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Automated Paper Folding vs. Manual Paper Folding

Back in 2^nd grade they promised us that by now we’d by flying around in jetpacks and have tons of fun devices to help us do our jobs and work less. Well, the jetpack thing hasn’t come true yet (sadly), but there are quite a few time and energy saving devices that have cropped up since second grade, like automated paper-folding machines.

Who knew paper folding could be so fun and quick? If you’re thinking about getting an automated paper folding machine for your office, but aren’t sure if they’re worth the money, here are some pros and cons of machine folding vs. manual hand folding.

Manual Paper Folding

Pro: The only positive aspect of manually folding paper is that on the surface it appears to be cheaper. And if you are only going to be folding a couple of letters, maybe you’re right. But if you have a large mailing list or are handing out a myriad of z-fold flyers, maybe it’s time to start looking at automated folding machines.

Con: Manually folding paper takes time and effort that could be spent on a multitude of other projects. Why spend an hour folding and stuffing letters by hand, when you could have 1000 letters folded and ready to stuff in less than a minute with an automatic paper folder? Also, a folding machine will help you avoid minor soreness and paper cuts.

Automated Paper Folding

Pro: It’s super fast. You’ll save time and energy with an automated paper-folding machine, time that could be spent on other more worthwhile activities. Also, automated paper folding creates a uniform fold every time, so you don’t have to worry about throwing away any “mess ups.” Intelli-Zone has created a fabulous line of friction feed paper folders called Intell-Fold.

Con: It will cost a little more money up front than continuing to manually fold, but the time and energy you save will more than make up for the cost in the long run. And automatic paper-folding machines are less expensive than you might think.

All-in-all, automated paper-folding machines will save you time and money in the long run by allowing you to focus on more important tasks instead of rubbing your fingers raw all afternoon.

How to make your own notepad

Lately, there have been many spring up sites that encourage more and more people to DIY, or for those of who aren't aware of what that is, Do-It-Yourself. These DIYers have figured out how to do anything from tile your own bathroom, transform anything electronic into a remote, and also save on important funds by creating your own office supplies. One such product that is gaining popularity is creating your own notepad. In the past, we here at Let's Blog Office have gone over how to create your own notebook, but a notepad is another story. While it does require a few notepad supplies, most of the work can be done quickly and easily. 

Here are steps that need to be taken. 

1. Gather supplies. You will need paper, a paper cutter (or scissors), padding glue, and a paint brush.
2. Cut paper so that it is all the same size. A good notepad can be anywhere from 50 pages to 300.   
3. If you have a padding press, you would use it now, if not continue down this list.
4. Create a back board. It is best to use cardboard, or a very heavy card stock. This back board should be the same size as the height of your paper stack, and the width of the paper stack that will be glued together.   
5. Line up the paper together, and make sure it is perfect. It is a good idea to rubber band the pages, and also to place them in between two books.   
6. Brush on your glue onto the pages, and then place your back board over this.   
7. Once notebook is in place, use to clip to keep it secure while drying.    

There you go! Now you have a working notepad. This is a great project for offices that accumulate multiple sheets of scratch paper. 

Holiday Gifts For Scrapbookers & Hobbyists

If you are like most hobbyists or scrapbookers, you know that low cost equipment, while it saves you money, ultimately breaks. Most of the time, these machines or equipment do not even offer replacement parts. Many go on buying cheap equipment after cheap equipment, and spend sometimes hundreds of extra dollars. Why bother? There are so many machines out there that cost a little more than the average low cost solution, but last longer, and work more efficiently.  

Here are some recommendations that I have when it comes to higher quality hobby equipment. With the holidays coming up, these will serve as excellent gifts for you or your favorite hobbyist. 

1. Professional Grade Rotary Trimmers

Rotary paper trimmers are easy to use, and guarantee a straighter cut than a guillotine cutter. These trimmers can cut in two directions, making them ideal for photo cutting, and scrapbooking. The Dahle Rotary Trimmers offer professional quality for less. These machines are so accurate, that many print shops and advertising agencies use them. They are more expensive then the cutters that you will find Michaels, but with the smallest cutter starting at $42, they are quite a steal. 

2. Professional Pouch Laminators

Anyone who values photographs should invest in a pouch laminator. These affordable machines keep photographs safe from exposure to dust, finger tips, and more. While personal laminators offer an easy lower cost solution, a more professional model will last longer, and will be less likely to jam. This Jam Free Laminatoris priced at $135, and will laminate smaller pouches as well as letter size documents with ease. Professional laminators also heat up and laminate documents faster than personal models. 

3. Wire Binding Machines

While many scrapbookers tend to use comb binding machines, I recommend wire. Wire binding looks a little more professional and keeps it shape longer. Binding machines have many possibilities for projects. Notebooks, recipe books, calendars, scrapbooks, and more can all be done quickly and easily without having to go to the local print shop. This manual Akiles wire binding machine is perfect for low volume use, and is priced around $270.00. It can punch and bind in either 2:1 for low volume projects and 3:1 for higher page volume projects. It uses Double O Wire spines, which are easy to close and look great. 

While these machines may be a little more pricey than your average equipment found at the fabric store, they provide professional quality for the home and make a great gift for anyone who loves creative projects.