Do your presentations and reports need a facelift? Spiral coil binding may be just the answer. Colorcoil binding works by inserting a plastic spine through holes punched along the edge of the document. The ends of the plastic coils are crimped to hold the binding in place and keep your pages secure. This document finishing style is also known as plastic-coil or color-coil binding.

One of the greatest strength of this presentation style is that there is a larger range of colors than any other type of binding. Can you believe plastic coil comes in over sixty colors? This wide variety of colors allows for maximum customization. You can match the spines to your company or school colors or to those of your clients. These color choices make this a popular choice for designers, marketers, advertising agencies, quick printers and the like.

Even though you can purchase color coil spines in diameters ranging from about ?" to 2", you will experience the best results with documents one inch thick or less. There are gadgets available to help you use spiral coil binding on larger documents, but they can be a little tricky to master. However, with a little practice, you'll be on your way to becoming a color coil binding pro.

Most of the time, people use a special tool called a spiral inserter to bind documents with coil. It works by spinning the spines through the holes. The first time you try it, the spirals may fly right off the other side, but you'll soon develop a knack for it with a little practice. You can insert the spines by hand, but if you have many documents to bind, you will be better off using an inserter.

Once your spine is inserted, you will need to crimp the ends to hold your document in place. Coils usually have an extra inch to allow extra length to cut off during the crimping process. Crimping pliers are used to crimp the coil and cut off the excess. Again, a little practice will go a long way in helping you get used to finish the ends.

The most popular pitch of spiral binding is 4:1 pitch (four holes per inch), but you can also get spines in 5:1 (five holes per inch) and 3:1 (3 holes per inch) pitch. Double check your machine and your supplies to make sure everything is the same pitch.

Spirals come in lengths up to 36" and are extremely affordable. With the availability of extremely long lengths and the affordability of the spines, this style is a great choice for binding books in nonstandard sizes. However, most spiral binding machines can only punch paper in standard lengths. If you will be punching paper or finishing books in nonstandard lengths, look for a modular punch or a punch with disengageable dies.

Another advantage of spiral coil binding is that is hardy and stands up well to mailing. However, it isn't a good idea to leave spirals in hot areas because it can become deformed by the heat. Still, spiral coil is a versatile and attractive choice for binding business and personal documents.