Compare Coil, Wire And Comb Binding
Coil Binding, Wire Binding and Comb binding are three very popular punch and bind systems. Comb binding has been around the longest, but coil and wire are becoming more popular.
Here is a quick comparison of coil, wire and comb bindings.
COIL BINDING
Coil Binding – For flexible binding that offers many options and can handle rough treatment, choose coil binding and a professional coil punching machine. Here are some of the benefits:
- Wide choice of colors
- Finished documents lay flat and fold back 360 degrees
- Works for documents of up to 300 pages
- A good solution for odd-sized materials
Coil binding is a good choice for documents that will be mailed and allows for many types of custom covers on finished documents. If you are buying a new coil machine, choose a Renz model or one of the Plus models from Akiles. They have the new oval hole pattern that is much easier to work with.
Also, make sure you use American Made Coil Binding Supplies from Pro-Binding. Better quality coils make better quality documents.
COMB BINDING
Comb Binding – Comb binding has been around the longest. The finished product is a little dated looking compared with coil and wire, but there are a few benefits. Plastic binding can easily be opened to insert or remove document pages and then put back onto the document, which lowers the cost of materials. Here’s more:
- Finished document lays flat but cannot open back on itself (360 degrees)
- Binds documents from 5 pages to 300 pages
- Lots of color choices
- Plastic spine can be customized with company name and/or document name through silk screening
WIRE BINDING
Wire Binding – Wire Binding is one of my favorites. Like coil binding, documents lay flat, open 360 degrees, and will mail easily. Wire binding is permanent so document pages stay in place. With our new Renz Wire Opener, edits are fairly simple, so Wire Binding is an excellent option.
Wire Binding Benefits:
- Many color varieties
- Binds documents from ¼”to 1 ½” thick
- Custom wire lengths are available
- Allows for custom document covers
Wire Binding is offered in 2 punching patterns. Use 3:1 if all your documents are under ½” thick. The 3:1 pitch looks a little nicer in our opinion. Use a 2:1 pitch machine from Renz if you have documents that range in size and go over ½”. We offer wires from ¼” to 1 ½” in the 2:1 pitch.
Always use better quality, American Made Wire Binding Supplies from Pro-Binding. Better quality wires make better quality reports.
Feel free to call our Customer Service team at (866) 789-4330. We have over 30 years’ experience matching companies with the best binding system for their application.
Should I choose a Wire Binding Machine or Comb Binding Machine?
When choosing a new binding system which method is better for me? There is no one size fits all. The right binding choice for your document depends on several factors including the purpose of your document, page length, budget and more. Two popular choices are comb binding and wire binding.
There are many reasons to choose Comb Binding.
Comb binding is a popular method of office document binding. A plastic comb is placed through rectangular punched holes to hold the document together. Comb binding has been around the longest and the look is a bit dated, but it is still a very functional and popular binding method. Here is why Comb Binding is so popular:
- Lightweight
- Very easily to edit
- Your document lies flat
- There are many comb sizes and colors available
- They make nice sales proposals
- They are very good for manuals
- It is a popular binding method for reference documents
When Comb Binding just won’t do, here is why Wire Binding is a great choice.
Wire binding is a professional binding method which uses a circular wire to securely bind a document together. Wire binding is very sleek and professional looking. If we had to choose, we’d pick wire binding every time.
- Your document lies flat
- Pages can turn 360 degrees
- Lightweight
- Your bind is permanent and secure
- There are many wire sizes and colors available
- Wire Binding makes great sales proposals
- They are very good for manuals
- Your reference documents will look great
Going head to head, which binding system would we choose?
- For the Most Professional Appearance: Wire Binding
- Most Durable: Wire Binding
- The Most Flexible When Reading: Wire Binding
- Most Affordable: Comb Binding
- Easiest to Edit: Comb Binding
Wire Binding comes out on top for its professional look, durability and flexibility when reading. However comb binding is a more affordable option, with the added benefit of being easier to update.
Pro-Binding’s Choice:
We have the opinion that a wire binding is a better value and you will be much happier with the appearance of your important documents. Pro-Binding offers the highest quality Wire Binding Supplies and Comb Binding Supplies at the best pricing online! Feel free to call our customer service team at (866) 789-4330. We have more than 30 years of experience matching the right binding system to each application. In addition, every machine on our website has been proven to be a quality system. If a machine is on www.pro-binding.com then it is a good quality system!
Where To Get Custom Printed Report Covers
If you just purchased a binding system or are considering the options you have when it comes to custom printed report covers this post is for you. You can custom order report covers for your business, organization, or school. Pro-Binding offers a large variety of cover materials including the very popular vinyl / composition cover sheets and linen covers. We can also create custom printed transparent covers, embossed covers, and more. Brand your company professionally with covers printed with your logo, or try a foil stamp for a premium metallic look. We can even create embossed and pre-punched covers for common binding applications including wire, coil, comb and more.
The most common customization processes include Foil Stamping, Offset Printing, Silk Screening and embossing. The best way to start is by choosing the paper stock you will be using. Dark color stocks do not lend themselves well to offset printing. With a dark linen stock you will be happier with the results you get with foil stamping. With a dark Vinyl stock you may choose Foil Stamping or Silk Screening. On a transparent cover Silk Screening is the most popular. With light covered paper stocks offset printing is probably the most popular. Here is a deeper description of each process and why to choose it.
Foil Stamping is a very popular way to decorate a report cover. Pro-Binding can take your name & logo and create a copper die. This die is then heated on a foil stamping press which basically transfers foil from a roll onto your cover. Most people are familiar with gold and silver foils, but in reality there are many metallic and pigment foil colors to choose from. If you are going to use a navy, black or hunter green paper stock, foil stamping is probably your best bet.
Offset printing gives you the ability to exactly match your company colors on your Printed Report Covers. The process involves us taking a picture of your artwork to create what we call a plate. This special plate is designed so that ink only sticks to the image we want on the plate. This plate is then mounted on an offset press that has a rubber roller. The plate transfers or offsets the image to the rubber roller and the rubber roller transfers the image to your report cover. That is why it is called offset printing. You can print one color, a few colors, or do 4-color process. 4-Color process is where we lay down four colors to create a specific image. Offset printing in high volumes is very economical and very versatile as well.
Silk screening many of you know from having tee-shirts made. The process we use is very similar. A special screen is made that only allows ink to pass through where we have the image. The screen is laid over the report cover and ink is pulled over the screen with a squeegee forcing it through the holes that are part of the image. This process is a little more expensive, but it is very good for printing on Vinyl, transparent covers, 3-ring binders, and especially good when trying to put a lighter colored image on a darker stock. The reason for that is silk screen ink is thick like a paint so it covers the dark stock with minimal bleed through. Offset ink is much more transparent, therefore a light color printed on a dark stock does not give good results.
Finally, embossing is a process where we take your image and create a copper die and a fiberglass receiving side. Your report cover is squeezed between the two creating the embossed relief from the paper stock. This is a very elegant process when done properly. Pro-Binding has been printing report covers for more than 30 years. Feel free to give our Customer Service Team a call at (866) 789-4330. We can help you design a report cover that gives your documents the attention they deserve.
Choosing the right binding system
Choosing the right binding method for your firm can be a bit overwhelming. Here we have listed several of the most popular choices. Feel free to call Pro-Binding at (866) 789-4330 to discuss your application. We are experts at matching companies to the best binding method for their individual needs.
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Thermal Binding: This is one of the easiest binding methods and you can bind several documents at a time. Simply place your document in one of our Thermal Covers that has a pre-applied adhesive in the spine and then put it into a thermal binding machine. The machine will melt the adhesive, securing the pages and give your work a very professional look. The Pro-Bind 2000 and MultiBind are our favorite thermal machines. Both are simple to use and maintenance free. We offer covers with die cut windows, clear fronts and printed covers that will make your reports stand out. We even make Library Quality Hardcovers when only the very best will do.
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Wire Binding: Your documents will look professional and sophisticated if you use wire binding. We have found Renz & Akiles both make high quality wire machines for the modern office. If you can swing it, get a Renz machine. They are top quality! If you are on a budget, the WireMac’s from Akiles are excellent quality. Wire Binding Supplies come in a “C” shape and are closed with the help of a wire closer. Wire spines are available in both 3:1 and 2:1 pitch hole patterns. Choose 3:1 if your documents are always under ½”. It does look a little nicer. Choose 2:1 if you have thicker reports. The 2:1 wires are available up to 1 ½” diameter spines.
- Plastic Coil Binding: Plastic coils binding has been becoming more popular, especially since the introduction of the oval hole pattern. The oval hole pattern makes inserting the coils a breeze. We like Renz and Akiles for coil binding as well. The Renz is a bit pricey, but will last forever. Akiles CoilMac machines are more than up to the task for most offices. Color Coil supplies are available in a wide range of colors and can bind very thick documents. Pro-Binding offers the highest quality Coil Binding Supplies.
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VeloBind: VeloBind is a very popular binding method with law firms and accountants. This method entails using plastic strips that are melted into place with a hot knife. Pro-Binding carries the original GBC VeloBind systems, and the Tamerica Models for binding on a tight budget. VeloBind Strips color match exactly to our Leatherflex Stock and can bind up to 3” in thickness!
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Comb Binding: Plastic comb binding has been around the longest. It is a very cost-effective and easy way to bind, but the look is a bit dated. Plastic Comb Binding Supplies are available in many colors and diameters up to 2” thick.
Always make sure you use quality Binding Supplies from Pro-Binding.
Compare Coil Binding, Wire Binding And Comb Binding
Coil Binding, Wire Binding and Comb binding are three very popular punch and bind systems. Comb binding has been around the longest, but coil and wire are becoming more popular.
Here is a quick comparison of coil, wire and comb bindings.
Coil Binding – For flexible binding that offers many options and can handle rough treatment, choose coil binding and a professional coil punching machine. Here are some of the benefits:
- Wide choice of colors
- Finished documents lay flat and fold back 360 degrees
- Works for documents of up to 300 pages
- A good solution for odd-sized materials
Coil binding is a good choice for documents that will be mailed and allows for many types of custom covers on finished documents. If you are buying a new coil machine, choose a Renz model or one of the Plus models from Akiles. They have the new oval hole pattern that is much easier to work with.
Also, make sure you use American Made Coil Binding Supplies from Pro-Binding. Better quality coils make better quality documents.
Comb Binding – Comb binding has been around the longest. The finished product is a little dated looking compared with coil and wire, but there are a few benefits. Plastic binding can easily be opened to insert or remove document pages and then put back onto the document, which lowers the cost of materials. Here’s more:
- Finished document lays flat but cannot open back on itself (360 degrees)
- Binds documents from 5 pages to 300 pages
- Lots of color choices
- Plastic spine can be customized with company name and/or document name through silk screening
Wire Binding – Wire Binding is one of my favorites. Like coil binding, documents lay flat, open 360 degrees, and will mail easily. Wire binding is permanent so document pages stay in place. With our new Renz Wire Opener, edits are fairly simple, so Wire Binding is an excellent option.
Wire Binding Benefits:
- Many color varieties
- Binds documents from ¼”to 1 ½” thick
- Custom wire lengths are available
- Allows for custom document covers
Wire Binding is offered in 2 punching patterns. Use 3:1 if all your documents are under ½” thick. The 3:1 pitch looks a little nicer in our opinion. Use a 2:1 pitch machine from Renz if you have documents that range in size and go over ½”. We offer wires from ¼” to 1 ½” in the 2:1 pitch.
Always use better quality, American Made Wire Binding Supplies from Pro-Binding. Better quality wires make better quality reports.
Feel free to call our Customer Service team at (866) 789-4330. We have over 30 years’ experience matching companies with the best binding system for their application.
What Plastic Comb Binding Machine should I buy?
There are literally hundreds of Plastic Comb machines on the market. They range from very inexpensive manual punch machines, to extremely expensive and powerful electric punch machines. If you have a small workload, choose a manual punch machine. If you do a lot of binding or the books are relatively thick, an electric punch would probably suit you better. Pro-Binding carries 2 lines of comb binding, Renz and Akiles. Each of these manufacturers produce fine quality machines. Below is a summary of each of these companies and the Comb Binding Machines we carry from them.
Renz is top of the line. So when only the best will do, choose Renz
Renz is a German company that has decades of experience designing and manufacturing punching, binding and laminating equipment and is recognized as the leading manufacturer in the punching and binding industry. If you are looking for a manual punch, the Combi S is as good as they get. If you are in the market for an electric punch, their Combi ComfortPlus with its newly improved motor has all the punching power you will need. Renz quality is the best money can buy.
Akiles is an excellent choice when you need a reliable, heavy duty machine, but are on a budget.
Akiles is an American manufacturer that makes a variety of consumer and commercial grade coil, wire and comb binding machines and supplies. Pro-Binding carries several Akiles machines. If you need a manual punch, we recommend the MegaBind-1 or the economy version AlphaBind-CM. For an electric punch, our top choice is the CombMac-24E. We also carry the MegaBind-1E which has excellent punching power and the economy electric punch AlphaBind-CE
Pro-Binding has chosen to represent these two manufacturers of comb binding machines because of the quality of their products and the all metal construction of their machines. Therefore, if you choose a machine from either of these companies, you’ll definitely be getting a high-quality product. Follow this link to choose one of these machines today. Remember to always use good quality Comb Binding Supplies for your best bind every time.
Review of the Akiles CombMac-EX
There are hundreds of comb binding machines on the market. How do you decide which to choose? Pro-Binding thinks you can’t go wrong with the Akiles CombMac-EX. The Akiles CombMac-EX makes binding Plastic Combs fast, easy, convenient and professional. It is the ideal machine for customers that have medium volume workloads. The CombMac-EX is a more cost effective solution for those customers that don’t have the production requirements needed for an Akiles CombMac-24E system..
The CombMac-EX was built on the same platform as the CombMac-24E but with a smaller motor so there is a lower cost. The Akiles CombMac-EX is perfect for those customers looking for a high quality machine with a limited budget and mid volume workloads.
Here are a few of the key features:
- Depth Margin Control: Provides the correct punch margin depth for each wire/comb size. Maximizes document tear resistance
- Open Punching Throat: For punching of longer documents
- Large Capacity Waste Drawer
- Side Margin Control: Provides evenly centered punch for all document sizes
- Die Disengagement Pins: All dies can be independently disengaged. This allows punching of any size document while preventing partial side-end perforation
- Reverse Jam Release for trouble free punching
- CE Certification: All components certified and approved by CE for the most stringent safe requirements
- High Volume Punching Capacity: Up to 25 sheets 20lbs paper (Letter Size)
- Foot Pedal Operated
Here is a YouTube video of the Akiles CombMac-EX. Remember to always use with high quality Plastic Combs from Pro-Binding.com
Renz Combi ComfortPlus Review
The Renz Combi ComfortPlus is an electric desktop plastic comb punching and binding machine. The Combi ComfortPlus allows you to produce documents of all sizes in low, medium and high volumes quickly and easily. It takes the manual labor out of punching. ComfortPlus stands for a considerably improved punching speed compared with the old comfort series. The high speed is achieved using a new motor. It is twice as powerful! The new ComfortPlus machine replaces the Combi Comfort and Combi E.
Here are just some of the customer benefits of the Combi ComfortPlus
It binds up to 480 sheets. The closure control guarantees easy comb closure. You can change the margin depth for a stronger bind. This unit has Special hardened punch pins for long lasting life. Staggered punch pins make better punching. Adjustable side lay for perfect punching registration It has an Easy to empty sliding waste tray. It Measures the document or comb size, and finally, it is made of Heavy duty construction & compact design
Why choose the Combi ComfortPlus? You can never go wrong with a Renz machine. Here’s why
- Vertical punching makes it simple and easy to punch correctly every time.
- Quick Size Adjustment technology allows the punching pins to be cancelled and the paper formats to be changed quickly and easily.
- The depth gauge feature allows the operator to adjust the punched hole margin from 2 mm to 4,5 mm. This adds strength to the bound edge.
- It binds volumes up to 480 sheets. The closure control guarantees quick and easy comb opening and closure.
- New Motor. The new 180 watt ComfortPlus motor has a punching cycle of 1.2 seconds. This is almost twice as fast as the previous model.
If you are looking for an extremely well made and reliable electric punch comb binding machine, look no further. The German engineered Combi ComfortPlus will exceed you expectations and provide years of faithful service. Get your CombiComfort from Pro-Binding today!
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