GBC Binding Machine, Manual, 320 Sheet Binding Capacity, 20 Sheet Punch Capacity, CombBind C20 (7706172)

I use it to bind calendars made with a thick matte 61 pound 11 mil paper it worked perfect using 3 pages at a time. I would recommend this product. Saved the cost of having it bound at the store. GBC CombBind BindMate Personal Binding and 3-Hole Punch System, 8 Sheet Punch Capacity, 125 Sheet Binding Capacity, Gray (7706170)

I have had the GBC CombBind C20 model since 2010, and have used it extensively overseas and in the USA. I would have given it a 3.5 out of 5 stars if that were an option. I gave it 4 stars because my main complaint has to do with A4 size paper and most people will not use if for that.The PROS of the GBC C20 model are:1) It has staggered cutting teeth. As you pull the main handle, the teeth engage the paper at different points in the pull stroke, making it much easier to cut though the paper. This is a big help if you are doing a lot of binding.2) It seems fairly well built and is not too heavy.3) It will fit inside a 24-gallon Action Packer, if you need to travel with it. Put a pillow on the top and bottom, or use clothing if you are comfortable with that.4) I don't think this is a pro of the machine, but the C20 model has received undue criticism for punching unevenly. There are probably ways that GBC could have improved this, but it isn't that bad. I would say that this is mostly user error. You have to slide the paper back and forth a bit in the slot before punching to ensure that the paper edges are fully seated before punching. If you do not, then you will get uneven punches from bits of the punched paper that haven't yet fallen from prior punches. This can be resolved by learning how to use the machine.The CONS of the C20 model are:1) The stickers on the unit are really nice, but they come off very easily. I have tried again and again to glue them down, but they often come up at the edges.2) The unit is difficult to clean. I like the removable plastic tray underneath, but the little paper punches go all over the inside of the machine, and I can't find any easy way to get them out. I haven't taken the machine apart, but I suspect that would work. Anyone have any ideas?3) A4 size paper cutting is cripled on the US machine. I have done a lot of A4 binding with the C20 model while living outside the USA. A4 size paper has 21 holes and the A4 combs have a corresponding 21 "teeth" to fit. US letter size paper has 19 holes and 19-teeth combs to fit. The C20 has one serious deficiency for binding A4 size paper. The built-in "edge guide" adjust to perfectly fit A4 size paper. The "comb-opener" on the top of the unit has 21 "fingers" to open full size 21-tooth A4-size combs. However, the main punch that cuts the holes in the paper will only punch 19 holes no matter what. This is almost criminal on the part of GBC. They advertise A4 size capability, include A4 size settings and enough fingers to pull open a 21-tooth A4 size comb, but the product as sold to me in the USA will only cut 19 slots. I called GBC to confirm this and they stated that it will only cut 19 slots, though the rep seemed surprised when I mentioned that the unit is made in Portugal (a country that uses A4 size paper). Under good light, you can even see the extra holes on the far right and left of the cutter that would be available for cutting 21 slots, but they simply did not build the USA units with 21 teeth for cutting A4 size paper. The work around is to use US-sized 19-tooth combs when binding A4 size paper, or to manually cut the ends off of an A4-size comb if you buy the combs while living overseas. It doesn't look great, but it works.

Its exactly as i expected and works good for binding and doing three holesbut it has a plastic stop that in one used never work again. SO i have to manually hold the arm when putting the paper in the splines. I did not make a fuss cause the price is excellent. SO i will give it three stars for performance

If you’ve never owned and operated an older GBC CombBind this newer redesigned unit will look and feel odd. I’ve had a CombBind C50 I ran till it dropped. If one understands the organizational leg up binder booklets can bring to a small office, this is a solid improvement over the past units and a good investment. Handle with care and you should be fine.

I was so excited to get a personal combbinder and had tried to research carefully before ordering one online. True to advertising, this combbinder easily punches through 8 sheets of paper and neatly stores the clipped pieces in the tray. It's simple to operate (good thing, because the instructions are 5 cartoon pictures). The one and only con? It's a BIG one. I couldn't get it to punch the combbind aligned properly so that it was far enough away from the edge of the paper- no matter how many times I tried. It cuts off the edge of the paper and notches it- but leaves nothing to attach your binding to! Over and over! I'm not an idiot, either. There are no troubleshooting instructions, no phone number to call, no address to write to- nothing. There is no way to manually adjust the alignment. This machine simply notches the edge of your paper and ruins everything you put into it. Of course, there is always the chance that I got a bad apple in the lot that is manufactured incorrectly, but I'll never know, because it's going straight back where it came from and I will not be ordering another one!Buyers beware! :(

I bought this machine to do some personal binding, and I am very impressed with it. There is a little learning curve to get the combs on the machine, but once you figure that part out it's smooth sailing. It punches the paper very cleanly. While it can do 20 pages, I am better able to hold the paper consistently steady punch after punch with 15. It is nice that it is manual because it can be set up anywhere without the aggravation of being tethered to the wall outlet.

Our office bought this item in Dec of 2011. We requested a replacement in May of 2012 because the binding handle broke. Now, in Dec of 2012, the binding handle on our new replacement machine is broken. It hole punches with ease and otherwise works fine. The binding handle is made of plastic which attaches to metal. The plastic breaks off of the metal. Opening the comb takes little force and you wouldn't think it would break so easily. I think we are going to return and replace our machine with a different brand/model.

I bought for my church for different types of booklets in June of 2011. It worked well for our needs.