Plastic comb binding machines come in two main varieties, electric ones and manual ones.  Each has its own pros and cons that you will want to consider before purchasing.  Electric binders have the obvious benefit of being faster, more consistent, and being able to punch through larger quantities of paper.  They are also carry a much higher price tag and are often more complex to use than a manual machine.  If you are new to binding in general, don’t have a lot of binding to do on a regular basis, and don’t mind putting in the effort, then you would probably be better off with a manual model.

Another consideration is how thick the finished, bound booklets will need to be.  Think about what types of documents you will be creating, and what materials their covers will be made out of.  Plastic binding combs come in a wide variety of thicknesses and sizes, ranging from a small 3/16″ comb to large 2 inch ones that can accommodate up to 400 pages.  By taking into account what type of documents you have in mind, you can make sure to get a machine that will meet your needs and avoid paying for unnecessary features at the same time.

The punching capacity is also something that is important to think about.  Most binders will bind more pages than they can punch through, but getting a machine that will only punch through 10 sheets at a time as opposed to one that will punch through 20 sheets means twice the work.  While manual models are more limited in this area, there are electric models that are much more powerful and efficient, allowing you to create stacks of thickly bound documents in just a fraction of the time.

Any plastic comb binding system on the market will easily be able to accommodate an 8.  5 x 11 sheet of paper, so if standard size documents are all you will be binding, you won’t have any problems at all.    If however, you are thinking about making larger documents than you will need to know the specifics of the paper sizes you want to use before you buy a machine.  Every machine varies in what sizes of paper it can take, and if you have larger sizes in mind you should look for an open-throated machine on one with disengageble dies.

Your final consideration should be warranty life.  A binder, particularly one intended for heavy office use, is quite an investment, and not something that you would want to see break down after a short time or be in constant need of repairs.  All metal machines will last a lot longer than those made out of plastic or with plastic parts and fittings.  But in any case, a solid warranty and parts replacement contract means that you have less to worry about, even if you do play it safe with an all-metal model.  Before purchasing, make sure to consider what other customers have said about the specific model you have in mind.  Even a machine made from the finest materials and from a reliable company can have it’s quirks, so make sure that other people have been satisfied with the model you are looking at.

Using wire binding machines is simple.  There are five steps involved.  Depending on the type of machine you have, the steps might vary slightly, but overall, they remain the same.  The first thing you need to do is to arrange the booklet as you would like it to be, with the pages in order and the covers in place.  You will also need to measure the thickness of the book so that you can use the right sized wire spine.  The second step is to neatly align the machine with the booklet so that the holes are centered properly.  The third step is the fun one.  You get to press down on that shiny lever, or if you’re using an electric wire binding machine, press the button to initiate the punches.  Fourth, you’ll need to hang your booklet’s pages on the C-wire spines.  Lastly, you’ll slide your booklet closer to the wire, using the machine to squeeze the edges of the wire spine tightly shut.  Watch how the spine changes from the original C shape into a nice, tight O. And you’re done! One professional looking booklet is born.

But if the process seems to be a simple one at first, you’ll probably be surprised at the vast number of wire O binding machine models on the market.  Let’s take a look at a few top notch wire binding systems that you’ll want to consider:

1.  Akiles OffiWire – This powerful binder machine comes in two models.  The first is set at a 3:1 pitch ( meaning that it punches three holes per inch) and the second has a 2:1 pitch.  They can both punch through a thickness of 10 sheets of paper and can easily process plastic report covers.  One nice feature is an ergonomically designed U-shaped handle, which is great whether you’re a righty or a lefty.  Super simple to use, the OffiWire is a perfect match for a small office or someone new to binding.

2. DFG Wire200 – If you’re not going to be using your wire bind machine heavily, then the Wire200 is another option to consider.  Slightly more powerful, it can punch through 12 sheets of paper and can handle spines up to 9/16″ think.  Great for larger projects, the Wire200 is open -throated, and can punch paper that’s up to 21 inches long, making it a more versatile piece of equipment.  It is a completely metal product, meaning that you don’t have to worry about small plastic parts breaking and rendering your machine useless.

3. Fellowes Galaxy e-Wire – This new model from Fellowes is definitely a winner. It’s a super-powerful electric model which can punch through 20 pages at a time and can bind large documents comprised of up to 130 sheets of paper. With lots of extras, like an easy to empty clip tray, and convenient storage tray, and a spine selector, it’s a machine you’re sure to enjoy using on a regular basis. It comes with a two year warranty, as well as a starter kit, complete with covers and spines so you can get started binding the day it arrives.

Of course, there are many other wire comb binding machine models on the market, but here are three that are sure to be favorites. Remember to read customer reviews before making your purchase, as it’s always important to get feedback and make sure that the model you choose is the one that’s right for your situation.

This method produces a binding similar to that of a spiral bound notebook, and is often referred to as plastic spiral coil binding for this reason.  The holes are punched at a 4:1 pitch, meaning that there are four holes per inch.  Once the holes have been punched, a plastic coil is few through the holes, usually with and electric coil inserter.  The edges of the coil are then crimped to secure the binding and prevent unraveling, either by a crimper in an electric machine, or manually, using a special pair of pliers made for this purpose.

You can find plastic binding coils in a wide variety of sizes, from small coils intended for booklets of just about 30 pages, up to sturdier coils that can accommodate over 450 pages.  A standard 12″ length will easily bind a letter sized piece of paper, and consists of 48 loops.  For larger documents, 36″ long coils are available.  One nice thing about this binding method is the color options.  The coils come in almost any color imaginable, perfect for color coding reports or creating company themed documents.

You can purchase a coil binder machine that is either manual or electric, depending on your needs.  Both machines will punch the holes in the document, and an electric model will insert the coils for you, but if you are doing more than a few booklets you are probably not going to want to have to thread all the coils yourself.  If you don’t have the money for an electric machine but you can’t see yourself spending hours threading coils, you may want to consider a manual machine that has an electric coil threader.  This is the best of both worlds, offering you a quick and easy way to bind your documents, without having to splurge on a machine that is really more expensive than what you actually need.  Of course, if you are purchasing a machine with the intention of using it heavily or binding very large documents, you would be best off with a fully electric model. You can also buy an electric coil inserter separately, to be used in conjunction with a fully manual machine.

Another feature that is popular with these machines is having an adjustable depth margin.  This allows you to decide just how close to the edge of the paper you want the holes to be.  You can also buy a more professional machine that punches oval holes as opposed to ordinary circular holes.  This results in the reader having a smoother page turning experience, and has the added benefit of being easier to thread the coils through. If you would like to use more than one binding method, you can get a machine that functions as a dual coil and plastic comb binding machine, and will punch holes suitable for both methods.

Whatever your budget, there is an option that can work for you.  From the most basic of manual models which really do no more than punch holes to industrial strength machines which do it all– and then some– at a lightning fast pace, there is a plastic coil binding machine for everyone.  Once you know which features you want, it’s easy to start looking for the particular make and model which offers what you’re looking for.  And then you can get started binding.

A binder machine works by aligning all of the pages and then attaching them.  Depending on the type of machine you choose, it will either punch holes, glue the pages together, or use wire or plastic holders to bind the sheets of paper.

Three popular types are thermal, comb, and wire binding machines.  With a thermal binding machine, heat and glue are combined to bind the pages in your booklet.  The pages are inserted into a pre-fab thermal slip cover and then placed in the binding slot.  There, heated strips of glue are applied to the pages.  Once the glue has cooled, the booklet is ready, with all of the pages bound together inside.

A plastic comb binding machine is another option which is both inexpensive and allows for the pages to be rearranged in the future.  Since the binding is not attached to the edges of the pages but is somewhat removed from them, the pages of the booklet can lie flat, and can actually be rearranged if need be.  The booklet can also be opened to a certain page and can easily be kept that way if desired.  If the booklet is not needed long-term, you can also remove the plastic combs and then reuse them for another binding project at a later date.  A comb binder works by aligning the documents and punching rectangular holes into the edges of the pages.  A plastic comb is attached to the outer edge, binding the pages together into a booklet.  Due to the wide variety of binder combs on the market, you have more versatility with this option.  You can adjust the machine’s settings to accommodate combs of different sizes and with different numbers of holes.

A spiral binding machine works in a similar manner to the comb binder, and is commonly used with notebooks.  This machine punches a series of small holes along the edge of the pages, and then runs a spiral loop holder through them.  Often times, a wire binding machine will come with a wire closer to prevent unraveling, and will have various settings to accommodate different styles of spiral bindings, such as a Double Loop or Spiral “O”.  A Double Loop is clearly identified by special teeth which fit into each of the holes.  It is a much more sturdy and longer-lasting option than the classic Spiral “O”, which consists of one single spiral wire.  The Double Loop is also almost always metal, while the Spiral “O” can easily be found in either plastic or metal.

Having the perfect binding machine for your needs will make your business run a lot smoother, and will help cut down on costs.  Depending on the style you choose, a desktop book binding machine will cost anywhere from $50 to $400, making it quite affordable for most businesses.

There are endless options on the market, and you’re sure to have a few main considerations in mind when you start looking, such as price, quality, and options.  A student will probably need a simple, hand operated comb binder machine to bind just a few reports per semester, while an office manager may need a more industrial type of machine with various options and setting, to bind multiple types of reports for hundreds of employees.

But despite the differences in terms of scale and complexity, one thing that no one is willing to forgo is quality.  Whichever machine you decide to purchase, you want it to work, and to continue working for years to come.  Lets take a look at some of the more popular brands of binder machines on the market, so you can see which one will suit your needs best.

GBC is by far the most popular brand on the market.  Anyone, be it a student, teacher, or large business owner, will be able to find a GBC binder machine that is exactly what you’re looking for.  Their simple desktop models start at around $50, and are perfect for a student or even a classroom teacher who is only looking to bind booklets for their students on occasion.  The models rise in price, quality, and features to accommodate a home office or small business, and there is a large variety of binders that are in the $200 range.  But even if you have a larger business, they make some heavy duty, industrial strength comb binder machines that range in the thousands.

Fellowes is another popular brand.  They have a large selection of thermal binding machines, which though not as sturdy as coil or wire bindings, do have a rather streamlined appearance.  However, since plastic and wire binding are much more popular options, they do have a nice line of these machines as well.  One such example is the Fellowes Quasar Wire Binder Machine, designed for moderate use and priced between $217-$399, depending on the retailer.  It features some nice extras that will extend the life of your machine, such as protective shields to cover the teeth and other mechanical parts.

Finally, for the large corporation, Akiles has heavy duty binders that will last long while sustaining heavy use.  Some of these models are multifunctional, so instead of having a separate plastic comb and metal spiral binder machine, you can get both bindings from one versatile machine.  The WireMac Combo is one popular model with multiple settings, but they have other models as well.  Most of their machines are over $300, with a large selection priced around $1,500, but they do have several that are closer to $100.

Whatever type of binder you need, be it for occasional or nearly constant use, you’ll know you’re getting a quality machine with any of these brands.  While there are lots of other companies that carry one or two models of binding machines, it’s always comforting to know that you’re getting one from a company that specializes in this type of equipment.