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How to run PUR on a small book binder
Moving your tabletop or single-clamp binder to PUR, but worried about wasted glue, cure time and cleanup? Here is how to load it, let it cure and purge it. Call 800-249-0337 to confirm fit.
Ready to buy? See PUR 100 g foil packs for small binders.
PUR (polyurethane reactive) hot melt goes on molten like regular hot melt, then cross-links with moisture in the air. It ends up as a tough, flexible film that won't melt back down. For a small bindery that means stronger page pull and flex than standard EVA, books that open flatter, and spines that hold up in a hot car or a cold warehouse.
Cattie Adhesives has made industrial adhesives in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, for more than 40 years. Our chemical engineers and adhesive specialists match PUR to your binder, your stock and the way you work.
Why small shops move to PUR
Books that lay flat
PUR stays flexible after it cures, so photobooks, manuals and cookbooks open flatter and don't crack at the spine.
Stronger page pull
Stronger page pull and flex than standard EVA, which counts most on heavy or coated pages.
Coated and hard stocks
PUR bonds coated, UV-coated, foil and film stocks that EVA struggles with. Low-temperature grades and primers are available for high-gloss stock.
Heat, cold and ink resistance
PUR resists about −40°F to +300°F, along with most inks and solvents that can migrate into an EVA glue line.
Why a 100 g foil pack
Most PUR for small binders is sold in 1 kg bags or 2 kg bars and candles. Once a bag is open, it starts reacting with moisture in the air, so a short run can leave a lot of glue behind. Cattie's PUR comes in 100-gram foil packs instead. Load what the run needs, and keep the rest sealed in its foil.
The packs are made for tabletop binders and single-clamp desktop binders. Call 800-249-0337 to confirm fit.
Running a larger line? Cattie PUR also comes in cartridges, foil slugs, pails and drums.
Works with PUR-capable binders only. Call 800-249-0337 to confirm fit.
Ready to order? PUR glue for small binders in 100 g foil packs
Running PUR on a small binder
Handle it dry
PUR cures with moisture, so keep packs sealed until you load them and don't leave glue sitting in an open pot. Cleanup has to happen before the PUR cures in the tank.
Plan for cure time
Books can be handled once the glue sets, but full strength comes after 12 to 48 hours, depending on humidity and the paper. Hold off on page-pull checks and stress tests until then.
Purge at shutdown
Use PUR-Purge-1000 purge compound (250–350°F) or 9006 PUR purge flake to clear PUR from the melter and nozzle before it can cross-link.
Watch the usual problems
Stringing, smoking, charring, low page pull and covers that pop off usually come down to temperature, stock or spine prep. See how to solve bookbinding problems and bookbinding adhesives.
What to send for a sample match
Your binder type and model, the stock (coated, UV, foil), spine thickness, how many books you run in a typical week, and the problem you're trying to fix, whether that's page pull, crack-back or heat. Call 800-249-0337 or request a sample.
Questions small binderies ask
How long does PUR take to cure on a book?
PUR hot melt is moisture-curing. Full cure typically takes 12 to 48 hours, depending on the moisture available in the air and the paper. Books can be handled once the glue sets. Call 800-249-0337 for pricing and fit.
What temperature does PUR run at?
PUR hot melt applies at up to about 300°F. Call 800-249-0337 for pricing and fit.
How do I purge PUR from my binder?
Clean up before PUR cures in the tank. Load PUR-Purge-1000 purge compound (250–350°F) or 9006 PUR purge flake, run it through, then shut down or restart. Follow your binder maker's procedure.
Why foil packs instead of a 1 kg bag?
A 1 kg bag or 2 kg bar starts reacting once it's opened. A 100 g foil pack lets a small shop load only what the run needs and keep the rest sealed. Call 800-249-0337 to confirm fit.
Can I go back to EVA on the same machine?
Many small binders run both. Purge the PUR fully first, then follow the binder maker's changeover steps.
Do you have an SDS?
Yes. SDS and samples are available on request. Call 800-249-0337 or email sales@cattieadhesives.com.