Introduction: How to Make a Folding Machine

By whitakerbrothers.com/
About: Whitaker Brothers has been selling, manufacturing, and servicing office machines such as folding machines, paper cutters, disintegrators, and most importantly paper shredders for almost 70 years. We are headq…

Here at Whitaker Brothers, we guarantee the best price listing for all of our paper folders. So, what’s a better price than free? Learn  how to make your own homemade paper tri-folder with this simple step-by-step tutorial.  

Step 1: Materials

A file folder, a ruler, scissors, scotch tape, and a pen. These items can be easily found in business offices.

Step 2: Using a Ruler, Draw a Rectangle on the File Folder

Outline the dimensions 8.525″ x 11.025″. We recommend using these dimensions for folding printing paper (standard printing paper dimensions are 8.5″ x 11″). It is important for the brochure dimensions to be slightly bigger to avoid adding too much pressure on the triangular folds in step 5.

Step 3: Measure and Label the Panel Divisions

Use the dimensions 3.5″ for panel A, 4″ for panel B, and 3.525″ for panel C. It is important for panel B to be wider than the side panels to avoid overlapping the folds.  Also, we recommend to take advantage of the crease on the file folder – because there’s already a pre-developed fold, we used the crease as a division between panels A and B.

Step 4: Cut Out the Rectangle Once the Measurements Are Done

Use the outline of the rectangle that you drew in Step 2 as a guideline. Do not throw away the file folder scraps yet! Use the remains for step 5 to create your pocket folds.

Step 5: Trace Out Four Triangular Folds, and Cut Them Out

Use the remaining folder scraps to create the brochure folds. One way to draw them is by placing the scraps over the brochure corners to outline the fold edges. The best way to maintain straight lines is by using a ruler. If tracing is an issue, we recommend to use the dimensions: 1″ x 1″ x 1.5″.

Step 6: Tape the Folds on Each Corner of the Tri-folder

The hypotenuse side of each triangular fold should face the inside of the tri-folder. Also, make sure to only tape on the edges of the brochure, not on the inside. These triangular folds will be used to insert and keep the paper in place. Make sure to use enough tape to avoid scabbing the paper in the sockets.

Step 7: Finally, Form the Creases Where You Marked the Panel Divisions

Voila! Now to show you how to use your brochure folder. 

Step 8: Insert a Piece of Paper Into the Triangular Folds

Make sure to flatten out the paper for a more precise fold.

Step 9: Fold Panel a Onto Panel B, and Then Close With Panel C

The harder you press on the panel folds, the sharper your paper folds will be.

Step 10: Take Out Your Paper From the Folds

Ta-Da!


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Step 11: Source and Citation

http://www.whitakerbrothers.com/blog/how-make-paper-folder/#.UjcZOcbkt8G - Original source, shared with permission