In an office environment, it is inevitable that you’ll need to bind documents together. This is one of the most effective ways to ensure all documents stay together, it’s frequently used for file storage and to present projects to internal and external teams.
Of course, you’ll need to find the right machine to bind your documents together. It’s worth looking at the best binding equipment on the market to help you make the right decision. It’s also worth knowing what features you should be looking for on your comb binding machine:
The Punch
Every comb binding machine has to punch holes through the paperwork before they can be joined together. While it is possible to punch the holes first yourself, this is time-consuming and invariably means the pages aren’t perfectly aligned.
Your comb binding machine needs a punch. But, you also need to think about how many holes it can handle and how many sheets.
The average punch offers 19 holes which covers your standard A4 style documents. The number of sheets it can punch through in one go varies from between 5-25. Consider the size of the files you are likely to bind and this will help you decide the right punch size.
Comb Size
If necessary, you can punch 25 sheets and then punch another 25, giving you fifty sheets to go on your comb. If this is likely to happen you’ll need to think about the size of comb your machine can handle. At the lower end of the scale, a 3/16 comb can handle roughly 10 pages while a 2” comb can handle as many as 425 pages!
Obviously, you will want your comb to accommodate all your pages and look professional. It’s worth taking time to consider the options and what suits you best.
Check The Design
All comb binding machines are designed to join paper together but each machine is designed differently. You’ll need to consider how the machine looks and specifically how easy it is to operate.
It’s generally best to choose a comb binder with a ‘D’ shaped handle as this can be used by left-handed people as well as right-handed. The best machines will also have the instructions printed on the machine, making it much easier for anyone to use it.
Extra Features
Some comb binding machines will have manual punching mechanisms, others have electric. There are also guides that can help you position the punch faster and even ones that control depth. While not all extra features are essential, some can be useful. It is worth looking at what is on offer before you select the right comb binding machine for your office.
Don’t forget to spend a few moments thinking about the manufacturer and supplier. The more reputable and well-known they are the better the customer support and warranty is likely to be. That’s important if your machine develops an issue. After all, that usually happens when you most need to use the machine.