* The Fellowes Quasar 130 is a low cost, stylish 3:1 pitch double loop wire binding machine designed for small and medium offices that want to bind their own documents using twin loop wire.
* It includes a medium duty punch along with a wire closer all in a contemporary shell that is designed to blend into an office environment.
* Plus, the Quasar 130 offers an easy to use stylish alternative to the more industrial looking binding machines that are available from Akiles, Tamerica and DFG.
Strengths / Features:
* Although there are several things that are great about this machine, the thing that really sets it apart is its design. Most of the other pieces of wire binding equipment available on the market are awkward and industrial looking. The Quasar-130 offers sleek style lines and folds flat when the machine is not in use allowing it to be easily stored away without demanding large amounts of counter space.
* It has a convenient ergonomic handle that stretches across the front of the machine. This punching handle is designed for use by individuals who are both left and right handed.
* The Quasar 130 is capable of punching a respectable 15 sheets per lift. The model that we tested punched 12-15 sheets of 20lb paper fairly easily. Although there are certainly more powerful machines available on the market, 15 sheets is excellent for a machine that sells for under $300.
* This machine includes what appears to be decent quality wire closer. One of the biggest problems with less expensive wire binding machines is that the closers slip over time. In our testing there was no indication that this would be the case with the Quasar-130 and we have not heard any reports from customers about problems with the wire closer.
Weaknesses / Limitations:
* The Fellowes Quasar 130 is a 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine. That means that it punches three holes per inch and is designed to be used with 32 loop twin loop wire binding spines. Three to one wire binding spines are available in sizes ranging from 3/16" up to 9/16" in diameter. Users who need to bind documents larger than 9/16" (approximately 130 sheets) will need to consider a 2:1 wire binding machine or a combination binding system such as the Akiles WireMac Duo Combo.
* This machine is designed for binding documents that are 11 inches in length. It does not have any disengageable punching pins. This means that it can not be used to punch documents that are shorter than eleven inches without leaving a partial hole on the edge of the document. It also can not be used to punch longer documents such as A4 size or legal size sheets.
* This machine will fit well in a medium sized office environment that needs to do occasional binding. However, the machine is made out of plastic and is not designed for high volume binding applications. Larger offices and production environments should really consider upgrading to a more industrial, all metal wire binding machine.
Recommendation:
* The Fellowes Quasar 130 wire binding machine is a high quality, low priced system that is an excellent choice for medium sized offices.
* This machine offers a professional and contemporary design that folds flat when it is not in use and can easily transported or stored.
* However, this machine is not a good choice for users who need to bind documents that are thicker than 9/16". It is also not a good choice for users that need to bind documents that are shorter or longer than eleven inches.
* It is also not a good choice for high volume applications or larger offices.
Many soft cover books can be easily repaired using a thermal binding machine. If the book has begun to come apart and there is plenty of glue left in the spine you can simply place the soft cover book into your thermal binding machine and re-heat it. The thermal binding machine will reheat the glue from the spine allowing the cover of the book to bond with the book block to the cover. After the book is heated and the glue is soft simply drop the book onto the counter to ensure that the book block is settled securely in the glue and let the book cool.
In most cases simply reheating the book is enough to reattach the cover to the book block. However, occasionally there is not enough glue remaining on the book block to secure it to the cover of the book. To repair your book in this situation, it is necessary to use a thermal binding glue strip. These glue strips come in 1 inch widths and twelve inch lengths and can be easily cut with a pair of scissors to fit inside the detached spine of your book. After cutting the glue strip to the correct width and length and inserting it into your cover, simply reinsert the book block and drop the book into your thermal machine. The binding machine will melt the glue and adhere the book block to the cover. Just drop the heated book onto the counter and let it cool on the cooling rack of your machine.
If you want to repair books with your thermal binding machine it is very helpful to have a machine that can handle books up to 2" thick. Many thermal machines such as will only bind books up to 1" thick and many trade paper backs are thicker than this. Additionally, it is important to choose a machine with heaters that will get hot enough to activate the glue in your books.
Additionally, your binding machine can be used to help extend the life of all of the new trade paperback books that your library purchases.