How Do I Bind with the Tamerica ECO-34 Wire Binding Machine?

The Tamerica ECO-34 wire binding machine is an entry-level 3:1 wire binder that offers basic features and all-metal construction at a cost-effective price point. The ECO-34 wire binder has a manual punch that is capable of punching up to 15 sheets per pull (based on 20 lb. paper) and a built-in wire closer for a complete punch-and-bind solution. Below is a step-by-step guide to document binding with the Tamerica ECO-34 wire binder:

  1. Set the side margin control based on the page size of your document. To adjust the side margin, loosen the screw and slide it to the desired position. Tighten the screw to secure it in place. Because the ECO-34 does not have any disengageable dies, setting the side margin correctly is key to ensuring that there are no partially-punched holes along the edges of your document.
  2. Turn the knob located on the left side of the machine so that the arrow points to “Punching” to engage the punching dies.
  3. Insert up to 15 sheets (based on 20 lb. paper) into the punching throat, being careful to align it so that it is flush against the side margin and the back of the punching throat.
  4. Pull the handle forward to punch through the pages, then return the handle to its upright position to complete the punch. Remove the punched pages.
  5. Continue punching in 15-sheet sets until the entire document has been punched.
  6. Use the built-in size guage to determine the appropriate 3:1 binding wire size for your document. Pull out the drawer on the front of the machine table and insert your document into the guage. The measurement that is listed corresponds to the diameter of wire that should be used.
  7. Hang the wire from the wire holder located on the front of the machine (immediately above the punching throat).
  8. Insert the pages of your document onto the wire, starting with the back page and working forward. The back cover should be inserted last, and should be placed face down. This will help to hide the seam of the wire after binding.
  9. Lift the wire and the document off of the wire holder and insert it into the wire closer. The open side of the wire should be placed so that it rests flat against the bottom of the wire closer.
  10. Turn the knob on the left side of the machine so that the arrow points to the size of wire that is being used.
  11. Pull the handle forward to activate the wire closing mechanism. The wire closer will stop automatically based on the size of the wire that was set. Return the handle to its upright position.
  12. Remove the book from the wire closer, then turn the back cover to the back of the book. This will conceal the seam of the binding wire and complete the binding process.

How Do I Bind with the Tamerica 213PB Comb Binding Machine with Wire Closer and 3-Hole Punch?

The Tamerica 213PB comb binding machine with wire closer and 3-hole punch is a versatile, multi-function comb binder that gives users the flexibility of binding with both plastic combs and spiral-o wires (which utilize the same 19-hole punch pattern as binding combs). The 213PB is designed to provide an budget-friendly and space-saving alternative to investing multiple single-function binding machines. Below is a step-by-step guide to binding books with the Tamerica 213PB comb binder with wire closer (including instructions for both comb binding, spiral-o wire binding, and 3-hole punching):

  1. Begin by assembling the machine (required on the first use only). Insert the binding handle onto the master shaft, then thread the screw through the handle into the shaft. Tighten to secure the handle in place.
  2. Use the included binding guage to measure the thickness of the document that is being bound to determine the correct punching depth and binding comb diameter to use.
  3. Adjust the side margin guide based on the sheet size of your document. The side guide is located on the left side of the machine base and can be moved by loosening the screw slightly, sliding it to the desired position, and tightening the screw.
  4. Disengage pins as necessary to elminate any partial holes from the edges of your document. Dies can be disengaged by pulling on the metal arm that corresponds to the hole until it stops.
  5. Use the adjustment knob (located on the right side of the machine) to set the depth margin to 1, 2, 3, or 4 as indicated on the binding guage. Note: The thicker your document, the greater the depth margin that will be needed to create an adequate bind.
  6. Insert up to 20 pages (based on 20 lb. paper) into the punching throat. Pull the binding handle forward to engage the punching dies and push it back to its upright position to complete the punch. Repeat in sets until all pages have been punched.
  7. Place a plastic binding comb onto the comb opener by aligning the solid spine of the comb against the metal fingers of the opener. The loops of the comb should be inserted between the open side of the comb facing up.
  8. Push the binding handle back to open the rings of the comb. Once the comb has been opened enough to insert the pages of your document, release the handle to keep the comb in the open position.
  9. Insert the pages of your book onto the open comb, starting with the front cover and working backward. If the book that you are binding is especially thick, you may find it easier to insert the pages in small sets.
  10. Return the binding handle to its upright position to close the comb. Lift the finished book straight up to remove it from the comb opener.

If you are binding with 19-loop spiral-o wires instead of plastic binding combs, follow the instructions below:

  1. Punch your document with the 19-hole comb binding pattern by following the instructions for steps 2-6 above.
  2. Adjust the set-pin located on the lower right side of the machine to match the diameter of the spiral-o wire being used.
  3. Insert the pages of your document onto the open wire. In order to hide the seam of the wire, the face of the back cover should be placed against the face of the front cover before the book is inserted onto the wire.
  4. Once all of the pages have been placed onto the wire, insert the wire into the wire closer (located below the disengaging dies). The open side of the wire should be flush against the back of the wire closer.
  5. Pull the binding handle forward using steady, even pressure to close the wire.
  6. Return the handle to its upright position and remove the book from the wire closer. Turn the back cover to the back of the book to complete the binding process.

If you would like to utilize the 3-hole punch feature of the Tamerica 213PB, follow the steps below:

  1. Jog the pages to be punched by tapping them against a table or other flat surface.
  2. Insert up to 15 sheets (based on 20 lb. paper) into the slot located at the back of the machine, immediately behind the comb opener.
  3. Pull the binding handle forward to punch the sheets, then return it to its upright position to complete the punch.
  4. Remove your sheets from the slot and repeat as necessary.

How Do I Bind with the Tamerica 210PB Comb Binding Machine?

The Tamerica 210PB comb binding machine is a manual comb binder that offers a comprehensive range of features – including fully disengageable dies, self-sharpening dies, and a 20-page punching capacity – at an affordable price. Designed for use in schools, offices, and other multi-user settings, the 210PB is easy to use and requires minimal user adjustments. Below is a step-by-step guide for binding books with the Tamerica 210PB comb binder:

  1. If this is the first time that the machine is being used, it will need to be assembled. To assemble the 210PB, insert the handle onto the master shaft (located on the right side of the machine) so that it is in an upright position. Thread the knob set through the handle and into the master shaft, then tighten to secure the handle.
  2. Adjust the side margin guide based on the sheet size of your document.
  3. Disengage pins as necessary to eliminate any partially-punched holes. The alignment guide on the feed table of the machine indicates the placement of the holes. To disengage a pin, simply pull the corresponding metal arm straight back from the machine until it stops.
  4. Using the included Binding Guage & Diameter Guide, measure the thickness of your book to determine the appropriate depth margin setting. Adjust the depth margin to 1, 2, 3, or 4 using the binding depth knob.
  5. Insert up to 20 sheets (based on 20 lb. paper) into the punching throat. If you are using thicker paper and/or cover stock, you will need to reduce the number of pages in order to assure a clean punch.
  6. Pull the binding handle forward to punch. Return the handle to its upright position and pull the papers out of the punching throat.
  7. Repeat punching your document(s) in sets until all pages have been punched.
  8. Place the plastic binding comb onto the built-in comb opener so that the solid portion of the spine is behind the metal fingers and the open side of the rings is facing up. Note: Using the comb size specified by the Binding Guage & Diameter Guide will help to ensure a professional finish to your bound document.
  9. Turn the binder stop (located on the left side of the machine) toward the front of the machine until it stops.
  10. Push the binding arm backward until the comb has been opened enough to insert your pages. Hold the binding arm in position and rotate the binder stop toward the back of the machine until it stops. This will prevent you from over-opening the combs and increase the efficiency of your binding process.
  11. Insert the pages of your document onto the comb with the front cover facing down, making sure that all of the prongs have been aligned with the holes in your sheets. If working with a particularly thick book, you may find it easier to insert the pages onto the comb in smaller sets.
  12. Return the binding handle to the upright position, then lift the book straight up and off of the machine to complete the binding process.

Tamerica ECO-21 Comb Binding Machine Review

The Tamerica ECO-21 Comb Binding Machine uses plastic comb bindings to create easy-to-edit books that are up to 2″ thick (approximately 425 sheets based on regular 20 lb. paper). Below is an overview of the Tamerica ECO-21, including the benefits and limitations of this specific model.

Punching

The ECO-21 comb binder has a manual punch that is capable of punching up to 15 pages per pull (based on regular 20 lb. paper). The punching length is 12″, which enables it to punch a total of 21 holes. Since it has 21 fully-disengageable pins, you can punch any sheet size up to 12″ in a single pass, as well as specialty papers (such as three-hole punched paper). Simply punch a test sheet of the appropriate size/style and disengage the dies that correspond to any partially-punched holes. The ECO-21 also has an open throat that allows the machine to accommodate sheets longer than 12″ in a multi-punch process.

The ECO-21 has a built-in adjustable side margin that allows you to quickly and easily position your pages within the punch in order to achieve consistent punching results throughout each project. This model also has an adjustable depth margin, which gives you the ability to set the amount of space between the binding edge and the holes (a feature that is especially useful when working with thick books).

Binding

The Tamerica ECO-21 comb binder has an easy-to-use manual comb opener located at the top of the machine. The comb opener has a set of tines that extend upward from the machine, which act as a brace for the comb spine. To open a binding comb, place the loops of the comb between the tines so that the solid strip of the spine is pressed against the tines and faces the back of the machine. As you pull the comb opener handle, small prongs grab onto each of the loops of the comb and pull them into an open position. Once the comb has been opened, you can insert the punched sheets of your document onto the comb. To complete the bind, simply return the comb opener handle to the upright position and pull your finished book upward.

Comb-bound books are easy to edit – pages can be inserted, removed, or replaced without the need for any additional tools or supplies. To edit a book after binding, place the entire book onto the comb opener with the spine resting against the tines and the loops placed between them, in the same position used during binding. Begin pulling the comb opener handle until the pages can be easily accessed for editing. Once you have finished making your edits, return the comb opener handle to the upright position and remove your updated book.

The ECO-21 comb binding machine is capable of binding books up to 2″ in thickness (approximately 425 pages based on 20 lb. paper), which makes it an excellent choice for large documents such as training manuals, price books, and manuscripts.

In Review

With its durable metal construction and fully-disengageable pins, the Tamerica ECO-21 comb binder is well-suited for medium-volume use in a home, school, or office setting. While it is not a professional-grade binding machine, it does have a number of advanced features that place it in a class above other comparably-priced comb binders. The ECO-21’s versatile features do not come at the cost of usability, however, as its user-friendly design ensures simple, worry-free operation (even for those who are new to binding). If ease-of-use, versatility, and affordability are key factors in your selection of a new binding machine, then be sure to take a closer look at the ECO-21 comb binder from Tamerica.