Tom Damitio

Bond Products offers a variety of binding and serging machines for professional use. We always recommend that our customers who purchase and use these machines also purchase specific needles and thread, and other carpet binding supplies from us as well. With the right materials, our binders and sergers will operate better and last longer, and their output will be higher quality too. Below is a list of our machines and the needles and thread, bobbins, and other products we recommend purchasing with them.

 

For the PBL-1 and PBL-2 portable carpet binders, use:

Needles:

#21022 22 DP Diamond Point needles (box of 100 or pack of 10)

#21023 23 DP Diamond Point needles (box of 100 or pack of 10)

Top thread:

#08054 52 [.010] 8oz Cleartone Monofilament thread

#08056 63 [.011] 8oz Cleartone Monofilament thread

 

For the PBL-TX and PBL-TXB Wide Tapestry carpet binders, use:

Needles:

#21024 24 DP Diamond Point needles (box of 100 or pack of 10)

Top thread:

#08078 White, #08079 Black size 69 Bonded Tex 70 Nylon 16 oz. spool

#08056 63 [.011] 8oz Cleartone Monofilament thread

Bobbins:

#08052HD Style A-Heavy Duty bobbins

 

For the BBL-1 and BBL-2 Bobbinless table binders, use:

Needles:

#21024 24 DP Diamond Point needles (box of 100 or pack of 10)

#21025B/M 25 DP Diamond Point needles

Top thread:

#08016 Size 63 [.011] Cleartone Monofilament Canister (1.5 lb. approx.)

Bottom thread:

#08078 White, #08079 Black size 69 Bonded Tex 70 Nylon 16 oz. spool

 

For the PBB-1 & PBB-2 Bobbinless portable binders, use:

Needles:

#21025 25-UY143GS needles (box of 100 or pack of 10)

Top thread:

#08017 75 [.012] Cleartone Monofilament canister (1.5 lb. approx.)

Bottom:

#09012 12/4 Glazed Cotton Tex 135 in Maple, Chestnut, Natural, Olive Drab

OR #08078 White #69 NYLON 16 oz. spool (#08079 black, etc.)

 

For the HDB-1 & HDB-2 Heavy Duty Bobbinless table binders, use:

Needles:

#21027C 250-9848 Needles (pack of 25)

#21027B 230-9848-1975G Needles (pack of 25) OR #21028 *250-1975G

Top thread:

#08017 Size 75 [.012] Cleartone Monofilament Canister (1.5 LB approx.)

Bottom:

#08078 White, #08079 Black size 69 Bonded Tex 70 Nylon 16 oz. spool

#08082 White, #08083 Black #138 Tex 135 Nylon 16 oz. spool

 

For the TMB-1 Lock Stitch table binder, use:

Needles:

#21023 23 DP Diamond Point or Titanium needles (box of 100 or pack of 10)

Top thread:

#08015 52 [.010] Cleartone Monofilament canister (1.5 lb.)

#08016 63 [.011] Cleartone Monofilament canister (1.5 lb.)

Bobbins:

#08051 Style F bobbins, or #08051HD Style F-Heavy Duty bobbins

 

For the HDS-1 & HDS-2 Heavy Duty sergers, use:

Needles:

#21026HD (250-9844GS) needles (25 each) or #21031HD (230-9844) needles (25 each)

Top thread:

#08084 White, #08085 Black #207 Bonded Tex 210 Nylon 16 oz. Spool

Yarn

 

For the Alpha Miniket portable serger, use:

Needles:

#MKG002@ EACH & PACK #MKG002PK (10)

Top thread:

#08084 White, #08085 Black #207 Tex 210 Nylon 16 oz. spool

Yarn

Sku #28000 1.29lb cones, 100% cotton yarn

An added note for all of our customers: All 1-1/4” folders should be used with Long Shank needles. (Portables – PBL’s, PBS, PBT, GMC Commander)

As always, if you have any questions about the binding supplies you need for your machines, please contact us or call us at (888) 800-2663 (BOND). We are open Monday to Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM to provide these answers and any other customer service you may need.

 

Have you ever considered investing in carpet binding equipment? Do you want to add another skill to your portfolio of services? Carpet binders and sergers are a great way to add extra income to your flooring business. Add one to your workroom or retail business store, and you can charge $7-12 dollars per linear foot to add wide tapestry borders to carpet and rugs. With some training, skill and the right equipment, you can create attractive, fully finished carpeting ranging from functional to art either on location or in your own facility. This is a simple and straightforward way to expand your company’s services and customer base.

Carpet Binding Equipment Options

Bond Products’ catalog includes a variety of carpet binding and serging equipment, both stationary and portable, that will allow you to bind any size carpet on site anywhere. What types of machines do we offer?

Portable Binders

You can take a portable machine wherever you go because it moves around the perimeter of the carpet which remains in place. Portable binders are great tools for on-site carpet work like building construction or commercial remodeling projects. They can also be used in the shop. These machines are fast. Bond’s PBL-XB Zig-Zag Portable Binder offers both a straight or a zig-zag stitch and binds over 10 feet per minute.

Bond’s PBB-2X Bobbinless Portable Binder tackles the thickest and hardest carpet backings while running high speed so you can bind high volumes of carpet cove base and area rugs. The PBB-2X can bind 7/8 to 3” wide tapes with the proper tape folders.

Stationary Binders

Stationary machines work like a portable binder in reverse: they remain in place while the carpet moves through it. Binding a large carpet with a stationary tool requires a large workspace and a large table or a set of conveyor rollers, so it can only be done in house by a professional. Machines like Bond’s BBL 1 and BBL 2 are high-speed, self-lubricating machines that are built to last a lifetime.

The PBL-TXB is an extra heavy-duty construction machine that does the work of three machines, allowing you to go from a straight stitch to a zig-zag stitch easily. Its zig-zag lockstitch binds ¾” to 3” widths of tape in a single pass. It also has a tapestry blind stitch up to 6 ½ inches wide, adjustable stitch length, variable speed, a walking-foot top and feed-dog bottom for consistent pulling power, and a high lift needle for thick rugs. The PBL-TXB binds over 10 feet of carpet per minute.

Single vs. Double Puller Carpet Binders

Typically for commercial work (light weight / low pile) carpet, a single puller is sufficient 90% of the time or more. You can always pre-bevel thicker carpet for easier binding. If you are doing mostly residential plush and berber carpets of 40 to 50 ounces and up, a double puller will track through these rugs more easily and also help keep the work more square on the  way through.

Bond recommends all of the machines we sell for the different tasks they are designed for. It’s important to choose the right machine for your job. If you would like to enter the carpet binding industry at a lower price, Bond also offers a number of refurbished machines in our clearance section. If you have questions about which type of carpet binder or serger would best suit your needs, please call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We would be happy to advise you on what carpet binding equipment could best expand your business’s capabilities.

 

 

 

If you’ve spent much time in your RV, how closely have you looked at your RV carpeting? Is it dirty and outdated? Worn? If you have an older model RV or one with carpet, replacing it with carpet that will wear better and look cleaner can give your vehicle an instant update. It’s not very expensive, so the bang per buck can be quite large for a small investment of money and time.

Why would your carpet need replacing? Newer RVs have relied less on carpet for a number of reasons, including the fact that traffic in RVs tends to be heavy. When you’re camping in dirty, sandy areas, a lot of what’s on your shoes and sandals will wind up in your carpet. It’s also really easy for carpet to get sun faded and mildewed when it is exposed to the elements.

Carpeting also goes through style cycles, and what looks fresh today can look dated very quickly. There are so many different styles of indoor/outdoor carpet that might work better in your RV space than what some manufacturer picked out decades ago.

Why stick with carpet? There are, of course, other options for flooring that might be suitable for your space. Carpet, however, is:

• Inexpensive, especially when you take into account the price of remnant carpet
• Quick to install
• Long lasting; the new carpet should last at least as long as the previous one
• Forgiving – a good multicolor or flecked carpet will hide a lot of stains

At Bond Products we’ve seen people get handy and creative replacing the carpet in their recreational vehicles. And we’re happy to help our customers if they need assistance making their carpet look professionally done. We would advise our customers to choose their new carpeting wisely. There are so many options now, but not all of them will take heavy traffic, dirt, and water as well. For RV use, 100 percent nylon rugs are much better than carpets with natural fibers. If you are on a budget, check out the remnants section of local carpet stores. There are plenty of good deals to be had. Because the floor space in an RV is limited, you will not need very much.

To bind your remnants, we offer marine style Instabind which is made using solution dyed acrylic material and is available in four colors – black, navy, gray and beige. Because it’s UV protected and mildew resistant, it’s perfect for RVs, boats, cars, and outdoor carpets. It’s easy to bind a remnant with Instabind. All you need is the carpet, Instabind, scissors, and a hot glue gun. We recommend using our Hi-Temp polyamide glue sticks when applying our Outdoor Marine binding.

If you want to give your RV a new, updated look this summer, replacing old carpet is an inexpensive and quick way to go about it. Summer is here. Is it time for a change?

 

Bond is celebrating 76 years of being family owned and operated from 1947-2023 at our 7th annual Spring Open House!

Join us Thursday and Friday, April 20-21, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. We will be offering:

• Free labor* on portable binder repairs (you just have to pay for the parts)*
• Free instruction on maintaining and servicing your binder
• Free training on binding, serging, beveling and fringing techniques
• A 10% discount on all Bond equipment and supplies
• Trade evaluations on your old equipment if you want to “trade up”
• …and not to mention… FREE FOOD AND DRINKS!

Learn from the pros! This is an excellent opportunity to see our state-of-the-art carpet workroom and to take advantage of free service and training.

NOTE : appointments are required ; no walk ins allowed at this time. Thank you!

*Free labor is limited to portable binders only, with a limit of two per customer. If you would like to take advantage of this service, please call (888) 800-2663 and schedule an appointment ahead of time. We require an operator to be present to view the service performed and get training and tips on running/maintaining the binder being repaired. Repairs are limited to basic tune ups. Any extensive work needed beyond 30 minutes free service is subject to additional billing.

 

Bond Products, Inc.

4511 Wayne Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19144

1-888-800-BOND (2663)

 

One of the products in Bond’s Pro Drive HD™ line that we haven’t yet talked about is our staples. Bond carries several types of staple guns and a wide variety of staples as well. Here we will list the types of staples, what their best uses are, and which staple guns they are suitable for use with. 

Staple Guns

Bond offers a hand stapler and a pneumatic stapler. 

The SSTGU81 Gunlach Heavy Duty Hand-binding Stapler #81 is a quality hand stapler. In the carpet industry, it’s used to attach 1½” binding tape to carpet and will staple the tails on corners because it will staple at any angle. Many people also use it in the flooring industry and for fabric and paper. Its curved handle reduces quick soreness that can result from use. 

Use the SSTGU248 24/8 5/16″ Galvanized Staples with the Gunlach stapler. They are 5/16” in length and come in a package of 5000 staples. 

We talked about why a pneumatic stapler is such a useful tool back in January. The pneumatic stapler we have available to purchase is the 18 GA Underlayment Stapler with Extra Capacity Aluminum Magazine. This stapler is used for flooring installation and has a bump/single fire operation and a fast jam release. Use GA staples from 7/8″ to 1-9/16″ in length with this stapler. 

If you would like to use this stapler out of the box in one package deal with the necessary staples, we offer that too. 

The Right Staple for the Job 

Here are the types of staples we have available for sale, along with what they are used for: 

15-1/2 GA 1-1/2″ Flooring Staples 10,300 ct per box 

15-1/2 GA 1-3/4″ Flooring Staples 9,000 ct per box

15-1/2 GA 2″ Flooring Staples 7720 ct per box

These flooring staples are used for 3/4″ hardwood or Maple flooring applications into wood sub-floors. They are E-G galvanized for rust resistance but not recommended for ACQ-treated lumber. Over time these staples may corrode, due to galvanization thickness. They are not intended to prevent rust on exterior applications. To ensure maximum protection, use stainless steel type 316 staples.

These staples perform. They will meet any manufacturer’s quality standards. We guarantee that they will fit 15-1/2 GA flooring tools, including Stanley Bostitch® tools or we will give you your money back.

The following staples have a blunt chisel point. They are thinner than a 15.5 GA staple or a 16 GA L-cleat and have a reduced chance of splitting. They are E-G galvanized to protect from rust. These are the most cost efficient staple we offer. 

18 GA NC1000L13D 1″ Premium  steel 1/4″ Crown Staples 5,000 CT – This staple is similar to Duo-Fast® 1832 and fits ALL Duo-Fast® SureShot Staplers models plus Hitachi® N3804AB3 & Spotnail® WS4840 & TC4825. It fits most 18 gauge 1/4″ narrow crown staple tools including: BeA®: 90/38-150 / Bostitch®: S32SX, SX150, T40SX-CT / Craftsman®: 18300, 18306,18367, 18406, 18435 / Duo-Fast®: KN1848, KN1848A, KB1836, KS7648 / Fasco®: F20P 90-40 / Hitachi®: N3804AB / Jamerco®: JTS061825, 1838a, 1838H / Makita®: AT638 / Porter-Cable®: NS100, NS100A, NS150 / Senco®: A100LS, A150LS, SKS-L, SLS20-L, SLS25L, SLS25XP / Spotnails®: @WS4840, FS4825.

It WILL NOT FIT : Paslode® 3/16″ Crown Staplers.

18 GA NC0875L12D 7/8″ Underlayment Staples 5,000 CT – This staple is similar to Duo-Fast 1828 and fits ALL Duo-Fast® SureShot Staplers models plus Hitachi® N3804AB3 & Spotnail® WS4840 & TC4825. It fits most 18 gauge 1/4″ narrow crown staple tools including: BeA®: 90/38-150 / Bostitch®: S32SX, SX150, T40SX-CT / Craftsman®: 18300, 18306,18367, 18406, 18435 / Duo-Fast®: KN1848, KN1848A, KB1836, KS7648 / Fasco®: F20P 90-40 / Hitachi®: N3804AB / Jamerco®: JTS061825, 1838a, 1838H / Makita®: AT638 / Porter-Cable®: NS100, NS100A, NS150 / Senco®: A100LS, A150LS, SKS-L, SLS20-L, SLS25L, SLS25XP / Spotnails®: @WS4840, FS4825.

It WILL NOT FIT : Paslode® 3/16″ Crown Staplers.

18 GA NC1250L15-8 1-1/4″ Premium  steel 1/4″ Crown Staples 5,000 CT – This staple is similar to Duo-Fast® 1840. It fits ALL Duo-Fast® SureShot Staplers. It fits most 18 gauge 1/4″ narrow crown staple tools including: BeA®: 90/38-150 / Bostitch®: S32SX, SX150, T40SX-CT / Craftsman®: 18300, 18306,18367, 18406, 18435 / Duo-Fast®: KN1848, KN1848A, KB1836, KS7648 / Fasco®: F20P 90-40 / Hitachi®: N3804AB / Jamerco®: JTS061825, 1838a, 1838H / Makita®: AT638 / Porter-Cable®: NS100, NS100A, NS150 / Senco®: A100LS, A150LS, SKS-L, SLS20-L, SLS25L, SLS25XP / Spotnails®: @WS4840, FS4825.

It WILL NOT FIT : Paslode® 3/16″ Crown Staplers.

The following staples are made of premium graded steel. They have an improved point, superior strip integrity, and holding power and do not bend or break. 

20 GA 5010D 5/16″ Divergent PAD Staples 5,000 CT – This staple is compatible with: CS-500 Duo-Fast®, EWC-5018A Duo-fast®, HT-550 Classic Duo-Fast®, SureShot®5020 DLAF Duo-Fast®, SureShot® 5020 S Duo-Fast®, SureShot® 5020 Duo-Fast®. OLDER MODELS: CT-859A, EWC-5018, HT-550, JP-5020, JP-5020 DL, JS-5020 DL. 

A-11D 3/8″ Hand or Electric staples 5,000 CT – This staple is equal to Arrow T50. Use this with Slap Stapler– Interchangeable with Senco® A-11, Duo-Fast® A-11, Rapid® 11, JK671. It fits Arrow® CT50K, ETFX50, ETF50BN, ETN50, HT50, T50PRN, ET50, ETC50 Electric Staple Guns. Air Staple Guns Fasco® F1B A11-16, AUTO, L/M. 

19GA 7512D 3/8″ Divergent PAD Staples 5,000 CT– This staple is for use with HT-755 Duo-Fast® series 3/8″ x 15/32″ Crown.

20GA 5418D 9/16″ Divergent Electric Staples 5,000 CT (14MM) – This staple is GUARANTEED to fit all 5400 & 5418 SERIES & Older Models: BN-54245, BND-5424 SP284, ENB-5418A, ENC-5418A SP330, ENC-5418A SP330A, ENC-5418A. 

The final two types of staples we offer are: 

16 GA 7/16″ Crown Staples “N” WIRE Available in DIFFERENT LENGTHS – This staple is ideal for sheathing, soffits, underlayment, lattice, cabinets, case backs, drawers, and more. It’s electro galvanized and made to fit Senco N series and Hitachi, Porter Cable and similar N WIRE staplers. It’s similar to Senco® N17BAB staples and available in sizes 3/4″, 1″, 1-1/4″, 1-1/2″. These above lengths are 7/16″ crown x 3/4″ leg,16 gauge. 

3/8 Arrow Electric Gun Staples 3/8″ #T50 – This is a 3/8″ | 10 mm staple that’s great for carpeting, plywood, lattice, and paneling. It comes in boxes of 5,000 staples. 

Bond’s Staples – “Superior Products At The Right Price©” 

As you can see, we have a full line of staples and quality staplers to meet your needs. If you need staples, staple guns, mallets, mallet caps, L-cleats, or finish nails for your flooring project, shop our Pro Drive HD™ line of supplies or call us at 1-888-800-BOND with any questions. We will be happy to help you. 

We have answered many carpet binding questions on this blog over the years, but one we haven’t yet answered is: “How thick is carpet binding tape?” Let’s talk about binding tape thickness – specifically binding tape width – and what people need to know about carpet binding. 

A Quick Refresher: 

Carpet binding tape is tape that is used to bind the edges of carpets, area rugs, runners, and staircases to make them more attractive and prevent them from fraying or unraveling.

People use binding tape for a number of purposes besides binding carpet or turning a remnant into a rug, including crafts, home decor, and, most recently, making face masks. They are useful for these purposes because binding tape comes in a number of fabric types as well as a large variety of colors, so it’s easy to match or complement the fabric or material you are binding it to. 

Binding tape is attached to carpet by either hot glue, stapling, or sewing. Instabind is attached with hot glue and is typically used for smaller DIY rug projects. It comes in regular, cotton binding, faux leather, synthetic serge, cotton serge, rope edge, outdoor marine, and safety edge varieties. 

How Thick Is Carpet Binding Tape? 

Binding tape that is used to bind carpets with carpet binding machines comes in a number of thicknesses, but the most common are ⅞ and 1¼ inches. The thicker the carpet or rug being bound, the thicker the binding tape has to be to cover the edge. Bond Products sells binding tape in these thicknesses:

• Cotton 7/8″ Serging Tape
• Cotton 1¼” Serging Tape
• Cotton 3” and 5” Wide Sisal Binding Tape
• Polyester 3” Binding Tape
• Cotton ¾”, 1¼” Binding Tape
• Polyester 13/16 ” and 1¼” Binding Tape
• Veltron “Mega” ⅝”, ⅞”, 1 ¼”  Polyester Binding Tape
• Marine ⅞”, 1¼”  Polyester Felt Binding Tape

These tapes are available in a full spectrum of colors to match whatever kind of carpet is on the market for sale. 

During the carpet binding process, the carpet will be cut down to the desired shape. It may also be beveled and tapered toward the edges. This will affect how wide the binding tape has to be and make the tape lie neatly at the edges. 

Bond Products also has carpet binding equipment for sale as well as other quality equipment, including sergers, cutters, bevelers, and machine package deals. If you have further questions about binding tape thickness or need carpet binding tape or anything necessary to bind carpet, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be glad to help you. 

 

2020 has been a very challenging year for businesses. Many of the services that companies have provided are either temporarily not in demand or prohibited by government mandated lockdowns. As is the case in any recession, now is the time to look at what your company does and see if you can make adjustments to remain profitable or regain profitability. One of the ways to survive is to change your product and service offerings. To do this, you may need to invest in quality equipment.

Find the Opportunities

Few people enjoy a recession. Times are tough. If you need to make changes to your business model, that can be hard and require some flexibility. All businesses have to look at consumer behavior now and then try to predict what it will be in the future, in both the short and the longer term. 

For example, if you have a carpet business and you have been installing carpet in new construction or residential homes, it’s likely that you’ve lost business in the past months. With the economy in freefall, fewer buildings are getting built. People have been ordered to remain in their homes and to isolate themselves from other people. Unemployed people have a lot less discretionary income to spend, so you may not be selling and installing nearly as much carpet as you were in 2019. 

In order to balance the loss of income from these streams, it’s possible to make changes in the services or products you are offering. If you, like many people, anticipate that the above trends might continue, you might want to look at offering services like binding and serging carpets, repairing area rugs, and selling area rugs. In the short term, rugs may be what is in demand and what people have the discretionary income to purchase. 

Investing in Quality Equipment

Bond Products offers a variety of high quality carpet binding machines and equipment for sale or lease including: 

• Portable sergers
• Portable binders
• Tapestry binders
• Stationary industrial table binders
• Table mount heavy duty sergers

If you would like to jump right into carpet binding and want everything you need to begin, we have machine deals that combine equipment and supplies and make everything as simple as possible. 

We also offer an assortment of carpet cutters and bevelers to suit your carpet cutting application. These range from simple carpet scissors and electric shears to portable bevelers and six blade carpet cove cutters. 

For customers who might want to invest in carpet binding equipment but limited budgets for equipment outlays, we also lease equipment and have used equipment for sale on our clearance outlet page. The equipment listed changes, so check back regularly to see if what’s in our clearance inventory fits your needs. 

Diversifying your service offerings or products is one way to survive the pandemic and recession. If you’re looking to invest in quality equipment like carpet binding, serging, or cutting machinery that will last over time, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to help you find exactly what you need. 

 

Roofing fasteners are a necessary component of any roofing job whether you’re installing a new roof on a home, a business, a commercial building, a pole barn, or a garage. The roofing screws you choose will make a difference in the overall strength and integrity of the roof. Bond Products has the roofing fasteners you need to get the job done right. 

Why Are Roofing Fasteners Important?

Using the right roofing screw will not only secure the roofing material to the building, it will have an impact on the building’s energy efficiency and the longevity of the structure. Choosing a good quality roofing fastener can also impact your homeowner’s insurance!

We have roofing fasteners in a number of different styles and powder-coated paint colors to match a variety of roof panel colors, creating a clean and attractive appearance on any structure. 

3” x 10 GA ¼” Hex Head Screws

These screws are self-drilling screws. They are designed to attach metal to wood on a house, porch, pole barn, shed, barn, or other utility building and are ideal for attaching roofing panels and siding on post-frame & residential metal roof applications. They utilize 16mm EPDM virgin rubber vulcanized to a steel washer. This forms an excellent seal even when the screw is driven at an angle.

The metal section of these screws are coated with an additional topcoat that exceeds 1,000 hours of salt-spray performance and the powder-coated head of the screw has a topcoat that reduces chalking or fading. They are available in the following colors:

• Classic red
• Terracotta
• Stone gray
• Slate gray
• Midwest green

1” x 10 GA ¼” Hex Head Screws

These self-drilling screws attach metal to wood and can be used for a variety of building projects, including roofing HVAC, steel stud framing, gutters, and register vents. They are ideal for attaching roofing panels and siding on post frame and residential metal roof applications. They use 12mm EPDM virgin rubber vulcanized to a steel washer forming an excellent seal even when the screw is positioned in the roof at an angle.

Like the roofing screws above, these 1” screws are premium mechanical coated with a topcoat that will exceed 1,000 hours of salt-spray performance and their heads are powder coated so they will resist chalking or fading. They are available in white and tan. 

1” #9 Hex Head Self-tapping Roofing Screws

This is a self-drilling screw as well, designed to attach metal to wood. They are C1022 steel hardened with a thread cutting end designed for penetrating wood. They are mechanical zinc/tin coated for 1,000 hours of salt-spray performance. Insert these screws with 12.7 mm EPDM steel-bonded washers which come bulk packed with the screws. Used together, they will form a great seal even when they are driven in at an angle. 

These roofing fasteners are commonly used on houses, porches, sheds, pole barns, and other buildings. They are ideal for attaching roofing panels and siding on post frame and residential metal roof applications and can be used for HVAC, steel stud framing, gutters, and register vents too. 

Roofing screw selection is important for ensuring that a roof will be strong and will stay strong over time. If you are not sure which type of roofing fasteners would best meet your needs, please call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We would be happy to talk over the specs of each screw type and advise you. 

 

Installing artificial turf is a landscaping choice many homeowners or organizations are making for areas of their property that they want to look neat and attractive without a lot of maintenance. Home putting greens, pet runs, play areas, pools, tennis courts, and other athletic fields often utilize artificial turf. Installing artificial turf is more challenging than installing carpet. With the right tools and supplies, however, including the right turf tape and mallets, you can make any area attractive, easy to use, and easy to clean by landscaping artificial turf. 

Landscaping Artificial Turf

What do you need to install artificial turf that will stay put and look great? First, you need to break up the sod either with a tiller or a sod cutter  and remove all plant material from the section you are landscaping. If you do not remove all grass, weeds, or seeds, they will find a way to grow through your turf and create unsightly problems. So take your time and be thorough.

When you’ve entirely cleared the area, you will need to lay down crushed aggregate over the entire surface to the depth of two to four inches. When you’re finished laying it down, the aggregate should be level with the ground surrounding the piece that you are landscaping with artificial turf. Then you will need to add a 15-25 year weed barrier on top of the aggregate. This will ensure that any potential plant growth will be stifled and will not wreck your turf. 

When you’ve completed adding the aggregate and the weed barrier, you’ll begin installing the turf itself. You will need a carpet knife or box cutter to cut the turf. During the turf Installation, the trickiest part is making sure that the seams match up so that the artificial turf looks like all one lawn and there are no seam issues. 

Bond Products offers a variety of products to make that easier, including turf tape, turf seaming irons, a turf carpet tractor and even a turf seam sewing machine. With our turf tape, you won’t have to fumble around with messy pails of glue, trowels, and fabric. Just roll Bond’s turf tape out, line it up, heat with a high temperature iron, and lay the seam. In order to attach the turf solidly to the ground you’ll also need 6-inch galvanized nails. 

Bond also sells mallets and mallet replacement caps. These are very useful for spiking down the turf and hammering out bumps under the turf. You will want to make sure that the surface of the turf is entirely flat when you’re finished so that it looks and feels as good as possible when you’re walking or playing on it.

Once your artificial turf is seamed and attached, your job is almost finished. The final step is to  apply an infill material that will keep the turf down and flat. Brush the infill material over with a broom to make sure the entire backing is covered.

Landscaping artificial turf may sound like a difficult job, but with the right tools and supplies, most homeowners can install it on their own. The key is to make sure you have the right equipment and quality artificial turf and to take the time you need to do a good job start to finish. If you need turf installation supplies or mallets, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We are here to help you get everything you need to make your projects turn out perfectly.

 

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, there has been a much greater demand for personal protection equipment (PPE) for both personal and professional use. Because so many hospitals did not have adequate equipment and supplies went to them first, many people were left scrambling to find hand sanitizer, masks, and gloves. The grocery stores and pharmacies ran out of these supplies fast and still have empty shelves. If you are looking for these hard-to-find items, we are happy to say that we have them in stock to order either separately or in kits.

Gloves, Masks, and Hand Sanitizer

We’ve done several blogs about how to make your own mask to wear out in public or to work. People making their own masks have helped meet consumer demand. It’s a lot harder to make your own gloves or hand sanitizer, though, so, in an effort to help our customers comply with local regulations to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Bond Products is now offering four different products (while supplies last). These are:

• Hand sanitizer in 4-ounce spray bottles – this hand sanitizer is an 80% alcohol, antiseptic, topical solution 
• KN95 masks – These 4-layer masks come in packages of 30
• Gloves – These disposable gloves come in packs of 40 (20 pairs) or 100 (50 pairs)

Some geographical areas of the United States have already lifted their lockdowns. In Pennsylvania the governor is lifting the lockdowns on a county-by-county basis, depending on how many coronavirus cases exist. Other states have been allowing certain industries to return to work as long as they take precautions to ensure the safety of their employees and customers. Not every area has experienced the coronavirus the same, but everyone wants to minimize the risk of having employees become sick. For this reason, providing staff with PPE and training them in using it to prevent the spread of the virus is vital. 

We are selling our gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer individually or in kits. If you have any questions about what you may need for PPE or any other carpet binding or installation needs, do not hesitate to call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to help you find what you require to keep working – either at home or on the job. 

 

In our last blog we talked about making cloth masks to help service workers, family members, and neighbors protect themselves from the coronavirus. Several of the products we sell can be used to make face masks with ties. This is useful for people who sew who may have enough fabric but have had a hard time finding elastic. Face masks that tie are also preferable in some ways than those with elastic. 

Sewing Face Masks to Help the Effort

When we look back at the COVID-19 epidemic, there will be a lot of difficult and frustrating things to remember, but one of the good things will be how people pulled together for each other and soldiered on. Frontline workers and those in essential industries kept working. Many people at home stayed busy making a difference by sewing face masks. They sewed all day and sometimes into the night, and they made do when they ran low on things like elastic. They created new patterns and taught others how to sew too. We’ve seen a lot of customers purchasing our ½-inch and ⅝-inch cotton #501 natural tapes and twill tapes as material for mask ties. 

One of our customers, W.C. Carpenter, has been making use of our cotton binding and donating them to people in need! They sent us these pictures of their work and the final result. Impressive!

A really nice thing about making face masks is that this is the perfect beginner sewing project. There are some more complicated face mask patterns available, but the simplest ones involve cutting rectangles and sewing them together in straight lines. If you can cut, pin, and sew a straight line, you can make a mask. 

Here’s what you will need: 

• High quality 100% cotton fabric
• Binding tape or twill tape
• Pins
• Thread
• Scissors

That’s it! Here is a great tutorial (with pattern) on how to make a two-layer, rectangular mask with a filter pocket. The type of mask allows you to add a piece of filtering fabric to make the mask more effective against viruses. 

Face masks with ties aren’t harder to make than masks with elastic, and they should hold up longer. This is important because they will have to be washed as protective gear. Elastic loses its elasticity over time, but ties will continue to work as long as the mask itself lasts. Some people prefer this type of mask because they think it’s more comfortable, especially if it has to be worn for many hours. Elastic can cut into the skin and pinch. 

If you would like to make face masks for yourself or others and need quantities of cotton binding tape or twill tape for the face mask ties, Bond Products has the supplies you need. Call us – we will be happy to help get you started.

 

Americans may be quarantined at home, but they are still working to combat the coronavirus. Many people are making cloth masks for frontline workers or family members to wear to protect themselves. Our awesome customers have asked about using our cotton binding tapes for surgical masks. Yes, cotton binding tapes and twill tapes can be used to make masks! Bond Products has created a coupon for you to use to get 10% off mask making supplies.

CDC Recommends Wearing Cloth Masks 

Last week the Centers for Disease Control came out with a recommendation for Americans to wear cloth masks or face coverings in public places, especially places where it’s hard to maintain the recommended distance of 6 feet between two people. This might mean at work for some people or at the grocery store or pharmacy for others. Wearing cloth masks can help slow the spread of the virus. Some people may be sick and not even know it, so wearing a face mask as an extra precaution would really help keep others around them safer.

Harvard Medical School also recommends wearing a mask if “you have respiratory symptoms like coughing or sneezing…This may help contain droplets containing any type of virus, including the flu, and protect anyone within three to six feet of the infected person.” Since cloth masks are reusable, they will still be good to have when the coronavirus outbreak is over. Cold and flu season is every year.

It’s important to wash and sterilize the masks after they are used, so making a number of masks if you are going to be out of the house on a regular basis would be advisable. You can wash them in hot water and use color-safe bleach to sterilize them. 

Making Cloth Masks to Wear

Cloth masks can be made from household items like t-shirts or cotton fabric. There are a number of tutorials online about how to make face masks. Some of them are very simple and others are designed to allow an extra protective insert or to be worn over an n95 mask. You can decide which would work best for you. 

One of the challenges for many people sewing masks has been to find elastic to use to fasten the masks over the wearer’s ears. We’re happy to say that our cotton binding tapes and twill tapes are ideal to use for fastening masks that tie behind the head or fasten behind the ears.

If you want to make cloth masks for your family, neighbors, or community members, enter the coupon code “MASK10” to save 10% on all cotton binding, twill tapes, hook & loop tape, glue guns, and scissors. The COVID-19 pandemic will not last forever, but until it ends, we’re all doing what we can to help each other survive it. Call us today or order online. Please stay safe and well! 

In recent blogs we have discussed how higher tariffs and the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide will affect the prices and availability of necessary manufactured goods such as staples and nails. In this blog we will talk about the current logistics challenges and why problems with international shipping by ocean or by air look like they are not going away anytime soon. 

The Current State of International Shipping

Anything we state now about shipping is subject to change weekly, daily, and sometimes even hourly. The COVID-19 virus and China’s regional shutdowns in manufacturing areas greatly affected production of goods earlier in 2020. As China’s people have recovered from the coronavirus, production has too. Right now their production levels are about 70-75% of normal, and exports have resumed and are increasing too. 

The earlier shipping deficits in February and March, combined with an expected increase in demand in April and May, are going to create some problems. Shipping rates have increased and will continue to increase. There’s also a large imbalance in shipping container supply because China’s imports collapsed in February, so there are few containers in the U.S. and Europe presently. 

President Trump closed travel from Europe to the U.S. in order to fight the advance of the coronavirus, but that decision has caused massive disruption to transatlantic air freight. Without passenger flight service, air freight will have to go through freighter airport hubs, and this will be more expensive and result in more delays. 

Domestic logistics are also tricky right now. There were already trucker shortages in the U.S. Some companies are having to store goods longer than usual because they cannot be immediately shipped domestically from ocean ports.

The COVID-19 Outbreak Continues to Complicate

As the COVID-19 virus has spread to Europe and the U.S. it only makes shipping challenges more complicated. Italy locked itself down entirely last week. Areas of the U.S. like the San Francisco Bay Area are also locking down. In these areas cargo flow slows to a halt. It’s uncertain how many countries will institute lockdowns or what the rules of those lockdowns will be. Currently in the U.S. all terminals and airports continue to be operational, but that is subject to change at any given time. 

It’s hard to predict exactly what will happen with international shipping under these circumstances except to say that resources will be scarcer than usual and shipping costs much higher. That is guaranteed to affect consumer prices on goods and services. 

At Bond Products we want to be open about how the current challenges to the market affect us and, by extension, our customers. We are affected by the mandates of the City of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania, but, unfortunately, these mandates are not the same, so the situation is confusing. At this time we are monitoring both and keeping our business open as we have fewer than 50 employees and are considered in part a hardware store and manufacturer. This may change, of course. If you have any questions about prices or availability of any of our products, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to share with you what we know. 

 

 

 

 

Do you need mallets for your flooring installation needs? Bond Products has them! Anyone working in the wood flooring industry knows how useful and necessary rubber mallets are for installing floors. Having the right mallet makes all the difference for this job, so Bond offers several mallet choices as well as a variety of mallet caps to complement them. 

Different Mallets for Different Needs 

We currently offer three single head versions called MI (3.0lbs) and MIII (3.6 lbs). They both have an iron wedge while the third one, H081W, (3.1lbs) has a unique beveled head. All three come with a 6-ring grip and a white cap. Our MII mallet is comparable to Powernail® Mallet MIII. The handle of this mallet is made of 100% American hickory. The 6-ring wood grip is easy to use, and the rings carved into the handle prevent slippage during use and protect wear layer. 

This mallet comes with a replaceable non-marring white mallet cap that protects flooring material and tools from damage. Replacement caps are available for this mallet. They come in white, black, or gray for use with all types of pneumatic flooring nail staplers or nailers. 

The second type of mallet is a double head mallet. This mallet also has a cast steel head, weighs 3.3 pounds, and is 15 inches in length. It too is made of 100% American hickory and has a 6-ring wood ring grip that makes the grip comfortable and easy to hold. The double head design helps to protect the nailer from damage during use. The double head mallet is ideal as a rental tool and can be used with all types of pneumatic flooring nail staplers or nailers. 

The double head mallet comes with two premium mallet caps affixed with chrome plated steel retainer rings. This unit also takes replacement mallet caps in white, black, or gray as necessary. 

Both types of mallets are made in America and designed for hardwood floor installation to allow the user to apply maximum force with little effort. A good mallet makes the job of installing wood flooring simpler, easier, and safer. 

Bond happily supplies replacement mallet caps in white, gray, and black. Each mallet cap has a heavy-duty, chrome-plated steel retention ring that ensures a proper fit. Our mallet caps will fit all major flooring mallet brands. We guarantee they will fit your flooring mallet. Although anyone can use our mallet caps, they are designed for professionals, with long-lasting durability in mind. White and gray mallet caps are non-marring and used for prefinished woods, whereas black mallet caps are used for unfinished woods. All types of our premium mallets caps are sold either by the single cap or by the box (27 replacement caps). Volume options are also available.

If you have any questions about either type of mallet or the replacement mallet caps, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. Our customer service department will be happy to help. And for staples, staple guns, L-cleats, or finish nails for your flooring project, shop our Pro Drive HD™ line of supplies. 

In our January blog we talked about the fact that the Commerce Department had announced preliminary RETROACTIVE ADD duties of 301.64% on ALL Chinese producers and exporters. For any company that sells products made from steel and aluminum, this decision will have an impact on prices. Everything involving China is currently to be determined, however, U.S. customers should anticipate that higher tariffs and effects of the coronavirus will result in more volatile prices for steel and aluminum goods in the future. What can we expect in 2020 for prices on flooring fastener products like staples and finish nails? 

Higher Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum

In January President Trump signed a proclamation that expanded tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from specific countries. This proclamation increased tariffs on derivative steel products 25% and derivative aluminum products 10%. Countries with products exempted from these additional tariffs are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea for steel products and Argentina, Australia, Canada and Mexico for aluminum products. 

These higher tariffs were placed because import volumes of derivative products increased significantly after the original tariffs on steel and aluminum were put in place. Those tariffs increased prices on raw materials, not finished goods. The new proclamations appear to be an order to align the impact of tariffs against finished imported material. In other words, the Department of Commerce is attempting to close any loopholes.

Since the goal of tariffs is to protect and encourage American manufacturing output, if imports increase from the exempted countries, President Trump is likely to increase tariffs on them as well. 

DOC Tariff Changes Do Not Affect Collated Steel Staples 

As of February 8, 2020 the new steel tariffs will affect most nails and other steel fasteners but not collated staples which were specifically excluded. Nail products affected are the following: 

• 7317.00.30        Threaded pins for powder actuated nailers
• 7317.00.5503    Collated wire coil bright nails
• 7317.00.5505    Collated galvanized plastic strip nails
• 7317.00.5507    Collated plastic strip nails (all others, not galvanized)
• 7317.00.5560    Bulk bright threaded nails
• 7317.00.5580    Bulk threaded nails vinyl, resin or cement coated
• 7317.00.6560    Bulk nails not made of round wire, not cut  

China Suffers under the Coronavirus

Complicating matters further, we can expect that any company sourcing Chinese made products will be affected by not only tariffs but also delays in production due to the coronavirus. While the situation with the coronavirus is not clear, many large cities and manufacturing centers in China have been shut down while mill personnel are under quarantine. China’s New Year celebration also impacted production which currently is a month behind normal. 

The coronavirus has affected mills even outside of China too. They rely on China for raw steel and aluminum and if the supply chain comes to a halt, so will their mills. One potential impact is workers who traveled to their homeland in some cases were not permitted to return home due to concerns about the virus. Only recently have some factories returned to work, and they are subject to strict monitoring by the Chinese government. 

Ultimately, this news means that prices for flooring fasteners will be increasing and this is likely to affect staples too in the very near future. Fortunately, Bond Products does not source any of our fasteners from China which means that delays in production and higher tariffs placed on Chinese products will not affect our prices or product availability. 

We live in interesting times, but we can promise our customers that we will continue to offer competitively priced flooring supplies for all of your flooring fastener needs. 

 

 

 

 

The PBB-1X Bobbinless Portable Single Puller 2X2 is a tremendously useful machine for carpet binding. But did you know that the PBB-1X can also apply transition molding to heavy duty entrance mats? It can! This affordable, high-speed binder is a good solution to a variety of carpet needs. 

The PBB-1X

Everyone knows the PBB-1X is great for carpet binding. This bobbinless portable binder is tough, lightweight, and portable. It binds carpet quickly – over 30 feet per minute – and can accommodate various widths of tape with optional folder adjustments. This binder is easy to thread, easy to use, and requires little maintenance to keep it running. It’s Bond’s most economical, heavy-duty, high-speed binder, and we’re very proud of it. 

Did you also know that the PBB-1X can be use to apply transition molding to heavy duty entrance mats? That’s right, it can. This machine glides through thick and tough unitary backings with ease and can attach carpet to rubber transition molding to create entrance mats of any size. How does this work?

How To Apply Transition Molding

In addition to a carpet binder, you will need a few supplies: super glue, seam weights, and scissors. First you cut the carpet to the size that you need, and then you cut your rubber transition molding to fit the carpet, making sure the mitered corners match up. When that is done and you know that everything fits together, you apply the super glue to the transition molding. We carry super glue in 1-pound bottles which is handy for this type of job.

Put a bead of glue right on the flange and use seam weights to press the carpet into the molding so that the superglue adheres correctly and firmly. This takes about a minute. Then you will use your carpet binder with transition guide to sew the edge of the carpet to the molding permanently. It stitches a nice and tight seam into the center of the flange, about 3/4 of an inch into the carpet. When you are done, you will have a finished stitch binding that will last for the life of the carpet as well as a great looking entrance rug. 

If your company makes heavy-duty entrance rugs and needs a machine to apply transition molding, the PBB-1X can get it done. The PBB-2X Portable Bobbinless Double Puller 4X4 carpet binder would also work for this job. Both are backed by Bond Products’ 90-day limited warranty. If you have any questions about the PBB-1X, the PBB-2X, or any of the supplies mentioned, please give our customer service department a call at 1-888-800-BOND. We would be happy to match you up with everything you need.