MyBinding Knowledge Base
Comparing the Fellowes Starlet and GBC CombBind C110 Comb Binding Machines
When it comes to comb binding machines, there are two brand names to keep in mind: Fellowes and GBC. Both of these companies make devices for every kind of user from beginners or pros. For those just learning how to bind, Fellowes’ Starlet and the GBC CombBind C110 are good choices. But which one of these devices is better and which one should you choose? Let’s do a comparison of these two machines and find out.
1. The Starlet. This machine was designed by Fellowes for occasional use in a variety of environments including the home and the workplace. The Starlet can punch a maximum of 7 pieces of paper per lift and bind documents that are 90 pages long. The punching is done vertically so you’re get perfect results every time. The punching handle is on the right side of the machine, so some left-handed users might have difficult time working with this device. It’s compatible with combs that are up to 1/2″ thick. There’s a binding element on the the machine so you’ll be able to figure out which comb you need to use and you can stash your combs away in the built-in storage tray. The Starlet is a modern-looking device that folds up so you can store it easily when you’re not using it. Its dimensions are 3.125″ (height) x 17.6875″ (width) x 9.8125″ (depth). The Starlet is very affordably priced and will cost you less than $100.00.
2. The CombBind C110. The C110 is one of GBC’s smaller devices but it’s still a great machine. It can punch 15 sheets at once, which is definitely a higher punching capacity when compared with the Starlet. The binding capacity is better as well because the C110 can help you create books containing 300 pages. The handle is also more user-friendly because it’s shaped like a “D.” Because of this, left- and right-handed users will be able to use it with any problems. The C110 comes with a comb selection guide for your convenience and, if you desire, you can always utilize GBC ZipBind supplies instead of traditional plastic combs. This will give you two ways of making your documents look great. (When you use ZipBind supplies, you’ll be able to open them up at a later date and edit your document if you need to.) Finally, the C110 is a little bit more expensive than the Startlet. It will probably cost you somewhere around $200.00.
As for which device you should choose, the GBC CombBind C110 would be the better choice. Although it’s slightly more expensive than Fellowes’ Starlet, it would be money well spent because it has much better punching and binding capacities. It’s also easier to use thanks to its D-shaped handle and it’s great that it’s compatible with GBC ZipBind supplies in addition to plastic combs. While it will take up more room than the Starlet because it can’t fold up, you’ll going to find that sacrificing a little bit or space (and money) will be worth it. So, the choice is clear: get the C110. It’s the best one of the two.
< Over the years, a number of customers have asked me whether they can use twin loop wire with their plastic comb binding machine. These customers often don’t want to have to buy a brand new machine but like the look and feel of twin loop wire binding. However, the answer to their question isn’t as simple as it seems. You see, they actually do make twin loop wire that is designed to work with the plastic comb binding hole pattern. With that said, if you want to use these wires you are going to need a way to close the wires. What is Spiral-O Wire? Let me explain a little bit more…There is a product that we carry called Spiral-O Wire. This wire has 19 loops and is designed to work with the hole pattern from a plastic comb binding machine. Spiral-O Wire is sometimes called Wire Combs or Ibico Wire and was originally designed for use with some of the older Ibico binding machines. A number of the older Ibico plastic comb binding machines also included a twin loop wire closer on the front of them to allow users to use both plastic combs and wire. This 19 loop wire was designed for this purpose. What Equipment is Needed? As the Ibico brand has been phased out by GBC and all of the older Ibico plastic binding machines have been replaced with new models, they no longer have the twin loop wire closer on the front of them. This presents a problem in trying to use these spiral-o wires since you can’t use the wires without a way to close them. One of the only options left is to purchase a Twin Loop wire closer. However, since twin loop wire closers are not incredibly cheap this option usually only appeals to users who have larger electric plastic comb binding machines. Otherwise, it is often advisable to simply buy a low end 3:1 pitch twin loop wire binding machine (the supplies are cheaper). This being said, if you have one of the older Ibico binding machines that has a wire closer included you are in luck. The Spiral-O binding supplies that we carry will work perfectly with your machine and you will be able to use both plastic combs and wire depending on your needs. These Spiral-O binding supplies are available in Black, Silver, White, Blue and Red and in sizes up to 1″ in diameter. If you aren’t sure what type of wire binding supplies that you need to work with your machine simply give us a call. Our trained sales representatives will be glad to help you find the correct supplies for use with your machine.(Read More)
