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Formax's 3:1 wire binder for the classroom — and the honest case for buying the 2:1 instead.
Formax ReadyWire3B
The Formax ReadyWire3B is a manual, all-in-one 3:1 pitch double-loop wire binding machine that punches 20 sheets per pass, binds books up to 135 sheets on wire up to 5/8" diameter, and takes paper up to 11" wide. It sits in Formax's Basic Office line, rated for 10 to 50 books a day.
Formax's banner for it reads "Basic Binding Built for the Classroom." That's accurate.
It is the thin-book machine. 135 sheets is the ceiling. If any of your documents run thicker, read the next section before you order.
The ReadyWire3B punches 20 sheets at a time, closes 3:1 wire books up to 135 sheets, and is rated at up to 200 booklets an hour. Paper width maxes out at 11", and the machine measures 18" wide by 13" deep by 18" tall with the handle up. Every figure here is from Formax's product material.
For most classrooms, the ReadyWire2B. It's the same Basic Office machine with the same 20-sheet punch, 11" width and 200-an-hour rating, but its 2:1 wire goes to 1½" and 280 sheets instead of 5/8" and 135. Formax's own ReadyWire3B graphic says "Not sure where to start? 2:1 offers the most binding flexibility!"
That's the vendor steering you away from its own 3:1 model on that model's own marketing. I'd take the hint.
Buy the 3B when every book you make is thin — calendars, short reports, welcome booklets — and you like the look of 3 loops per inch. If one unit packet goes past 135 sheets, the 3B can't do it.
The ReadyWire3B punches with the front lever, holds punched sheets on an integrated wire holding station, and closes the wire with a second lever. Formax's three steps are "Punch Your Paper," "Place Your Wire" and "Close Your Booklet."
Toolless setup. A teacher can run it after one demo.
3:1 pitch double-loop wire up to 5/8" diameter. Formax's ReadyWire is packed in patented packaging that keeps it from tangling, and Formax says the wire is "10% thicker than industry standard" so it "won't collapse or deform when snagged." It comes in several colors. Wire is the recurring cost, so I always quote a supply of it with the machine.
The ReadyWire3B and ReadyWire2B are Formax's two Basic Office wire binders: same 11" width and 20-sheet punch, different pitch. The ReadyWire3M is the Premium 3:1 model, with 14" paper width for legal-size stock and a rating of 100 to 200 books a day.
Buy it for a classroom, a church or a small office that binds short documents and wants the 3:1 look. Formax lists classrooms, churches, small offices and non-profits as the fit.
Don't buy it as your only binder if anyone in the building makes thick books. Don't buy it for legal-size. And don't buy it for a district print room — at 100+ books a day you want the Premium line, and the electric ReadyWire3E is Formax's 3:1 model built for that volume.
All nine Formax models are compared in our guide to Formax binding machines for schools, or browse Formax equipment in our store.
How thick a book can the Formax ReadyWire3B bind?
135 sheets. That's the limit of 5/8" 3:1 wire, the largest the ReadyWire3B takes. It punches 20 sheets per pass, so a full 135-sheet book is seven punches. If you need thicker books, the 2:1 ReadyWire2B binds up to 280 sheets on the same size machine.
What's the difference between 3:1 and 2:1 wire binding?
Hole spacing. 3:1 means 3 holes per inch with finer wire; 2:1 means 2 holes per inch with heavier wire. On Formax's machines, 3:1 tops out at 5/8" and 135 sheets, while 2:1 goes to 1½" and up to 340 sheets. 3:1 suits thin documents; 2:1 handles nearly everything.
Is the ReadyWire3B electric?
No — the ReadyWire3B is fully manual, punch and close both by hand lever, so it doesn't need an outlet. Formax's electric 3:1 option is the ReadyWire3E, a Premium model with a foot-pedal punch, 14" paper width and a 250 booklets-per-hour rating.
Can the ReadyWire3B handle legal-size paper?
Only on the short edge. Its maximum paper width is 11", which covers letter-size bound on the long side. To bind legal-size along the 14" edge in 3:1, step up to the Premium ReadyWire3M or ReadyWire3E, both of which take 14" paper.
Who is the ReadyWire3B best for?
Classrooms, churches, small offices and non-profits binding 10 to 50 thin books a day, which is how Formax positions it. In a school I'd put it in a classroom or a workroom where every document is under 135 sheets. For mixed thicknesses, I'd buy the ReadyWire2B instead.
Let me know when you have a few minutes to discuss pricing.
Contact us to get the best pricing in the industry.
