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!

So you’re looking for a spiral binding machine (aka coil binding machine) and aren’t sure whether to go with an electric punch or a manual punch. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages you’ll want to consider prior to making a purchase.

Volume – How many books would you like to bind per day? While a good manual binding machine can keep up with the best of them, the operator will eventually get tired. It’s normal. Electric punches require a lot less effort and are far more ideal for continuous, daily binding.

Some high-end electric punch machines, however, are capable of punching far more paper than a manual machine. These typically are not all-in-one spiral binding machines, but rather are binding punches designed specifically for punching paper.

Electric Coil Inserter – Some spiral binding machines include an electric coil inserter. This is usually some type of an electrically powered rubber roller. These are found on both manual and electric-punch machines.

I personally love having an electric coil inserter on my spiral binding machine. The time saved using an electric coil inserter, over manual coil insertion, is significantly more than the time saved going from a manual to an electric punch machine.

Budget – So is it in your budget to get an electric punch machine? Electric punch spiral binding machines are more of an investment than a manual spiral binding machine. Be aware, however, that buying a cheaper manual spiral binding machine may cost you more money in the long run in operating time and output volume.

Convenience – This one is pretty easy. An electric-powered binding machine will always be more convenient to use than a manually operated machine.

Space - Electric and manual spiral binding machines use about the same amount of surface space, so space shouldn’t be a major concern when selection a machine.

Whether you decide to go with a manual or an electric spiral binding machine, spiral binding looks great and is perfect for binding cookbooks, journals, reports, booklets and more. You will find our entire selection of manual spiral binding machines here and electric spiral binding machines here.

We have had a few questions from customers asking us what ring binders are and whether or not we sell them. Ring binders? At first I thought they may be referring to three-ring binders, but they weren’t.

After conversing a little more, I discovered that they were referring to a coil-binding machine (aka spiral binding machine). Now that I think of it, spiral binding machines do consist of tiny rings wound into a coil.

So I looked into this a little more and discovered that the term “ring binding” is more commonly used outside the United States, but that doesn’t mean that the term is completely foreign in the U.S. (pardon the pun). I have also found examples of people in the scrapbooking community using the term ring binding. I can now proudly say that if you have a question about ring binders, I can help.

You will find our entire selection of ring binding machines here.

Spiral binding machines, also known as coil binding machines, are one of the most widely used binding machines used today. Spiral binding has many benefits. The coils look great, they hold up well and pages can turn a full 360 degrees. The binding coils themselves are very affordable and are available in a wide variety of colors. So why are there two different pitches (hole patterns) available?

Spiral binding machines can be found in two different hole patterns. These are 4:1 pitch and 5:1 pitch. What it all boils down to is 4:1 pitch uses a hole pattern of four punched holes per inch of paper and a 5:1 pitch uses a hole pattern of five holes punched per inch of paper. While very similar, these two different hole patterns do visually look a little different when compared side-by-side.

A 4:1 pitch hole pattern is the most widely used and most popular spiral binding hole pattern used. The 4:1 hole pattern is able to bind more sheets of paper, at about 230 total pages. This is because the holes are spaced farther apart. Many people feel the pages turn more easily as well. You will find our 4:1 pitch spirals here.

The 5:1 pitch hole pattern has what many people call a “tighter” look. This is because the holds are closer together. The 5:1 pitch pattern is able to bind up to about 150 sheets of paper. Some people feel the tighter look is better for thinner books and for presentations. You will find our 5:1 pitch spirals here.

The pitch you use ultimately depends on your preferred look. Although 4:1 pitch is more popular, you may prefer the look of 5:1 more. You will find our entire selection of spiral binding machines here.

We often get great questions from customers with regards to our office equipment. I just had a great chat with a customer who asked some very good and commonly asked questions regarding coil-binding machines. Included in this post is that conversation. Hopefully you will be able to pull some good information from it. Enjoy!

Customer: I am looking to buy a spiral binding machine and am pretty new at this.

Dave: Sounds good. How many books would you like to bind per day?

Customer: It’s for office use. I would say 2-3, about 65 pages each.

Dave: Would you be OK with a manually operated punch or would you like an electric punch?

Customer: Could I punch all 65 sheets at a time with a manual machine?

Dave: It won’t be able to punch all 65 at once, but you would be able to punch 15 or so sheets at a time until all 65 were punched. Electric punches are unable to punch 65 at once either, but can often punch a few more sheets at a time.

Customer: I need something inexpensive.

Dave: If you will only be binding 2-3 books a day, a manual punch should be fine. My recommendation, for spiral binding on a budget, would be the Akiles CoilMac-ER found here. This machine has a manual punch, but includes an electric coil inserter.

Customer: How much do the prices of the coils run per book?

Dave: They are sold in boxes of 100. The price varies a bit, depending on the diameter you use. You can find the coil supplies here. Coil binding supplies are available in two different hole patterns (4:1 pitch and 5:1 pitch). The machine I recommended for you uses 4:1 pitch holes.

Customer: I got it. Thanks for your help

You’ve probably seen them, homemade cookbooks that are passed around amongst friends and family. These cookbooks often contain some of the tastiest recipes and are a great way to keep popular recipes in the family. These homemade cookbooks are often printed right from a computer and later bound. What is the best way to bind a cookbook?

Of the three most common binding machine formats (coil, wire & comb), coil binding is by far the best method for binding cookbooks. Why is this? Coil (aka Spiral) binding is very durable and can be stacked next to other cookbooks without being damaged.

Unlike comb or wire bound documents, coil binding allows the reader to flip pages a complete 360 degrees. Coils are also available in multiple colors, allowing you to customize the look of the cookbook.  Be aware that coil machines & supplies come in different hole patterns (pitches). I personally like 4:1 pitch hole patters for cookbooks.

My recommendations for a coil-bound cookbook are as follows:

• A 4:1 pitch coil binding machine (5:1 pitch can be used) found here.
• Coil binding spirals (4:1 pitch) found here. A 5:1 pitch coil may be used if you have a 5:1 pitch machine.
• A clear cover for the front page. This will protect the book, but allow you to still see the front page. You may find our clear binding covers here.
• A card stock sheet to protect the back pages. You may find our card stock report covers here.

Most cookbook binding jobs aren’t going to be huge. If you are only binding 1-50 books, a manual coil-binding machine should be more than adequate. Read step-by-step instructions on how to use a coil binding machine here.

Have an additional question about binding a cookbook? Post a comment and I will answer it!