A plastic comb binding machine can save you a lot of time, as plastic comb binding is the easiest binding method available. You can bind calendars, reports and any other documents simply with the plastic comb binding machine. Picking the right plastic comb binding machine can be a daunting process, but these considerations should help.
First of all, decide whether you want to invest in an electric plastic comb binding machine, or if doing the binding manually is sufficient for you. Electric ones will get the job done a whole lot faster, but they have a higher initial cost, and they need an ongoing power source. On the other hand, a manual plastic comb binding machine has a one time, lower cost, yet you need to either spend a lot of time operating it or you need to hire someone, which seems to leave you in about the same place as paying an electric bill. Manual machines can also be frustrating because they sometimes have a rather low capacity; they are easier to find, though.
In the second place, what is the punching and binding capacity on the plastic comb binding machine? Obviously, this will probably be your greatest concern. Determine how thick your books will be first, and then go from there. For 3/16″, the smallest comb size is ten pages, and 2″, the largest size is 425 pages. You’ll want to be careful to get a plastic comb binding machine that will handle your jobs. Particularly with manual devices, punching can be time consuming, so you need to make sure your machine has plenty of punching capacity.
If you’re not planning on sticking to 8 ½” by 11″ paper, then you need to look for a plastic comb binding machine that will handle different sizes of paper. Machines that will handle different sizes of paper have open throats and dies that disengage. That way, you can do half size, legal size, or whatever you might want to do.
Plastic comb binding machines aren’t cheap pieces of equipment, so you need to look out for the ones that will last longest. Find one with as many metal components as possible; plastic parts will wear out and break. Also check the warranty to see what kind of coverage is being offered with the machine.
GBC, Renz, Rhin-O-Tuff, and Tamerica are some of the better brands for plastic comb binding machines. Although you want affordability, quality is important, too. Fellowes and Akiles may be worth checking out also. Don’t spend more than you can afford, even if it’s worth the money- you’ll regret it later.
When it’s all said and done, you should choose the one that’s right for you. It’s really not that hard. Make sure you can transport it easily and it will fit well into your office. Plastic comb binding machines allow you to use the best binding method out there in terms of ease and speed. Get the one that fits your needs, and you’ll be sure to be satisfied with the results.
