Ring Metal Options

There are two primary means of attaching ring metals to looseleaf binders: Conventional rivets, and "concealed" (or rivetless) technology.

The difference is straightforward: With conventional rivets, you see the head of the rivet on the spine (or occasionally on the back cover) of the binder. With concealed rivets, you do not. This is particularly useful for clearview binders (therefore avoiding the need for unsightly "relief holes" in the clear overlay on the spine of the binder) and on full color binders (where rivets would detract from the design of the binder).

Functionally, there is very little difference between the two approaches. Both are strong and durable. At SpeedBinder, we expect the attachment of the ring metals to the binder to outlast the binder itself.

Why select one over the other? Conventional rivets are slightly less expensive. Expect to pay around $0.15 more per binder for concealed rivets. Conventional rivets are also more common for "Angle-D" ring applications, where the rings are riveted to the back cover. On very large ring sizes (anything over 2"), conventional rivets are slightly stronger.

For any other application, concealed rivets are the preferred choice. They combine a smooth, uncluttered look with good durability. Companies buy custom binders in order to differentiate their material from the competition. Concealed rivets are a small part of that process.