Brian’s Blog

Do your friends and family have problems with allergies or asthma? If so, the carpet or rugs in your house could be part of the problem and not a solution at all. What is the best carpet for allergy sufferers? 

Scientists are learning every day that the human immune system is complex in ways that we do not understand. Our bodies have not evolved as quickly as our technology has. When it comes to our health and well being, simpler, more natural products are often better for us.

One of those is wool.  In the mid-20th century, man-made fibers were all the rage. Scientists and researchers found ways to “improve” upon natural fiber products, creating fabrics and fibers that were stain resistant, wrinkle resistant, easier to dye, and generally more durable. While these qualities made them seemingly ideal for items like clothes and carpeting, they may not have some other qualities natural fibers like wool has. Wool:  

• contains a substance called permethrin that kills very small insects.
• treated with lanolin, is water resistant, air permeable, and antimicrobial
• is resistant to bacteria, mold, and mildew.
• insulates both ways, keeping warm air in – and out. It is used effectively in both warm and cold climates.
• absorbs sound, odors, and other contaminants. When used in carpet, it can purify the air for up to 30 years.
• ignites at a higher temperature than other fabrics and requires more oxygen to burn. It does not melt like synthetic fibers either. It’s a wonderful overall protective material, which makes it an ideal fabric for firefighters, policemen, and others in dangerous professions.

As a carpet fiber, wool is particularly useful for keeping the home quiet, pest and dust free, and for reducing asthma and allergy attacks. In general carpeted floors are better for keeping dust and dust mites in check. Carpet traps dust mites which can then be vacuumed up. However wool is even better than synthetic carpets for asthma and allergy sufferers because it both traps and naturally repels tiny insects, acting with a two-pronged strategy to eliminate dust mites. It also cannot be inhaled. The millions of Americans are allergic to dust mite waste might find significant relief by switching to wool carpeting.

The Best Carpet for Allergy Sufferers

The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that indoor air quality is one of five main health threats people face, and recent European studies have clarified the health dangers of too much fine particulate matter in the air. The increased use of natural fibers as air purifiers, and in lieu of synthetic fibers, can only improve general health.

All of the other benefits of natural fibers, and wool in particular, should be considered when making choices for furniture and apparel. The choices our grandparents and ancestors made to make our lives healthy and comfortable are not always as “outdated” as we may believe and often had rational basis for their selection. The best carpet for allergy sufferers is wool. Maybe it’s time to give this material another try.

 

 

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.

What Is Carpet Serging?

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 Strength

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.

Thread and Yarn Options

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.

 

Bond Products sells a number of narrow fabrics, one of the company’s original product offerings. Today we will talk about Hug-Snug seam binding, a rayon seam binding that can be used for a number of sewing applications, including as hem tape.

What is hem tape? Finer garments, such as pants and skirts, as well as many vintage pieces of clothing use hem tape to cover the hem allowance edge. If you look inside a tailor-made garment, you will see how hem tape is utilized to make the garment look better and last longer. It creates a neater, more finished look as well as a more comfortable drape and feel than you’ll find with most off-the-rack clothing. It’s a mark of quality in tailored and professionally sewn clothes.

You don’t have to be a tailor or a professional seamstress to give your own clothing these touches, however – not with Hug-Snug. How do you use this product? It can be sewn on flat as a standard hem tape or it can be used to enclose the raw hem edge, covering and preventing any fraying down the line in the life of the garment. Hug-Snug is not only attractive, it irons smoothly and easily. Because it’s lightweight, it will not bulk up your seams. It can also be used on curved pieces like arm holes with only a little extra pressing.

Hug-Snug is a 100% rayon ribbon with a satin finish and is available in limited colors. Bond Products carries the following Hug-Snug ribbon colors:

• Goldenrod
• Havanna Brown/Beige

Using rayon seam binding is a great alternative to buying a serger or overlock machine while still giving clothes a seam that will look beautiful and never unravel or fray. Best of all it’s very inexpensive, especially when purchased in quantity.

And clothing is not the only use for Hug-Snug! It can be used beautifully in a wide variety of crafts. There are so many different ideas available on Pinterest illustrating all the possibilities of seam binding tape from bows to ribbon flowers to ribbon-work embroidery. There are many amazing decorative possibilities for dresses, hats, or purses as well.

For garment making, crafts, or fabric hobbies, seam binding tape is a must, and Bond Products can help you find what you need. Call us at 1-888-800-BOND to order your Hug-Snug binding tape and any other carpet binding or narrow fabric supplies today.

 

Bond Products’ ironless peel-and-stick seaming tape is the perfect solution for your seaming needs. This ironless tape is designed to make any seaming project super simple, with its easy-to-use peel-and-stick application. It’s perfect for home renovation projects or DIY repairs. 

How Do You Use Ironless Tape? 

You do not have to apply glue or heat anything. Simply peel off the protective backing and stick the seaming tape to your desired surface. There’s only four steps to follow if you are seaming carpet: 

1. Place your carpet on the floor, butt the edges to be seamed, and adjust the tape to the correct position. 
2. Fold back the edges of the carpet, then place the tape under the carpet length of the seam with the brown side down. Be sure the carpet edges are centered on the tape. 
3. Lift the carpet edges on one end and pull up the light-release paper from the tape while pushing the edges into the glue. Continue to press carefully along the entire length of the seam. 
4. Walk over the seam a few times or place a heavy weight along the seam length to press the carpet into the glue.

That’s all! This tape can be used on new carpet or for doing repairs on seams that are splitting. This product is not designed for stretch-in wall-to-wall carpet installations that put tension on the seam, however. 

If you want to avoid using heat, glue, or complicated tools in your seaming project, our Cool Stic ironless carpet seaming tape is the answer. This tape is versatile and can be used for so many applications, including carpet seaming, upholstery, and crafts. It’s the ideal solution for any project that requires a strong, reliable bond without the hassle of traditional seaming methods.

The tape is made of high-quality materials that are durable and long-lasting, making it perfect for seaming. It comes in 15-foot rolls, and right now is on sale – so why wait to purchase? If you have any questions about our ironless tape or other products used in carpet seaming or installation, please call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We are always happy to help match you with the right products for your needs and make useful suggestions on your home or professional projects. 

 

One of the frequently asked questions we get at Bond Products is “How much Instabind should I order to bind my rug or carpet remnant?” This is not very hard to determine – easier than you might think, in fact. You will need to do a little basic math calculating the perimeter of the carpet. Here we will give some examples of how to do that so you will know how much to order.

Measuring the Perimeter of a Carpet

To begin with, let’s take a very common carpet size, the 10×12 carpet. This carpet is 10 feet wide by 12 feet long. If you multiplied 10×12 you’d get the area of the carpet, but that’s not what you need. You need the perimeter of the carpet or the distance around a two-dimensional shape. Here you need to add both lengths and both widths of the carpet. This looks like:

10 + 10 + 12 + 12 = 44. For a 10×12 piece of carpet, you need 44 feet of Instabind in order to bind it.

For a 10×10 carpet, the math is even easier: 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 40. You need 40 feet of Instabind to bind a 10×10 carpet.

Ordering Instabind in Rolls

Instabind comes standard in 54-foot rolls. We also sell larger rolls for industrial uses, and Bond Products can run a special sized roll for a customer upon request. We do recommend that our customers order an extra foot or two of Instabind for any errors so they do not run short when they are binding their project.

For circular carpets, you can calculate the circumference of a circle by using this formula: Pi (π) x diameter. The diameter of a circle is a straight line through the middle of the circle. Measure a straight line across your rug through the middle and multiply that number by 3.14 (Pi). This will give you the footage amount of Instabind you will need to order.

For a circular rug that is 10 feet across, you would need 31.4 feet of Instabind. 10 x 3.14 = 31.4.

If you have an irregularly shaped carpet, you will need to measure each part of that carpet and add up all of the sides. With a carpet that has straight lines, that’s easy to do. If the carpet or remnant is an oval or an even bigger challenge like a butterfly shape, you’ll have to get a flexible tape measure and measure it by hand in order to determine how much Instabind you to order.  For oddly shaped carpets, it’s always good to get someone to help you hold the tape as you measure around the curves and edges.

All of our Instabind binding tapes are bound to carpet the same way, so this method of measuring and determining how much to order works for any type of Instabind. If you have any other questions about Instabind or our other great products, please call us. We are happy to help you find any product in our catalog and order the right amount for your need.

Photo credit: Mathgeo

 

When it comes to installing or maintaining a metal roof, one of the most critical components that often gets overlooked is the humble screw. Metal roof screws play a pivotal role in the longevity and effectiveness of a roof, holding the entire roofing system together and ensuring it stays secure and weatherproof. In this blog, we talk about the metal roof screws we offer at Bond Products and what jobs they are best suited for.

The Importance of Metal Roof Screws

The integrity of a metal roof is only as good as the quality of its installation and the materials used, especially the screws. These screws must withstand various stresses, including thermal expansion, moisture, and wind uplift. Using the right screws is crucial for preventing leaks, rust, and ensuring the roof’s structural integrity over time.

Types of Roofing Screws

The roofing screws we offer are commonly used to install roofing on a house, porch, airplane hangar, shed, pole barn, shop, barn, or lean-to. They are ideal for attaching roofing panels and siding on post-frame and residential metal roof applications. Other common applications for these roof screws are for HVAC, steel stud framing, gutters, and register vents. 

Our screws have hex heads which are popular for their durability and ease of installation. They provide a firm grip and are less likely to strip. The 3-inch length comes in Midwest Green, and the 1-inch lengths are available in steel, white, and tan. 

The length and diameter of the screw should be chosen based on the thickness of the metal roofing panels and the type of substrate to which they are being attached. It’s crucial to ensure the screws penetrate sufficiently to secure the panels but not so deeply that they cause damage to the underlying material.

Roof Screw Installation Best Practices

• Proper Placement: Screws should be placed at the designated points to avoid damaging the metal panels.
• Avoid Over-Tightening: Over-tightening can strip the screw hole or damage the washer, compromising the waterproof seal.
• Consistent Angles: Screws should be driven in at a consistent angle to ensure an even, secure attachment.

Regular inspection of metal roof screws is essential to maintain a roof. Over time, screws can back out or become damaged, potentially leading to leaks or loose panels. Replacing old or damaged screws promptly helps maintain the roof’s integrity.

In the world of metal roofing, attention to detail makes all the difference, and this certainly applies to the selection and installation of metal roof screws. The right metal roof screws, properly installed, not only secure the metal panels but also contribute to the overall longevity and performance of the roof. With the proper screws in place, a metal roof can provide decades of reliable, aesthetically pleasing protection for any building.

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. 

It’s the season for conventions and events! This Brian Milnes will be at TISE, The International Surface Event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bond Products will be displaying in booth #6555 , so please stop by and say hello!

What is TISE?

The International Surface Event is three trade shows in one: SURFACES, StonExpo/Marmomac, and TileExpo events. TISE is the largest North American floor covering, stone, and tile industry event. It’s where everyone in the flooring industry goes to learn about flooring design, current and future trends, purchase products, and network with other people who work in the flooring business.

TISE exhibits will be open from January 24-26, 2024. We will be displaying and demonstrating our Instabind products, including our newest addition to our catalog of products, our fringe style Instabind™. If you are planning on attending TISE and you’d like to see how our Instabind™ line easily and inexpensively binds carpet and area rugs, check out booth #6555.

If you can’t by in Las Vegas for TISE this week, shop our online sale. Spend $100, and save 10% on any item (except already discounted package deals)! Use code SURFACES24 and save!

 

Happy New Year! It’s out with the old, and in with the new, and with the new calendar comes New Year’s resolutions. Many of us make personal resolutions, but business owners often choose to make additional investments in equipment too. The economy is still growing, and 2024 is a great moment in time to advance the capabilities you can offer to your customers. Bond Products offers a wide variety of new equipment for sale for carpet binding, serging, and installation, as well as rug carving and rug making and any other carpet need you might have.

Are you looking for:

Portable Binders – Our line of portable binders makes finishing carpet on site so simple and the results are clean and elegant looking. You will be proud of the work you can produce anywhere for your customers.

Stationary Carpet Binders – For in-house carpet binding, we have a variety of stationary carpet binding machines that are capable of binding carpets very quickly and with professional results. If you are unsure of the difference between portable and stationary binders or which would be best for your business, we cover that here. 

Portable and Table Mounted Sergers – The Bond Alpha Mini- 2000 Portable Serger works great for serging carpet anywhere, producing beautiful carpets and rugs. We also have a heavy duty serger for in-house serging capability. 

Rug Carving Equipment – If you’ve ever wanted to expand your carpet offerings to rug carving, we have the equipment you need. This is the art of adding texture to a piece of carpet using a carving tool. Give your customers one-of-a-kind results for their interior decor!

Portable Binder Cart – For carpet binding professionals who want to save wear and tear on their knees and backs in 2020, we have our portable binder cart. It will make running your Bond PBL, PBB 2×2 or 4×4, Alpha Mini, or PBL-TX much easier, as it supports your chest and keeps your hands free for working. 

Portable Bag Closer – Bond also offers a lightweight, fast and reliable bag closer that is useful for closing a wide variety of bags used to contain and ship product. 

We also offer a whole line of products related to carpet binding or installation. These include staple and mallets, needles, bobbins, and thread, binding and serging tapes, and, of course, Instabind in a large array of styles and colors! We even offer machine package deals if you want everything you need to get started with a new machine right out of the box. 

If you’ve ever thought of purchasing your own carpet serging or binding machines, the turn of the new year is a great time to invest in new equipment. With the right training and some acquired experience, you can create beautifully bound or serged carpets either in-house or on-site. If you have any questions about which equipment would be best to invest in, call us at 1-888-800-BOND today. We will be happy to help you make the perfect choice. 

 

If you have layered your area rugs on any of the carpets in your home, you may have noticed that they tend to travel over time despite being inanimate objects. Have you ever wondered what causes rug creep? Can you do anything to stop rug creep and keep your rugs in place on your carpeted floors?

Why Area Rugs Creep across Carpet

Area rugs can look really beautiful on top of carpet if they are layered with an eye toward design. “Layering your rugs adds depth and scale to a room which not only makes it more interesting, but actually pulls the eyes down and gives your guests additional style elements to enjoy and admire.”

It can be frustrating, though, to put your rugs down in a specific place and watch them slowly creep somewhere else over time. The reason rugs move on carpet is not because they have teeny tiny legs but because the carpet’s pile slants in one direction. All of the fibers in the carpet lean one way so that when a rug is placed on top of that carpet and people walked on it, the rug will slowly be pushed in the direction of the pile by the force of the tread. The carpet remains in place because it is fastened to the floor with staples or nails, but the rug is repositioned every time someone walks across it.

Carpet installers know this. When they install the carpet, they will lay it with the pile towards the main doorway because this will make the colors look more vibrant to anyone entering the room. Similarly, when installing carpet on stairs, the installer will lay it so that the pile flows down the stairs. It will make the carpet last longer and look more attractive. 

When you vacuum carpet, you will notice that it’s easier to vacuum it in one direction than it is in other directions. When you vacuum with the pile, you won’t be meeting resistance from the fibers and it will be an easier job. 

How to Stop Rug Creep

There are many backing products that can be used to stop area rugs from moving. Bond Products offers a number of rug backing supplies including: 

Safety grips – These grips can be peeled and stuck to the back of a rug to keep it from slipping on any surface, including carpet. 

MOVENOT and SUPERMOVENOT rubber backing – Both products can be glued to the underside of a rug. Glue the felt side down to keep it from creeping on carpet and the rubber side down to stop it from slipping on hard floors. 

LOK-LIFT Rug Gripper – This tape can be attached to the bottom of a rug to keep it from moving.

RUGLOCK Spray – This product can be sprayed onto the rug’s back to keep it in place. 

Using one of the above products will keep your area rugs in position and halt rug creep in your home. They are also useful for stopping rugs from slipping across hard floors. If you have any questions about which product would best suit your need, please call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to help you choose. 

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is: What binding or serging machine is the right choice for my business? With that inspiration we want to discuss and clarify our recommendations for each model machine in our line.

Portable vs. Stationary – the Pros and Cons

Portable machines are exactly that – portable. They are generally smaller machines on wheels that only require a small space to operate. They “roll” around the perimeter of the area rug either in your warehouse or right on the job site. They are considerably less of an initial investment than stationary machines and are generally recommended for those just getting started in the binding business or for those who simply do not have the space or budget required for stationary binders/sergers.

The benefits of portable machines are:

• They require less space to operate
• They are easily conveyed to the job site
• They require a smaller initial investment

Stationary machines, or table models as they are often called, require more space to operate as you will have to pass the carpet through on a set of rollers or an air table. You’ll need a minimum of twelve feet both in front and in back of the machine. If using a set of conveyor rollers, we like to set them up preferably double width and twenty feet front and back along a wall space to handle the rolled carpet, and then re-roll it three more times to bind/surge each edge. An air table that is both long and wide enough does not require re-rolling as the carpet will “float” and “turn” easily, reducing the handling time and effort. At Bond Products we have an air table in house that is 16’ x 32’ that does a great job handling the majority of the larger rugs we finish.

The benefits of stationary machines are:

• They run using foot pedals that free up both hands to maneuver the carpet more easily (especially when sewing on fringe).
• They are faster and more powerful than most portables
• They are heavy duty machines and require less maintenance
• They spare the operator physical stress because kneeling isn’t required

Binding vs. Serging

Binding is the traditional way to finish a carpet edge, using a binding tape in either polyester or cotton. The most common width is 7/8” although 1-1/4”, 3” & 5” widths are options.

Serging is actually attaching or whipping a yarn over the edge of the carpet. Serging yarn is available in synthetic or cotton (i.e., oriental carpet edge).

Real serging requires a special serging machine, although a properly fitted binding machine can attach serging tape that closely mimics real surging without the expense of an additional machine.

One More Option…

Not ready to invest in a binding or serging machine? Consider the option of our DIY Instabind. You can easily apply a binding, serging, or rope edge using only a pair of scissors or a glue gun. We offer nine styles and many colors to choose from.

Bond’s Lineup includes:

HDS & HDSB Stationary Sergers

Our Union Special 81200 heavy duty wrap around table serger with binder. The most heavy duty serger on the market, bar-none.

• Uses one spool of tex 210 bonded nylon and the serging yarn of your choice
• Binds and serges in one pass operation
• Also available without the binding attachment (stk# 21990x)
• Comes complete with table, motor, and thread stands, etc.
• Built on another quality Union Special head and backed by over 55 years of family owned & operated craftsmanship
• Charge 5-7 dollars a foot and up for unmatched profits

Bond Alpha Mini 2000 Serger

Bond’s Alpha – mini 2000 has the best value of any portable carpet serger available!

• Comes with no. 138 tex size 135 nylon thread  & cone of cotton yarn for starting up.
• Great for all carpet, rugs, & mats
• Utilizes the latest technology
• Handles large range of carpet thickness & backings
• Wraps perpendicular on the edges, not at an angle
• Wraps evenly around edge, on both top & bottom
• Maneuvers swiftly on its ball bearing wheels
• Serges outside & inside corners, curves, or scallops with ease
• Speed controlled electronically
• Digital meter registers the volume of serging
• Stand-up handle available
• Lightweight & easy to transport
• Designed for heavy duty use
• Comes with spare needles, tool kit, & operation manual
• Increases productivity
• 90-day warranty against manufacturer defects

Bond BBL-1 Table Binder

Built on the highest quality Union Special head, our BBL-1 is our best-selling commercial base binder.

• High speed, bobbinless, self-lubricating, low maintenance
• Combines with Bond’s portable cove base cutter and winder for optimum efficiency
• Priced complete with table, motor, thread & light stand

Bond BBL-2 Table Binder

The new Bond BBL-2 bobbinless carpet binder features 2 pulling wheels for a more positive feed. Perfect for binding carpet base, mill samples and high-speed production work. Self-lubricating, maintenance free and reliable, this machine is the choice for carpet workrooms with a high volume of work.

Features a 1/2 HP variable motor and will handle any width binding with a properly sized custom folder. This is a table model machine, perfect for adaptation to air tables and roller conveyor systems.  A cove base attachment is available as an option (runs carpet base hands free).

HDB-1 Table Binder

All new Heavy Duty Bobbinless Table Binder.

• Sews through the toughest carpets effortlessly
• Heavy berber, sisal and even bamboo cannot slow this beast
• Binds with 1-1/4 up to optional 5 inch width tapes in a single pass or attach our tapestry guide for even wider applications
• Heavy duty ½ hp variable speed motor
• Self -oiling
• Backed by Bond’s superior customer & technical support & service, it’s an investment that will pay for itself over and over

PBB-1X Portable Binder

Most economical, heavy duty,  high speed binder available. Variable speed to over 30 feet per minute. Glides through even tough unitary backings with ease. Put it on the floor and bind any size rug right where it lays. Also a terrific machine for binding carpet base with an optional cove base guide. Features include:

• Bobbinless portable “no more changing bobbins”
• High speed / variable speed with fingertip control
• Extra heavy duty construction
• Runs various widths of tape with optional folder attachments
• Lightweight & portable
• 110V, 60W, 8000 rpm HD motor
• Binding over 30 feet per minute
• Uses large spools of thread
• Easy to thread with full access removable front access panel
• Low maintenance / user friendly
• Backed by Bond’s 90-day limited warranty

PBB-2X Portable Binder

With the most pull through power to tackle the thickest & hardest carpet backings and the high speed to run volumes of carpet cove base and area rugs.  Best of all, no more bobbin is required, so there’s no more stopping every 50-60 feet to replace a bobbin. Features include:

• Bobbinless – no bobbin required
• Extremely powerful and high speed
• Adjustable speed trigger switch
• Double puller 4 x 4 (top and bottom driven pullers both front and rear)
• Independent rear puller lifter (run like a single puller for circles etc)
• Binds up to 3-inch tapes with optional folders
• Optional cove base guide
• Easy threading accessibility & tension adjustments
• Independent front & rear clutch pullers
• Heavy duty casters
• Lightweight
• 8-foot cord
• Holds large thread spools
• Low maintenance / user friendly
• Easy threading with full access removable front panel
• Super heavy duty needle & looper
• Straight chain stitch
• Extra high lift of needle height
• 110V standard heavy duty motor
• Non-slip belt system
• 90-day warranty on parts and service
  • Note: Bobbinless binders are straight stitch only!

PBL-TX Portable Tapestry Binder

Get up to date with our PBL-TX Tapestry Binder. Now you can put on the wide tapestry borders (up to 6-1/2″ on the face). Simply blind stitch the wide border on and “flip & glue” to the back side of the rug. Charge $7 to $9 and up per linear foot. A great additional income to your workroom or retail store business.

PBL-TXB Wide Tapestry & Binder Combo

All new Bond Model PBL-TXB Zigzag Lock-Stitch Tapestry Portable Binder. Comes with tapestry guide & your choice of a narrow folder. Why buy three different machines when one can do the job? Now available with a zigzag lockstitch that binds ¾ to 3” widths of tape in a single pass (with optional folder attachments) or tapestry blind stitch up to 6-1/2 inches wide.

• Portable
• Straight or zigzag stitch
• Adjustable stitch length
• High lift needle
• Uses regular portable style A, HD bobbins
• Binds over 10 feet per minute
• Walking foot top and feed dog bottom for consistent pulling power
• Optional 3-inch sisal  tape folders available
• Four heavy duty caster wheels for stability
• 8-foot cord standard
• 220v motor optional
• Backed by Bond’s 90-day warranty
  • Note: When using as a regular binding machine, it’s only intended for light to medium weight carpets, also ideal for upholstery work.

 

How dangerous are slip-and-fall accidents? It depends. Small children fall all of the time, get back up, and keep on trucking, but one spill can do a great deal of damage to the wrong person, particularly people over the age of 65. The National Institutes of Health conducted an analysis of injuries treated in emergency rooms from 2001-2008 in order to track slip-and-fall injuries, where they occur, and the pain and decreased mobility that resulted. Here is what they found:

Every year within this time period American emergency rooms treated approximately 38,000 adults ages 65 and older for injuries sustained with carpets and rugs. In the majority of cases (72.8%) these injuries occurred at home. Women were much more likely to be treated than men.

The most common site in the home for falls was the bathroom (35.7%). Typically people fell when they were passing over spots where carpets met rugs or rugs met flooring, where there were wet spots on rugs or flooring, or while they were hurrying to the bathroom. Other problems associated with injuries included rugs or carpets with curled edges or fold, but loose area rugs were a bigger problem than carpets.

The most reported injuries were in people ages 75-84, and the injuries were most commonly to the head or neck. While older people often worry about falls because they so often result in fractures or breaks, they worry especially about hip fractures because they lead to complications and lesser mobility. Not only is a hip fracture painful, one in five people who suffer one will die within a year of their injury. Even following a successful recovery after a fall, older people will go out less and take fewer chances out of lingering fear.

Previously we talked about things you should do to keep your rugs from slipping and creating hazards in your home. Using products like non-slip rug pads, or rug backings will help to keep your rugs in place and therefore create less of a hazard in your home.

Rug Grippers and Non-Slip Rug Pad Products

The first type of anti-slip product is TRACTIONBACK Secondary Felt, Double-Grip rubber backing. This product is attached by latex or spray gluing as a secondary backing using either side: felt side down if laying on carpet, or rubber side down if non-skid on a hard surface is needed.

Another products is LOK-LIFT Rug Gripper which can be cut into strips and attached to the outline of the rug on its underside to keep it from moving. LOK-LIFT is safe for all floor surfaces. 

We also offer two non-slip rug pad products, Eco-Grip and Eco-Stay. These rug pads can be purchased to match the dimensions of your rug and cut down to size you need. Rug pads also provide cushioning underneath and make standing or walking on your rug more comfortable. 

If you haven’t secured the rugs in your home, now would be a good time to tackle that job – before colder weather presents us with even more slip and fall opportunities. Consider safety proofing the rugs in the homes or apartments of your older relatives or friends as well. A small investment in safety could mean years more of health and independent living for your loved ones and priceless peace of mind.

Call us at Bond Products if you need help or advice about the products necessary to make the rugs and carpets in your home safer to traverse.

Upselling is a major plus in any sale. When someone is buying a new home, a car, or carpet, it may be the initial price or sale offer that gets noticed, or it might be the initial hook — but it’s the add-ons that push up profits. In the carpet world, that’s custom carpet edges.

Custom Carpet Edges Pricing

Many folks offer a standard binding edge service, and that’s a terrific profit center, but why stop there? Whereas standard binding usually brings $.80 to $3.50 per foot, offering a more upscale edge can double or triple the profits.

Here is some current market pricing for custom carpet binding:

………………………………Cost per foot……Retail charge…………………….Profit per foot

Standard Binding              $.07/ft                  $1.75/ft                                   $1.68/ft

Cotton Binding                  $.12/ft                  $2.50/ft                                   $2.38/ft

Serge Binding                    $.23/ft                  $4.25/ft                                   $4.02/ft

3” Wide Binding                $.40/ft                  $6.00/ft                                   $5.60/ft

5” Wide Binding                $.60/ft                  $8.00/ft                                   $7.40/ft

Note: Prices roughly based on costs as of September 2023 and profits will depend on your local market pricing.

With these very basic examples, you can see that the profit per foot rises exponentially and dramatically if you offer additional binding options. If you already own a binding machine, your move towards more profits could be as simple as investing in a custom attachment. The other option is to use a DIY product called Instabind that doesn’t require any initial investment. The only tools needed to apply Instabind are a pair of scissors and a hot glue gun!

Invest in Carpet Binding Equipment for Greater Profits

Give it some thought. For just a small investment that will pay for itself quickly, (or none at all if you use Instabind), you can see your business realize a greater profit margin in no time.

Bond’s customer service department is always available to answer any carpet binding questions you may have, so please feel free to call us at 1-888-800-BOND.

Have you thought about investing in new equipment in 2023? One useful tool we recommend solid hardwood flooring and engineered flooring professionals have is a pneumatic stapler or finish nail tool. If you don’t know why a pneumatic stapler is great to have, we will go through its uses here. 

What Is a Pneumatic Staple Gun?

A pneumatic staple gun is a tool that is often used in the construction industry and to install hardwood and engineered flooring underlayment. It looks like a gun and has a trigger and a cartridge for staples. The staple gun uses compressed air to drive staples into a hard surface like wood flooring. It’s simple to use and improves stapling accuracy, limiting damage to the object being stapled. 

In terms of efficiency, a pneumatic staple gun accomplishes a task much faster than a manual or even an electric stapler. Pneumatic tools require less maintenance than other kinds of tools as well. Using compressed air rather than gas or electricity keeps costs down too. 

What Does a Pneumatic Stapler Do?

People use pneumatic staple guns to attach materials that might become easily dislodged if they were attached with a small nail. These include: insulation, house wrap, roofing felt, and hardwood flooring or engineered flooring underlayment. These pneumatic staplers use a variety of crown widths, depending on the fastener application’s requirements. They range from narrow to wide crown. The choice of staple will depend on the material you’re fastening or your holding power requirements. 

Pneumatic staple guns are serious equipment, so if you invest in one, you should also commit to wearing safety glasses and ear protection while operating it. Also: use your pneumatic stapler according to directions at all times. 

The Pneumatic 18GA Narrow Crown Professional Underlayment Stapler

The pneumatic stapler Bond Products carries and recommends is the Pneumatic 18GA Narrow Crown Professional Underlayment Stapler. This stapler weighs only 2.8 pounds, has a fast jam release and a 360° adjustable exhaust. It’s operation is bump/single fire, and it has an operating pressure of 70-100 PSI. 

This underlayment stapler uses 18 GA staples from ⅞” to 1-½”. You may have heard that the U.S. Commerce Department has recently increased duties on all Chinese producers and exporters by 301.64%. This definitely applies to staples made by Chinese manufacturers, including 18 GA staples. Fortunately, the ProDriveHD® brand staples we offer at Bond Products are not subject to fluctuating prices because of tariffs. 

If you are in the market for a pneumatic stapler, we at Bond Products have you covered. Call us today at 1-888-800-BOND to place your order for your stapler and any staples you require. 

 

 

Bond Products is pleased to announce the debut of a brand new Instabind product, a sew-free carpet binding option for our customers: Instabind Fringe Style. This DIY peel-and-stick fringe is high quality and can be applied quickly and easily to replace old or damaged fringes on your area rugs. All that you will need to apply it is a glue gun, glue, and a pair of scissors.

Do You Have Damaged Rug Fringes? 

Sooner or later, most rug fringes get dirty or damaged. It just happens. Vacuuming is hard on them, and they pick up all the dirt that gets dragged into the house on shoes or paws. Unfortunately, most people don’t know what to do with the fringe when it gets nasty looking, except to take it to a rug professional or throw it out. 

With Instabind Fringe Style there is one more option: Remove the damaged fringe and replace it with a new one! A new binding makes a real difference in the appearance of an older rug. Bond Products offers many different types of bindings for rugs, including sew-on replacement fringe, but Instabind makes this task much, much simpler. 

Here’s what you will need:

• Your area rug
• Instabind Fringe Style
• A hot glue gun
• Glue sticks
• A pair of shears

Apply Your Instabind Fringe Style

Your first step will be to trim the old fringe off the rug and cut the edges so they are straight. A straight, precisely cut edge will look best, so take your time here to get it looking just right. 

Then measure the Instabind Fringe to the edges and cut off what you need for the length of the rug. Peel the paper away, and press the rug onto the sticky edge where you want the fringe to be. Use a hot glue gun, preferably with a long-nozzle tip, and latex-based glue sticks to apply a 1/8th-inch bead of glue all along the edge of the carpet. Continue the gluing process until the entire edge has been glued. This will give you a permanent bond between the rug and the fringe, and it will seal the edge of your cut carpet at the same time. 

Let the glue dry, cut any unused Instabind Fringe off, and then seal that cut part of the Instabind with a bead of glue. If you want to further reinforce the bond, you can also glue the flange on the back of the rug to the rug as well. This is especially important for older, Oriental rugs. 

And voilà! Your carpet is good to use again!

For more help, watch Brian apply Instabind Fringe Style to a small Oriental runner here:

Instabind Fringe Style is great for finishing off runners and for repairing Oriental carpets with damaged fringe. If you have any questions about our Instabind products or any of our other carpet binding and flooring products, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-888-800-BOND. We are always happy to be of service to our customers. 

 

Bond Products offers a wide range of products for carpet and flooring installation, helping both professionals and DIYers achieve clean, seamless results. That same goal applies outdoors as well. 

Artificial turf installation requires precision, and Bond provides the tools to make it happen, including turf tape, combination shearer/bevelers, and even the Bondbilt Turf Master seam sewing machine for larger or professional projects.

Artificial grass has both indoor and outdoor applications, but it’s the outdoor uses that have gained the most attention in recent years. Ongoing drought conditions, especially in places like California, have changed how people think about lawns. In some areas, even homeowners who can afford irrigation are restricted from using water for landscaping. As a result, demand for artificial turf has increased significantly.

But what about areas that are not facing extreme drought? Is there still a reason to choose artificial turf over natural grass? The answer is yes.

The Cost of Artificial Turf vs Grass

Installing artificial turf is not inexpensive upfront, but over time it can be far more cost-effective than maintaining a natural lawn. Traditional grass requires ongoing expenses for water, fuel, fertilizer, and maintenance. In areas where water and fuel costs are high, those expenses add up quickly.

Historically, a well-maintained lawn was a luxury. Before modern tools and chemicals, only the wealthy could afford the labor required to keep grass trimmed and healthy. In the twentieth century, advances in equipment and materials made lawns more accessible, and they became a staple of the American home.

Today, however, the equation is changing again.

Maintenance and Environmental Considerations

Today many homeowners are rethinking lawn care. Water is more limited in some regions, fuel costs are higher, and chemical fertilizers can have negative environmental effects. On top of that, fewer people see mowing and maintaining a lawn as an enjoyable task.

Artificial turf offers a different approach. It stays green year-round without watering, mowing, or fertilizing. It also holds up well under foot traffic and can last for many years with minimal upkeep.

A Practical Alternative for Modern Homes

For many homeowners, artificial turf provides a clean, consistent look without the time and expense of maintaining natural grass. It’s a practical solution for those who want a polished outdoor space without the ongoing demands of lawn care.

That’s why Bond Products offers tools and supplies specifically for turf installation. Whether you’re a professional installer or a DIY homeowner, our turf tape, cutting tools, and seaming systems make it easier to install artificial grass correctly and efficiently.

If you’re considering an artificial turf project, Bond Products can help you get started. Call 1-888-800-BOND to find the right tools and supplies for your installation.

We always appreciate it when our customers love our products so much that they share their personal experiences with them, so we want to highlight a review from Mod Home Ec Teacher on how to bind a carpet remnant to make a custom-shaped area rug with Instabind. DIY carpet binding has never been so easy!

“Carpet binding has always seemed to be something for which the DIY-er needs a professional. Well, not anymore!”

Can You Bind Carpet Yourself?

If you’re wondering how to do your own DIY carpet binding, it really is quite simple. You do not have to send area rugs away to a carpet binder to create your own beautiful custom area rug from a remnant. With Instabind, this can be a fun weekend project. You simply cut your carpet remnant to size, measure your Instabind and attach it to the raw carpet edges. No sewing necessary! 

You will need the following: 

• A hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Clear tape
• Instabind

There are so many colors and styles of Instabind available, including:

• Regular binding style
• Cotton binding style
• Synthetic serge binding style
• Cotton serge style
• Cotton rope style
• Rope edge style
• Outdoor marine style
• Safety edge style
• Faux leather style
• NEW Fringe binding style

We even sell an Instabind Starter Kit to make using it even easier. If you’re wondering which style of Instabind to choose, our rule of thumb for selecting a binding is: if it’s a cotton or wool rug or carpet, use a natural (cotton) binding or serging style. If it’s a synthetic rug or carpet, use a synthetic binding or serging style. The highest quality look is the cotton one, but our synthetic Instabind options look great too.

Let’s Get Started!

First, you trim off any strings or irregularities along the sides of the carpet and make sure that all sides are straight. It may be easier to use a carpet cutter and a straight edge to achieve straight lines and sharp corners.

Take the Instabind, and make a clean cut. Pull the paper on the binding back, and apply it to the carpet in the middle of one cut edge. Then extend the Instabind past the corner of the carpet, using the corner as a guide. Snip the flat part of the Instabind, stopping at the piping. With the paper turned back, overlap the backing while rounding the corner. Continue this process around the carpet until you reach where you started. You can readjust the Instabind if you need to at this stage in the project. Using your starting point as a guide, make the finishing cut with your scissors and trim any excess strings.

Next, seal the beginning and ending pieces of the Instabind together with a bead of hot glue. Use your glue gun to apply a ⅛” bead of hot glue between the edge of the Instabind and the carpet. Hold this in place a few minutes to let the glue set. Continue gluing all the way around the carpet. For a more finished looking back, trim the Instabind backing at a 45 degree angle.

Now you have a beautiful carpet you can use in your home. Using Instabind to transform a remnant or fix a damaged rug is much less expensive than the price of an area rug, even an inexpensive one. Why not try this project for yourself?

Call Bond Products for All of Your DIY Carpet Binding Needs

Always feel free to contact us or call us at 1-888-800-BOND if you have any questions about the products you may need for your carpet binding or flooring needs. We are happy to help.