Tip: Replacing Book Bindings with Spiral Bindings

Maybe this is common knowledge but...

I had an old Fiddler's Fakebook with a plastic spiral binding that was falling apart. Someone told me they had theirs replaced at Kinkos/Fedex so I took it there and they replaced it with a metal one for $9. After cutting off the old punch holes and putting in the new binding, it just fits within the margins and doesn't cut off the music. Looks brand new again.

I was lamenting that I have another Fakebook with a book binding that won't stay open on a table and falls off the music stand. You can't even find a Fakebook with a spiral binding now - they're all book (checked Amazon and eBay).

The employee told me they can replace those soft book bindings too. So I brought in three books and had those replaced today - $20 total. Plenty of margin room. See photos.

Now I'm more likely to actually use these books that were kind of gathering dust because they were annoying to use...I don't understand book bindings for a music book but that seems to be what they sell these days.

I use Office Depot, which also does a good job. Only problem is that I can't read the title on the spine anymore. It sure is nice to be able to open them to a page and put it on a music stand.
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I love this thing, it's built like a tank! (done 100's of books)

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I have found the equipment to punch and install both spiral and GBC type bindings at local thrift stores. I often make or down load pdf file of music I want to bind. My local library offers 70 pages of free laser printing per week. Color printing is also available. I do most of my printing for binding purposes there.

Been doing this for years - Buy used from amazon then take it to the office store to make spiral. Then put it on a shelf and forget it's there!

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Originally Posted by ukenukem

Been doing this for years - Buy used from amazon then take it to the office store to make spiral. Then put it on a shelf and forget it's there!

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Yup. Then you buy another copy. I do have some inadvertent duplicates.:redface:

Ha! Good timing. Had been thinking of doing that to a couple of recently acquired tune books. Had done it a few years ago on some other books, but forgotten about it until recently.

Yes, it can be tough remembering which book is which. Especially with 3 or more of approximately the same size sitting next to each other. They just sit on a music stand so much better, it's worth the hassle.

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Originally Posted by HonketyHank

I use Office Depot, which also does a good job. Only problem is that I can't read the title on the spine anymore. It sure is nice to be able to open them to a page and put it on a music stand.
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I've used Staples and Copy Cats ( a local shop).

Great idea....

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Originally Posted by HonketyHank

I use Office Depot, which also does a good job. Only problem is that I can't read the title on the spine anymore. It sure is nice to be able to open them to a page and put it on a music stand.
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Some creative solutions to the shelf ID problem can be found here.

bratsche

thanks, bratsche. love the duct tape idea. quaaaaack! gonna give it a tryout.

This is a great idea. I have a Beatles Chord book that never stays open. Are there size/thickness limits?

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Originally Posted by Kevin Winn

This is a great idea. I have a Beatles Chord book that never stays open. Are there size/thickness limits?

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Kevin, if it's this one it's no problem, Kinkos or Office Depot can bind it. It's a great book but with a common complaint about it not staying open.

Rob

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Originally Posted by Kevin Winn

This is a great idea. I have a Beatles Chord book that never stays open. Are there size/thickness limits?

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There is a great Irish tune book from a session in Kingston, Canada. I think it is over 500 pages in total. I think the limit to spiral/coil binding might be ~250 pages so I had to split it into two books. Ask at the place that will do the work. The limit might be the size of the manufactured coils they have available.

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Originally Posted by robw95

Kevin, if it's this one it's no problem, Kinkos or Office Depot can bind it. It's a great book but with a common complaint about it not staying open.

Rob

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That's the one!!!

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Originally Posted by Jim Garber

There is a great Irish tune book from a session in Kingston, Canada. I think it is over 500 pages in total. I think the limit to spiral/coil binding might be ~250 pages so I had to split it into two books. Ask at the place that will do the work. The limit might be the size of the manufactured coils they have available.

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I love that book and make great use of it both on mandolin and fiddle. I printed it double-sided, so it's only about 250 sheets of paper and there are coils which can handle that capacity.

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Originally Posted by dhbailey

I love that book and make great use of it both on mandolin and fiddle. I printed it double-sided, so it's only about 250 sheets of paper and there are coils which can handle that capacity.

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I also printed it double-sided but Staples or Kinko's said it was too large for one book. I guess there are coils that will handle larger books but maybe whoever did it for me did not deal with those.

Just a note, I cut my own books rather than have the binding folks do that. I’ve had them ruin books by cutting into the print making the books unusable. I just cut them in half repeatedly until I’m done. Many Abersold books have been done this way��

Paper shears are available from many sources.

I have a Dover publication of the Complete String Quartets of Beethoven. The thing is about an inch thick. I had a spiral binding put on, and it works fine. Its really great how much more I pull the books with spiral bindings.