Binding with Screws - All you need to know about the different options

ONE OF THE MANY DOCUMENT FINISHING OPTIONS IS TO FASTEN YOUR JOB WITH A BINDING SCREW. There are many different options, in metal, plastic and specialist types. This type of binding is particularly useful for any swatch purposes as with just one screw the contents can be rotated to display and view different layers. Or you may want to simply use the solid, traditional-looking metal screws as an alternative spine binding to give the job an extra unique though.

We have seen binding screws used for just about every possible application - from fastening a metal name plate onto a display to providing last minute cuff links. They can be used for material or paper swatches, for binding a presentation into a custom folder through the spine, for fixing leather folders and much more.

The classic metal binding screw is supplied with either a vrass or nickel-plated finish. The brass is a more traditional look while the nickel-plated gives a smart chrome contemporary finish.

The metal binding screws are available in nice lengths from 2mm up to 25mm. Unlike a plastic ratchet fastening that can be pushed tight to the thickness of a document a metal screw can only work at the stated capacity, so if you are using a 10mm screw and your document is 8.5mm thick you will need to allow for the fact that there will be 1.5mm slack, as a 10mm screw cannot be screwed any further down than the 10mm capacity.

If you are needing a longer metal screw, or a slightly different length to those offered you can extend the capacity or fine tune with our metal extension posts. These are only available in the brass finish (although you would never see the brass if you were using nickel-plated screws) and come in 4 different lengths from 4mm to 25mm. So your metal binding screw could actually be extended up to 50mm if you job required it.

A variation on the standard metal binding screws are the serrated edge screws, again available in brass or nickel-plated finishes, with a unique fine-ribbed serrated edge on the screw heads.

This is not unlike a 10p piece and adds an interesting level of detail to any job. The serration can make it easier to tighten or loosen the screw or just be there for cosmetic reasons! Another metal binding screw is the double base binding screw.

Where you have a rigid backing board for your swatch you can screw this in as a separate part of the screw and still have full capacity for the swatches or materials on the main shaft of the screw. This is also known as a twin-base or pillar screw and we stock these in 4 capacities from 13mm to 25mm.

PLASTIC? YES, WE DO PLASTIC BINDING SCREWS AS WELL. VERY COST EFFECTIVE.

The final binding screw stocked by Presco is simply a plastic version of the traditional plain metal screw. Available in black or white, with a wider range of capacities, from 5mm to 50mm, these can be used exactly as standard metal screws or even hammered together in instances where you have a large quantity to fix.

They are virtually identical to the metal screws in shape and use options, and retain a strong core. However, they are a considerably cheaper option due to the material and are ideal for larger jobs or more short-lived display hand-outs or exhibition fixings.

Other swatch binding options include the popular Presco Swatch fasteners, a clip-together plastic swatch fixing with a central hole through which can be strung ball chain, security loops or string. The biggest alternative metal fixing is the steel binding ring or hoop. Available in sizes from 14mm to 50mm this can be an effective swatch fastener.