Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Making a book of sheet music into a ring-bound book?

I sometimes see people here mention taking a book of sheet music to a copy shop and having it made into a ring-bound book. I have a book that will not lie flat (and I want to use it more as a reference) so I'm thinking of doing this.

Is there anything I should? Pitfalls to avoid? Any reason *not* to do this?

How do they do it? Do they use the pages in the book or does it have to be copied? And if so, does that destroy the book?

Is there something I should be asking that I don't know to ask?

thanks in advance!!

Hi
I have done this: they do not copy the book. They remove the spine and replace it with spiral-binding. The only thing that is changed is the way the volume was originally bound.

I've had several music books spiral-bound. They just cut off the spine, punch holes in the original pages, and thread in the wire. The only issue you might have is if there isn't enough blank space between the spine and the print. I did have one book where the hole punches just barely cut into the edge of the music; it wasn't enough to make it difficult to read, but it didn't look as nice as the other books.

I want to do this... DIY way... 😆

Maybe buy a pack of hole punches, 3D print and holder for each in the correct spots? Buy a pack of spiral things?

99% sure it will work

A printing company will do it for about $4.00. Otherwise, you will need equipment that will punch the holes in the correct places. I would not attempt it without this.

Thanks for the responses so far!

Re DIYing it, I wouldn't try it myself either. What would you use to cut the binding off? I would think that step is probably the most important one.

The book I have is just over 200 pages, so I would guess you'd need a really good cutter to cut the binding off.

Search on Amazon for spiral binding machine. A former workplace had one. They are not that expensive, but not worth it unless you want to print out all of imslp...

Sam

I wish it was only $4 here...I have to pay $7-8. That adds up quick...otherwise I'd do this to about 15 books on my shelf right now.

Office Depot or Office Max? It was about four years ago, so perhaps the price has increased.

Office Depot/Office Max merged I believe? Price is the same both there and at FedEx Office. It hasn't changed here in the last 3-4 years though.

I just called an independent copy shop in my town and they said they could do it for $1 for cutting and then between $4-$10 depending on what type of binding I want. That's a pretty big range (but way less than what they quoted at first, which included them copying the entire 200-page book, yikes)

JB, the other thing is, maybe invest in a machine like Sam mentioned? It might end up being less that way?

Anyway, thanks to everyone who's commented in this thread so far!

I ended up buying the equipment [used on amazon] to do it myself. I have converted loads of music books and man, am I glad I did. Otherwise the books are never used.

Pianoperformance8, does the machine both cut the binding off and make the holes?

Could you recommend the kind of machine you bought? (I checked Amazon and wasn't really sure what I was looking at).

i have the office place do this - i tried some comb binding myself, but prefer the wire binding like a regular spiral notebook.

It depends on how many books you expect to process, and how thick.
Expect $300-400 of initial investment for a quality tools that will cover almost all your needs
II would say that this is reasonable investment if you expect to make at least 50 books (including your own prints) during next, say, 10 years. Otherwise it is better to use your local store (Staples, FedEx Kinkos, or whatever there is in your area).

Here is what I use:
1. HFS 17" Blade A3 Heavy Duty Guillotine Paper Cutter, it can cut regular paper stack up to 1.5" thick.

2. TruBind 4:1 coil binding machine TB-S20AB

3. Coils (4:1 pitch) of various diameter.

4. Various plastic letter size covers (transparent, black and colored) for my own prints. I also use hardcover binding covers occasionally, usually for thick prints.

Please note that the cutter preferrably have to be able to cut the binder from the whole book at once. It is also possible to cut off the binding in few smaller chunks if you split the book with utility knife first - this is easy if the book uses perfect binding.

The binding machine and coils should be compatible - 4:1 pitch is most popular, but there are other standards as well.

I bought a paper trimmer to trim. AmazonBasics does a great one for little lolly.

Fellowes Binding-Machine Quasar 5227201


It’s a bit of an investment, but I have done so many of my music books it is worth it. I bought a used one and it was fine.

Good points Vlad.
I kinda tear the pages from the waxed bind, carefully, then trim before using the binding machine.

I should add you should practice on the binding machine with non music scores to get the hang of the hole punching!

I have had several books spiral bound. The place where I had it done (Office Max) highly recommended the plastic-coated wire spiral binding rather than the plastic comb binding. They said the comb bindings didn't hold up as well as the spiral binding. So I had them do the spiral binding and have been happy with the results.

Your 200-page (about an inch thick?) book might be a challenge for binding.

Stub is, good point re thickness! I found a place that can do it so when I go in I will ask about that. Maybe I should have them do it in two. Not sure.

I ended up getting the plastic coated spiral binding, just picked it up today. $5.

It looks great and will soooo much easier to use this way! I don't know if I'd make enough to justify purchasing something to do it myself, but I can see doing a lot more books like this.

Thanks everyone for all the comments!