Two Machines in One - The GBC BindMate

There are times when you need a three-hole punch and there are times when you think that having a plastic comb binding machine would be nice. Now that school is back in session, your kids might be thinking that too, thanks to the projects and reports they will be doing, not to mention their nightly homework. You might think a comb binding machine would be expensive, especially when you already need to buy a high-quality 3-hole punch. But such a machine doesn't need to break the bank and thanks to GBC, you can have the best of both worlds.

There are times when you need a three-hole punch and there are times when you think that having a plastic comb binding machine would be nice. Now that school is back in session, your kids might be thinking that too, thanks to the projects and reports they'll be doing, not to mention their nightly homework. You might think a comb binding machine would be expensive, especially when you already need to buy a high-quality 3-hole punch. But such a machine doesn't need to break the bank and thanks to GBC, you can have the best of both worlds. The very affordable GBC BindMate includes both a hole punch and comb binding punch in one convenient machine. The BindMate can both bind documents and punch holes in them, and with a price of less than $70.00, it's easy (and justifiable) to get one, whether you want to use it in your home office or you teenager wants to impress her history teacher with a bound report. That being said, here are some of the pros and cons of the GBC BindMate binding machine.

The biggest pro about this machine (aside from the price) is its incredible ability to punch holes in paper for use in three-ring binders and bind documents using plastic combs. It can punch up to eight sheets of 20 lb. paper at once and it can bind documents up to 125 pages long using combs that are 5/8" in diameter. You can use both letter size and oversized covers with the BindMate, so it is great for binding special reports for school or work. This machine is small (like its price) and easy to operate, thanks in part to its well-designed handle. There's a small lever you flip to switch between punching and binding modes, and a built-in comb opener makes the binding process much easier. Finally, the machine is small and comes with a carrying handle so it doesn't need to sit in one place all the time.

Partly due to its price, the BindMate does have a few shortcomings. First, an eight-page punching capacity isn't that impressive, even for a punch / binding machine of this size. You will need to have a lot of patience if you're going to be punching or binding thicker documents. Also, it's too bad that the machine doesn't have disengageable pins which would enable the user to punch and bind documents larger or smaller than 8.5" x 11". There's also no punch margin control so you can really control the position of the holes needed for binding. Nevertheless, it is a bit ridiculous to expect disengageable pins and a punch margin control from an inexpensive machine such as this, especially since those features are usually found in more expensive machines. However, a larger punching capacity definitely would have been nice.

The GBC BindMate is a pretty good entry-level machine and the fact that it combines three-hole punching with comb binding makes it especially unique, as well as versatile. With the kids back at school, the BindMate should be on your back-to-school shopping list. You will probably find that you'll use it just as much as your kids, either for personal or work projects. Get the best of both worlds and pick up a GBC BindMate today!

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