subject: Five Great Things About Plastic Comb Binding [print this page] Plastic comb binding has been around for years and it's still one of the most popular binding methods around. You've probably encountered a booklet bound with a plastic comb before, whether it was a calendar, marketing brochure, school project, or even a cookbook. Indeed, this type of document finishing can be used for just about anything and it's really one of the best methods you can use. Here are five great things about this type of document finishing.
1.) Work with a variety of sizes. Is your document letter-sized? Or is it smaller or bigger? How many pages are in it? With plastic comb binding, you can create booklets that are a variety of different sizes. The spines can be as thin as 3/16" (good for short works) or as thick as 2" for those longer pieces. Most of the combs that are sold are for letter-sized booklets, but if you want to create a legal-sized document, there are longer ones available. There are even supplies for making A4 booklets. If you choose to work with these different sizes, make sure your machine can handle it. (It if has disengageable pins and an open throat, you're good to go.) Also, spines are available in many different colors so you'll definitely be able to find one to complement your work.
2.) Affordability. This type of binding can be pretty affordable, so it's a great way to go if you're trying to stick to a budget. All the supplies you really need are paper, two covers, and the spine itself. None of these supplies are really that expensive. And the machine you purchase needn't break the bank. There are devices that can be yours for less than $100.00.
3.) A great selection of machines. Since this method is so popular, there are many, many machines to choose from. One of the most distinguished manufacturers of these products is General Binding Corporation (GBC), which makes devices that can be taken on the road (the CombBind C55) as well as electric models such as the CombBind C450, which can bind thick documents quickly and easily. Other great manufacturers include Fellowes, Tamerica, and Akiles. There is a machine available for every budget and you can choose one that's as simple or as fancy as you like.
4.) It's quick and easy. Part of the beauty of this method is how easy it is to do. All you really need to do is punch holes in your document with either your machine or a specialized hole punch, open up the spine, and then insert the pages. It takes mere seconds to punch and bind a document with this method, so it's great when you need to produce a professional-looking book in a short amount of time.
5.) You can edit your books! Let's face it: we all make mistakes, even when it comes to making booklets. If you made a mistake in your document or you just need to add or remove some pages, it's easy to do with a comb binding machine. Just re-open the spine, add or remove pages as necessary, and close the spine. You definitely can't do that with wire or thermal methods, so if being able to edit your book is important to you, this method is the way to go.
These are just a few of the great things about plastic comb binding. Once you try it for yourself, you are bound (no pun intended) to find other wonderful things about this type of document finishing. So get your machine today, get those combs out, and start working on your books!
