Over & Over folds may be the most popular type of broadside fold. Convenient to close, they can be easily spot glued or tabbed shut. These folds can also put tremendous pressure on paper, leading to cracking, blow out and other problems. Fortunately, we have developed techniques over the years to combat your over & over fold issues.
Count Your Folds
Over & over folds made at right angles to an initial broadside fold will cause specific stress points in your product. This pressure is created when the outer panels of the over & over folds are wrapped around the identically sized inside panels. The fold forces the paper to buckle, and, with no room to move, the product will wrinkle, split or tear.
You can avoid this problem by limiting the number of over & over folds you make on each product. Our rule of thumb has always been a maximum of four folds, five if absolutely necessary. Using fewer folds will prevent the paper from ripping or tearing due to stress.
Accordion Folds--An Over & Over Folders' Best Friend
Sandwiching accordion folds between an over & over on each end can greatly reduce stress points. At the same time, the end product will maintain the same basic appearance as a completely over & over folded product.
Accordion folding has an additional advantage: every panel after the initial broadside fold can be the same size. Conversely, with over & over you have to downsize each successive panel, which is more of a design challenge. Using accordion folds will simplify the design and layout of the product.
Paper Weight Issues
It is true that the additional fiber of thicker paper adds to its durability and reduces cracking or splitting. Folding thicker paper, however, creates so much stress that even a durable stock often cannot withstand the pressure. This is why we don't recommend over & over folds for anything more than 80-lb. enamel. The solution is to use lightweight paper when utilizing these folds.
Don't "Blow" It
Sometimes over & over folds can cause a complete split in the paper, which is called blow out. Blow out is created when the same panel wraparound discussed earlier moves the inner and outer panels apart. To combat blow out, stick to 80-lb. or less enamel stock.
The Rickard Advantage
We've logged thousands of hours creating over & over folds for a variety of products. While we can't eliminate the inherent design challenges, we can utilize our expertise to give you the best possible product.
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