
Plastic comb binding is a popular binding method used in North America for books and documents. It is also known as GBC binding, Ibico binding, Cerlox, Surlox or Combbind. This binding method is used by schools, businesses and print shops. Plastic combs are available in a variety of sizes and colours and can be customised with a name or logo. The binding process involves using a plastic spine with a series of ring-shaped tines or teeth to secure a book's cover and pages. The book can then lie flat for easy reading or photocopying, but it cannot be opened 360 degrees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popularity | Plastic comb binding is the most popular bookbinding method in schools, libraries, and offices in North America. |
| Page Limit | Plastic combs can bind documents up to 425 pages thick. |
| Flexibility | Plastic comb binding allows books to lie flat for easy reading and photocopying. |
| Customization | Plastic combs can be customized with names, logos, and different colors. |
| Ease of Use | Plastic comb binding is a quick, simple, and durable process that can be done on most manual binding machines. |
| Page Addition/Removal | Pages can be added or removed easily. |
| Tabbed Dividers | Tabbed dividers and perforated pages work well with the comb binding method. |
| Size Availability | Plastic combs are available in sizes from 3/16" to 2" in diameter. |
| Shape | Combs that are 3/16"–1-1/8" are round, while combs 1-1/4"–2" are oval with special locks to prevent pages from falling out. |
| Hole Pattern | Plastic comb binding typically uses a 19-ring hole pattern for 8.5" x 11" paper, but other ring lengths are available for different paper sizes. |
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What You'll Learn

Plastic comb binding is a popular, quick and simple method of binding
Plastic comb binding is a popular, quick, and simple method of binding. It is commonly used in schools, libraries, and offices and is the most popular binding method in North America. This binding style has been around for decades and is used for cookbooks, reports, proposals, and manuals. It is also known as GBC Binding, Ibico Binding, Cerlox, Surlox, or Combbind.
Plastic comb binding uses a plastic spine with a series of ring-shaped tines or "teeth" to secure a book's cover and pages. The plastic spine forms a cylindrical shape with multiple curved tines along its length, resembling a hair comb. Each tine is pre-formed into a closed ring shape and contains tension, allowing the book to be securely bound. The binding method produces a durable and professional-looking document.
One advantage of plastic comb binding is its flexibility. The plastic combs are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 3/16" to 2" in diameter, to accommodate books of different thicknesses. They also come in various colours, allowing you to add a touch of colour to your documents. The combs can be easily opened and closed, making it convenient to update or remove pages. Plastic comb binding can accommodate documents up to 425 pages, and the bound book can lie flat for easy reading or photocopying.
Plastic comb binding is a relatively easy process and can be done using a manual comb binding machine. It uses a 19-ring hole pattern, with rectangular holes along an 11" piece of paper. However, combs are also available in different ring lengths to accommodate different paper sizes. Plastic comb binding supplies are readily available, and the combs can even be customized with a name, logo, or image.
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It is used for books and documents
Plastic comb binding is a popular method for binding books and documents. It is commonly used in schools, libraries, offices, and businesses. This binding method offers a basic closure for documents, allowing them to lie flat for reading or photocopying. The pages can be easily added, removed, or updated, making it a flexible option. Additionally, the plastic combs come in a variety of sizes and colours, accommodating different thicknesses of books and adding a touch of customization.
Plastic comb binding uses a plastic spine with a series of ring-shaped tines or "teeth" to secure the pages and cover of a book. The tines are spread open and inserted through rectangular slots punched along the spinal edge, forming a durable and secure closure. The standard length of a comb binding is 19 rings for binding an 11-inch edge, but longer or shorter lengths are available to accommodate different book sizes.
The plastic combs can be customized with a name, logo, or specific colour to match the cover of the book or document. This feature makes it a popular choice for creating professional-looking proposals, sales presentations, reports, manuals, and cookbooks. The combs are available in various sizes, ranging from 3/16" to 2" in diameter, with different shapes (round or oval) depending on the thickness of the book.
One advantage of plastic comb binding is its ease of use. It is a quick and simple process that can be done using a manual comb binding machine. The flexibility of the plastic binding allows the book to lie flat or be wrapped around, making it comfortable for reading. Additionally, the pages can be easily updated, making it convenient for documents that require frequent changes.
Overall, plastic comb binding is a widely-used method for binding books and documents due to its durability, flexibility, and ease of use. It offers a simple yet professional way to secure pages together, making it a popular choice for schools, businesses, and print shops.
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Combs are available in a variety of colours and sizes
Plastic comb binding is a popular binding method used in schools, libraries, and offices. It is a quick and simple process that offers a basic closure for documents with up to 425 pages. Combs are available in a variety of colours and sizes, allowing for easy customisation.
While black is the most commonly used colour for plastic comb binding, plastic binding combs are available in more than twelve different colours, including white, clear, red, yellow, navy blue, royal blue, maroon, forest green, kelly green, and more. This variety of colours allows you to add a touch of colour to your documents and even match the binder combs to complement your covers.
In addition to the standard colour options, specialty styles such as GBC Matte Combs offer a unique look with black, frost, or steel blue options. The GBC gel combs, currently available in steel blue, provide another distinctive choice.
Plastic comb binding supplies come in various sizes to accommodate books of different thicknesses. The standard length of a comb binding is 19 rings for binding on the 11-inch edge, but combs with 15, 21, and 24 rings are also available for different paper sizes. Combs range in diameter from 3/16” to 2”, with the smaller sizes being round and the larger sizes being oval in shape. It is recommended to bind documents with combs no smaller than 1/4" as the smaller combs can be difficult to use.
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Pages can be added or removed easily
Plastic comb binding is a popular binding method used in schools, libraries, and offices. It is a quick and simple process that offers a basic closure for documents. The plastic combs are available in various colours and sizes, making them versatile and suitable for different types of projects. One of the most significant advantages of plastic comb binding is that pages can be added or removed easily. This flexibility is especially useful for documents that need to be updated or modified over time.
The process of adding or removing pages involves opening and closing the plastic combs, which can be done without damaging the binding or the pages themselves. This feature makes plastic comb binding ideal for documents that are works in progress or for those that require frequent updates, such as reports, manuals, or cookbooks. With plastic comb binding, there is no need to rebind the entire book to insert or remove pages.
The ease of modifying documents bound with plastic combs also allows for the use of tabbed dividers and perforated pages. This feature enhances the organisation and functionality of the bound material. For example, tabbed dividers can be used to separate different sections or chapters within a document, making it easier to navigate and reference. Perforated pages can be added for notes, forms, or any other purpose where pages need to be easily removed without disturbing the rest of the binding.
Additionally, plastic comb binding allows for the binding of a wide range of page counts. Combs are available in sizes from 3/16" to 2" in diameter, accommodating documents from 2 to 425 pages. This versatility means that users don't have to worry about finding a binding that fits their specific page count. Whether it's a short proposal or a lengthy report, plastic comb binding can accommodate a variety of page lengths.
Overall, the ability to easily add or remove pages from plastic comb binding makes it a convenient and adaptable option for binding documents. It provides flexibility, organisation, and the opportunity for modification, making it a popular choice for schools, businesses, and individuals alike.
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Binding machines are durable and efficient
Plastic comb binding is a popular and durable method of binding books and documents. It is commonly used in schools, libraries, and offices, as well as by businesses and print shops. This binding style uses a plastic spine with a series of ring-shaped tines or "teeth" to secure the pages and cover of a book. The plastic combs are available in various sizes and colours, accommodating books of different thicknesses and allowing for customisation.
Binding machines used for plastic comb binding are designed to be durable and efficient. They can accommodate a range of plastic comb sizes, typically from 3/16” to 2” in diameter. The larger combs, ranging from 1-1/4” to 2”, are oval in shape and feature a special lock mechanism to prevent the document from accidentally coming apart when picked up by the spine. Binding machines are compatible with plastic combs from various brands, ensuring a wide range of options for users.
The efficiency of binding machines is evident in their ability to quickly and easily bind documents. The process is relatively simple and consistent across different machine models. Binding machines offer a basic closure for documents, allowing for easy reading and photocopying as the bound books can lie flat. Additionally, the flexibility of plastic comb binding allows for the easy addition, removal, or updating of pages. This makes it ideal for projects that may require frequent changes or additions.
Furthermore, binding machines often provide the option to customise plastic combs with names, logos, or images, enhancing the overall presentation of the bound documents. This feature is especially useful for proposals, sales presentations, and reports, adding a professional touch. The efficiency of binding machines is further demonstrated by their ability to double productivity, making them a valuable tool for any organisation or individual with frequent binding needs.
Overall, binding machines for plastic comb binding are designed with durability and efficiency in mind. They offer a wide range of options in terms of comb sizes and colours, ensuring that users can create secure and professional-looking documents. The machines' ease of use and customisation features make them a popular choice for binding books and documents in various settings.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic comb binding is a popular binding method for books and documents. It uses a plastic spine with a series of ring-shaped tines or "teeth" to secure a book's cover and pages.
Plastic comb binding is a quick, simple and affordable process. It allows books to lie flat for easy reading and photocopying. Pages can also be added or removed easily.
Plastic combs come in a variety of sizes to accommodate books of varying thicknesses, from 2 pages up to 2" in thickness. Combs are available in a range of colours, including black, white, clear, red, yellow, navy blue, royal blue, maroon, forest green, kelly green, grey and brown.









































