Plastic comb binding is easy, affordable, and creates great-looking documents. However, before you can get started, you’re going to need some supplies. Here are the comb binding materials you should know about to set yourself up for success.
- Binding Paper
Perhaps most important to getting started with any type of binding is paper. You can use white or colored 20 lb. bond paper (20lb is standard printer paper thickness). Most comb spines can accommodate documents with 8.5”, 11”, or 14” long binding edge. So, it will be up to your punch’s capacity to know how large of a sheet you can work with. If you want to use nonstandard paper, such as 26lb legal size (8.5” x 14”) sheets make sure your machine can handle it.
Or, if you want to save time, you can purchase pre-punched comb-binding paper for comb binding. This allows you to skip the punch, so all you need to worry about is if your spine and comb spreader can handle your document.
- Plastic Binding Combs
If you’re going to comb bind, you’re definitely going to need plastic binding combs. Combs come in a wide range of lengths and thicknesses for short and long documents (The thickest combs can bind up to 425 pages.) Different colors are available as well. Let's look at the different features you should be looking out for to choose the best plastic combs for you.
- Binding Comb Sizes
Probably the most important thing when it comes to choosing your spine is learning how to measure for binding comb diameter. Depending on the number of pages your document has, you will need a different comb. Luckily for you, we have a handy binding comb size chart so you can find the perfect spine for your book.
Comb Diameter Paper Capacity (20# Paper) Shape 3/16” 10 Sheets Round ¼” 25 Sheets Round 5/16” 40 Sheets Round 3/8” 55 Sheets Round 7/16” 70 Sheets Round ½” 85 Sheets Round 9/16” 105 Sheets Round 5/8” 125 Sheets Round ¾” 150 Sheets Round 7/8” 175 Sheets Round 1” 200 Sheets Round 1 1/8” 225 Sheets Round 1 ¼” 265 Sheets Oval 1 ½” 320 Sheets Oval 1 ¾” 375 Sheets Oval 2” 425 Sheets Oval
Getting the correct comb ensures that your pages can properly turn and that your document has a professional finish
- Binding Comb Colors
For a long time, plastic comb spines were only available in two colors: black and white. While this made it easy to decide which comb to bind your work with, it also meant that documents were pretty drab.
Luckily, that has changed. Combs are now available in several different colors. We are proud to stock combs in maroon, royal blue, red, gray, hunter green, and more. We even carry clear plastic combs that pair nicely with clear binding covers. Colored combs are generally available in all the standard diameters we listed above, and most are 11” long, letter-sized but can also be ordered in 8.5” half-size, 14” legal-size, A4, and custom sizes.
We also offer custom-printed plastic combs. Imprinting allows you to display whatever you want on a comb: your company name, the title of a document, etc. If you’re interested in ordering custom combs, just let us know. We are more than happy to offer you a free quote.
- Binding Comb Sizes
- Binding Covers
Using the right report cover is an important part of producing a professional-looking document. You’ll need a front and back cover for each project. There are several types to choose from, including leatherette, linen, recycled, and vinyl, so you can customize your look. Covers come in a variety of thicknesses and colors, just like binding combs, including black, red, and blue, to name a few. Printable covers are particularly helpful, allowing you to easily customize your cover at home. We can also create custom covers for you. You can achieve the exact look you want on a wide range of materials.
- A Comb Binding Machine
Finally, you’re going to need a comb binder. The most basic elements include the paper punch, comb opener, and punching dies. If you plan on punching anything other than letter-size paper, you should look for a machine with disengageable die pins and an open throat so you can easy work with different sizes of paper. Some optional features that can make your job easier include a comb selector, adjustable depth of punch, and so on. Check out our article on how to choose a plastic comb binding machine for some advice on choosing the best option for you. More than anything, make sure you check out the device’s punching and bookbinding capacities before you buy. Make sure you get a machine that can work with your desired supplies.
Get Binding
With all those boxes checked, you should now have all the comb binding supplies you need to create beautiful, professionally bound documents. If you have any questions or need help getting started, we encourage you to explore our knowledge base for information on all things comb binding, including how to comb bind, or give us a call at 1-800-944-4573, so we can give you personalized advice.