Binding Machines

FAQs

What types of binding machines does Global Office Choice sell?

You’ll find many of the common binding machines are available at Global Office Choice. These include comb binding, wire binding, thermal binding, and combination binding machines.

If you’re running a business or school in the Mornington Peninsula, Carrum Downs, South Gippsland, or Bass Coast, you’ll find the binding machine to suit your needs at Global Office Choice.

What’s the difference between comb, wire, and thermal binding machines?

It’s worth knowing how each type of binding machine works so that you can settle on the right one for your workplace or school’s needs.  

Comb Binding

The most common and cost-effective way of binding documents is typically through the use of comb binding. These machines work with plastic comb spines, which are known for their equal levels of flexibility and durability. Comb binding machines are also some of the easiest to use, making them accessible to most people. 

With comb binding machines, you can create larger documents that can range from just a few pages to hundreds (often between 400 to 450 pages). Because the comb spine can be opened as needed, it makes it easy to add or remove sheets, allowing for quick adjustments or additions to your document.

Wire Binding

Wire binding is similar to comb binding, but uses individual metallic wires looped through each punch hole to secure your document together. As such, it involves a similar process of punching holes into your collection of pages first, which is then followed by securing them together with these wire bindings.

This makes it possible to remove and add pages as needed over time, much like with comb-bound documents. Generally, you can compile documents of up to around 300 pages with wire binding. If you’re looking to bind documents that exceed this number but can still be adjusted over time, it’s best to consider comb binding.

Thermal Binding

Thermal binding tends to result in the most professional-looking end product (similar to the appearance of paperback books), but is more restrictive in terms of adjustability than both comb and wire bindings. It works by using heat and glue to bind pages together.

However, be mindful that thermal binding won’t allow for simple editing or adjustments to your document. It’s an option best-suited to documents that are 100% finalised. 

Thermal binding generally is able to bind around 500 or more pages together, resulting in 500+ single-sided pages of content or 1,000+ double-sided pages.

Combination Binders - Wire and Comb

Combination binders handle both the punching of the paper and the binding with comb or wire binds. They’re a great option if you want more control in how you prepare and bind your documents.

How can I select the right binding machine for different document sizes?

If you want to bind as many pages together as possible, thermal binding machines technically result in the largest document sizes. However, it’s also important to keep versatility in mind.

The basic size count is as follows (though this can differ depending on the binding machine you purchase).

• Comb binding: 400 to 450 pages (if printing on both sides of paper, 800 to 900 pages).

• Wire binding: 250 to 300 pages (if printing on both sides, 500 to 600 pages)

• Thermal binding: 500 or more pages (on both sides, 1,000+ pages).

For being able to put together flexible document volumes, we’d recommend comb binding as you can add and remove pages as you need. And the plastic comb spines have greater flexibility than rigid wire bindings. 

However, if you have a finalised document that is ready for binding and you also want it to have an extra edge of professionalism in its final presentation, then thermal binding is a worthwhile choice. Again, just remember that thermal binding does not allow for any adjustments once it’s complete - so you’ll want to ensure the document volume you’re binding is the final product. 

When you need a binding machine that can handle large document sizes, and you want them compiled efficiently, we recommend any of the heavy-duty forms of comb, wire, or thermal binders.

In what settings are binding machines suitable to use?

For school settings, we’d recommend opting for a comb binder. These are the most versatile and are typically the most cost-effective, as well. Not only that, but they’re also more accessible to use and one of the safest options - an important consideration if any young students could be in close proximity to the machine.

In offices or other workplaces, this can depend on the nature of your business or how you want to present documents. Comb, wire, or thermal binding machines could all be suitable, though we’d say the rigidity of wire binding can be better-suited to warehouses, construction, or trade settings.

For professional reports, wire binding can be more appropriate than plastic comb binding for internal reports that may need amendments over time. For finalised reports or documents you’ll be presenting to stakeholders or important clients, thermal binding can add that extra sense of refinement and finality to your work.

What other accessories are needed to get started with a binding machine?

There are some definite must-have accessories you need to get started with a binding machine. These include the following:

Binding combs (aka binder spines) keep your documents bound together. You can easily purchase premade binding combs that will make compiling your documents a breeze. You can view many of these on our Binding Accessories page.

Binding covers provide protection to your comb-bound documents. You’ll find clear, textured leather grain, and frosted binding covers among our selection. You can explore the options via our Binding Accessories page, as well.

If you’re regularly binding documents and want to save some time, look out for pre-punched paper. Alternatively, you can purchase hole punches or invest in a binding machine that includes hole punching functionality.

To help with categorising larger bound documents, look for index tabs and flags. These are adhesive tabs you can secure to the edge of respective pages where a new section starts. You can find these in our Notes & Flags category page.