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

This machine is great. Had not owned one in the past and could not be happier with it. Used it to open books that had been done by a print shop, add additional pages and clear covers and reassemble. The machine performed very well.

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.

I didn't use this machine. I had ordered it without thinking through that I might need to punch things larger than just 8 1/2 x 11 size sometimes (which I do). I was impressed by the demo video and thought it looked like a great machine and looked very easy to use. I didn't even take it out of the box, I just returned it and got one with an open throat. I will say that I did like the the way you slipped the paper into the slot to be punched and then were able to put it right onto the comb. If that feature is as easy to use as it shows in the demo, that would be a great feature. If you are going to be using it only for letter-size punches exclusively, looks like it would be great for that. That is the only reason I gave it 3 stars without using it and why I wrote this review. Just to point out to others that it doesn't have the open throat and may not work if you need it for something larger for some reason. Other than that, it looks like a great machine with a good price and I wish I could have used it instead of returning it, as it was quite expensive to do that.

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 binder 10 small books with binder. 8 of them went relatively smooth and the product would've gotten "4 stars" In the other two it was just a nightmare! Sometimes the top page wouldn't get pierced (regardless of the number of pages) and sometimes the whole thing just doesn't get pierced. After observing the product from the inside with a flash light, I noticed the papers are not going where they should ! They are sliding up or down. it took me more than hour to bind 30 pages. While all papers where the same thickness the two books that I had trouble with, both had a high amount of color in them. I believe this made the papers a bit softer than normal causing it to bend and not go all the way. This is such a huge design problem and should be fixed. None the less to go around this problem 1- use thick paper 2- put your colored paper between two sheets of new crisp paper.

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.

Overall, a good purchase for the price. I would have been disappointed if I had paid more in store. It is a bit difficult to make holes in the paper, I always feel like I'm going to break the handle. You really have to punch less paper than the product states if you want perfect holes and if you want your machine to last. It is a bit difficult to get the combs in with this machine, so you have to take your time and be patience. If you get frustrated easily, you might want to upgrade to an automatic machine. This machine is perfect for occasional use. Because all steps are manual, if you needed to make a lot of reports/books in this machine, I feel it would take too much time to prepare.

Simple to use ( thank God, the instructions suck!), but light weight. Reflects the cost. Used thicker paper for a calendar and could only punch two sheets of heavy paper, when you tried four the plastic handle started twisting. It's light weight so treat it as such and you will enjoy making some wonderful projects.

I thought the unit would be a little more substantial, it does work but a little worried as to it's longevity?

It hasn't met my expectations. It works well for small jobs, but I bind large volumes for which it is not suited.

Does not allow for binding easily. Trying to bind a large document was very difficult.

Really great for a small business! Simple and easy!! Perfect for my needs!!