Comb binding is the most common mechanical binding sytem. It is a simple and inexpensive yet versatile way to bind your documents. Books bound with plastic combs lay flat and the pages align left to right. Combs are relatively sturdy, although they will need to be protected from damage if you are going to send your document through the mail. They can easily be opened to insert new pages if you need to update your document. Books cannot be opened 360°, so chose a different method (such as plastic coil) if you need that feature.
Combs are most commonly used to bind books printed on Letter or A4 paper, but they can be easily cut to fit any size paper from about 3.5 inches up. Just about any type of paper that can be printed on can be bound. Clear, solid, or window
covers are most commonly used to keep the pages from being damaged.
You will need a machine to punch the rectangular holes in your paper and covers and to hold
the combs open to insert pages. These features are commonly found on a single machine, but some
types designed for production use do only punching or only binding. You will need one of each if your binding volume is high enough that you need to separate these operations.
Plastic combs are sometimes called spiral combs or spiral bindings. These terms are also used to refer to plastic coil, so be certain you have the right type before ordering. See our tutorial page for more information on the difference between these two binding methods.
Supplies
Binding Machines
