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{{Short description|Method of binding pages into a book}}{| border=“1” align=“right” style="text-align:center“| |{| style="text-align:center“|+ Spine capacity! Inches !! Millimeters !! Sheets of paper

3		| 16

1		| 25

5		| 40

3		| 55

7		| 70

1		| 85

9		| 100

5		| 125

3		| 150

7		| 175

	| 200

1	8}}”	28 mm	250

1	4}}”	32 mm	275

1	2}}”	38 mm	325

1	4}}”	45 mm	375

	| 425

Comb binding (sometimes referred to as “cerlox” or “surelox” binding) is one of many ways to bind pages together into a book. This method uses round plastic spines with 19 rings (for US Letter size) or 21 rings (for A4 size) and a hole puncher that makes rectangular holes. Comb binding is sometimes referred to as plastic comb binding or spiral comb binding.

Binding process

To bind a document, the user first punches holes in the paper with a specialized hole punch. Pages must be punched a few at a time with most of these machines. If hard covers are desired, they must be punched as well. In bulk applications, a paper drilling machine may be used.Then the user chooses a spine size that will match the document. Standard sizes are {{convert|3/16|in|disp=flip|abbr=on}} (for 16 sheets of 20# paper) up to {{convert|2|in|disp=flip|abbr=on}} (for 425 sheets). Spine lengths are generally {{convert|11|in|disp=flip|abbr=on}} to match the length of letter-size paper.The rings on the spine open and insert into the holes in the page, then rest against the body of the spine, resulting in a closure that can be opened again for making changes to the book.image:Comb bind step1.JPG|Machine opening the spine image:Comb bind step2.JPG|Pre-punched paper with spine rings through holesimage:Comb bind step3.JPG|Rings closed on paperimage:Comb bind step4.JPG|Completed book out of machine

Comparison with other punch binds

With this bind, the book lies flat but cannot be opened 360 degrees. For a book that can be opened such that the covers touch, a spine that does not have an obstructive body, such as a coil binding, is a better option.

References

• How To Comb Bind
• desktoppub.about.com/cs/binding/qt/coil.htm" title="web.archive.org/web/20160320210023desktoppub.about.com/cs/binding/qt/coil.htm">About.com Desktop Publishing article