 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2018-09-16 22:47
I've been asked to play in the pit for the local community players group. The director gave me the music well in advance. It consists of nearly 40 separate 9.5x11 pages printed on both sides; they probably came from a laser printer. I think I want to bind them. There may be some cuts or reordering between (or during) numbers, jumping back & forth, etc. The way of binding that comes to mind is a slim 3-ring binder. That would probably be ok until pages start tearing out (and then I could apply the little adhesive reinforcers.)
Are there decent alternative methods for binding or handling loose sheets?
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2018-09-16 23:05
A lot of copy shops offer a spiral binding service, which shouldn’t cost much for a single copy. You’ll get something that’s much less likely to tear than in a ring binder, will allow quick page turns and will lie flat.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2018-09-17 01:06
To name only one copy chain that does this kind of work: FedEx Office/Kinkos.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-09-17 02:11
Similar to spiral binding or wire binding is comb binding which uses plastic combs of different diameters and are either round or oval in cross section depending how many pages you need to bind. A special punch is needed to punch out a series of rectangular holes along the edge, then the comb is fitted onto the machine to open it so the pages can be fitted, then it springs closed and holds everything together. Most printers should offer this service for binding documents.
I bought an A4 comb binding punch and a box of combs off eBay which didn't break the bank and comes in very handy for keeping loose sheets of music together and put in the order you want them in. Also for pit band work if there are loads of cuts and stuff gets moved around or things are made up of a variety of tunes from different sources and if there are too many pages to fit in one comb, the option is there to make up separate books for the 1st and 2nd sets instead of having a thick book on the stand which can make page turns tricky if the combs are packed too tightly with more pages than their ideal capacity.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2018-09-17 03:20
Dan, I did mean 8.5 x 11 - how dismaying (retirement is destroying my mind, and I like it.)
Thanks to all for the suggestions. The comb binding sounds particularly good, but spiral would also be better than 3-ring. I'm going to visit the local copy/print shop and see what they offer.
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Author: jimk
Date: 2018-09-17 03:23
I like playing theater music from a loose leaf binder. Pages tearing out has never been a problem for me. Advantages include 1. the pages turn more smoothly than comb or spiral binders, 2. you can make an extra copy of a page or two to solve a difficult page turn or eliminate turning back for a repeat 3. it provides a place to keep a few pieces of paper for jotting down notes about call times or parking or what to wear.
I recommend against trying to play from 40 pieces of loose paper. It might be okay for practice, but could be a mess in a performance.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2018-09-17 19:18
I'd favor a loose-leaf 3-ring binder for this. In addition to jmk's list of advantages, you also have the flexibility of adding or removing pages as needed if cuts and revisions reach the point where replacing a page is easier than reading the pencil marks.
The combs are great for music that you don't expect to have to take apart or manipulate in any dramatic way, but getting them apart to add or replace pages is difficult without access to the binding machine.
I haven't found torn holes to be an issue, either, but if one or two pages do become problems, you can always make fresh copies of them or apply reinforcers.
Karl
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Author: Geronimo
Date: 2018-09-17 23:16
If you want to use a 3 ring binder but are worried about pages tearing, consider using sheet protectors. They are those clear flexible sleeves that you slide your paper in and along the edge there is already the 3 hole punch. Makes your music much more durable and secure. Should be able to pick them up from a local office supply store.
Two downsides: depending on what kind you get, glare can be annoying and if you need to mark up your music you'll either need a wax pencil or get used to pulling them in and out of the pocket. Neither are a deal breaker, just something you should know.
When I have larger documents to bind I use a plastic coil binding machine. Got sick of trying to staple +20 pages of college reading and bought my own binding machine. I prefer spiral over comb because the spiral will always lie flat on the music stand and you can even fold it over if you like. Combs can be finicky with laying open all the way.
-GM
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Author: kdk
Date: 2018-09-17 23:29
Geronimo wrote:
> When I have larger documents to bind I use a plastic coil
> binding machine. Got sick of trying to staple +20 pages of
> college reading and bought my own binding machine.
If I had my druthers between comb and spiral, I would choose spiral, too. What machine do you have and where is it sold. When I looked at the Staples and Office Max websites recently, I only saw comb binding machines. Maybe I was setting too low a price threshold for myself?
Karl
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Author: Jarmo Hyvakko
Date: 2018-09-18 15:10
I use 3M micropore paper tape for taping loose pages together. Works very well, pages turn better than binding combs. Go to pharmacy!
Jarmo Hyvakko, Principal Clarinet, Tampere Philharmonic, Finland
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Author: kdk
Date: 2018-09-18 17:24
Jarmo Hyvakko wrote:
> I use 3M micropore paper tape for taping loose pages together.
> Works very well, pages turn better than binding combs. Go to
> pharmacy!
>
Do you just tape the outside pages/covers, or do you tape each pair of pages in the pile of loose sheets?
Karl
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2018-09-18 19:36
Hi Jarmo. I can't visualize what you're describing, and I use tape for a lot of things (there's some duct tape on my A clarinet.) I've got a 40-page book's worth of loose double-sided pages. How would tape bind all those? I could see it for a few pages of one piece, taping two individual pages at a time, and I've done that in the past. Or am I missing your meaning?
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Author: Geronimo
Date: 2018-09-21 18:00
Karl,
Sorry for the delay! The machine I use is the "TruBind Coil-Binding Machine" that I purchased from amazon for 170 USD. Here is a link to it (that hopefully works)
https://www.amazon.com/TruBind-Coil-Binding-Machine-Professionally-Hole-Punching/dp/B00CHDA6NE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537537631&sr=8-1&keywords=trubind+coil+binding+machine
There is a simpler, cheaper one from the same company for $120, but I like having the added features. The electric coil inserter spins the coil through the document in about 1 second, which is handy if you are binding several documents. And the ability to select and unselect pins is nice when working with different paper sizes (don't get any holes on the edge).
I took a look at Staples and Office Max and the really only cater to comb binding, and their machines are significantly more expensive. I really can't justify those prices unless I plan on opening up a small printing press.
The one I have does everything I need it to do and has yet to let me down. Hope this helped.
-GM
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Author: kdk
Date: 2018-09-21 18:37
That looks perfect. I'm especially interested to see that it will work with larger paper sizes. I sometimes want to bind scores or parts printed at 10"x13" or even, recently, at a full 11"x17", and the comb binder I use has a stop that won't allow anything into the punch area longer than 11". The only problem, if I buy it, is what to do with the comb binder and all the plastic combs I have.
Thanks,
Karl
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