Capacity
is the maximum thickness of all the material loaded into a binder. In the diagrams, capacity is measured between the arrows.
Sheet Size is the dimension of the material to be inserted into a binder. NOTE: The height of the paper along the binding edge is always the first dimension given (example: If you are inserting 8-1/2x11" paper into your binder you will be using an 11"x9" binder – 11" measurement of your paper has the 3-hole drill so that dimension is first).
TYPES OF BINDING MECHANISMS
NOTE: Boosters are the triggers on the end of a ring metal that helps you open the rings. Many mechanisms are available with locking triggers as well.
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ROUND RING (3-ring metal):
- Standard Capacities: 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2", 2-1/2", 3"
- Standard Sheet Size: 11x8-1/2" + 1/2" tab allowance
- General Information: Round 3-ring metals can be mounted in the binders with the rivets showing through, showing the spine or back cover, or mounted with concealed rivets. Also, round 3-ring metals can be ordered with or without an opening and closing booster.
When measuring ring metal capacity, measure area shown by arrow. |
ANGLE D RING (3-ring metal):
- Standard Capacities: 1", 1-1/2", 2", 2-1/2", 3", 4"
- Standard Sheet Size: 11x8-1/2" + 1/2" tab allowance
- General Information: Angle D ring metals are the same as the straight D ring, with the exception of an angled post. This style helps to keep the contents flat and smooth and, if tabs are used, they tend to show up better with Angle D metals.
When measuring ring metal capacity, measure area shown by arrow but do not include any curved part of metal. |
STRAIGHT D RING (3-ring metal):
- Standard Capacities: 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2", 2-1/2", 3"
- Standard Sheet Size: 11x8-1/2" + 1/2" tab allowance
- General Information: Straight D ring metals are the same as the Angle D ring, with the exception of a straight post.
When measuring ring metal capacity, measure area shown by arrow. |
HOW BIG SHOULD MY BINDER BE?
In the binder industry, we use the term capacity to describe the size of the metal rings. To gauge how much material you will be inserting into your binder, count how many pages of paper you’ll use. Then refer to the chart(s) below to determine the capacity, or how big the binder metal needs to be.
The figures below are approximate capacity ranges. Consider the addition of tabs and special inserts to your printed material as well as the ring metal style. It often helps to make up a “dummy" binder by inserting sheets of paper and other materials into a binder you have on hand, to see if it can handle the contents. Comfortably fit your material into the binder; allow room to turn the pages easily.
Depending on how much capacity a binder has, the circular holes drilled or punched into the binding side of the paper will be different sizes. The punched out holes must be bigger as the capacity of your binder increases.
Please contact your Vulcan salesperson for further assistance.
| BOND PAPER |
|
CAPACITY |
13 lb
(# sheets) |
16 lb
(# sheets) |
20 lb
(# sheets) |
24 lb
(# sheets) |
|
1/2" |
100-130 |
80-110 |
70-100 |
60-90 |
|
3/4" |
130-160 |
110-140 |
100-130 |
90-120 |
|
1" |
200-230 |
180-210 |
170-200 |
160-190 |
|
1-1/2" |
300-360 |
260-340 |
240-300 |
220-280 |
|
2" |
450-500 |
420-450 |
370-400 |
320-350 |
|
3" |
650-700 |
500-650 |
560-600 |
460-500 |
|
| LEDGER PAPER |
|
CAPACITY |
24 lb
(# sheets) |
28 lb
(# sheets) |
32 lb
(# sheets) |
36 lb
(# sheets) |
|
1/2" |
60-90 |
50-80 |
40-70 |
30-60 |
|
3/4" |
90-120 |
80-110 |
70-100 |
60-90 |
|
1" |
160-190 |
150-180 |
140-170 |
130-160 |
|
1-1/2" |
220-280 |
200-260 |
180-240 |
160-220 |
|
2" |
320-350 |
270-300 |
230-260 |
190-230 |
|
3" |
460-500 |
390-430 |
340-390 |
290-330 |
| ENAMEL BOOK AND OFFSET PAPER |
|
CAPACITY |
40 lb
(# sheets) |
50 lb
(# sheets) |
60 lb
(# sheets) |
70 lb
(# sheets) |
80 lb
(# sheets) |
100 lb
(# sheets) |
|
1/2" |
120-130 |
110-120 |
100-110 |
90-100 |
80-90 |
70-80 |
|
3/4" |
170-200 |
150-170 |
130-150 |
120-130 |
110-120 |
100-110 |
|
1" |
220-250 |
180-220 |
160-180 |
150-160 |
140-150 |
130-140 |
|
1-1/2" |
340-380 |
290-340 |
260-290 |
240-260 |
220-240 |
200-220 |
|
2" |
400-450 |
350-400 |
300-350 |
280-300 |
260-280 |
240-260 |
|
3" |
640-700 |
520-570 |
480-530 |
400-450 |
360-400 |
300-320 |
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