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