MyBinding Knowledge Base
Comparing the MBM Auto Book and Its Smaller Counterpart, the Booklet Maker Jr
MBM is a manufacturer that is primarily known for their paper shredders, but they also produce some great booklet-making machines that are good for use by professional office workers, print shop employees, teachers, and more. This article will compare and contrast two of the company’s devices: the Auto Book and the Booklet Maker Jr. Here’s what’s similar and different about this machines, as well as some guidance as to which one might be best for you.
- Paper sizes. The Booklet Maker Jr. is great for working with paper sizes ranging from 8.5″ x 11″ to 11″ x 17″. However, the Auto Book can work with a few more sizes, with the smallest being 8.25″ x 10″ and the largest being 12″ x 17″.
- Stapling capability. The Auto Book definitely wins in this category. It can process 500 sheets per hour and create booklets that contain 60 pages. (Fifteen sheets of paper are needed to a create a book of this size.) This model has two staples that can staple your books in five different ways, as well. Meanwhile, the Booklet Maker Jr. can create books that have 40 pages and it can process 10 sheets at once, or 250 sheets in an hour. It also has two staplers, but it lacks the ability to staple in five different positions.
- Automatic and manual features. Both of these units have a few features to make them easier to operate. The Booklet Maker Jr. will automatically center your sheets so your booklets will be crisp, as well as folded and stapled correctly. That’s about all the features it offers, though. Meanwhile, the Auto Book has several more features, including the aforementioned five-position stapling capability, an interlocking cover to keep fingers away from the staplers and rollers, and you can choose between manual and automatic operation.
- Construction and size. When it comes to construction, both of these devices are in the same league. Each machine has all-metal components so your unit will stay working for as long as possible and not malfunction in the middle of a job. Also, these products are very similar in size (the Booklet Maker Jr. is a few inches smaller), and they won’t demand a lot of room due to their somewhat compact design.
- Price and warranty. Both of these machines have limited one-year warranties and their prices are in the same ballpark. The Booklet Maker Jr. is priced at around $1,000.00, while the other machine’s price is in the neighborhood of $1,200.00.
When it comes right down to it, the Auto Book definitely offers more features for a rather reasonable increase in price. It can produce booklets that contain a full 20 pages more than books made by the Booklet Maker Jr. and it can work with more sizes of paper, as well. So if you can afford it, the Auto Book is definitely the way to go. That is not to say that the Booklet Maker Jr. doesn’t have its charms. It’s a good entry-level machine for people who need a less expensive (and more basic) device. It all depends on your needs, and hopefully this article has been helpful in helping you choose the best device for you.
< 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)
