Brian’s Blog

Bond Products is pleased to offer more products in our ProDriveHD™ line to our customers who need flooring and roofing tools and supplies. We recently added air hoses and parts to our inventory. If you need air hoses for your pneumatic tools, we want to be your source.

What Do Air Hoses Do? 

Air hoses are used to deliver the compressed air that pneumatic tools need to operate. Unlike other power tools that use either batteries or direct current to operate, air tools use compressed air. Workers in many different industries, including medicine, industrial, agriculture and construction, use air hoses for tools like sprayers, nailers, and torque wrenches. Bond Products’ pneumatic stapler is commonly used for both flooring and roofing applications. 

Because the air in these systems is under high pressure, the air hoses they use must be strong and durable so they will not leak or get damaged. The parts or fittings for air hoses must be able to withstand the pressure the tool generates. The parts we offer for sale are made of brass and tough and long lasting. It’s important to keep the hose away from contact with sharp objects or corners, but if your air hoses have an issue at some future date, they are easily repaired in the field.

Air Hose Parts 

Bond Products offers air hoses in 50-foot and 100-foot options. We also sell these parts for them: 

1/4″ NPT female-Brass, Nipple for Air Hose

1/4″ NPT female-Brass, Industrial Six Ball Coupler, for Air Hose

1/4″ ID 3/3″ OD Air Hose Splicer

Our high quality air hoses and parts are available for sale, and there is never a better time than now to stock up on the parts you need and any replacement parts you may need in the future. Call us at 1-888-800-BOND to order anything you need for flooring, carpet installation, carpet binding, roofing, or any other DIY projects you may have. 

 

Have ever wondered how to remove yarn from a serged piece of carpet? If you have, we have just created the video tutorial for you. Learning to use your carpet serger confidently and efficiently is important, so we at Bond Products want to share our tricks with you whenever we can. 

Working with Your Carpet Serger

Carpet serging adds value and visual impact to a carpet, but sometimes mistakes happen and you have to fix the damage. Then you need to know how to remove the serging without a knife. You do not want to cut the carpet or slice your hand accidentally, and there is a better way to remove serging yarn. In this short video Brian demonstrates how he removes yarn that was serged with Bond’s Alpha Mini-2000 portable serger. 

This serger is a two-thread machine. Sergers use two types of materials to serge a carpet, both yarn and thread. The thread goes through the needle of the serger, while the yarn goes through the looper. The yarn is much thicker than the thread and, as it’s wrapped over and over around the edge of the carpet, much more of it is used. The thread is used to wrap the yarn to the carpet itself and is made of strong nylon. 

Removing the Serging Yarn

If you don’t know there’s a trick to removing the yarn, you might be tempted to cut it off with a knife or a scissors, but there’s an easier way. If you pull the yarn and the sewing threads at the same time, the serging will unravel. There will be far more serging yarn to remove per inch than sewing thread, so you need to keep that in mind. Just keep pulling carefully, and it will come off. When you get the hang of it, it comes apart fairly easily. This is very similar to opening up a pet food bag that has been stitched shut. 

Once you have removed the yarn from the carpet, you can dispose of it and re-serge or do whatever you would like with the piece.

If you have any questions about serging or the sergers we offer for sale, or if you’re looking for serging thread, yarn, binding tape or any products you might need, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be more than happy to help you find anything you need for your project.

 

Any tool that can make a task significantly easier is one that we know our customers will appreciate. Bond Products offers a variety of carpet cutting tools, but our needle nose cushion back cutter is both handy and affordable. If you’re looking for a carpet cutting tool that will make the carpet installation process simpler and faster, this is it. 

What Do You Need in a Carpet Cutting Tool?

Wall-to-wall carpet was a great development in carpet history, but installing it is definitely harder than placing an area rug in the right spot. Carpet backing can be tough to cut through, especially when the goal is to cut straight and connect carpet seams so well they aren’t at all visible.

Bond Products’ needle nose carpet cutting tool is awesome for this job. It features a point that separates carpet fibers when you push the tool through the pile, splitting the carpet evenly so you can create a nice, straight cut. Its handle is firm and grippable so it won’t slip in your hand. 

This tool takes round blades, and works wonderfully for row cutting. It’s simple to cut along the tops of carpets with this carpet cutter, and it’s excellent for berber carpets as well as any dense carpet that it’s hard to locate the rows. You simply put the blade down on the carpet where you want to make a cut, push the cutting tool through the carpet, and it glides through, making a nice, clean cut. If you want to trace a line in the carpet before you cut it, keep the blade up and use the edge of the cutter to push through the fibers. You can line up another piece of carpet this way and cut it to match exactly. 

The cut this needle nose carpet cutting tool makes is close to the fibers, so you will be able to create nice seams. It’s also wonderful for cutting carpet near doorways or doing patch work to replace damaged areas of carpet. 

Bond also sells the round-edged blades for this cutter separately in packs of 100. 

If you’re looking for a carpet cutting tool that will take the frustration out of cutting and seaming, call us at 1-888-800-BOND and order this needle nose tool. We think you will be very pleased with what it can do for you. As always, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have and match you up with the right products for your needs. 

 

Bond Products offers a large selection of Instabind carpet binding tapes, including faux leather Instabind. There are aesthetic and practical benefits to using faux leather to bind your area rugs. Here we will talk about why this type of binding looks great and wears well on area rugs.  

What Is Faux Leather Carpet Binding? 

Faux  Leather binding is a synthetic leather with PVC on the face and cotton backing. There are different types of faux leather, but the one used in our carpet binding products is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 

Chemical companies like DuPont began developing synthetic products in the early 1930s. Dr. Wallace Hume Carothers patented the first synthetic fiber and called it Nylon 6,6. The goal of experimenting with synthetic fibers was to create new material that would improve on the limitations of fibers like cotton, wool, and linen and be less expensive to manufacture. By the 1940s, vinyl leather was available and used to make shoes, upholstery, and the interiors of cars. The 1950s saw polyurethane products become available to the public. 

Vinyl upholstery is composed of two different types of synthetic materials. The fibers are made from polyester and then coated with vinyl that is made from PVC and plasticizers. The vinyl is melted on the fibers which seals them and makes them both strong and nearly waterproof. Vinyl is a great fabric for many uses for these reasons. 

Benefits of Faux Leather

While leather is a beautiful material, it’s not ideal for every use. Faux leather offers some advantages to leather, including: 

Affordability – Faux leather is much cheaper to produce than leather is and therefore cheaper to purchase.

Durability – Vinyl can take a beating and remain attractive. It won’t crack or peel like leather or fade in sunlight. It’s stain and water resistant too. 

Maintenance – It’s simple to clean vinyl material. Just wipe it with a cloth and warm water. It won’t absorb moisture. Some newer faux leather products are designed to make wiping away ink or food stains simple and fast. 

Uniformity – Because it’s mass produced, faux leather will look the same and can be easily matched or replaced.

Variety – Bond offers faux leather carpet binding in many colors which allows for much more choice for our customers and their needs. 

Workability – Faux leather is easy to cut and attach. Instabind makes it extra simple because it’s applied with hot glue rather than sewn. There’s no visible stitching or stitching mistakes to see either. 

We even offer a chart of our leather choices for purchase. If you’re looking for an interesting binding for your carpet that will wear beautifully and be simple to maintain, check out our faux leather Instabind. You won’t be sorry! 

 

If you have area rugs, you know how nice they look on your floors – unless they are in poor condition. When your rugs get damaged, you need to know how to fix them. One relatively simple rug problem is discolored cotton fringe. If your rug fringe has frayed or turned yellow, you don’t need to throw it away. You can give your rug a new life by replacing the rug fringe. 

To understand how to fix your rug, you have to know a little bit about it. On a traditional antique rug, the fringes are the warps of the rug tied together to finish off the rug. Rug makers tie strands of wool or silk into knots by hand around these warps. The warps are as long as the rug itself, and the fringe is the way the rug maker secures the underpinnings of the rug itself. On this type of rug, you can’t simply cut off a damaged fringe because, if you do, the rug will be in danger of unraveling completely.

On a machine-made rug, the fringe is not a part of the rug’s foundation. It’s a decorative touch that’s added to finish off the rug because people have been accustomed to seeing fringe on a nice rug. This means the fringe is easily replaceable.

People like the look of rug fringes, but, unfortunately, fringes are the most fragile part of the rug. They show dirt faster. They get sucked up into the vacuum cleaner. Kids and pets paw at them. Unless you have a very light colored rug, the fringes are likely to look worse than the rest of the rug before long.

Complicating this is the fact that many rug fringes are bleached to give them a bright, ultra-white look. This is eye catching, but bleach and other whiteners chemically damage fringe, especially natural fibers like cotton fringe. 

If you have damaged or discolored cotton fringe, don’t panic. There are some solutions. If the fringe is only dirty in one spot or another, you can try to clean the fringe yourself by dabbing at it gently with soap and water. If the fringes break when you touch them, they are too damaged to clean and need to be replaced. If the rug is handmade or very valuable you should not try to clean it yourself. Take it to a professional to clean. They will know how to repair it in a way that best maintains its value.

If your machine-made rug has dirty fringe that is damaged, the easiest solution is to replace the fringe. Bond Products offers cotton fringe in a variety of colors. It’s sold by the foot, cut to the size that you would like. You can remove the damaged fringe and replace it with new. In fact, we have a lock-stitch TMB sewing machine we use and sell here at Bond Products, and we even have a video explaining the process on our website. You can also use a heavy duty sewing machine for this purpose. 

Discolored cotton fringe does affect the look of a rug, but a new fringe will add something special and revive your rug. If you need any help replacing your cotton fringe or selecting a color of fringe, contact Bond Products at 1-888-800-BOND. We are always glad to assist you with any of your carpet and area-rug needs. 

 

Bond Products sells a large selection of products necessary for carpet binding and serging, This includes machines, replacement supplies, yarn, and thread. If you wonder how serging thread and yarn are different from each other and other types of thread, read on.

First, here’s a brief definition of what carpet serging is:

“Carpet serging is a sewing technique where the edges of a carpet are wrapped with yarn in order to prevent unraveling and give it a beautiful, finished look. Serging uses a continuous wrap of yarn, about 3/8ths of an inch wide, around the edge of a rug.”

How Is Serging Thread Different? 

A serger uses two types of materials to serge a carpet: yarn and thread. The cotton yarn is quite thick and has a slick finish. Serger yarn is wound tight so it will go through the loopers on the serger. Often people who work with serger yarn will refer to it as serging thread, so that can create some confusion. The thread goes through the needle of the serger, while the yarn goes through the looper. 

Serging thread is usually a tex 138 or 207 size and has great break strength. It has to be because it passes through many different guides within the serging machine with a lot of tension. The thread is used to wrap the yarn to the carpet itself. The serger thread varieties we sell are made of nylon. Nylon is very strong. It’s important for the serging thread to not shed lint when it’s used so that it doesn’t cause the serger to clog up. 

Carpet professionals will select serging yarn to complement the colors of the rugs being serged. While older rugs were once hand serged using a type of whip stitch, modern rugs are machine serged because it’s so much more efficient and less expensive.

Bond’s serging yarn is sold on 1.25-pound cones It comes in 56 different colors. Each cone covers roughly 175-200 feet. This allows the carpet professional to choose the best yarn color match for the carpet. 

Bond’s serging thread is sold in 16-ounce spools and comes in 10 different colors. Bonded 207 nylon is the most popular choice for our serging machines. Our customers also have the option of selecting our 138 nylon as well if they are using a portable serger.

If you’re looking for serging thread, yarn, binding tape or any products you might need for binding or serging carpets, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be more than happy to help you find what you need.

 

We’ve talked before on this blog about your options for outdoor carpet. It’s good to know which kinds of carpet fibers are designed for places like patios, basements, and next to the pool. We have extended our living spaces into places that get exposed to the elements. “The elements” can mean a lot of things, but water is the main threat to carpet. No one wants to invest money in a rug that will be quickly ruined by mildew and mold.

If you are looking for a truly waterproof carpet for the more common living areas of your home, like living rooms and bedrooms, you’re now in luck. Shaw makes a residential waterproof carpet called LifeGuard. This carpet is designed to resist the destruction of kids and pets or anything liquid that life throws your way.

How does it work? LifeGuard’s RX2 technology is a stain and soil repellent that prevents the carpet fiber from absorbing dirt or spills. From a layman’s perspective, this sounds similar to the olefin (polypropylene) fibers used to make outdoor carpet. Plastic simply does not absorb like cloth fibers do. RX2 guarantees total fiber coverage, from the top to the bottom of the fiber, meaning that if you clean a spill up right away, it will not stain.

What’s more, LifeGuard carpet has a backing made from 100% thermoplastic that does not allow liquid to penetrate it. If your dog has an accident on the carpet, it will not seep through to the wood floor below. If your toddler spills milk all over your carpet, not only will that milk not get through to the cracks in the floor, but the LifeGuard fibers will wick the milk back up to the surface. There you can soak it up with a cloth and clean it with water and soap.

Lifeguard looks more like a typical wall-to-wall carpet than other water-resistant or outdoor carpet options which means you now have a lot of choices about what carpet to use for the different parts of your home. Artificial turf may be what you’d prefer on your patio, but if you’re finishing your basement to be a more formal looking living area, instead of only a playroom, LifeGuard may be a more appealing option. And, of course, you can make area rugs out of LifeGuard instead of installing it wall to wall.

Parents of young children don’t want to sacrifice everything nice in their homes. They’d still like to showcase their hardwood floors even if they’re covered by toys some of the time. Waterproof carpet and rug options offer them that option.

Bond Products has everything you need for installing carpet, making rugs out of remnants, or putting down turf. 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. Call us if you need help or advice in your quest to make your floors more beautiful and user friendly.

 

Staple guns are very useful tools. They are portable, efficient, and simple to operate. This is why people use them for such a wide range of tasks and projects including woodworking, roofing, and carpet installation. However, staple guns can be dangerous if they are not handled with the right precautions or used properly. In this blog we will talk about the staple gun safety rules you need to know. 

Different Types of Staple Guns

Staple guns come in different varieties, including manual, electric, and pneumatic staple guns. Some are more affordable. Some are more efficient. The one you need depends on the job you want to do. All of them fire staples. 

Follow Basic Safety Rules

Because staples when fired are sharp projectiles, you should take the right precautions when you use your staple gun:

• Always wear proper safety gear. This includes goggles or glasses, gloves, and ear protection if you are using a pneumatic staple gun. Make sure the gloves you choose aren’t bulky and allow you to hold the staple gun easily and securely. 
• Hold objects you intend to staple in place with clamps instead of your hands. 
• Never walk with your finger on the trigger of a staple gun and do not disable the gun’s safety features. You should also never drag or pull it by its cord. You do not want to cause it to fire accidentally.
• Do not bang things with your staple gun or try to use it as a hammer. That’s not your staple gun’s function.
• Do not point your staple gun at people or pets. If you are holding it but not using it, keep it pointed downward and away from your body. 

Staple guns fire in one of two ways, either one staple at a time or on continuous feed. If you use a continuous feed staple gun, it’s easier to forget that staples are still firing, so you need to be mindful of what you are doing and focus on only pulling the trigger when you want to fasten something. If you aren’t careful, it’s easy to staple something you don’t want stapled. 

Read the instructions that come with your staple gun before you use it, and make sure you have the correct type of staples you need. If you are using a staple gun with a cord, make sure you unplug it if you have to move it from one location to another, give it to another person, or try to fix a staple jam. Watch the cord too. It’s too easy to trip over if you don’t, and you don’t want to stumble with a gun in your hand and your finger on the trigger.

Before you use your staple gun, check it over to make sure all the parts are working correctly. You should also clean it after every use and wipe it down with the correct oil. Do not let the oil build up, though. Wipe it off so it doesn’t attract dust or dirt. 

If you follow the staple gun safety rules, you will be able to use your tool to do your job or complete your project. These are very helpful tools as long as you maintain them and use them correctly. If you need either staple guns or staples, we have a good variety of them here at Bond Products and would be happy to talk to you about our inventory. Call us at 1-888-800-BOND for assistance.

 

Most of our customers are familiar with Bond Products’ featured carpet binding tape, Instabind. We offer many different types of Instabind in a wide range of colors. One style that our customers love is the rope edge Instabind. This style appeals to people who want a carpet binding that has a little something extra or who appreciate the nautical look in their home decor or on their boats.

Why Do People Love the Look of Rope? 

Rope is tied to the marine or beach look in many people’s minds, pardon the pun. Sailboats cannot function without rope, of course, so sailing and rope go together. According to Martha Stewart, “the same details that make rope sturdy—its innate twists, turns, and braids—also give it a strong visual presence. That’s why we love using it for decorative projects.”

While rope style binding is perfect for dressing up carpets or mats for use on boat interiors, rope can be used to add visual interest to mirrors, picture frames, and wreaths. With a glue gun and a few hours, you can add rope edge style Instabind to not only carpet remnants but also items like lampshades or anything with an edge to give it an elegant looking trim. 

Rope Edge Style Instabind

This style of Instabind is available in 22 colors from our Instabind color chart. It’s available for purchase in standard 50- or 100-foot rolls or in custom-size lengths priced by the foot. The diameter of the rope edge is 25/64” wide. The tools you need to apply the binding are carpet scissors, clear tape and a hot glue gun. That’s it! That’s all you need to turn a carpet remnant into a rug! 

Here’s what one of our satisfied customers said about their experience using our rope edge binding: 

“The braid was larger than I expected, and that was awesome! It was easy to install and turned out better than I had hoped for. So much cheaper and faster than sending out for binding. We installed it on a stair runner while it was still in place. We loosened the edges and did not have to remove them to install. Lifesaver! I will absolutely be recommending this product and using it again if a need arises. Loved it!” 

If you would like to purchase rope edge style Instabind and have questions about colors or how much Instabind you would need to order to complete your home project, please call our customer service representatives at 1-888-800-BOND. They would be happy to talk you through what you need and get you completely set up for your next weekend project. 

 

Do you know the difference between scissors and shears? They seem like the same thing. We use the words interchangeably. They are not the same, though. They have different features and are used for cutting different objects. If you want to work with carpet, getting a good pair of shears is a must. 

What Are Scissors?

Everyone knows what scissors are, right? Surprisingly, no. Scissors are a specific type of cutting tool. They have a blade length of less than 6 inches, and the finger holes on their handles are equally sized and symmetrical. All-purpose scissors, also known as office scissors, have straight blades. They are generally inexpensive and used for a variety of tasks. 

Scissors should not be used on both paper and fabric because that will cause the blades to dull. Dull blades are more likely to rip paper or fabric or leave a jagged edge. If you are working with fabric or carpet, you’ll want a quality pair of shears instead. 

Scissors vs. Shears

Shears are more expensive than all-purpose scissors because they are tougher and more versatile. Shears have different sized finger holes. The smaller finger hole on one handle is for your thumb, and the larger is for your fingers. Because you can hold shears using more than one finger, you can apply more pressure and have extra control when you use them to cut. The blade on shears is usually longer and sharper than on a pair of scissors. This will cut cleanly without ragged edges. The sharper blade and better grip makes this the sturdier tool.

Bond’s Smooth Cut Shears

Bond Products offers six different options of the highest quality, ergonomically designed smooth cut shears. These are the sharpest, best cutting pair of shears you’ll ever purchase. We guarantee you’ll be satisfied with their performance. Their razor sharp edges will last indefinitely. We have shears for both left-handed and right-handed people, but most of our shears options are ambidextrous and can be used by either. 

The shears come in options that range from 8 inches to to 12-inch heavy-duty shears. Their handles are made of soft elastomer plastic, and the tension of the shears can be adjusted. The shears have sharp, stainless steel blades, and nickel-plated brass nuts. The 9-inch shears with an offset handle is especially good for working with carpet. 

If you need shears, please take a moment to look through the variety of shears we sell. You can always direct questions to our customer service representatives by calling us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to direct you to the best option for your cutting needs. 

 

As we all know, 2020 was a challenging year for most people. At Bond Products we worked hard to keep our business open and operating for our customers. Here’s a look back at what happened with us in 2020 as well as our hopes for what lies ahead in 2021.

Bond’s Greatest Hits of 2020

Out of the gate, 2020 started off with challenges for shipping as well as changes in tariffs on goods coming from abroad. The coronavirus originated in China, and, since a great deal of manufacturing comes from that country, that meant many businesses worldwide had to scramble to remain productive.  

Bond Products introduced our Pro Drive HD™line of products in February, including mallets and mallet caps, staples and staple guns, flooring nails, and L-cleats. We’re excited about offering high quality flooring products to our customers who work installing flooring and carpet. 

In February COVID-19 reached the United States, and lockdowns began in many states shortly thereafter. Our customers began making masks using Bond’s binding tapes and they sent in pictures of their handiwork. We also began offering PPE: gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer, for people who were finding it a challenge to locate these items locally or even online.  

We premiered 5 new earth tones for our Instabind binding tape in the spring. It now comes in Heather, Lead, Smoke, Graphite, and Chestnut as well as many other colors. Because people spent much more time at home this year, they had the opportunity to do home improvement projects, including carpet binding. If you have a carpet remnant and a little time this winter, take a moment to browse through our Instabind color offerings. There’s something there for everyone. 

This fall we added two new helpful features to our website. For our international customers we made it simpler to purchase and ship products to other countries. We also offered financing on our carpet binding equipment so that businesses could purchase equipment simply and quickly without taking out a formal business loan.  

What’s Next in 2021?

Much seems up in the air right now due to politics, the economy, and COVID-19 restrictions, but Bond Products intends to be here for you and your business in 2021. We are proud of all the actions we have taken to remain open and operating throughout this year and will continue to provide a wide variety of products at reasonable prices to our customers. If you have any questions about our products or how you can get them in the U.S. or abroad, call us anytime at 1-888-800-BOND. We are always happy to help. 

From our Bond Products family to yours, we wish you all the best in 2021, and we hope it’s a safe, productive, and happy year for everyone on our beautiful planet. 

 

Dear Bond Products customers,

2020 has been a year full of unexpected challenges for all of us. Unfortunately, there are several more that are currently occurring throughout the world that will have an effect on the prices and availability of our products. We wanted to give an explanation of what the factors behind these are, including shipping challenges and higher steel prices. This may help you understand any changes we have to make going forward. 

Steel Scrap Prices

Over the past several months, forecast steel scrap prices for December have increased from $15/20 per ton of scrap to $80-$100 per ton or higher. The COVID-19 pandemic has already greatly disrupted the supply chain for steel and wire products around the world. Labor and raw material shortages also complicate this problem. At least in the short term we are looking at much higher prices for steel which will affect the price of finished goods in ways we can’t fully predict. 

Shipping Challenges

Another problem that American companies face is shipping challenges out of China. Currently there is a global shortage of shipping containers due to a lopsided trade balance with China and the delays of shippers in returning containers because of the coronavirus. There are almost 180 millions shipping containers across the world. These are used to move 60% of global goods. Without containers, nothing can ship and goods remain in port waiting to be shipped. 

Steady demand for products coupled with a lack of shipping options means that cargo costs are skyrocketing. This affects both retailers and manufacturers nationwide. The cost to store any waiting goods in warehouses will also add to shipping costs and costs to the consumer here. 

Right now shipping lines have announced that they are temporarily suspending cargo bookings into South China as well beginning in early January and extending perhaps until the end of February of 2021. COVID-19 has affected shippers due to quarantine rules for ship crews. 

The ongoing COVID-19 situation is beginning to be characterized as a force majeure event which is an event that is large enough to be beyond the control of individual manufacturers or even countries. There are provisions in contracts for force majeure events. Typically they nullify obligations for the duration of the event – which is a fancy way of saying that people cannot be held to the old rules when the game has completely and unexpectedly changed. 

We are looking at higher freight rates, higher prices on goods made of steel, and unpredictable shipping of goods. That is in addition to any challenges we face in the United States and in the state of Pennsylvania. Please know that Bond Products is working hard to keep our products available to you, our customers, at affordable prices. We will continue to serve you as best we can during this pandemic and beyond. 

If you have any questions, please feel free, as always, to contact our customer service representatives at 1-888-800-BOND. They will be happy to assist you. 

 

Bond Products now offers our customers the option of financing the purchase of orders over $3000. If you are interested in expanding your business’s offerings in the new year with the purchase of new equipment, it’s now quick and easy to do just that. 

New Financing Options for Machinery and Merchandise

It can be challenging to afford the entire cost of a carpet binding machine or serger at once. This is why we’re now giving Bond customers the ability to finance any purchase over $3000. This financing option includes merchandise as well as equipment, as long as your total order is over the $3000 limit. Here’s how it works: 

Go to any machine page. Next to the picture of the product and above its description, you will see a gray finance button. If you click on the button, a financing box will open on the right side of the screen. It will tell you what the most affordable financing option is for this product based on its price and will invite you to fill out a 60-second application. When you have filled out the application, you will be able to see what different equipment lenders are willing to offer you in terms of competitive rates. From there you can choose the best offer and order your machine or your machine plus merchandise and complete your purchase. 

It’s simple!

Our new financing option allows people to shop for the best rate and the best option for leasing equipment as well. If you have been waiting for an opportunity to buy carpet binding equipment and products to increase your capabilities moving forward, this is it. We are excited to offer this new purchasing choice. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy, after all.

As always, Bond Products’ customer service representatives are able to help you with any questions you may have about our products, shipping, and payment. If you have problems or need clarification, please call 1-888-800-BOND. 

 

Bond Products is pleased to announce that we now offer a simple international purchasing process for our customers outside the United States. If you are from an English-speaking country like Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, this will make purchasing with a different currency a snap. For customers from other countries, it will also help with translation of purchasing and shipping terms so you know exactly what you’re ordering, what it costs, and when it will arrive.

Bond’s New, Simple International Purchasing Process 

It can be a hassle for customers who want to purchase products from different countries. There are numerous legal and financial challenges when buying products internationally: language barriers, currency conversion, duties, taxes, and shipping costs. Because of this, Bond now has a software solution, Zonos, that our customers can use.

Using this software is easy. If you look on our website, in the bottom right corner you will see a circle containing a flag. If you click on that, you have the option to choose your own country. When you have selected your country, Zonos will tell you any issues with taxes or duties that you might expect when you order products through our website. 

When you click to purchase a product or multiple products, Zonos will translate your shopping cart to your native language and currency. This will make checkout, payment, and shipping much easier for you. There is also the option to order via USPS. With that option you will be responsible for paying any applicable customs duties and taxes, however.

We know we have customers around the world who are interested in Instabind, our carpet binding machines and equipment, our new ProDriveHD line of tools and fasteners, and the other great merchandise we offer. This is our way of reaching out to those customers and meeting the needs of carpet binding professionals across the world.

If you have any questions about any of our products or how we can accommodate purchasing and shipping to countries around the world, please call our customer service department at 1-888-800-BOND. As always, we will be happy to talk with you and get you set up with what you need. 

 

One of the questions Bond Products’ customers ask us about is how to fix a dripping glue gun tip. We sell a number of different glue guns, glue sticks and slugs, and other glue gun supplies, and we always want to make sure our customers are satisfied with their products. So here is an explanation of why dripping often occurs and what you can do about it. 

Why Is Your Glue Gun Tip Dripping?

There are a number of factors involved in how well a glue gun operates. It’s a combination of the glue formulation, its viscosity, the diameter of the sticks by manufacturing being maintained inside the specification of the glue gun design, and, perhaps most importantly, the ongoing maintenance of the glue gun by the user.

When you heat your glue gun up from a cold start, you will likely see some dripping at first. Most glue guns drip when they first heat up. This is due to the expansion of the glue as it transitions from a solid to a liquid. 

Most of the 12mm (1/2”) or 15mm (5/8”) glue guns have an extension nozzle design. This means that the extension tube of the nozzle which has glue inside is past the check valve. With extension nozzles those glue guns will also have a few drips throughout the day. Basically, every time the glue gun is used, a small amount of adhesive will melt past the check valve, and gravity will pull on it and cause it to drip. However, if a glue gun is dripping constantly, this is usually a sign to replace the nozzle or check the type of adhesive being used.

The Type of Glue Matters

Some glues are of a polyamide formulation which is moisture sensitive. Polyamides will absorb moisture from the humidity in the environment. If you use this type of product and allow the sticks to be moisture contaminated, the glue gun tip will drip nonstop. The moisture that is trapped in the glue stick is boiling inside the glue gun’s heating chamber, and the pressure builds up. This pressure releases itself by opening the nozzle valve and dripping down from the nozzle tip. 

Under normal circumstances because of the way glue guns are designed, the glue stick will “relax” when the trigger is released. Heat up your glue gun and feed a glue stick through. With the trigger compressed, mark the glue stick with a pen at the back of the inlet tube just before the glue stick enters the melt chamber, then wait a few minutes. You will see the glue stick will move backwards up to a half an inch or so. This is the result of the material in the heater housing melting and expanding.  As that happens, the pressure that is created in the heater housing by the thermal expansion pushes the glue stick back.  

However, if a glue gun has what’s called “melt back,” which can occur from laying the glue gun on its side, this can act as a resistance to this relaxing effect. It will cause the glue gun to drip as the pressure opens the nozzle valve.

Sometimes fibers or other debris works its way into a glue gun over time. This debris can build in the nozzle and cause the valve to be unable to close. The fix for this is to remove the nozzle while the tool is hot, purge a half stick or so through the tool, and install a new nozzle. Nozzles do wear over time, so changing out the nozzle is often the easiest solution to fixing a dripping glue gun. Bond Products has long nozzle glue gun tips available for sale. 

This may be a longer explanation than you were expecting for why a glue gun tip drips and how to fix it, but this problem can have a number of causes. If you know why dripping may occur over the life expectancy of the glue gun, it’s easier to know what to do. If you need help with finding supplies for your glue gun, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to help. 

 

 

If there’s one thing that we’ve learned in 2020, it’s not to predict what will happen next. We’ve seen many unpredicted and unpredictable things happen this year. For businesses that sell products that are imported or exported, some of the changes have affected prices because freight costs have risen and are still rising. We wanted to give our customers a heads up that, due to an increase in freight costs, the prices of some products, specifically the ProDriveHD fasteners, will be affected, at least in the short term.

Factors Involved in Increasing Freight Costs 

As with any other product or service, fluctuating supply and demand affect freight costs. Right now most of the available ocean freight capacity is being utilized. Because American consumer spending on imported goods has been and is high in 2020, space in freight containers is very tight. Demand is expected to remain high into the new year as consumers who are at home are spending more on goods and far less on services. 

In China and India specifically there are large backlogs of bookings. Companies are waiting long periods of time for space in containers for their goods. Carriers are charging premiums for storage space, and freight rates are unusually high. Rates for air freight are also rising as we enter the holiday season and companies buy up space in anticipation of fourth quarter spending.

As of November 1, 2020 General Rate Increase (GRI) has been filed for all cargo imported from Asian ports of loading, to ports in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

When products arrive here in the United States, there are further congestion problems, unfortunately. Most major American and Canadian ports are clogged with already shipped goods, especially on the West Coast from Los Angeles to Vancouver. On the East Coast, it’s not much better. There are vessel berthing delays, terminal operational delays, chassis shortages, and full warehouses preventing more goods from coming into the country. 

Once goods are unloaded off freight containers, it’s challenging to find truck power to ship them from the coasts to elsewhere on the continent. Right now trucks are booked for 1-2 weeks in advance. As a result, trucking rates are also surging. 

We are living in uncertain times with the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming U.S. election, among other potential disruptions, so it’s impossible to predict what freight costs will look like in the following months. The cost of imported products, including ProDriveHD fasteners, will increase due to freight costs, at least temporarily. We at Bond Products would like our customers to know that we always offer the most competitive prices we are able on the products we sell. We are proud of the quality of our product lines. If you have any questions about products or products costs, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to answer any of your questions.