Are you looking for an electric dual-functioning binding machine capable of binding comb and three-hole punching paper? One binding machine you may want to look at before making a purchase is the SircleBind CB-150e electric comb binding machine. This is my review.

Sircle makes some of the most unique book binding machines around. This includes comb, wire and coil. The designs used by SircleBind are unique and the multi-function designs of many of their binding machines are pretty nice.

The SircleBind CB-150e is both an electric comb binding machine and a three hole punch. This is a combination you rarely find in a binding machine. In fact, the last comb binding machine I can even remember that featured a three-hole punch was an Ibico binding machine that has long since been discontinued.

The electric portion of this machine is the punching mechanism. The comb opener is still manually operated. The electric punch on this machine is capable of punching through up to 15 sheets of paper at a time. This is done by pushing a button.

One feature I love about SircleBind machines is the vertical load punch. This feature can be found in the CB-150e. Most binding machines punch paper horizontally. Because the CB-150e punches paper vertically, edges are easily squared up and punching goes a little faster. The margin depth can be adjusted to two different positions.

The CB-150e is designed to be used with letter-size paper, although it can be used smaller sheets of paper. It is able to bind paper up to two-inches thick. This is pretty nice for binding reports.

The low-profile design of the SircleBind CB-150e allows it to sit on a shelf or be placed in a cupboard. It weighs in at 39 pounds shipped, which means it can be used on most tables and desks.

While not designed for high-volume binding, the SircleBind CB-150e can easily keep up with light to medium-volume binding and can be used on a daily basis without any issues. This binding machine is found in schools, copy centers and other businesses.

Overall I really like the modern design of the CB-150e and really enjoy the hassle free option of the electric punch. The three-hole punch is just an added bonus and eliminates the need for a separate machine.

You can find the SircleBind CB-150e electric comb binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of electric comb binding machines here.

So you’ve decided you like the wire binding look. I can’t say that I blame you. Wire binding is probably one of the classiest and nicest looking binding formats available today. Now that you’ve settled on a binding style, it’s possible that you’re not quite sure which machine to get. Should you go with a manual or an electric wire binding machine? Here is some advice that may help you with your decision.

Wire binding, sometimes called double-loop or twin-loop wire binding, is extremely popular for binding books, reports and presentations. You can find wire in three different hole patterns. These patterns are 2:1 (2 holes per inch), 3:1 (3 holes per inch) and 19-ring. Machines that punch paper for wire binding come in manual and electric designs.

So should you go with the manual or the electric punch? The type of punch you get will depend on three key questions: How many books would you like to bind? What is your budget? How much effort do you want to put into book binding?

To answer the first question, if you will only be binding a few books per day, a manual punch will easily be able to handle and keep up with the job at hand. If you will be binding more than a few dozen books every day, you may want to look at an electric punch. Electric wire binding machines are faster when it comes to binding.

It should come as no surprise that electric punch wire binding machines are more of an investment. Budget is often a determining factor when it comes to binding equipment purchases.  If you simply cannot afford an electric punch, try to get a manual punch machine with a higher punching capacity. That will at least help increate binding output.

Electric punch wire binding machines are often a matter of convenience. Let’s be honest. Manually punching paper takes effort. If you like the idea of simply pushing a button to punch paper, an electric wire binder may be exactly what you need (especially if you’re not tide to a budget).

We offer both electric and manual wire binding machines. You can find our manual wire binding machines here. You can find our electric wire binding machines here. You can find our wire binding supplies here.  If you still have questions about wire binding machines and which model is best for you, speak with one of our binding specialists at 1-800-658-8788.

Whether you need to bind a cookbook or simply need something for a presentation, comb binding is a great all-round format to use. So which comb binding machine should you buy? One model you may have already looked at is the GBC CombBind C110 comb binding machine. I have used this comb binder and this is my review.

GBC, now owned by ACCO Brands, has been making office equipment for years. Their product lineup includes binding machines, staplers, paper cutters, laminators and more. Their line of comb binding machines are marketed under the name of CombBind. The C110 is one of their entry-level comb binding machines.

The GBC CombBind C110 is designed for light-volume use. It is capable of punching up to 15 sheets of paper at a time and can bind books up to 300 pages thick. This is based on 20# paper. It can be used to punch and bind card stock and other types of paper, but the punching capacity needs to be scaled back to handle the increased thickness.

One thing GBC is really good at is making their binding machines look nice. Like Fellowes, they clearly have a group of talented aesthetic designers. The C110 looks great and really fits in well in an office environment. It only weighs 19 pounds shipped, so it is light enough to be used on most desks, tables and counters.

The housing on the C110 is a formed plastic shell. The inside of the machine is metal. The build quality is decent, but I would definitely not use it for medium or high volume binding. It is really designed for only binding a few books a day or for occasional use.

For a similar dollar amount I also recommend these machines:

1. Intelli-Bind IB650 Comb Binding Machine
2. Akiles EcoBind-C Plastic Comb Binding Machine
3. Intelli-Bind IB700 Manual Comb Binding Machine
4. Tahsin 190PB Comb Binding Machine
5. Intelli-Bind IB400 Comb Binding Machine

While I enjoy using the GBC ComBind C110, there are too many other good machines out there for me to settle on this particular machine. I would rather get a machine with selectable punching dies and an adjustable margin depth for the same amount of money.

You can find the GBC CombBind C110 comb binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of comb binding machines here.

Are you on a budget and need an affordable book binding machine? Perhaps you can’t settle on one single binding format. If either of these situations apply to you, you may want to take a look at the SircleBind WB-110 comb and wire binding machine. This is my review.

SircleBind (from Sircle) has only been around for a few years, but their machines have sent ripples through the binding industry. SircleBind machines are some of the most affordable today and are compared to the quality of GBC. Most of SircleBind’s machines are feature rich when compared to similarly priced machines.

The SircleBind WB-110 is both a comb and a wire-binding machine. It includes both a 3:1 pitch (three holes per inch) punch and a 19-ring comb punch. It also includes a wire closer and a comb opener. Essentially it has everything you need, start to finish, to bind a book in wire or comb. The only thing it doesn’t include is the supplies and the paper.

This machine is capable of punching through 12 sheets of standard 20# paper. This amount will decrease with card stock, but the WB-110 can still be used to punch card stock and clear covers. Multiple punches will be required to bind a book, but the process is pretty quick.

One thing I really like about the punches on the Wb-110 is the vertical punch. Most binding machines punch paper horizontally. The vertical punch makes it easier to punch paper evenly and keep the edges properly aligned. This is all done thanks to gravity.

One of the most unusual features in the WB-110 is the wire debinding feature. While comb is easy to open up, wire isn’t. The WB-110 has a wire opener that allows you to remove the wire binding element. While the re-opened wire can’t be re-used, this is a nice feature to have if you need to re-bind a book.

The WB-110 only weighs in at 18 pounds, so it is easy to move around and can easily be placed on just about any desk or table. This machine doesn’t look half-bad either. I think it looks pretty nice sitting on a desk.

Overall I consider the SircleBind WB-110 to be a great budget binding machine. Keep in mind that the SircleBind WB-110 is designed for low and entry-level binding. This means the WB-110 is perfect for home and small business use, but should not be used for large book binding production.

You can find the SircleBind WB-110 comb and wire binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of binding machines here.

Would you like to be able to create your own custom notepads, but don’t know where to start? I have created several notepads using a machine called a padding press. The process is affordable, quick and easy. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

To begin with, a padding press is a simple piece of equipment designed to clamp and hold paper in place while a special glue is applied. This glue, currently available in white and red colors, dries in a matter of minutes. Typical drying time takes about 10-15 minutes. Once dry, the clamp can be released and the pad of paper is ready to be used.

You can see a step-by-step guide (with pictures) as to how this is done by checking out our “how to use a padding press guide.”

So why create your own pads?

1. Allows you to recycle paper.
2. Allows for custom notepads.
3. Affordable and can be done for years with the same machine.
4. Great for taking notes.
5. Fun to do.
6. Creating prank job applications. J/K on that one, but you can read more here.

These are just a few quick reasons why you may want to create your own notepad.

So what are the biggest differences between padding presses? The biggest differences are padding capacity, paper sizes allowed and swivel bases.

Some padding presses are capable of padding reams upon reams of paper, upwards of 1,000 plus at a time. These large stacks are then quickly cut down into smaller stacks. Some padding presses can only handle notepad size paper (around 4-6 inches) where others can pad large 11 x 17 sheets.

The swivel base is more of a convenience than anything. This makes it easier to use a padding press on a countertop or surface that doesn’t have easy access. The swivel allows the operator to spin the platform around, apply glue and then spin it back 160 degrees for easy front access.

You can find our entire selection of padding presses and notepad makers here. Still have questions about creating notepads? Speak for free with one of our specialists at 1-800-658-8788. Happy padding!

Finding an affordable book binding machine can be tough, especially in a down economy and on a limited budget. If you’re willing to wait, we can save you a lot of money on a new line of binding machines that are packed with features for a fraction the cost. This new line is called Intelli-Bind.

Intelli-Bind binding machines are made by Intelli-Zone. Intelli-Zone is known for making a wide variety of office products such as shredders, laminators, folding machines and binding machines. So what types of Intelli-Bind book binding machines are available?

We are expecting a huge shipment of Intelli-Bind binding machines from Intelli-Zone around the end of September. If you are willing to wait this period of time, you will save a lot of money on your binding machine purchase.

I am impressed by the great selection of binding machines that include selectable punching dies. Selectable dies are usually only available in mid to high-price machines. Most Intelli-Bind binding machines include this feature.

We are currently offering pre-order pricing, giving you the opportunity to lock in the price and availability of one of these machines. We have already sold several of these machines and supplies are limited.

These are the lines of Intelli-Bind binding machines currently available:

• Intelli-Bind Comb Binding Machines (found here) – Starting at just $45 for entry-level machines, these comb binding machines are affordable for even the casual book binding enthusiast.
• Intelli-Bind Wire Binding Machines (found here) – These machines start at just $198. Machines with selectable punching pins start at just $220.
• Intelli-Bind Coil Binding Machines (found here) – Even the least expensive model ($124) includes an electric coil inserter. This used to be unheard of and is a great price for a lot of machine.

Pre-order sales can be made online via our secure shopping cart or by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-658-8788. There has never been a better time to get a book-binding machine than with Intelli-Bind.

Many modern day spiral binding machines feature measurement guides to help determine which diameter coil is needed for a stack of paper. Many machines do not offer this feature though, so here is a quick reference guide to help you estimate how many sheets you can bind with your spiral coils.

Remember, there are two different pitches involved in spiral coil binding. One format is 4:1 pitch (four holes per inch) and the other is 5:1 pitch (five holes per inch). I will provide a quick reference guide for both hole patterns. Be aware that 4:1 pitch coils are available up to 1 ¼-inch (32mm) in diameter and 5:1 pitch is available in sizes up to 13/32-inch (20mm) in diameter.

Spiral Binding Quick Reference Diameter / Capacity Guide

(Based on 20# Paper)

1/4″ (6mm) – 20 Sheets
9/32″ (7mm) – 30 Sheets
5/16″  (8mm) – 40 Sheets
11/32″  (9mm) – 50 Sheets
13/32″ (10mm) – 60 Sheets
7/16″  (11mm) – 70 Sheets
15/32″ (12mm) – 80 Sheets
1/2″ (13mm) – 90 Sheets
9/16″ (14mm) - 100 Sheets
19/32″ (15mm) – 110 Sheets
5/8″ (16mm) – 120 Sheets
11/16″ (18mm) – 138 Sheets
13/16″ (20mm) – 152 Sheets
7/8″ (22mm) – 170 Sheets
1″ (25mm) - 200 Sheets
1 1/8″ (28mm) – 220 Sheets
1 3/16″ (30mm) – 225 Sheets
1 ¼” (32mm) – 230 Sheets

You can find our entire selection of spiral binding coil supplies here. You can also find our spiral coil binding machines here.

Is it possible to do custom book binding by using a comb binding machine? This is a question a customer recently presented me last week. Is it possible? Yes. I will explain exactly what you need.

In this situation, the customer wanted to bind a booklet that was only 4-inches long. The customer wanted to use comb binding because of affordability. Comb binding continues to be one of the most affordable book binding formats available today.

She told me it was for a family reunion and she wanted to include pictures, a few family recipes and other mementos. She wanted the book to be smaller because she thought it looked more unique and cute.

Here is what I recommended:

• Comb Binding Machine – I recommended that she use a comb binding machine with selectable punching pins. This makes it possible to punch holes in smaller paper without half-punched holes on the edges. In this case I recommended the Akiles EcoBind-C (found here). It fit the volume she was binding and is one of the best quality machines in its class.
• Comb Binding Supplies – I told her she would need to purchase standard 11-inch comb binding supplies and cut them down to the 4-inch size she needed. You can get two 4-inch combs out of an 11-inch comb. She was concerned it wouldn’t look good. I informed her that many people use scissors or paper cutters to cut down combs and it looks great.
• Book Binding Covers – I recommended that she use a card stock back and a clear cover. The card stock cover on the back looks classy and the clear cover on the front would make it possible to see the cover sheet on her booklet.

There you have it. It isn’t very complicated. The binding machine is the biggest investment, but ultimately will last for years, easily making up the cost when compared to outsourcing the project. Comb binding supplies are just pennies on the dollar per piece.

Do you still have questions about custom comb binding? Call us at 1-800-658-8788 to speak with one of our specialists. You are also more than welcome to post your question in a comment. Have a great day!

Comb binding continues to be one of the most common binding formats used today. Are you in the market for a comb binding machine? One comb binder you may want to look at prior to making a purchase is the Tamerica TCC-2100 comb binding machine. This is my review.

Tamerica is known for making some of the most affordable book binging machines available today. They manufacture a variety of different binding machines, most of which are targeted towards low to medium volume binding.

The TCC-2100 is a very affordable comb binding machine for what it does. A few features that set this machine apart from the competition are selectable punching dies and an adjustable margin depth. Both of these features make it possible to bind custom size books and books of varying thicknesses.

The punch on the TCC-2100 is able to punch through up to 20 sheets of standard 20# paper at a time. While is may be the case, I would recommend scaling that back to 15-18 sheets initially. I don’t like to max out the punching capacity on binding machines on a consistent basis.

It is able to bind books up to two-inches thick, which is pretty much the thickest comb binding book you can bind with any machine. Simply put your paper in and punch it until you have completed punching all the paper.

When the paper is done being punched, place a comb on the opener, open the comb and insert the open comb fingers through the punched holes. You then release the comb opener, which closes the combs shut. That’s it. You’re ready to move on to the next book.

The TCC-2100 uses the same handle for punching the paper and opening the combs. Some people like to have two different levers for the two different functions, but I don’t mind. You pull the handle back to punch and push it forward to open combs.

The Tamerica TCC-2100 only weighs 27 pounds shipped, so it can easily be placed on desks, tables and other surfaces. It is also light enough to move around.

The build quality on the TCC-2100 seems to be fine for low to medium-volume binding applications. I would not use this comb binder for high-volume binding. For one it is a manual machine and secondly it simply isn’t build for that kind of volume.

Overall I like this machine, as I do most Tamerica comb binding machines. For the price, it is a great fit for schools, churches, businesses and even for home use.

You can find the Tamerica TCC-2100 comb binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of comb binding machines here.

Combination and multi-format binding machines are extremely useful to have on hand and do the work of two separate machines. If you are in the market for a comb and coil binding machine, the Akiles DuoMac C41 and C51 comb / coil binding machines may be just what you need. This is my review.

Akiles makes some of the best binding machines available today. They are well rounded, the build quality is excellent and they are very easy to use. The DuoMac line is one of the most recent additions to the Akiles lineup. These machines are designed to bind in multiple formats. I am reviewing the C41 and the C51.

Both the DuoMac C41 an the C51 can bind in both coil and comb. The only difference between the two models is that the C41 can bind in 4:1 pitch coil and the C51 can bind in 5:1 pitch coil. The pitch is the hole pattern. The C41 punches coil in four holes per inch and the C51 is five holes per inch. Both punch holes for 19-ring comb.

At first view the DuoMac C41 and C51 machines look a little overwhelming. In use, however, they are very easy to set up and use. Both machines feature independent punching dies for both the coil and the comb. Both versions also include a comb opener and coil crimping pliers.

Both the comb and the coil paper punches are open ended. This means you can punch longer paper by sliding the paper and punching again. Both the comb and coil punches can punch up to 20 sheets of standard 20# paper. Some of the punching pins can be disengaged to help prevent half-punched holes.

Everything on these machines is manually operated. I would love to see an electric version of the DuoMac, but those aren’t around yet. I imagine Akiles will eventually release a line of DuoMac-E binding machines. For the price though, the manual version is great.

Overall the Akiles DuoMac C41 and C51 is solid binding machines. These machines can be found in copy shops, print shops, schools, offices and more. The DuoMac series is also available in comb-wire, coil-wire and coil-coil versions. You can see all versions of the Akiles DuoMac binding machines here.

You can find the Akiles DuoMac C41 and C51 comb / coil binding machines here. You can find our entire selection of book binding machines here.