in

Helios 30 is equipped with a HeatShield safety device that prevents access to the heating plate, which kept my hands safe while working with it. Automatic standby after a period of non-use to reduce energy consumption.

The light and sound signals indicate when the machine is ready to bind. Rack at the back to store the files.

Pros:

  • Efficient
  • Affordable pricing
  • Easy to use

Cons:

  • None.

2. Fellowes Thermal Binding Machine Helios 60

Sale
Fellowes Thermal Binding Machine, Helios 60,...
  • Ideal for large offices. 1 step, worry-free thermal binding
  • Binds up to 600 sheets in one step
  • 1-3 minute thermal binding cycle with 4-minute heat-up time
  • Auto document thickness detector selects thermal binding settings...
  • HeatShield safety barrier prevents accidental contact with the...

I work in a big office, and Fellowes Thermal Binding Machine is the type of thermal binder that that office needs. It is among the best thermal machines anyone with a large office can try. It has a capacity of 600 sheets. This means you can bind up to 600 sheets in just one step.

Fellowes Thermal Binding Machine works well and only gets heated after successfully binding for 4 minutes. Working with this tool enabled me to bind multiple documents simultaneously, improving office efficiency.

It also has an auto document thickness detector that ensures your documents are thick enough to bind. Sometimes, I did not have to select specific settings for the binder to work with. This is because the thickness detector would automatically select some settings for me.

Image source: ebay.com

Lastly, accidents happen at any time, anywhere, and to anybody. That is why this machine consists of a heatshield safety barrier that saved me from getting hurt severally. This barrier prevents accidental contact with the heating plate, ensuring whoever uses it remains safe.

Pros:

  • Suitable for large offices
  • Affordable
  • Provides professional results

Cons:

  • Takes time to warm up

3. Yaegoo 110V Thermal Binding Machine

Yaegoo 110V Thermal Binding Machine 1-50MM Binding...
  • Power: 100W, Binding Size: 320x50mm(A3, A4, A5, A6); Binding...
  • 50mm Extra Thick Binding: Any thickness ranging from 1 to 500...
  • ABS board and full metal handle are durable, heat-resistant,...
  • CPU Control System ensure precisely control, new concept for...
  • Used for binding papers and documents such as advanced bidding...

Yaegoo 110V Thermal Binding Machine machine is powerful with 100W. It took only 3 minutes to warm up, hence not wasting my time.

I managed to bind thick sheets of paper. This included anything between 1-500 sheets, making work easy whether I had a few or many sheets of paper. The ABS board and metal handle are durable, heat resistant, non-toxic, and designed for long-term use.

The CPU control system provided us with precise control, a new concept in electronic linkage. PTC ceramic heater is preferred for automotive air conditioning, and fast and high-efficiency heating.

Image source: amazon.com

We used it to bind papers and documents such as advanced auction documents, insurance contracts, reports, quotes, real estate certificates, visa documents, financial vouchers, and accounting books.

One big challenge with this binder is that it may be slow when binding more than one item at a time. It has a single binding cycle, so we had to let it cool down after heating it. This consumes time that you may not have.

Pros:

  • Provides professional results
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • Heats up faster

4. Tamerica T-30 Heat Binder Thermal Heating Machine

Tamerica T-30 Heat Binder Thermal Binding Machine, Easy...
  • Durable plastic shell
  • Easy operation with buzzer & indicator light
  • Built-in cooling rack for increased performance
  • 1" Max. spine width, 11.8" Max. spine length
  • Binds multiple documents at the same time up to 1" total...

If you want the best thermal binding machine, try this Tamerica T-30 Heat Binder Thermal Heating Machine. I had the opportunity to use it, and it did not fail me.

Its built-in cooling rack ensured that it did not overheat to the point of stopping. So, that highly increased office efficiency because we could bind multiple documents before the machine wet off.

Image source: finitura.com

Working with this thermal binder, we could easily bind documents of up to 1-inch thickness. One problem we encountered was that this Tamerica heat binder came with no clear instructions. So, it was a rough ride for our colleagues who did not understand how to use it.

Pros:

  • Efficient
  • Has a built-in cooling rack

Cons:

  • Unclear instructions

5. RanBB Thermal Binding Machine

RanBB Thermal Binding Machine, 110V 50mm Electric...
  • ✔Lightweight hot melt binding machine: Manual rail clamping;...
  • ✔New favorite of automatic office operational procedures
  • ✔Infrared photoelectric detection, intelligent time-delay...
  • ✔Three-stage heating time adjustment for easy text binding of...
  • ✔Button operation heating start, avoiding loss due to wrong...

I had a great experience working with this RanBB Thermal Binding Machine because, first of all, it is very lightweight. So I had no issues struggling with a lot of weight while binding my documents at the workplace.

It features a three-stage heating time adjustment to text-bind different thicknesses. This makes work easier as you only have to adjust the heat to meet your demands depending on the thickness of the documents.

Image source: amazon.in

Pros:

  • Three-stage heating adjustment
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • Can only bind a few papers at a time

What is Thermal Binding?

The thermal binding machine is a device that is used to bind medium series documents using glue and heat professionally. Indeed, the paper is glued to the back of the cover with hot melted glue.

It is a very fashionable process because it avoids perforating documents and, thus, allows obtaining flexible documents with really elegant presentations. The thermal binding products give documents the appearance of books, thus enhancing your reports or business proposals.

The Different Types of Thermal Binding

a) Binding by Iron-On Tape

As the name suggests, hot melt glue is available on a strip at this level. This process involves bringing the latter into a slot in the binder which will suck it up. This glue will then be deposited on the document to be bound, which must be placed in the thermal binding machine. Binding by iron-on tape has, according to our tests, the advantage of being fast because of the very small number of manipulations and of making bindings of excellent quality.

b) Binding by Cold Gluing

Suitable for librarians and book artisans, cold glue binding is a process widely used when making and restoring books to have a solid binding.

To do this, the sheets must be clamped on a gluing stand. Manually, a cross cracking (notches at the back to penetrate the glue better) must then be performed using a binding knife to allow the first layer of glue to adhere to the document. As soon as it is done, a gas band is then put before a second layer of glue is deposited. Drying is then done in a few seconds, and voila.

c) Binding in Glued Square Back or Box Cover

There is no glue strip here. This type of device makes it possible to inject hot glue directly onto the document and place the thermal cover on it. Any excess cover must then be cut. Whether or not your binding machine is compact, it can connect casing covers.

For maximum keeping of your documents, it is recommended after the tests are carried out to use machines offering bindings with greying.

The various comparisons show that this thermal binding machine offers the advantage of being fast. Also, it allows a good solidity of the binding, has to its low-cost credit consumables, and very good adaptability.

d) The Binding in Pre-Glued Cover

As the name suggests, this thermal binding cover already has hot-melt resin in the form of a strip at the level of the central part. To make the binding, the papers are inserted into the cover. The thermal binding machine then takes care of melting this glue, thus making it possible to bind the entire document.

It is a process which, according to our tests, is suitable for cardboard and plastic, flexible or rigid covers. Beyond this clear advantage, binders for pre-glued covers do not take up much space; they are cheaper, practical, and easy to use.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Thermal Binding Machine

The best thermal binding machine is the one that best meets your needs. To make the best choice, it is recommended to pay attention to certain criteria.

a) Versatility

Not all thermal binding machines have the same specifications. Even if they are all used to bind documents using glue and heat, each one is more suited to a type of document. It is therefore recommended to make a comparison to identify the type of documents on which you wish to work. However, favor versatile machines allowing a wide range of possibilities.

b) The price

The price is an important element in acquiring a thermal binding machine. In fact, not all machines are created equal. It is, therefore, necessary to learn about the different costs. The other aspect that should not be overlooked is the price of consumables.

c) Ease of use and size

A good thermal binding machine should be easy to use. This simplicity guarantees rapid binding. It is also recommended to take into account the size of the machine. It must be adapted to your place of use.

Frequently Asked Questions on Thermal Binding Machine

1. What is the work of a thermal binding machine?

Thermal binding machines bind documents with the use of heat. Using a thermal binding machine is a quick way of binding documents and requires very little effort. It also gives neat and professional results. Thermal binding machines are often used in binding books but are versatile, so they can bind anything.

2. Is thermal binding a strong binding method?

Thermal binding makes it easy to add or even remove pages that have been bound already. You may think that being able to add or remove pages would compromise the strength of the book's spine. However, thermal binding is among the strongest binding methods available.

3. How many pages can a Thermal binding machine bind at a go?

The minimum page limit for a thermal binding machine is ten pages if they are printed single-sided. However, if the document is printed double-sided, the minimum number of pages goes higher ad gets to 20.

4. What is the strongest binding material?

The strongest binding material is the Delo monopox. Delo monopox is a modified version of another high temperature resistant known s Delo monopox HT2860. This adhesive binds pages effectively and forms a dense network during heating.

5. What is the thermal binding of documents?

Thermal binding forms the same look as a perfect binding for soft-cover books. It is produced by heating that heats the adhesive and sticks the pages to the book's spine. You can purchase thermal glue strips separately if you wish to use customized covers.

6. How does a binding machine improve office efficiency?

Some binding machines can assemble various documents and bind them together. They are ideal for binding multiple documents at the same time, and this makes them improve office efficiency.

7. What are the best thermal binders?

The Fellowes Binding Machine is the best thermal binder for office needs. It is easy to use and highly efficient, enabling users to finish their work quickly without straining.

8. What are the three types of binders?

The three types of binders include the following;

Round ring binders- these hold the smallest number of pages. They do not come in large sizes.

D-ring binders are more durable and have a higher capacity than round-ring binders.

Slant-ring binders-Lastly, we have slant-ring binders that hold fewer pages. They are also more durable.

9. What is the cheapest binding method?

One of the cheapest binding methods is saddle stitching, also known as saddle stapling. In this method, you fold the pages in half and then staple them together. The staples, therefore, act as the spine of the book.

10. How can I use thermal binding to bind my documents?

Step One: Get the right size of thermal binding covers and all other thermal binding supplies

Step Two: Jog your papers and make them as straight as possible. Before placing them on the binding machine, fan the pages to break any pages stuck together.

Then, square the pages in the thermal binding covers and ensure the first and last pages are in contact with the adhesive.

Step Three: Remove it from the machine after binding the book and use force to tap the spine on a hard surface. This step ensures that the pages stay lodged into the binding adhesive.

Step Four: You can open your book once it has cooled and the adhesive has set well. This can take less than five minutes. It is important first to allow the glue to harden to ensure a solid and secure bind.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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