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[G62]Gbc Combbind C110 Binding

by Jeff McRitchie, Jef

Many small offices and home offices are looking for a way to bind their documents, reports and presentations but don't have the budget to spend hundreds of dollars on a binding system. That is where the GBC CombBind C50 plastic comb binding machine comes in. With a price tag of less than $70 this machine is designed for the small office that occasionally need to bind a document or presentation. Recognizing that this machine is not designed to compete with larger solutions that cost three for four times as much, this review will take a look at the features, limitations and construction of the GBC C50 binding machine.

Features:

The C50 includes everything that you need to bind a document with plastic combs or Zipbind. It has a light duty punch that is capable of punching up to 5-6 sheets of 20lb paper at a time. This punch operates just like a large desktop 3-hole punch. You simply have to push the front of the machine down to activate the punching mechanism. Realistically, you will end up punching about 4 sheets of paper at a time in order to use the machine comfortably. Clear covers should be punched one at a time on this machine and poly binding covers should most likely be purchased pre-punched.

This machine also includes an integrated plastic comb opener that is designed to open plastic combs up to ½" in diameter. The comb opener on this machine will not open wide enough to open larger sized combs. This means that the C50 is limited to thinner books and documents. The comb opener is operated by two handles (one on each side of the machine). You simply push the handle away from you to open the plastic comb. The fact that there are two handles makes the machine user friendly for both left handed people and right handed people.

The Combind C50 also includes a paper edge guide that is adjustable for letter sized paper, oversized covers and A4 sized paper. The edge guide is simple to operate. All you need to do is turn a small wheel with your finger and the edge will be set for the correct size of paper. In fact, the edge guide is one of the easiest to use of any of the comb binding machines that I have seen. It is a definitely bonus on a machine at this price tag.

Limitations:

Like most smaller binding machines the CombBind C50 aslo has some limitations that should be noted. As a low priced machine it is not designed for high volume users and can't handle certain applications.
This machine is designed to punch three lengths of paper (letter size, A4 size and oversize cover). If you are going to need to punch or bind other sizes including landscape documents or half letter (8.5" x 5.5") books you will need a machine with disengageable punching pins. This machine does not include this feature.

As was noted above, the C50 is not capable of opening larger sized plastic comb binding spines. The fingers for the opener on this machine is made of plastic and attempting to use it with larger combs could result in one of the teeth breaking off. This means that you will be limited to documents that contain less than 90 sheets of 20lb bond paper. This machine should also not be used with 3/16" diameter combs since the distance of the holes to the edge of the paper will make documents difficult to use with such small comb binding spines.

Construction:

As might be expected of a machine in this price range, the C50 is composed mostly of plastic. For the most part this should not be a problem since this machine is built for light volume applications. My only concern would be the teeth for the comb opener (the parts that stick up). These teeth seem a little bit flimsy and could potentially break off if you are not careful. With this in mind, I would estimate that the GBC C50 has a useful life of approximately two years under normal circumstances.

Recommendation:

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the GBC C50 binding machine to a small office or home office that needs to put a few documents together. It is also an ideal solution for mobile solutions where a binding machine is needed in your card or mobile office. In fact, it is a popular choice of appraisers and home inspectors who bind reports on site. However, if you bind more than a few documents per week I would suggest buying a larger machine.

Overview:

The GBC C95e is an electric punch and bind system that is designed for binding documents with either plastic combs or GBC Zipbind.

This system is designed for binding letter sized documents that are up to 175 sheets thick and is designed specifically for small offices that are looking for a low cost comb binding machine with an electric punch.

The C95e is small enough to comfortably sit on a desk and is simple enough to use that even users who have never bound a document in their lives should have no problem figuring it out.

Strengths / Features:

The C95e includes an easy to use electric punch that is controlled by a simple push button control. All you need to do is insert ten to twelve sheets of paper and press the button. It is that simple.

This machine includes clear labels to help users choose the right size of plastic combs for their projects. This simple and smart labeling helps to make binding easier than ever.

The compact design of the C95e makes it ideal for small organizations that are short on space. It includes a convenient handle that makes it easy to pick up and put away or to take with you to a job site. No other electric comb binding machine is this portable.

Weaknesses / Limitations:

The C95e is built almost entirely of plastic. Although the plastic housing should be more than adequate for most applications, the fact that the fingers and hooks on the comb opener are plastic is somewhat concerning. Over time it is possible that these fingers or hooks will break off. For this reason, the C95e should not be used to bind large volumes of documents and is not compatible with combs that are larger than 3/4" thick

The comb opener on the C95e is controlled by a small rotary dial on the side of the machine. This rotary dial will work fine for smaller sized combs. However opening a comb that is 3/4" takes eight turns of the dial. This could get very tedious if you had to open very many larger sized combs.

This machine is designed for punching letter sized documents and oversized covers. It is not a good option for organizations that need to punch custom lengths of paper, landscape documents, or half letter sized paper. Users who need to bind these types of documents need to choose a machine with fully disengageable dies.

Recommendation:

The C95e is an ideal binding system for user that needs to bind a few documents on a weekly basis.
This system is easy to use and the electric punch makes it much more efficient than most manual binding machines.

Plus the portable design of the C95e makes it a great choice for small organizations that are short on space or need a machine that is easy to travel with.

However, this machine is not designed for binding large sized documents, custom lengths, or for binding large numbers of reports. It either won't do these things or won't hold up over time.

Article Source : Binding Machine

Jeff McRitchie has sinced written about articles on various topics from Binding Machines, Computers and The Internet and Shopping. For more information or to purchase the GBC CombBind C50 Plastic Comb Binding Machine visit. Jeff McRitchie's top article generates over 74000 views. Bookmark Jeff McRitchie to your Favourites.