| If you have ever tried to insert spiral | | | | into the machine easily and the spine |
| coils onto the edge of a book that is 2" | | | | was formed with a convenient curve. I |
| thick you know just how difficult that | | | | then proceeded to insert the coil onto |
| it can be. Inserting coils onto small | | | | the edge of the book. Although you can |
| books really isn't that hard. However, | | | | use the HD-4101 along with an electric |
| dealing with documents that are larger | | | | coil inserter (it even bolts onto one of |
| than 30mm can be very challenging. In | | | | the Rhino inserters) I decided to try it |
| fact, I timed myself to see how long it | | | | by hand so that I could compare it to my |
| would take me to insert a coil on the | | | | previous inserting experiment. |
| edge of a 50mm book by hand (that is how | | | | I won't lie. The coil still got hung up |
| most people do it) and it took me almost | | | | a few times when I was trying to insert |
| ten minutes. In a production | | | | it onto the document. It would have |
| environment that would represent a huge | | | | helped a lot if I had used a punch with |
| drain on resources. | | | | an oval hole pattern or larger holes. |
| The main reason that inserting spines | | | | However, I was able to complete the |
| onto large sized books is so difficult | | | | document in approximately 3.5 minutes. |
| is that the coil doesn't have a clear | | | | Compared to the ten minutes that it took |
| path to travel. The coil is round and | | | | me without the 4101 this was a |
| when you line up your paper the holes | | | | significant time savings. In fact, if I |
| are straight. This means that it is | | | | had to do 100 books I could save almost |
| necessary to shape the spine of your | | | | 11 hours of labor. |
| book so that it matches the diameter of | | | | Limitations: |
| coil you are using. Trying to do this | | | | To be honest, I was surprised that the |
| by hand is a lot easier said than done. | | | | HD-4101 saved me as much time as it did. |
| This is why the Rhino HD-4101 claims to | | | | I was pretty impressed. However, after |
| dramatically reduce the time that it | | | | playing with the machine a little bit I |
| takes to insert large coils onto | | | | did notice one limitation that I thought |
| documents. It helps you to quickly and | | | | that I should note. This device cannot |
| easily shape the spine of your book and | | | | be used with documents that have index |
| holds it in place so that you can insert | | | | tabs or use index allowance sized |
| the coil through the holes. I decided | | | | covers. It actually shapes the outside |
| to put this claim to the test and see | | | | edge of the document so that the binding |
| just how much time the HD-4101 saved me. | | | | edge is easily accessible. If you try |
| The Test: | | | | to use index tabs they will keep the |
| The HD4101 spine former is actually very | | | | spine from forming properly. This is |
| simple to set up and to use. It is | | | | something to remember with the 4101. |
| designed for shaping books for use with | | | | As I mentioned above, inserting coils |
| 30mm - 50mm spiral coils. There are | | | | with such large coil was still not |
| three size settings on the spine former. | | | | really simple with the 4101. However, |
| You simply rotate a shaft on the | | | | if you want to make your life easier you |
| machine to select the size of the book | | | | might consider using an oversize oval |
| that you need to shape. In my case I | | | | punching die or try using a different |
| decided to select a 50mm (2") book so | | | | pitch of coil. Spiral coils are |
| that I could test the real capabilities | | | | available for both 3:1 pitch or 2.5:1 |
| of this machine. | | | | pitch (most people use this with a 2:1 |
| The machine has three forming tools | | | | pitch hole pattern) hole patterns. |
| attached to the shaft that I mentioned | | | | These larger pitch hole patterns use |
| above. Each of the three forming tools | | | | more rigid coil and require you to |
| has a small thumb screw that allows it | | | | insert the coil through less holes |
| to be moved. I set mine so that they | | | | making it much easier to finish your |
| were equally spaced along the edge of | | | | documents. |
| the spine of the book that I needed to | | | | Recommendations: |
| form. In my case I was forming a letter | | | | If you use spiral coil binding and do a |
| sized document but the 4101 could also | | | | lot of large diameter books the HD-4101 |
| be used for forming longer or shorter | | | | is an absolute essential. It is the |
| documents. | | | | only tool of its kind that I have seen |
| Once I selected the diameter that was | | | | on the market and it is incredibly |
| appropriate for my document and set up | | | | simple. If it could deal with documents |
| the forming tools I was ready to give | | | | that had index tabs it would be even |
| the machine a try. I took my two inch | | | | better. Still, the labor savings that |
| thick book which was already punched and | | | | the HD-4101 offers will quickly allow it |
| placed it into the machine with the | | | | to pay for itself in no time at all. |
| binding edge facing out. The pages fit | | | | |