Binding a Book at Home - A Totally Simple Method

Although binding a book at home sounds like it could be difficult - and expensive - it's really not if you have the right equipment and supplies. One of the most simple ways to do this is by using a plastic comb binding machine. This article will provide you with a brief introduction to this binding method and then walk you though the simple process of assembling your book. Let's get started!

Plastic comb binding has been used for a long time. This is partly because it's inexpensive and easy, and also because it's good for professional and personal documents. Comb binding occurs when a document is hole-punched and then a plastic comb (sometimes call a binding implement) is used to secure the pages. All you need to do this is your document (it can be up to 425 pages long), a couple of covers, and the comb itself. These supplies are affordable and they can make whatever you're working on - cookbook, poetry collection, school report - look great.

You'll also need a comb binding machine. These come in both manual and electric varieties, and they can be either large or small. Affordable, compact units are available for home use and they're usually very easy to operate. Here's a quick walk-through of what you need to do to bind your book with one of these devices:

1. The first thing to do is proofread and print your document. Be sure to note how many pages the document has so you can choose the right comb for it. Combs range from 3/16" to 2" in thickness. Not every machine can handle all combs, so be sure your device can handle your document.
2. Now you can choose your comb. Be sure it's the right size - not too large and not too small. Free free to choose a color that matches your work's covers. (Colors include black, red, and blue.)
3. Punch holes in your book using your machine. Don't punch a lot of sheets at once - it can be hard on the device's punching heads.
4. Open the comb up with the machine's comb opener. Once it's open, start inserting the comb's teeth into your document. When you're done, close the comb and remove the document. Your book is now bound and can be enjoyed.

Plastic comb binding is a really simple method to use when you want to bind books at home. As you can see from reading through the process above, it really only takes about four steps for you to go from having a loose stack of paper to having a beautifully bound document. And, of course, you can use this method for just about any kind of document so let yourself get creative. (You could also let your kids use the device under supervision so they can put together their school assignments.) Plastic comb binding is easy and affordable, so be sure to give it a try the next time you want to bind a book at home. Have fun and good luck!

About the Author: Jeff McRitchie is the Vice-President of Marketing for MyBinding.com. He regularly writes articles, reviews, and blog posts on topics related to bookbinding, laminating, paper shredding, and office equipment. More than 2,500 of his articles have been published in thousands of locations on the Internet. If you're looking for information about binding machines, his articles are a great place to start.