Three-ring binders are great. What other office product offers you the means to store, organize, and present your documents? There aren’t many, that’s for sure. But did you know there’s more than one type of three-ring binder? This Hub will take a look at some of the binders available as well as the accessories you can use with them. Read on to learn all about three-ring binders (and accessories) and what they have to offer you.

Antimicrobial binders. Working in any kind of shared environment has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the biggest disadvantages is that it’s incredibly easy to spread germs. This can increase your chances of becoming sick (and making others sick), especially during the chillier times of the year. Luckily, there are a number of items that can help prevent people from getting sick including hand sanitizer, vitamins, and antimicrobial binders.

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The new year is only a couple of weeks old, but it’s never too early to think about what you want to accomplish in 2011. Since it’s a new year, it’s time to think about the things that would enhance your life and make you grow as a person. These are a little bit different from resolutions in that they’re things you should do if you want to – not because you feel like you need to. It could be going back to school, doing yoga, learning how to knit, or whatever else you’re interested in. This Hub will give you some ideas about what you could do in 2011.

• Get organized. One of the best things you can do for yourself is get organized. Living in a cluttered space can be stressful and it can cause you to spend more time on cleaning than you want to just because the mess is so big. If you get organized and stay organized, cleaning will be faster and easier. You can start in whatever room of the house you like: kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, etc. Throw or give away anything you haven’t used in the past 6 months. (You can hold on to seasonal items – such as Christmas decorations – if you wish.) If you have a book, CD, or DVD collection, sort your titles and display them on a shelf or in a case. Wish the dishes and organize the cupboards so you can easily access those items you regularly use, such as your favorite coffee mug. And do make sure you take time to get your documents in order, perhaps by using a binder or file box. You should have a good paper shredder on-hand when you do this so you can safely dispose of any documents containing personal information. Shredding the documents will cut down on clutter, as well as reduce your risk of identity theft.
• Start reading more. If there’s one thing that Americans don’t do enough of it, it’s reading. Sure, most people read e-mails, news articles, and Facebook updates on a daily basis. (You probably do, too.) But when was the last time you sat down with a classic novel or an intriguing work of non-fiction? If you can’t remember, make reading a priority in 2011. Reading is one pastime that can be continually rewarding. It can fire up your imagination, give you something to think about, and supply you with conversation topics. You can read alone in your easy chair or in a coffee shop. Or you could even join a book club to meet fellow readers. Best of all, there’s no shortage of reading material out there and new books are released every week. So visit your favorite bookstore or local library to pick up some titles.
• Try something creative. It’s human nature to express ourselves, so if you don’t already have a creative pastime, why not try one out this year? The choices are endless. You could try painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, scrapbooking, or even writing. If you have a computer, you could use various graphics programs to create your own digital art. Or you could drag out that electric guitar that’s been stashed in your closet for a few years. Photography is a lot of fun and thanks to digital cameras, it’s easier than ever to take great pictures. If you take some that you particularly like, you can make your own photobooks using a thermal binding machine. They make great gifts and will give you a way to show off your work.
• Go back to school. Continuing your education can be a great thing to do as long as you have the time and determination to do it. You could go to school to be exposed to new ideas or pick up a new skill, such as webpage design. If you started a degree years ago, you can continue your studies so you can get your Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree. Or you could train for a new career all together. You may even qualify for financial aid so you don’t need to foot the entire bill yourself. If you live in an urban area, there’s bound to be a state university or community college nearby, so be sure to look into it. And get some three-ring binders and index tabs so you can keep your assignments organized.
• Get moving. Exercising regularly is an important part of taking care of yourself. You don’t even need to do it to lose weight. Exercising can help relieve stress, give your mood a boost, and help you build strength. Plus, depending on the type of exercise you choose, it can be fun. Some of the activities you can try include yoga, martial arts, dance, hiking, tennis, and so on. You could even just start taking walks around the block. There are a lot of things to do that can help you stay active. Give one of them a try.
• Adopt a cat or a dog. If you don’t already have a pet – or if you want to add to your menagerie – adopting a cat or a dog is a wonderful thing to do. Studies have shown that looking after a critter can reduce loneliness and lower blood pressure, so you’ll be making yourself healthier in addition to saving a life. Plus, cats and dogs can provide hours of amusement, they offer unconditional love, and there are so many of them that need loving homes. Just make sure you have everything you need before your take your new best friend home. That will help ensure that the transition from the animal shelter to his/her forever home is a smooth one. (If you’re not a cat or dog lover, perhaps there’s another type of animal you’re interested in. Fish are great for apartments and there are also many bunnies, gerbils, hamsters, birds, and reptiles that need homes.)

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There are many different kind of offices machines that make life easier for millions of professionals all over the country. Whether it’s a computer or fax machine, photocopier or printer, office machines enable people to get their work done quickly. One type of office device that gets used frequently but is rarely discussed is the binding machine. Binding machines enable workers to produce professional-looking bound documents for a variety of different uses (i.e. meetings, sales materials, employee handbooks, etc.). There are different types of these devices available including plastic comb (one of the world’s most popular bookbinding methods), twin-loop wire, thermal, spiral, and so on. This Hub is about some of the most prominent binding machine manufacturers so you can become familiar with them and the types of products they make.

• Digital Finishing Group. This is a pretty new company that’s also known as DFG and they’ve been putting out some really terrific products such as the PC200, a color coil binding machine. All of DFG’s products are well-constructed and easy to use, so they’re great for both beginners and more experienced users.
• General Binding Corporation. In the binding machine world, GBC is the undisputed leader. This company got its start way back in the 1940′s and is currently based in Lincolnshire, Illinois. GBC produces various types of binding machines including VeloBind devices which utilize hot knife-technology to create securely bound documents. However, the company is most famous for their plastic comb binding machines. In fact, comb binding is sometimes referred to as GBC binding because of the numerous machines and supplies the company produces. Plastic comb binding is great for lots of different types of documents, plus it’s inexpensive and easy to do, hence its popularity. In addition to their comb binding machines, GBC makes twin-loop wire and spiral devices. They also offer a ProClick lineup of machines that are compatible with ProClick supplies. ProClick spines stand out because they can be re-opened so you can edit your documents at a later date. Since GBC makes so many different types of products, they’re definitely a go-to name for people interested in bookbinding.
• Fellowes. Fellowes is another company that’s been around for a long time, having been started by one Henry Fellowes in 1917. Initially, the company became famous for its high-quality Banker’s Boxes. Over the years, they’ve expanded their product lineup to include various office supplies (paper cutters, mousepads), laminators, paper shredders, and binding machines. Fellowes always seems to be putting out new devices such as the Helios 60, a thermal binder that can handle documents that are up to 600 pages long. The company makes a nice assortment of plastic comb and wire binding machines as well, and these machines have become a hit with offices across the country. Many of these devices have whimsical names such as the Starlet and the Galaxy, both of which are plastic comb binders. Fellowes also makes a terrific assortment of bookbinding supplies including wire spines and thermal covers.
• Fastback. Fastback binding machines are made by Powis Parker, a company that’s headquartered in Berkeley, California. Fastback devices can provide either tape or perfect binding, so you’ll be able to create high-quality documents that look like they could be sold in a bookstore. This company’s products include the Fastback 15xs which can bind a document in less than 40 seconds. It’s compatible with many of the supplies the company manufactures including their Perfectback strips which can be used to create paperback books. Fastback even makes a lineup of foil printers so you can give your documents a unique look. These machines, such as the FoilFast Printer, can print directly on to your documents which makes using them very convenient. Fastback machines deserve some consideration if you really want to impress your readers with professional-looking books.
• Rhin-O-Tuff. Durability is definitely a feature you should look for when choosing a binding machine. Rhin-O-Tuff, a manufacturer that’s based in Boise, Idaho, makes extremely durable machines that can stand the test of time. The products made by this company are great for busy workplaces that bind a lot of documents on a regular basis. Also, the machines tend to be modular so you can pick and choose different devices to make an entire binding system. While Rhin-O-Tuff doesn’t make thermal binders, it does make devices for just about every other binding method.
• Tamerica. If you want a binding machine of the highest quality, check out the products that are manufactured by Tamerica. This company has operating since 1985 and sells their products throughout the United States and even Latin America. Tamerica makes machines that can be used for a number of bookbinding methods including plastic comb, wire, and SecureBind which is essentially the same as VeloBind. The company even makes some modular products such as the Duramax, which is a modular punch with interchangeable punching dies.

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Self-employment has become incredibly popular. While it was once primarily the territory of writers and artists, it’s become increasingly common to encounter self-employed consultants, IT professionals, accountants, lawyers, and more. Self-employment has become popular for many reasons. Some people like being able to set their own hours and work from home, while others may find that self-employment gives them some much-needed stability during rough economic times. If you’re self-employed, you undoubtedly have your own reasons for it, but do you have all the right tools you need to be successful? Keep reading to find out which things can help you stay on track, organized, and even potentially keep you out of trouble.

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If you need to put together a document but you lack a binding machine, you can still produce work of which you can be proud. There are a number of ways you can do so as long as you have the right supplies on-hand. That said, here are four ways you can bind your documents without a binding machine. Check them out.

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