Binding Booklets with Color -- Blue Binding Combs
Written: Sep 04 '07
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Product Rating:
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Pros: lightweight plastic spine that is durable, scratch resistant, does the job
Cons: will not hold a lot of material (double-check if this is the size needed)
The Bottom Line: Another product from GBC for presenting a professional appearance with bound materials.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Gbc Plastic Binding Combs 5/16" Diameter Blue 1... |
Our company logo has blue in it. When we have company meetings, we try to color coordinate the materials to our logo. That is why we purchased a box of GBC Blue Plastic Binding Combs – 5/16” Diameter.
Description
These binding combs come packed 100 in a sturdy brown cardboard box. Each spine is constructed from blue plastic and is designed for 19 holes. These particular spines have a 5/16” diameter and will hold up to 40 sheets of 8 1/2” x 11” paper. The manufacturer says the spines won’t chip, scratch, peel or discolor. They are designed for use in a binding machine.
Binding Machines 101
In case you are not familiar with binding machines, here is a brief synopsis. A binding machine punches rectangular holes in a binder cover and back, and the sheets of paper that are to be bound. (In our case, the machine punches the standard 19 holes.) The machine also has a spreading device that opens these plastic spines so that the hole-punched material slides over the “teeth” of the spine. Then the machine closes the spine, curling the “teeth” against the spine back and locking the material into place.
Our Experiences
This color blue is not as bright as a royal blue but not a dark navy blue. I would call it a medium navy blue. The combs are a compact size and lightweight since they are only 5/16” in diameter and about 10 3/4” long. Surprisingly, the cardboard box that contains 100 of these combs is not that big.
The manufacturer says the capacity for these spines is 40 sheets of letter-size paper (8 1/2” x 11”). Rule of thumb for determining if this is the right size spine for the job is to measure the stack of material to be bound and then add an 1/8” to the total measurement.
Our binding jobs using these blue spines are usually for presentation of new product to potential customers. Sometimes we use them for in-house literature. The downside to these particular spines is that they are limited to 40 pages, and in our experience, that is pushing it. We use clear plastic GBC binding covers for the front and back, and sandwich the presentation material between the covers. Our presentation material consists of 20-pound paper with a combination of text and color images.
I once used the binding machine to prepare material that was exactly 40 pages, which included the two covers. Fitting all that material into a 5/16” spine was a tight fit. The spine was secure, but people found the pages difficult to turn. For the second batch of material, I went up a spine size, and that was a bit too big, but it was better than the page-turning difficulties the small spine caused.
GBC makes an excellent plastic spine. I have never had one break or scratch. The color stays blue, too, with no discoloration or fading.
Purchasing
These spines cost $7.29 for a 100-pack from Staples. Definitely shop for price. List price is around $16.99.
Summary
These GBC Blue Plastic Binding Combs are a great color and are durable. If looking for an inexpensive binding method, then these spines present a nice appearance. However, not many pages fit in this narrow diameter spine, so make sure your project will fit. Then again, if you miscalculate, the cost is minimal.
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Please read my other reviews:
Avery High Capacity Corner Lock Poly Document Sleeve
Smead Clear Poly Envelopes for 3-ring binders
Smead Recycled Slash File Jackets
Oxford Twin Pocket Portfolios
Pendaflex Hanging File Folders with Box Bottoms
Pendaflex Hanging File Folders
Smead Color File Folders
Avery File Folder Labels for laser and ink jet printers
Copyright 2007 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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