Coil binding has quickly jumped up to the top of the popular list and is now one of the most common book binding formats used today. Finding the right coil binder isn’t always an easy task. One machine you may want to consider using is the Akiles CoilMac-ER Plus coil binding machine. This is my review.

To begin with, the CoilMac-ER Plus coil binding machine uses a 4:1 pitch hole pattern. This means that it punches four holes per inch of paper. This is the most common hole pattern used in coil binding machines today. Coil binding can be used to bind cookbooks, manuals, books, textbooks and much more.

The CoilMac-ER Plus uses a manual punch to punch through up to 20 sheets of 20 lbs paper at a time. This is fairly large amount of paper for a manual punch machine. You will notice in the picture that the CoilMac-ER has a fairly long punching handle. This added length provides additional leverage, making it easier to punch paper.

The build quality of the CoilMac-ER is great. The machine is made from metal and should easily last several years without any issues. The CoilMac-ER weighs 38 pounds, which should give you a pretty good idea on how solid it is.

The CoilMac-ER Plus has two benefits over the standard CoilMac-ER.

1. Oval Punching Pins – The CoilMac-ER uses a punching die that punches oval-shaped holes. Oval-shaped holes are supposed to make pages easier to turn than standard round holes.
2. Selectable Punching Pins – Selectable (disengaging) punching pins means you can choose exactly which hole punches. This is ideal for binding larger or smaller documents. By disengaging a punching pin, you can eliminate half-punched holes.

The CoilMac-ER also includes a built in electric coil inserter. Electrically spinning coils through punched paper is several times faster than manually inserting coils. The electric inserter is located on the top-left of the machine. The CoilMac-ER Plus uses a food pedal activated inserter for hands-free operation.

Overall I am very impressed with the Akiles CoilMac-ER. It is very easy to use, seems to be very solid and can be used for light to medium-volume book binding. This machine can be used in copy shops, schools, churches and other businesses without any issues.

You can find the CoilMac-ER Plus coil binding machine here. You can find the standard Akiles CoilMac-ER here. You can find our entire selection of manual coil binding machines here.

Are you in need of a solid electric wire binding machine for your book binding needs? One model you may want to consider is the Akiles WireMac-E wire binding machine. I have had a chance to use this machine and this is my review.

Here at ABC Office we have a stocked showroom, so I am able to play around with much of the equipment we sell. We have a lot of binding machines from Akiles in stock and I have had a chance to use most of them. I have bound books using the WireMac-E. The first word that comes to mind when describing the WireMac-E is “solid.”

The build quality on the Akiles WireMac-E is exceptional. This is the case with most Akiles machines. The machine is made from cast iron with metal components. It weighs about 70 pounds, which gives you a pretty good idea on the build.

You can get the WireMac-E in either a 2:1 or 3:1 pitch. The pitch determines the hole pattern that is punched. A 2:1 pitch has two holes per inch where a 3:1 has three holes per inch.

Because the holes on a 2:1 are spaced farther apart, it can be used to bind thicker books than a 3:1. The look is a little different between the two. Ultimately the hole pattern you choose will depend entirely on the thickness of the book and the look you want.

Punching paper on the WireMac-E is very easy. It is food pedal operated, which frees up both hands for holding the paper. I really like hands-free operation on a binding machine. Both the 2:1 and 3:1 versions of the WireMac-E are capable of punching up to 20 sheets of paper at a time. Wire is still inserted manually and the wire closing is completed by pulling a lever.

Some people may find the positioning of the wire closing a little awkward, since it is on the left side of the machine, but that shouldn’t be a problem. I am right handed and closing wire with my left hand didn’t seem like a problem. I’m not entirely sure why they laid it out that way.

A dial on the right side of the machine is used to adjust how far the wire closer will close the wire. It seems to be dead on accurate. If you are using ¼-inch wire, you adjust the wire closer to ¼-inch and you’re ready to go. A good wire closer is critical in wire binding. If the wire isn’t closed enough, pages will fall out, and if it is closed to much, it looks odd and pages will bind up.

I’m only covering a few of the features found in this machine. It really is jam packed. My overall impression on the WireMac-E is very high. I consider it to be a high quality machine capable of daily continuous book binding.

You can find the Akiles WireMac-E wire binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of electric punch wire binding machines here.

If you like spiral binding (aka coil), but you don’t have the need for a big massive machine, you may want to consider using the Akiles RubiCoil. I have used this spiral binding machine and this is my review.

Akiles is well known for the build quality of their machines. Akiles machines are made from metal components, unlike much of the competition’s plastic machines. It’s usually pretty safe to say that an Akiles machine will last for years.

The RubiCoil is an entry-level spiral binding machine designed for use in the home or for occasional spiral binding jobs around the office. It is ideal for binding a couple to a dozen books a day. Any more than that and you may want to consider looking at an Akiles CoilMac (found here).

The RubiCoil is very stable and durable. The metal chassis on the RubiCoil eliminates play during binding. The punching die is machined to a 4:1 pitch, which means the RubiCoil is designed to punch four holes per inch of paper.

The RubiCoil is manually operated. Paper is punched by pulling a handle, up to 10 sheets of standard copy paper. I like the “U” shaped design of the handle because it allows the operator to pull down on the lever from any angle, regardless of hand preference. The paper punching is easy and doesn’t require a lot of effort.

Coils on the RubiCoil are manually inserted. The RubiCoil has a coil-inserting table on the front of the machine that makes manual coil insertion easier. This table has a channel dip in it that helps guide the coil. While I would love to see an electric coil inserter, it simply isn’t possible for the price.

Overall I like the RubiCoil. It is important to take into consideration that it is designed for low-volume use though. You certainly don’t want to use it for daily jobs of dozens of books. It simply isn’t designed to handle that much use.

You can find the Akiles RubiCoil spiral binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of spiral binding machines here.

Do you need a solid, well-rounded comb binding machine? Finding one can be difficult in an ocean of dozens of different makes and models. One machine you may want to consider looking at is the Akiles MegaBind-1 comb binder. I have used this machine and this is my review.

To start with, Akiles makes some of the highest quality binding machines out there. While there isn’t a consumer reports list of binding machine reviews available, if there was Akiles would probably be at the top of the list. The build quality is just phenomenal.

The Akiles MegaBind-1 is no exception when it comes to build quality. The machine is made out of solid metal. The gears are metal, the housing is metal, etc. Because this machine is so solid, it is very easy to use. Longevity is no issue with the MegaBind-1.

So who should use the MegaBind-1? This machine is a good all-round machine best used for low to medium-volume binding. It can be used to bind reports, cookbooks, booklets and more. It is compact enough to be set on almost any table, counter or desk.

It is a manual machine, so don’t expect binding speeds seen in electric machines. It is capable of punching up to 25 sheets of paper at a time (thanks to an upgraded punch), so it is fast, but electric machines will always be faster.

If you are left handed, be aware that the lever for punching and opening the combs is located on the right side of the machine. This isn’t an issue for most people, but you should be aware.

A few features that I really like in this machine are the selectable punching dies and the adjustable margin depth. For the price, these features are pretty uncommon. Both of these features will increase your ability to bind books of various sizes and thicknesses.

Overall I am very impressed with this little comb binding machine. It is solid, durable and priced right. You can find the Akiles MegaBind 1 comb binding machine here. The MegaBind is also available in a MegaBind-2 found here.

The MegaBind-2 is pretty much the same as the MegaBind-1 but with a wire closer for 19-ring wire. You can find our entire selection of manual-punch comb binding machines here.

Coil binding (aka spiral binding) is one of the most attractive and durable binding formats available today. If you are in the market for a coil binding machine, you’ve probably discovered there are a lot of options. One machine you may want to consider is the Akiles CoilMac-M coil binding machine. I have used this machine and this is my review.

To begin with, the CoilMac-M is available in two different versions. One is the basic CoilMac-M and the other is the CoilMac-M Plus. There are only two significant differences between these two machines.

The CoilMac-M has five selectable (disengageable) punching pins where the CoilMac-M Plus has 54. The CoilMac-M punches round holes where the CoilMac-M Plus punches oval-shaped holes. More selectable dies is always nice and the oval holes are suppose to make for easier page turns.

Both machines are made from solid metal and feature durable construction. This is the case with most Akiles machines. I can’t even think of I time I heard a complaint back from a customer regarding the CoilMac-M.

Both the CoilMac-M and the Plus weigh in at 35 pounds, which gives you an idea on how tough they are. They punch a total of 20 holes of paper at a time, which is pretty good for a manual-punch machine.

The CoilMac-M uses a 4:1 pitch hole pattern. This means it punches a total of four holes per inch of paper. This is the most common coil binding hole pattern and the supplies are very common.

I suppose my biggest complaint with the CoilMac-M series of binding machines is that they don’t have an electric inserter. Coils have to be manually inserted through the holes. If you are only binding a dozen books a day, that isn’t an issue.

If you need to bind dozens or more books a day, you may want to go with something that has an inserter like the Akiles CoilMac-ER, CoilMac-ECI or CoilMac-ECI Plus.

Overall I really like the CoilMac-M coil binders. I would rate these as being perfect for low to medium-volume use. You can easily use the CoilMac-M to create booklets, reports, cookbooks and more. You can find the CoilMac-M here and the CoilMac-M Plus here. You can find our entire selection of coil binding machines here.

Wire binding looks great. It can be used for binding reports, booklets and much more. So which machine should you get? One model you may want to consider buying is the Akiles OffiWire. I have used this machine and this is my review.

To begin with, the OffiWire is made by Akiles. I make this point because Akiles is known as being one of the best binding machine manufacturers around. They have passed up GBC and many other manufacturers in quality and durability. Akiles machines are made from durable metal components.

The OffiWire is a wire binding machine. Wire binding is sometimes referred to as twin loop or double loop wire. I have even heard some people refer to wire binding as wire comb.

The OffiWire is available in two different pitches (hole patterns). This includes both 2:1 and 3:1 pitch. A 2:1 pitch hole pattern has two holes per inch of paper and a 3:1 pitch hole pattern is three holes per inch.

Both hole punch patterns look similar but are still very distinct. A 2:1 pitch pattern has the holes spaced farther apart, allowing the 2:1 pitch to bind a thicker book. The 3:1 pitch pattern has the holes closer together, creating a “tighter” look. I find more people go with the 2:1 pitch due to the added binding capacity.

The Akiles OffiWire is a very simple, yet well-built machine. It isn’t designed for high-volume binding. It’s best used at home or in the office for binding the occasional booklet or report. I wouldn’t use the OffiWire for binding any more than a few dozen books a day maximum.

The OffiWire weighs in at 23 pounds, which is fairly hefty for the size, but it can still be easily moved around from one room to another. It is best used on a desk, table or counter.

Punching paper with the OffiWire is very easy to do. The “U” shaped handle is easy to pull and is equally easy to use between right-handed and left-handed people. There is a side margin control adjustment to help get the holes properly aligned. The OffiWire can punch up to 10 sheets of standard paper at a time. It even includes a wire selector tool.

One thing I wish the OffiWire had was selectable (disengageable) punching dies. While not an absolute necessity, I do like to have the ability to choose which holes will punch. In this price range, however, selectable dies are not very common.

One of my favorite features of the OffiWire is the closer. It has one of the toughest, heaviest-duty wire closers I have seen in some time. It is very reminiscent of the old EB-32 wire binder from the late 90s. The wire closer is designed to close evenly and effortlessly.

I have to say that if you have low to medium-volume wire binding needs, the OffiWire may be a good fit for you. It is very affordable and should last you for years without a problem. You can find the Akiles OffiWire wire binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of wire binding machines here.

Sometimes it is pretty difficult to settle on one single binding format. All “spine” binding formats look great and they all have their benefits. If you are looking for a multi-format binding machine (one that punches all binding formats), and you like the quality of Akiles binding machines, you should consider the Akiles FexiPunch-M binding machine. Here’s my review of the machine.

The FlexiPunch-M is very similar in design and concept to the Rhin-O-Tuff OD 4800. The FlexiPunch-M is basically a punch that can be used with separate Akiles supplemental binding modules such as a comb opener, a wire closer or a coil inserter. It is that simple.

You want to punch and bind for comb? Use the comb binding punch and a separate comb opener module. The dies are completely interchangeable. Just slide out the comb punch and insert the wire punch for wire punching.

You don’t have to use the FlexiPunch-M with a separate binding module. Many people like to use the FlexiPunch-M as a separate punch for high-volume binding. This allows one person to operate the FlexiPunch-M and another person to operate an all-in-one binding machine. Punching paper is typically the longest part of binding comb, wire and coil books.

Unlike the Rhin-O-Tuff OD 4800, the FlexiPunch-M has selectable punching dies, which is awesome for a modular binding machine. This allows you to disable punching pins. This is ideal when punching custom paper sizes. It also helps eliminate half-punched holes that show up on the edge of paper.

Overall the build quality on the FlexiPunch-M is top notch. It is made from quality metal components, which is commonplace with Akiles. It is compact enough to be used on almost any desk or surface.

These are the separate binding modules you can use with the FlexiPunch-M:

• Comb Opening Module – Akiles CBM650
• Wire Closing Module – Akiles WBM-532
• Coil Inserter Module – Akiles Finish-@-Coil M
• Coil Inserting Module – Akiles Finish-@-Coil E1

Ultimately the Akiles FlexiPunch-M is best suited for additional punching capacity and versatility in the binding format you use. You can find the FlexiPunch-M binding machine here. You will find our entire selection of modular binding machines here.

So you need a comb binding machine, but don’t have a lot of money on hand. If your budget falls within the $100-$200 range, you may want to consider the Akiles EcoBind-C budget comb binding machine. This plastic comb binder brings a lot to the table and won’t break the bank. Here are a few reasons why you may want to consider the Akiles EcoBind-C for your comb binding needs.

To start with, Akiles is well known as being one of the most reputable and highest-quality binding machine manufacturers out there. There is a good reason for this. The build quality simply clobbers the competition.

Most binding machine manufactures make their budget binding machines out of aluminum, plastic and inexpensive metals to try and bring down the cost. Akiles binding machines are made out of heavy-duty metal construction.

The Akiles EcoBind-C is a fairly new comb binding machine that has only been out a few months. It’s designed to target low to medium-volume binding projects. It includes a 21 hole punching die that is compatible with 19-ring comb and is capable of punching up to 20 sheets of paper at a time.

As is the case with any binding machine, I recommend scaling back the maximum amount of sheets you punch at a time by 10 to 15%. This will help cut back on strain on the binding machine and should help prolong the life.

Here are two features you simply will not find in another comb binding machine in this price range:

Selectable Punching Dies - The EcoBind-C has selectable punching dies. This allows you to completely disengage punching pins, giving you control on exactly what punches. This is especially nice when cutting custom paper sizes and helps cut down on half-punched holes often found on the edges of paper.

Adjustable Margin Depth - An adjustable margin depth allows you to choose how far into the paper the holes will be punched. This is ideal when binding books of different thicknesses.

The Akiles EcoBind-C is designed to bind books up to two-inches thick, which is a lot of paper for a machine in this price range. The handle is in a “U” shape, which makes it ideal for all the southpaws out there. The Akiles EcoBind-C is also very compact, making it easy to move and allowing it to easily sit on a desk or table.

I usually try to point out a few cons when I review machines, but I am having a hard time with this one. How about this. It would be nice if the punch was electric, but that will never happen in this price range.

I highly recommend this comb binding machine and consider it to be a steal considering the features and price. You will find the Akiles EcoBind-C budget comb binding machine here. You can find our entire selection of comb binding machines here.

Finding a good reliable electric-powered coil binding machine can be a bit of  a chore. When electricity is involved, you want to make sure you are getting a good machine. A great example of an electric coil binding machine done right is the CoilMac-EPI Plus. Why do I feel this way? I will go into more details in this review.

To start with, the CoilMac-EPI from Akiles is an all-in-one machine. It punches the coil and inserts the coil in a single machine. This is preferable, in my opinion, to having separate paper punches and coil inserters. The CoilMac-EPI does a very good job of combining these various tools into a single ergonomic machine.

One of the best things about Akiles is the build quality. Unlike MANY machines out there that have a plastic shell or aluminum gears, the Akiles machine is made from solid metal parts (including the housing). This becomes abundantly clear when you try to pick one up. The CoilMac-EPI Plus weighs in at just over 75 pounds, so it is pretty hefty, but it can be used on most desks and counters.

There are two different versions of the CoilMac-EPI available. There is the basic CoilMac-EPI and the CoilMac-EPI plus. There are a couple of differences between these two. The standard CoilMac-EPI punches round holes and has five disengageable pins where the CoilMac-EPI Plus punches oval-shaped holes and every pin is selectable Other than that, the two machines are pretty much the same.

The oval holes found on the EPI Plus make the pages easier to turn. This is a new hole design that is completely unique to Akiles. I also really like to have all the punching pins be disengageable. This is great for punching custom sizes of paper and allows you to eliminate the dreaded half-punched hole that ends up at the edge of paper.

From start to finish, the entire coil binding process only takes a few minutes. First you punch the paper, using the electric punch. The electric punch is activated by using an foot pedal, which is really nice. Once all the paper is punched, you feed a coil through the first few holes and let the CoilMac-EPI’s electric coil inserter do the rest.

The CoilMac-EPI Plus is a commercial-quality machine. I have no problem saying that you can use this for the smallest light-duty job or a larger heavy-duty job. It can be used throughout the day without any worries about the motor overheating or becoming damaged.

If you are looking for a solid coil binding machine solution, you should definitely consider using the Akiles CoilMac-EPI Plus or Standard coil binding machine. You can find the CoilMac-EPI standard here and the CoilMac-EPI Plus here.

If you like the features in the CoilMac-EPI, but don’t need an electric punch, it is available in a manual version as the CoilMac-ECI. There are two versions of that coil binding machine as well. You will find the CoilMac-ECI standard here and the CoilMac-ECI Plus here.

Good luck and happy coil binding!

The Akiles WireMac series of wire binding machines have been around for some time now. The overall customer response to this line of wire binding machines has been remarkably positive, and there is a good reason for this. The Akiles WireMac may very well be one of the best-built lines of wire binding machines every manufactured.

I have personally used all of the WireMac wire binding machines and have to say the overall build quality is remarkable. These machines feel as if they were cast out of a single piece of iron. They are heavy, but solid as a rock.

There is nothing more annoying than ending up with a stuck pin while trying to punch paper. While I personally recommend scaling back the punching capacity of a binding machine by about 20% from what the manufacturer recommends, I can safely say that the maximum punching capacity given by Akiles is in fact the real punching capacity. I have yet to experience a stuck pin.

These are the four WireMac wire-binding machines that we offer and what I think about them:

• Original WireMac (2:1 & 3:1 pitch) – The original WireMac is a manually operated machine. This means that the punching and wire closing are done manually. This machine has selectable punching dies, an adjustable margin depth and an adjustable wire closer. Overall, this may be one of my favorite manual wire binding machines of all time.
• Akiles WireMac Duo – This wire-binding machine brings you the best of both worlds. It includes both a 2:1 pitch and 3:1 pitch punch. This means you don’t have to settle on any one-hole format. It’s basically two machines in one, which is pretty cool.
• Akiles WireMac Combo – So you have comb and wire binding needs but don’t want to fork out the money for two different machines? The WireMac combo has a comb punch and opener and a wire punch and closer. This machine is available in a 2:1 pitch and a 3:1 pitch version. The build quality is equal to the basic WireMac and it is just as easy to use.
• Akiles WireMac-E - This machine is basically the original WireMac but with an electric punch. The electric punch makes punching paper faster and is ideal for consistent daily punching and binding. Some binding machines sacrifice quality when an electric motor is included. The WireMac-E uses a motor that is equivalent to the overall build quality of Akiles. It is nice.

I know I am gushing over these wire-binding machines, but in all honesty, I really like using them. Best of all, I don’t have to worry about any potential customer service or repair issues with these machines. They do what they’re supposed to and work as promised. You will find our entire selection of Akiles binding machines here.