While our company prefers to use a color binding comb that matches our company logo for internal projects, we also provide booklets to our customers that they can pass on to others. Our customers prefer a traditional black binding. We buy GBC Black Plastic Binding Combs – 1/2” Diameter.


Description

These binding combs come in a clear package that can be resealed . Each package contains 25 combs, and the combs have an 85 sheet capacity. The spines are constructed from black plastic. The spines have 19 teeth that feed through 19-hole punched material to be inserted into the spine. These particular spines have a 1/2” diameter and will hold 8 1/2” x 11” paper. The manufacturer says the spines won’t scratch, chip, peel or discolor. They are designed for use in a binding machine.


Binding Machines 101

Here is a quick synopsis of binding machines in case you are not familiar with them. A binding machine punches rectangular holes in sheets of paper that are to be bound as well as plastic binder covers. (In our case, the machine punches the standard 19 holes.) The machine has a spreading device that opens the 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

These spines are a nice black color. Light reflects a bit off them, but they are not what I would term glossy. Since they are constructed from plastic, they are lightweight. They measure a 1/2” in diameter and about 10 3/4” long.

The manufacturer says the capacity for these spines is 85 sheets of letter-size paper (8 1/2” x 11”). Rule of thumb for determining the correct size of spine to use is to measure the stack of material to fit inside the spine and then add 1/8” to the total measurement. The material we insert into these binding combs averages 75 pages, including back and front cover.

We provide product literature to our customers, and bind it ourselves as it is needed. These spines work well for us. We use clear plastic GBC binding covers for the front and back, and sandwich the presentation material between the covers. As you can imagine, much of the product literature is text, but there are some diagrams. All the print is black-and-white on 8 1/2” x 11” copy/laser paper (20 pound stock).

These spines have never broken, chipped or peeled as advertised by the manufacturer. The color does not fade, either. One thing I have noticed is that when the spines come out of the plastic box, they attract a bit of lint. It’s nothing that detracts from the appearance of the spine, but I thought I’d mention it. We are very pleased with the professional image these black spines present.


Purchasing

These spines cost $3.78 per 25-count package from StaplesLink.com.

Summary

We will continue to purchase these GBC Plastic Binding Combs. We have been buying them for over a year, and they always work well for us.

I hope you found this review useful.

Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Please read my other reviews:

GBC Blue Binding Combs – 5/16” diameter

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


Copyright 2007 Dawn L. Stewart


Recommended: Yes